Tag Archive for: creative agency

5 Lessons I Learned in My First Year as a Mompreneur

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This month, my son celebrates his first birthday. It’s miraculous how much he has changed, and amazing how quicky the time has passed – even though I’ve tried to slow down and enjoy every little moment (even the tough ones.)

Being more present is just one of the lessons I’ve learned since adding “mom” to my resume. Here are a few more:

1. The struggle to find balance is real.
One of the greatest challenges of running a business while being a mom is trying to find the right balance for yourself, your kids, your spouse – and your clients. I doubt there is a single working mother who hasn’t felt torn between being there for her family and being the best possible co-worker, boss or service provider. Personally, I’ve felt the pressure to prove I can do it all – to say yes to every project because I don’t want people to think I’m prioritizing my child’s needs over theirs.

I’m super lucky to have a spouse who is all in on sharing responsibilities. But even with help from my husband and our families, I quickly realized that being a new mom was a lot like being an entrepreneur. Each “job” comes with a unique set of challenges and rewards. And keeping both worlds running like clockwork takes determination, time management, and a solid support system.

2. The support system that works for you may not work for anyone else.
One of the most difficult choices for every working mom is finding reliable childcare that allows them to fully focus on their work. I took six weeks off after my son was born, and we were beyond fortunate that my husband had 20 weeks of paternity leave – which meant I didn’t have to stress about knowing my newborn was being well taken care of. (PSA: Companies need to be more generous with maternity/paternity leave. It’s better for everyone when both parents are caring for their baby.)

Given the high cost of day care, being able to rely on my husband and family has been a huge gift. But each of us has to figure out what works best for our situation. And not give a crap about what anyone else thinks.

3. “Flextime” takes on a whole new meaning.
Entrepreneurs are notorious for wearing many hats – and seriously, I wouldn’t have it any other way! Likewise, moms wear just as many hats — like caregiver, chef, nurse, and chauffeur. So, when it comes to keeping all of the balls in the air, flexibility is one of the greatest perks of mom entrepreneurship.

Being my own boss allows me to make my own schedule. Since my husband went back to work, I’ve been able to plan client meetings around naps and feedings. I may work more at night to get ahead of the day or over the weekend to meet a tight deadline. And having a home office eliminates the hassle (and time suck) of commuting. The catch? It can feel like the work never ends – and it’s tough to get a mental break. But I remind myself that being there for my son when he needs me most is why I do what I do.

4. Prioritize what matters and get help with the rest.
Being “on” 24/7 can take a toll. As the creative director of a branding agency, I’ve had to learn to make choices that support my ability to, well, be creative! When I take a break to feed my son, I zone out and give my brain a rest so I’m refreshed when I get back to my desk. And I hired a part-time assistant to help with some of the work. I’m such a perfectionist that letting go is incredibly hard. But maintaining my sanity means establishing priorities and asking for help – in the office and at home.

Working hard to be a great mom and business owner leaves little room for downtime. The upside is I’ve come to value my time and my talents more than ever. It’s been easier to say no to projects that aren’t a good fit – and to price my work more competitively.

5. Being a momprenuer is utterly exhausting – and deeply fulfilling.
Striking a balance between nurturing our families and nurturing our clients is the goal for every working mom. It’s also equally important to not lose sight of the things we love.

I started playing tennis in 4th grade. Since having a baby, tennis has been a welcome break and the exercise helps get my creative juices flowing. This spring, our group formed a team and we’ll be playing legit matches with other women in the area. I hope my mom will bring my son to watch – and maybe one day he’ll fall in love with it, too!

Pursuing our passions as moms and entrepreneurs feeds our souls and sets a positive example for our children. Yes, juggling all the things can be demanding on any given day. But for inspiration, we need look no further than the countless women business owners who are achieving success – and redefining motherhood in the process.

The Benefits of Working with Women-Owned Businesses

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It’s National Women’s History Month. I don’t know about you, but I love following the stories about remarkable women and girls and what they have accomplished. And it’s a dream come true to be among those who are running successful businesses of their own – and doing work they are passionate about.

Woman-owned is a wonderful thing.
As the marketplace becomes more diverse, the number of women-owned businesses in the U.S. is growing. There are a number of certifications available to businesses that are primarily owned, controlled, operated, and managed by women. Acquiring any of these certifications requires a lengthy and intense vetting process. At MIFA Media, we decided to become a certified women-owned company in the State of New Jersey. Having gone through the process, I understand why being certified is valued so highly – by both businesses and those who hire them.

Partnering with a woman-owned business offers a boatload of benefits.
When you’re looking for new partnerships, there are plenty of reasons why it’s beneficial to hire a certified woman-owned business. For starters, you can be assured that you’re working with competent business owners who are committed to providing exceptional products and services.

