Madyson Chapman - Squarespace Website Designer and Owner of Digital Sun Creative
Madyson Chapman at digitalsuncreative@gmail.com
Madyson, as a talented Squarespace website builder who helped design the Female Power Players website, you play an important role in helping people build their dream businesses! And that's why you've been chosen as a Female Power Player to represent extraordinary women thriving in business! It's a fantastic opportunity to inspire and connect with others. What makes you passionate about supporting women as a Female Power Player?
What makes me passionate about supporting women as a Female Power Player is that I think the community of women supporting other women in business and entrepreneurship is absolutely amazing. I can comment on any post on any platform from other women in business and get only supportive feedback. I think we're in an amazing time where women can grow and flourish in their businesses/jobs, and being a part of the Female Power Player is another way to support women in these roles.
For those that don't know you, can you give some background into your career history, how you got into what you do, and what you have worked on?
For the past few years, I actually worked in agriculture. My job was male-dominated and physically demanding. Every day I dress in jeans, high-viz, and steel-toe boots. The majority of the year I was handling 30-60 pound bags of seed day in and day out. This job truly taught me so much and raised confidence and capabilities I didn't even know existed in myself. Being in a male-dominated role made it difficult to be taken seriously, but every day, I showed up and shined through. I met an amazing man who travels for work in the lineman apprenticeship of Missouri Valley. He helped push me towards chasing my dreams of becoming an entrepreneur and being able to travel with him. With two dogs and moving around constantly we chose to live the camper lifestyle and have been loving it ever since. Website design kind of fell into my lap as I was exploring Virtual assisting services and making a website for myself, I kind of fell in love with the entire design process, and that's when I decided I wanted to help other small businesses that don't know where to start. This career has been nothing but fulfilling since I began. I have connected with and met some amazing business owners all around the United States, learning their stories of why they started their businesses and what they plan to achieve has been so awe-inspiring, and the happiness I bring them with their completed website has been so rewarding. I’ve worked with many different types of businesses so far, from dog grooming, rock engraving, holistic body healing services, the Female Power Player’s website, and a website for a mother with a daughter that has cerebral palsy, hoping that the website I design her will help give other mother’s in her situation inspiration, tips, and faith that they’re not alone in their journeys.
What type of people are you looking to connect with, and what can you help them achieve?
I'm looking to connect with small business owners. I want to help them achieve their first website and provide them with whatever extra help I can in their business. It's hard starting out and knowing what to do. Having someone who has a different perspective and knowledge can make a world of difference.
Tell us a little about you as a person, not just as a professional.
A little bit about me... Morning is my favorite time of day and I love being outside! So every day I start my morning with a long walk with my two dogs with another one somewhere else throughout the day. I own two blue heelers that are full sisters and one horse that makes my heart full. On the weekends, my boyfriend and I travel to northern Wisconsin to his and his family's property, where we fish all weekend long before returning home on Sunday nights. I have a very big heart and make friends wherever I go. I love getting to know people and sharing stories. People always have known me for being funny and a kind person, and that alone makes me so happy that I’ve made a positive impact in their lives that way.
What is something you notice is shifting in your industry?
A shift I notice in my industry is that many people are doing website design and virtual assisting, so finding a way to stand out and become an expert in your field is a must.
Share a favorite quote of yours and why.
"There is peace in knowing that you will never miss out on what's truly meant for you." I absolutely love this quote because it holds so much truth. There are days when you feel like you're not doing your best, you get rejected from a position you thought you'd love and be perfect for, or burnt out and think your business wont be successful, but the truth is that there is always something bigger and better in your future. The things that don't always go your way are just guidance and direction toward the life we're truly meant to live. So instead of saying, "Why did this happen to me" look at what it can teach you and how blessed you are later when you didn't get what you thought you wanted.
What are some fun memories you have from various women's businesses you have been involved with and what advice would you give to someone thinking about creating a website with SquareSpace?
A really fun memory and connection I made was with a woman in Illinois that contacted me about getting a website done. We began to chit chat and I told her my boyfriend was from Illinois but his family came from Poland when they were young, she then too said she was originally from Poland many years ago as well. It was so cool that we were able to connect that way, she was such a nice woman and I loved helping her design her website. The advice I would give someone on creating a website is don't be afraid to ask for help! I know it can be intimidating asking a professional Squarespace designer for help/assistance but they might see something you don't and bring new ideas forward.
As someone who has strategized and written websites for 24 years, I get what a complicated process it can be. How do you keep the process simple for people?
