Marilyn Wo went from feeling trapped in her freelance business to building a thriving design agency. Here’s how she transformed her “10-year imprisonment” into a business that gives her true freedom.
The Starting Point
After a decade as a solo freelance designer, Marilyn found herself stuck in the dollars-for-hours trap. Despite running her own business, she felt more imprisoned than free.
“My freelancing business came to a point where I was stuck. I thought it could bring me freedom but gave me a job instead. It became more like a prison to me.”
The Challenge
Like many successful freelancers, Marilyn faced several hurdles:
- Trading time for money with no path to scale
- Working as a one-woman show with all responsibility
- Lacking the freedom she started her business to achieve
- Unable to see how to take her business to the next level
- Struggling to make progress while managing everything alone
The Journey
Marilyn created a whole new business model with a small team and created beautiful designs for more clients (including Lydia’s previous website!)
Instead of staying stuck, Marilyn took decisive action:
- Shifted her mindset about her unique value
- Reversed engineered complex problems into manageable steps
- Created systems to protect her time and energy
- Built deep relationships within her network
- Focused on consistent action toward clear goals
“You helped me reverse engineer what seemed to be a monstrous, giant complicated job into bite-sized, easy to follow steps. I’ve been procrastinating for years when it comes to progress because I didn’t know where to start.”
The Transformation
Through our work together, Marilyn was able to:
- Build a Supportive Team: Grew from solo freelancer to leading a team of three
- Create More Freedom: Gained time for herself and family
- Design Better Systems: Implemented schedules that protected her priorities
- Scale Her Impact: Launched an unlimited graphic design service model
“Lydia helped me break free from the 10-year prison I’ve created for myself.
I was a struggling freelance graphic designer. In the earlier days, instead of building a business to give me the freedom I wanted, I gave myself a job. Lydia gave me strategic advice and the right steps that helped me break free. From a one-woman show, I’ve grown a team of three to support my business. I have more freedom to set aside time for myself, and my family and now I truly enjoy my work!”
Marilyn
Today’s Reality
Marilyn runs a thriving unlimited graphic design business helping marketing leaders communicate their brand message. Her business:
- Operates with a flat monthly rate model
- Serves ongoing client needs without the overhead of in-house designers
- Leverages her decade of design experience
- Creates freedom for both her and her clients
Marilyn’s Advice for Others
For those considering a similar journey, Marilyn emphasizes:
- Know Your Why: Ask yourself “why” seven times to stay focused on what’s right for you
- Build Deep Relationships: Business is more than just exchanging services for cash
- Stay Consistent: Keep showing up and taking action toward your goals
Ready to Write Your Own Success Story?
If you’re ready to transform your work into a business that gives you true freedom, let’s talk.
Apply for a Business Alignment Session
