I thought it was about time I introduced myself... This is me, Caroline, owner and designer at Carissima Studio. I'll be honest - I find it absolutely excruciating putting my face out there, which is why I haven't up until now, and also why I'm hiding behind my glasses and I'm in black and white. Is that a cop out? It might well be, but it's a start anyway, and I do aim to become a bit more visible from now on. It's an issue I know a lot of other business owners struggle with but I'm hoping once you start it gets easier.
I've been making the most of the excellent business support that's on offer at my local library, I've learned so much and I'm not sure what I would have done without it. They run sessions that equip you with really helpful knowledge, whether you're just starting out or you're more established. They also run networking sessions - I was at one of those just yesterday - which have proved to be great in terms of the people you meet and the encouragement you get from hearing their stories. It really helps to know that everyone else is finding progress isn't nearly as fast as they'd envisaged it, and that we're all having the same struggles - it's just good, especially when so much of your working time is spent alone, to connect with other people who are having similar experiences. Suddenly you don't feel so alone any more.
It was there that I met the lovely lady who took the photo - she's also finding it excruciating publicly becoming the face of her brand, so we're in the same boat and have agreed to meet regularly, take some photos and encourage each other. This was last week, in the beautiful Pavilion Gardens in central Brighton. We're lucky to have so many places in our town where you can go and get some work done, but also (unlike me I'm afraid) they're so photogenic...
As ever I welcome comments and emails, do get in touch if you have any views you'd like to share with me about anything you'd like to see here on my website... Until next week, Caroline x