I try to keep the process as simple as possible for people by being very upfront about expectations and what they want out of their websites. I begin by having a 15-20 minute call with a potential client to ask about their business and tell me more about what they want from it, what having a website would gain, and then what the structure of the website would look like. Then if we're a good match and want to do business together, I send them a questionnaire that goes over a more detailed list of how they want their website to look and finer details of it so I can get started. I do 4 revisions throughout the whole process, point out things I want them to look at specifically, and then make the needed alterations until we finish the website.
What are some of the challenges or obstacles you've seen women face within the business world? How would you recommend overcoming these challenges?
I think sometimes women have challenges of being taken seriously, depending on what profession they're in they can be put on the back burner when it comes to ideas and plans to help the business grow. I think a way to overcome all of that is to be persistent, and if there's a big struggle to be had with getting ideas across, start planting the seed that it's the other person's idea until they finally start coming to you because they know you're the one making results happen.
What do you do for fun when you're not working?
When I'm not working, I usually go outside on a walk, ranger rides, fishing, hiking, bike riding, horseback riding, and hanging out with my friends and family. I have a large plant collection that makes me very happy but makes my boyfriend think I’m a little crazy (lol). My favorite way to unwind at the end of my work day is cooking supper for my boyfriend and me. I'm a huge cook! I try to make the most out of my life every chance I can get.
How do you maintain a work-life balance while managing a demanding career? What strategies do you employ to prevent burnout and prioritize self-care?
I kind of made my work-life and business life one. I find a lot less stress by creating a flow throughout the day where I'm not neglecting my needs, but I’m still present and getting things done in my business that need to get done. In the afternoon, after my "business hours" are closed for the day if I’ll respond to emails and messages if I like but if they aren’t pressing and can wait until the next day they will. I think with running your own business, you need to be present in it more than you would just an average job, but also be transparent with the people you choose to work with and set boundaries if you're unable to talk after certain hours of the day or during the weekend. We're all humans. We have our needs, lives, and families to take care of. It's important to be transparent and understanding.
Can you share a specific example of a time when you had to overcome a difficult situation or make a tough decision in your role? How did you handle it, and what lessons did you learn from that experience?
I, fortunately, have been very blessed not to have needed to make any super tough decisions in my role.
What are some emerging trends or changes you foresee in the design and website building industry? How do you adapt to these changes and stay ahead of the curve?
Some emerging trends I noticed are that website design platforms are becoming easier and easier for business owners, and there's a lot of competition between platforms. I don't think this is a bad thing. To adapt to these changes, I need to constantly present myself as a specialist in my business because no matter what there are still businesses out there that need the help I provide. A lot of business owners value their time more than money so they aren’t afraid to make the investment of a professional helping them with a project that will benefit their business in the long run.
What do you think stops people from creating their dream businesses and are these things that can be overcome?
I think what stops some people is the hidden fear of being too successful. It sounds crazy but I believe it to be true. They subconsciously convinced themselves that they can't achieve those goals. Thoughts like "Well, that might be too much to manage" or "What would I do with all that money?" and they talk themselves into not chasing their dreams. Humans are creatures of comfort, so doing things like chasing their dream business is one step out of their comfort zone, so they get stuck in life where they're at. I think if people took more initiative to find self-help, read some books, journal, meditate, surround themselves with other successful people, and a leap of faith then they too could achieve their wildest dreams.
What are some resources that you can share that could be of help to those wanting to develop their SquareSpace website?
I would say take some courses and go onto YouTube to find out as much as you can about Squarespace design. There are also Squarespace web design pages on Facebook that are so helpful along with Squarespace's customer service team. Even Squarespace has its own courses!
What always puts a smile on your face?
When my clients are happy with my work! I put a lot of time and work into making their website exactly how they want and when I deliver the results they want and it brings them happiness and success in their business and in turn it makes me so happy!
What are your future goals and aspirations? How do you plan to continue growing and making an impact?
My future goals are to keep growing my business to help more small businesses thrive. I plan to keep learning as much as possible as I grow as a business owner and an individual. I may eventually niche down towards a certain business type, so I become a specialist in whatever field I choose. I want to provide businesses with websites, marketing materials, newsletters, and blogs. I hope the impact I make on these small businesses is nothing but positive and growth for them and build long-lasting relationships.
Have you had any mentors or role models who have influenced your career? If so, how have they helped shape your approach to business and leadership?
No one on one mentors yet, but I have plenty of role models. Abbey Ashely with Virtual Assistant Savvies taught me a lot about Virtual Assisting as a whole, Paige Brunton and David Alex for teaching me a lot about Squarespace design, and Becca Harpain for all of the fun code that I can put into Squarespace websites!
If you could trade places with any fictional character for a day, who would it be and why?
Snow White! I'm a huge animal lover, and I wish I could sing and have animals come out of nowhere to greet me.
