Event Recap | Being Creative & Taking Risks - A Conversation with Design Entrepreneurs

 

Being Creative & Taking Risks - A Conversation with Design Entrepreneurs

6/14/16

Thank you to all who were able to attend the Being Creative & Taking Risks: A Conversation with Design Entrepreneurs panel discussion last week.  The event was hosted at the West Des Moines Business Incubator - a fitting location for this conversation!

The panel consisted of four entrepreneurs:  Martha Norbeck (C-Wise), Elizabeth Erbes (Avec Design + Build), Todd Reding (Charrette Venture Group), and Brett Douglas (Genus).  The event was moderated by Christina Moffatt, owner of Crème Cupcakes, and Director of the Mid Iowa Small Business Development Center.

Together, they answered questions regarding their success, as well as their trials - and offered advice to those in the audience seeking to initiate a startup of their own.  Most attributed their success to pursuing an idea that they’re passionate about, working hard, and a little bit of luck.  Success did not come without struggles, though.  In the beginning, the four panelists had to sacrifice their time and their salaries to get their ventures up and running.  They were forced out of their comfort zones by the necessity of entering the ‘business’ side of their respective crafts.  However, multitasking, flexibility, and understanding how to prioritize tasks were skills they’d honed to help them achieve a more controlled work-life balance.

When asked what they would do differently if they could do it all again - their collective thought was:  “Why didn’t I start doing this sooner?”

Article submitted by Holly Pohlmeier, LEED AP BD+C, INVISION.