Working with a certified women-owned business also encourages the kind of innovation and creativity that will give your company an advantage in a competitive marketplace. Studies have shown that diverse teams are more inventive and come up with better solutions to complex problems.

By working with a woman-owned business, you can tap into the unique perspectives and ideas of experienced women entrepreneurs. MIFA Media is among a surprisingly small number of women-owned creative agencies, and we’ve earned a reputation for our award-winning, out-of-the-box solutions for clients across a range of industries. We love getting to know our clients, and they love knowing we’re hands-on, nimble, and way more responsive than bigger, fancier firms.

Diversification is good for (your) business.
Partnering with a certified women-owned business shows your company’s willingness to work with diverse markets – and to put your beliefs into practice. It can lead to bigger opportunities with other companies that support business diversity, allow you to connect with new, socially-conscious consumers (including female consumers), and differentiate your business in the community.

Women-owned businesses often prioritize creating diverse and inclusive workplaces, which often helps improve employee morale and productivity for your business as well as theirs. Looking to attract high-quality talent? Showing that you work with diverse or minority-owned businesses is critical. A majority of job seekers today consider diversity when evaluating companies and job offers.

There are tax incentives for working with minority-owned businesses.
The government has passed laws that encourage companies to work with minority-owned businesses. There are federal and state programs that offer corporate tax reductions for hiring diverse suppliers, including women-owned businesses. This can help reduce overall taxable income and tax liabilities for projects funded with federal or state grants or loans when the supplier is women-owned. And supporting supplier diversity makes your business more attractive to corporations that are seeking second-tier sourcing suppliers that work with women-owned businesses.

From tax incentives to greater productivity to fresh thinking, working with women-owned businesses benefits your company, your customers, and your community. MIFA Media is proud to partner with kick-ass clients who want to create positive and meaningful change – in both the workplace and in their branding!

Color Makes the Season (and Your Branding) Bright

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Color is one of the most powerful elements when it comes to creating an impactful and effective design, branding, or marketing strategy.

Equally as important as factors like font and proportion, color contributes to balance and hierarchy in design. Choosing a cohesive color scheme in the midst of developing your branding – not as an afterthought – ensures a seamless design where all of the elements work together to convey the personality of your company.

Each color has a meaning and feeling that attracts people (or deters them).

Color sets the vibe for your company, so you want to choose shades that are appropriate for your brand. For example, warm colors (think yellow undertones) show excitement and optimism, while cool colors (blue undertones) symbolize calm and harmony. If you are a therapist, you’ll want to steer clear of using bright red for your logo and go with cooler tones to convey a more peaceful ambiance. On the flip side, if competitive brands are all using soft green in their package designs, choosing a notice-me color will help your products stand out on the shelf.

For proof of color’s power to influence customer behavior, look no further than the role it plays in holiday marketing.

The signature colors of each holiday have become so ingrained in our culture and traditions that they communicate layers of meaning without a single word. An orange and black window display tells us it’s Halloween; yellow and brown food packaging symbolizes Thanksgiving; black, red, and green are the colors of Kwanzaa; and a sea of red and green can only mean it’s Christmastime.

Colors stir our emotions, evoking specific feelings and conjuring up memories.

Let’s take a look at the psychology behind a few of the popular color pairs that make this season bright.

ORANGE & YELLOW: Yellow is vibrant and cheerful, evoking feelings of optimism and happiness (the smiley face embodies the power of yellow!) Orange is associated with energy, enthusiasm, and warmth. Together, they mirror nature’s changing leaves and abundant harvest, making them the classic palette for autumn’s biggest holidays – Halloween and Thanksgiving.

RED & GREEN: Red and green have been linked back to traditional winter solstice celebrations, where Celtic people used green holly plants with their deep red berries to welcome the shift in seasons. Today, this iconic color combo is synonymous with Christmas. The energy, passion, and urgency of red, paired with green’s connection to nature, growth, and freshness, instantly lifts our spirits and conjures up joyful holiday memories.

BLUE & WHITE: White symbolizes purity, simplicity, and innocence, while blue is often linked to feelings of reliability and serenity (a blue logo projects a sense of trust and dependability.) The origin of the colors’ association with the celebration of Hanukkah is up for debate. Some say the colors are rooted in theology (the Jewish prayer shawl is white with one blue string), while others believe they were inspired by the Israeli flag.

SILVER & GOLD: There are no “official” New Year’s colors, but silver and gold are the go-to choice for ringing in the new. These classically elegant colors symbolize opulence, luxury, and success. Gold and silver sparkle like the ball dropping in Times Square. They are also the color of money – and isn’t abundance something we all wish for in the coming year?

At MIFA Media, we understand that every element of design plays a role in capturing people’s attention and engaging their emotions. By strategically using colors that align with each client’s vision and values, we help them create a unique brand identity – and memorable customer experiences that drive results.