Life and Work with Molly Cavanaugh

Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Cavanaugh.

So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Since I was little, I have had a MILLION interest. I drove my parents crazy by making them let me try everything from gymnastics to painting to music to horseback riding and nearly everything in between. My dad being a musician really influenced me to pursue it myself and that did take hold for a while. I even got a degree as a Music Educator. However, after a few years of teaching in public schools, I felt suffocated and stifled.

Since then, I have made it my goal to create a life where I get to be my own boss and to do the things I love.

That is how Merrow Design was born.

It started out as music – performing and teaching hundreds of clients over the past few years. Then, last year, I ventured into photography and had the chance to photograph some amazing families and couples.

Then, I decided to travel. I spent the summer with my boyfriend and my dog, driving from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, visiting amazing places like the Badlands in South Dakota, Yoho National Park of Canada, La Push in Washington, and Mt. Hood in Oregon.

While on the road, living in a car, I couldn’t work on music or photography. However, some colleagues noticed the websites I had made for my businesses and asked if I could make theirs. I dove in and realized how much I LOVED web design for small businesses and creatives.

I am really good at understanding client needs and finding creative ways to deliver solutions, which is what I do for my clients, but also what I help them do for theirs.

Small business owners are usually one-man (or small team) productions. Many times, they DIY their websites or don’t even have one at all. Many don’t realize just how powerful their website can be! With good market research, branding, and SEO optimization, a website can be found by an ideal client and can actually HELP generate sales of products and services – all while the business owner is focusing on their business, or even just living their life.

And I’ve found total freedom. I get to work 100% remotely, which means spending more time with my dog, visiting family, traveling to new places, and so much more.

Now that I’ve found freedom and success in my life by doing work I love and creating space to live my life, I feel really passionate about helping small business owners and creatives find their own sense of freedom and success.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Oh, absolutely not, haha. We tend to grow up hearing that we need to pick something and “stick with it” to be successful. However, that’s just not true. Not everyone will know what they want to do with the rest of their life at 18. I barely knew who I was or even how big the world was at 18. I picked a major in music education because it was what I knew, but I have so many other interests and abilities I hadn’t found out about yet.

I was just reading a book called “Range” that shares stories and research on how many people are successful BECAUSE they dabble and try different things.

We are told we have to find our purpose and passion – as if it’s one thing that will remain the same for our entire lives. But passion comes and goes. And our purpose isn’t always just one field of work.

By learning multiple disciplines, we actually widen our knowledge and perspective and learn skills that crossover into many fields. For example, working as a teacher gave me solid communication skills that help me connect with clients. Doing photography helped me understand a lot about visual art and also the needs of a small business.

But just because I know that, doesn’t mean it hasn’t been hard to feel confident in, especially when explaining it to others. (Not to mention parents who were hoping I would go into the medical field and be set for life.)

My journey might seem eccentric or unreliable, but when it comes to figuring out what to do with your life – you never know until you try.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Merrow Design – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I specialize in understanding clients’ needs and using compelling storytelling and beautiful design to deliver solutions. I take the time to do market research for business owners and help them curate a brand that attracts their dream clients and design a web-flow using animated features and story-telling that helps those dream clients fall in love with the business.

Websites need more than just downloading a theme and hoping for the best. They need to show your dream clients why they should choose YOU over everyone else – why you will give them what they need, and it will be even better than any of their other options.

They should be able to organize your subscribers and contact form inquiries, send automated emails to confirm their submissions, and even fill your schedule with bookings.

Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
I watched my parents work themselves into the ground for careers that could never compensate them for the work they put in. They didn’t get to have experiences I saw other parents have that they deserved just as much, like traveling and being able to afford the things they wanted or needed. I realized that I needed to spend my time creating the work-life balance that I wanted, and that I had to learn how to create good work and be compensated for it.

Pricing:

• Websites start at $500
• The packages are 100% custom to each client based on needs and budget

Contact Info:

• Website: www.merrow-design.com
• Email: molly@merrow-design.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/merrow___

Image Credit:
Jacob Joseph

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