WESST Blog

Go West Design launched in 1997. Back when Frontpage and code was used to create websites. Thankfully managing web sites has gotten a whole lot easier!  Go West Design are Internet guides, teachers, and designers sharing cutting edge practices with their clients. In addition, they often provide workshops at WESST to include:  Mastering the Basics of Email Marketing, The Power of Email, Top Secrets to Small Business Growth, and more…

Where did the “big idea” for your business come from?
Going solo entrepreneur was cooked while the unseen, yet unbreachable barrier kept me from rising to the upper rungs of the corporate structure. Unpaid overtime, random changes to employee benefits, lack of privacy to prepare milk for my newborn were also causes of despair.

What’s the most satisfying part of being an entrepreneur?
Solving problems for myself, setting new challenges and achieving them, constantly mastering new topics and learning new technical skills make all the frustrations of Go West Design worthwhile. I work closely with an exciting range of clients, from the conservation industry to most recently, a first responder-training firm that needed a new brand identity. I help solo-entrepreneurs grow their young businesses and struggling non-profits build identities and attract new donors.

What’s the most challenging?
Being paid on time is one of the most challenging aspects of running my business. People want instant delivery and rarely pay instantly. As a result, my proposals have expanded to 2 pages of clauses with invoicing prior, during and before the end of a project to guarantee compensation.

What do you do when you’re not working?
This is my first year to expand my interests outside of work. I’ve joined the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico and made two new friends who are new to Santa Fe (and never complain about traffic or their allergies).

What’s the best piece of business advice you received before you launched your business?
If I could start over I would look harder for education in business management that was exciting. The Internet was in its infancy and people did not know what to do with it at that time.

What is one quick tip you would give for someone who wants to start their own business?
For new prospective business owners: Focus on your passion. It will help you survive the rough times that come along.

What was your biggest takeaway from your work with WESST?
When you need a truly supportive advocate grounded in real-world business realities, WESST is it. You can count on WESST for solid advice, understanding and encouragement.