If you’re an entrepreneur you already know it can be a wild ride. When I started my business 7 years ago I was doing all the things solo and it was DRAINING. I quickly realized that I needed to find tools to help streamline my business or I was going to lose it. That paired with hiring a team (more on that in this blog post!), was a saving grace. Now, I still swear by these business tools as my ride-or-die way to get more done in less time.

From solo entrepreneur to a boss with two full-time employees and one part-time, here are three things I did when I knew I was ready to take the leap and hire an employee for the first time.

In true Brighten Made fashion, I’m sharing some highs and lows for 2023.

Your business name is SO important! Here are four things to do before you decide on a name.

With nearly 7 years of entrepreneurship under my belt, I’ve learned a thing or two — and here’s what no one tells you about it.

Each week during our team meeting, I have my employees share their highs and lows from the week. So today I’m sharing with you my honest highs and lows from the year.

Margarita enthusiast, dog mom, enneagram three — get to know the lead designer and business owner behind Brighten Made.

Dog mom and BIG Green Bay Packers fan — come meet our senior designer, Erica Gloeckler.

Kombucha enthusiast, reality tv fanatic, and avid runner — come meet one of our senior designers, Rachel Walter.

Project manager, mama, writer, wife, organizing extraordinaire — these are just a few words to describe our Brighten Made project manager, Lauren Lowry.

As this year comes to a close, my inner enneagram 3 can’t help but look back on this past year and reflect (if you know, you know). It’s been such a season of growth and with the highs have come the lows.

Do you struggle with getting clients to give you feedback on materials in a timely manner? Say PEACE OUT to scope creep, projects lasting months longer than they should’ve, and that overwhelming feeling of projects dragging on.