Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex McGinness.
Alex, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started building websites back in the MySpace days. I was that person that changed their profile every other day. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but it was one of the first times I truly harnessed my creativity. Fast forward until after I graduated from college, and I was stuck. I majored in biology and didn’t like it. I was looking for something more. I decided to start practicing yoga at that time, and soon after entered a teacher training program. That’s when everything changed. I got hired at the yoga studio after my training and immediately started working on social media and design. Soon after that, I began managing their website. It was at this point that I decided to go back to school for a certificate in Web Development & Design, and I’ve been pursuing graphic and web design ever since. I work freelance with clients through The Catalyst Studio and offer branding, graphic design and web development services.
While I began building my design business, I also began diving into my intuition. Then, during a trip to Joshua Tree, I had a vision for a deck of oracle cards. That is when I discovered the idea for The Desert Oracle Deck. Within a month’s time, I wrote and designed 52 cards that were meant to inspire change and help people become acquainted with their best selves. From there, a 2-year journey began to develop the product and get it ready for the market. The cards recently launched in October 2019 through Alex Changes the World, another business I started to sell the cards. I plan on selling more products through the company in the future including collage art prints, other oracle decks and more.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of my biggest struggles throughout this whole journey is having patience. I’ve had to learn, sometimes the hard way, that the universe doesn’t always work in the ways you have planned. This is especially true with my oracle decks. I had them created in a month’s time, but it took over two years to figure out how to manufacture them. It was a struggle at times to believe that I could really do it, but I persevered and it paid off.
The same goes for my design business. I’ve had to have patience with myself, my clients and even my business. I have had to remind myself that I am just starting out and not everything is going to be perfect. I have to learn from my mistakes and have patience with myself through the process. It’s not an easy road, but for me, it is really fulfilling. Staying strong through the hard times has helped me push through the challenges, be patient and succeed as an entrepreneur.
What has helped me the most through this entrepreneurial journey is my yoga practice. It gives me the space, time and freedom to go deep into my body and recenter myself. It allows me to get clarity on my path and what I should be doing in my life. It gives me the confidence to be who I truly am and let that shine. I recommend yoga to everyone. Having a form of meditative movement in your life is amazing for your health.
Alright – so let’s talk business. What else should we know about you and your career so far?
I am a digital designer who focuses on branding, graphic and web design. I do everything from building websites to designing oracle decks. I truly believe in community over competition and work hard to make sure that the brands I collaborate are aligned with my beliefs and morals. My focus with my work is to create unique designs that set themselves apart from others. I want my clients to feel truly supported when they work with me. That is always my number one goal when working with others.
I am most proud of actually completing The Desert Oracle Deck. It was a labor of love, and I am so honored to get to share its magic with the world. The deck is meant to assist the collective in diving into their intuition and get to know themselves. Through this work, people can start living more authentic lives from a place of love.
Which women have inspired you in your life?
One of my biggest inspirations is Tammy Fodrey from Malas in Bloom. I witnessed her create her business and really transform herself from a yoga instructor to mala-making mogul. She has created such an authentic and spiritually-aligned business. It really is providing a special and unique offering to the world. Through her example, I believed I could succeed in creating a business of my own. I wouldn’t have been able to create my own offering and bring it to fruition without her support along the way.
My other inspiration is my dear friend Dereme Church. She is a strong, powerful woman who has always paved my own way. She is an artist, chef and overall amazing person. We met in teacher training and have since become really close. Her guidance, mentorship and support allowed me to bloom into the powerful, an entrepreneur that I am today.
Pricing:
- Branding – 750
- Website Design – 2500-4500
- The Desert Oracle Deck – 50
- Graphic Design – Depends on Scope
Contact Info:
- Website: thecatalystudio.com and alexchangestheworld.com
- Phone: 760-277-4137
- Email: hello@alexchangestheworld.com
- Instagram: @alexchangestheworld, @thecatalystudio and @thedesertoracledeck
- Facebook: facebook.com/thedesertoracledeck
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