Nelly Travaglia from The Tiny Dog Creative talks about the importance of finding balance, support and meaning when taking the plunge into the world of small business.
Being a solo mum for two children and a beloved dog, working a full-time graphic designing job was becoming increasingly difficult for Nelly Travaglia.
“My days were a blur – lunches, showers, getting dressed, dropping the kids off, rushing to work, to daycare, and then homework, dinner, baths, and bedtime,” Nelly remembered. “Between 9- 5 I was dragged into the sphere of endless meetings and office politics. It was that feeling of being pulled in many directions and not quite meeting your responsibilities in either place.”
Stressful, difficult, and nonstop were the way Nelly described that time four years ago.
“I wanted support. I wanted balance. And I decided enough was enough.”
Taking the Plunge
Since becoming a small business owner is no mean feat, Nelly needed to weigh up her options first before taking the plunge.
“It was a scary prospect to leave your secure paycheck and go out on your own. Not knowing exactly how much work and money you’re going to have coming in.”
But the benefit of having a better work-life balance and spending more quality time with those that matter most far outweighed the negatives, and Nelly opened The Tiny Dog Creative in 2018.
“From branding, social media, and graphics, to posters and text documents – I do nearly everything to do with design,” Nelly said. “I work on a huge range of different stuff for businesses large and small in New Zealand, Australia and internationally.”
While the first year was financially very tight, Nelly learned a lot along the way and The Tiny Dog Creative went from strength to strength.
“I’m at a point now where I’m busy enough that I’m having to find other sort of small business graphic designers that I can outsource some of the work too.”
Good Design is Good Business
One of the reasons Nelly made the decision to go out on her own was her love for design.
“Design is all about communication,” she said. “It’s about getting that message across to an audience in a way that’s appealing and easy to absorb.”
But the more Nelly intertwined her passion for design with the world of small business, the more she realised the similarities between the two.
“I love the problem-solving aspect of having a bunch of content that I must deliver. It gives me that drive to achieve and I just love it. But ever since I started my small business, I have that same drive for different things now,” she reflected.
“A big driver currently for me is working with female ‘mompreneurs’. I want to support women and help them become financially independent because I know the struggle.”
Protect your Business
While Nelly now helps women by sharing her expertise and experiences, she was also supported by a group of like-minded women graphic designers early on in her business journey who urged her to get her business insurance sorted out through BizCover.
“In case something goes wrong, it’s there and it gives me that peace of mind. All of them said to go through BizCover because it was so easy, and now I feel supported by the BizCover team as well.”
Protected by her Professional Indemnity policy with BizCover, Nelly hopes to continue designing meaningful work without the worry of the financial burden a claim can bring.
“Hopefully, I can let others know about the importance of insurance just like others did the same for me,” she said. “And if you are looking for a rebrand or just a one-off project, please reach out to The Tiny Dog Creative and I’ll help you build your business.”
To connect with Nelly and The Tiny Dog Collective, visit:
https://www.facebook.com/thetinydogcreative
https://www.instagram.com/thetinydogcreative/?hl=en
* This information is general only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It should not be relied upon as advice. As with any insurance, cover will be subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in the policy wording.
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