Starting dotbrand has been far more challenging than I ever imagined.
With 13 years of design experience, I thought my skills were enough—but running a business taught me that design skills ≠ business success.
Here are the 3 biggest challenges I faced and how they changed me. If you're a design firm owner, I hope these lessons resonate with you.
Challenge 1: From “Doer” to “Decision-Maker”
From Designer to CEO:
✅ As a designer, I was detail-oriented, a perfectionist, and loved doing things myself.
❌ In reality, doing everything alone stalled growth.
How I adapted:
Learned to delegate and manage instead of micromanaging.
Built clear SOPs to empower my team.
Accepted that “80% done by the team” is better than “100% done by me.”
Challenge 2: From “Creative Intuition” to “Data-Driven Decisions”
✅ I used to judge design by aesthetics and intuition.
❌ Clients don’t pay for beauty—they want ROI, conversion rates, and time savings.
How I adapted:
Let data speak: Show results like “30% conversion boost” or “20 hours saved.”
Ran A/B tests instead of relying on personal taste.
Challenge 3: From “Working Solo” to “Building Partnerships”
✅ As a freelancer, I avoided collaboration to ensure quality.
❌ Running a business showed me that without the right partners, growth is impossible.
How I adapted:
Started conversations with design firm owners to understand their pain points.
Built partnerships with SaaS and design software companies to expand dotbrand’s reach.
Learned to pitch and sell effectively to B2B clients by speaking their language.

Key Takeaway: From Designer to CEO
I learned that design is just one part of running a successful company. Without strong business operations, growth is limited.
At dotbrand, we’re not just a design tool—we’re an AI Agent helping design firms increase conversions and reduce wasted time.
Comments