Today we’d like to introduce you to Kellie Taylor.
Kellie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
There are a few things that you should know about me – that will help explain the WHY behind Taylor Street Designs:
FIRST: I think that naivety gets a bad reputation. That whole “rose colored glasses” and “glass half full” and “rainbows shooting out of your butt” – that is me. Seriously, I AM THAT GIRL. I always have been. My dad is a psychologist and years ago he said that my personality was “off the charts Sanguine”. Most people are a combination of personalities – not this girl – 100% Sanquine. If you don’t know what “sanguine” means, let me clue you in:
san·guine – ˈsaNGɡwən/
adjective: sanguine
1 optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation. “he is sanguine about prospects for the global economy”
2 synonym: optimistic, bullish, hopeful, buoyant, positive, confident, cheerful, cheery.
So it is a professional diagnosis. I AM Sally Ms. Sunshine. I was born this way. I didn’t choose it. I can’t change it. It’s who I am.
SECOND: I am an extreme extrovert. I love to talk. I love to be around people. I get my energy from social situations. I am happiest when I am with large groups of people. I am an “includer” and really cannot allow someone to be outside of the group. I am a firm believer in “build a bigger table.”
THIRD: I am so very inspired by women and girl bosses.
So a few years ago, I realized that I needed to surround myself with strong, amazing women. This is what made me happy and inspired me. So, first I started a Meet Up group in Milton – Positively Female – and the only rule of the group is that you must be female. It is a wonderful tribe of incredible women full of courage and heart and intelligence and all-around awesomeness.
After a few months of starting the group, I realized that I wanted to do more. I wanted to help these amazing female entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses as they impact the world in amazing ways. I realized that I could use my 20+ years in the Advertising Industry to help women design an online presence that works as hard for their businesses as they do.
And Taylor Street Designs was born.
I am a female entrepreneur who believes we are all better, more successful and happier when we connect vs. compete. I believe in “and/both” not “either/or”.
I also believe in bravely pursuing my passions and fiercely fighting for each other.
My favorite quote comes from Sheryl Sandberg: “It is the ultimate luxury to combine passion and contribution.
It’s also a very clear path to happiness.”
I am passionate about helping women do good, be good, look good and feel good. This is what builds confidence, inspires passion and ultimately changes the world. Selfishly, I needed to be around this as much as possible, so I found a way to use my talents to help women so I can be a part of their lives. It’s a win-win!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Like any new start-up, it has been challenging and hard and stressful and busy and ALL THE THINGS. But most of all, it has been so fulfilling and empowering and fun. I think that the reason people start their own business is because they are passionate about something.
However, being a CEO means that you have to do more than just that thing. And ultimately, there are things that are hard. Those “things” are different for everyone. For me, personally, the hardest parts are the non-creative things – the bookkeeping, the paperwork, the time management. But I have built an incredible team of really smart people to help me with all of that. It has taken over a year to build that team, but I am so very glad I did.
Now I can focus more on the designing and time with my clients – which is my favorite thing!
Taylor Street Designs – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Taylor Street Designs is a branding and web design company that specializes in helping female entrepreneurs build and grow their online businesses.
As a business owner myself, I know how hard it is (especially in the beginning) to afford everything. So I have created a process that allows my clients to take control of their websites once we launch. I train them on every aspect of their site and make sure that they know how to update and curate and refresh everything. That way they don’t have to keep paying someone on a regular basis with money they may not have.
This puts the power and controls squarely in their hands. And it ensures that their website will be updated and remain fresh – which is the ultimate goal for any brand. You must stay current and relevant.
I work with women who are on every inch of the creative spectrum – from 0 creative ideas to full on artists. I have a detailed process that allows for all of my clients to develop their brand persona and then we translate that into the creative design. It’s such an exciting and beautiful thing to watch it all come together!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Sheryl Sandberg sums up my definition of success perfectly – “It is the ultimate luxury to combine passion and contribution. It’s also a very clear path to happiness.”
If I can help a woman define and design her brand, help it come to life online and work as hard for her business as she does – then I am a success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TaylorStreetDesigns.com
- Phone: 770.633.4177
- Email: kellie@taylorstreetdesigns.com
- Instagram: @taylorstreetdesigns
- Facebook: @TaylorStreetDesigns
- Twitter: @taylorstdesigns
Image Credit:
Kellie Signature Photography
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