The Conscious Business Spotlight is Nadi Marketing’s monthly series introducing you to bold changemakers and passionate risk-takers who see the world’s problems as an opportunity to create solutions that benefit us all.

The branding work behind Nadi Marketing, Tidal Pages, and The Ecosystem is by the talented Amy Greenwald of Blue Raspberry Design. This spotlight is long overdue, but we are excited to introduce you to Blue Raspberry Design and Amy’s amazing work in the graphic design space. In addition to planet-friendly services, Amy is launching a Green Web Design Course and co-hosts the Ecopreneur Community with monthly events. Learn more about Amy and her advice for anyone looking to start their own conscious business.

What is your conscious business, and what inspired you?

Blue Raspberry Design is a green graphic design studio uplifting the dreamers and changemakers of the world through joyous, spunky, and planet-friendly design. Before I started my business, I worked for a company that is, quite frankly, everything I dislike about corporate America.

They didn’t care about the health and well-being of their employees. They didn’t care about the planet. And they’re owned by the richest man in this state (I live in Wisconsin if you’re curious about who & what company I might be talking about 😜).

I quit that job after about two years of working there with no plan; I just knew I’d had enough. I was crying into my keyboard day after day and selling my soul for less than I was worth. So I left.

And I had the extraordinary privilege to be able to do so! I know many people can’t just quit their jobs, so I feel very lucky and blessed to have been able to do so.

After searching for new jobs and not finding anything that sparked my interest beyond a paycheck, I started looking into freelancing. And with it, doing it in a way that was kind to the planet. I’d always cared about the environment and doing things in a green way.

Creating a conscious business was the best way to stand up for myself after the horrible experience that was my last job. And it continues to help me stand up for myself and my values day after day!

What has been your biggest learning curve?

Learning how to design a planet and a people-friendly way was a huge challenge, but that all came with research, courses, and time. What was more difficult, and continues to be a struggle, is showing up fully as myself with clients.

When I started, I thought I had to hide my weirdness and delete all the exclamation points in my emails. I thought I had to stay politically neutral and not rock the boat too much, or else people wouldn’t want to work with me. But the exact opposite is true.

Many people told me I was doing things the “wrong” way. But in doing it their way, I was betraying myself again, like when I worked for someone else.

Understanding that I could be my entire self in my business, learning how to show up as that, and continuing to do it day after day has been the hardest thing to learn. And it’s still a daily struggle, although it’s getting easier!

What do you love most about being a conscious business, and what motivates you to keep going?

I love that I am making a difference in the world. It might be small, but it’s something! Being able to work with organizations that are doing good in the world and being able to cheer them on has been so wonderful.

I also learn things daily. I feel like I’m a better person now than when I started my business, and a lot of that has to do with learning about sustainability and people. Hearing others’ stories and seeing all the good they’re doing motivates me to keep going. Because my job is to basically lift up their voices and messaging. And being a cheerleader for them is absolutely amazing. It gives me a lot of hope for the future that I otherwise might not have had in our doom and gloom of a crisis.

Any advice to those looking to start their own conscious business?

I have a few pieces of advice I wish someone would have told me!

First, start before you’re ready. You will never be ready. And each day you delay is one day further from your dreams and one more day to feel guilty or bad about possibly. Take the leap and do things! See what happens. Failure is a part of life.

Second, be true to yourself. No one else is you. And people are drawn to authenticity. You’ll find your people, and they’ll appreciate you for you.

Third, there is no one right way to do anything. How one person became successful is not the only way to do it. Or that it will even work for you! Find your own path and trust your gut.

Fourth, competition is overrated. Competing won’t get you very far. Neither will comparison. There will always be someone better, but that doesn’t mean you can’t also be successful.

And finally, progress over perfection. You will never be perfect in your sustainability efforts, and that’s okay. Perfect is unrealistic. Do good; it’s good enough.

 

Contact Blue Raspberry Design

If you are a conscious business and want to be featured, please fill out our Conscious Business Spotlight Form or contact us.