Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Maggie DeCesaris, Founder of Unlimited Editions, located in Hilversum, The Netherlands.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Unlimited Editions offers all-around linguistic services, from (copy) editing to content creation, translation, and more. Originally my clients consisted mainly of university students, but as my business has grown, mostly through client referrals, I've also had clients from law firms and higher academic and research facilities.
Tell us about yourself
I've always had a passion for language and writing since I was a child and would always edit whatever I could get my hands on (often without being asked, which was not always appreciated), but this was purely a hobby. Upon moving to the Netherlands ten years ago, my then-partner had friends in university that needed help writing and editing their master's theses in English and suggested me to them, for which I asked a very, very small fee. My first clients were so happy with the work I did that they paid me much more than what I had asked for and proceeded to refer me to all of their university classmates and friends, so before I knew it, it was turning into an almost full-time job. After a few years of doing it as a side gig on top of jobs like babysitting and waitressing, I decided to quit the latter jobs, register my business, and focus on building it up. Since starting up as a freelancer inevitably means unstable income, I also got a job as a linguistic editor for an international tax law academic research company, where I gained technical language skills on the job, and through that, the authors of the books and journals I was editing started contacting me outside of the company to do freelance work for them. I love hearing when clients are so happy and impressed with the work done; it's so nice to do something that I just think is fun, and people appreciate it so much to pay for it.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I think the thing I am most proud of in terms of my business is the fact that my clientele has expanded so rapidly based pretty much exclusively on referrals. I've done little to no advertising -- I actually wasn't even planning on doing a business out of this at all. It's purely through satisfied clients that Unlimited Editions became a reality.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I would have to say, at least as a one-person business or freelancer, financial stability is the biggest concern. Luckily the work I do doesn't require me to incur material expenses, and I can work remotely wherever and whenever I want, but even so, sometimes there are good months and sometimes not-so-good months in terms of how much work is coming in. It has also happened often that I have gotten assignments while I was on vacation and had to work through them, which also isn't the healthiest thing to do. The important thing is to find a balance!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- If you've got a natural talent or something that you really like doing and people express any kind of interest in it, it's a business opportunity. You can turn anything you want into a living!
- Make sure the content of your business is something you really enjoy, but at the same time, be cautious: if it becomes too difficult or competitive, it can also ruin hobbies for you, but as long as you keep enjoying doing it while earning money off of it, it can be the best job you've ever had.
- Of course, money is important (that's why we do it, after all), but try to find a balance between your work and personal life. It's important to (strictly) designate time for yourself and get into a stable work routine so you can maintain a balance and keep enjoying running your business.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: http://www.unlimitededitions.eu/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-decesaris-638613102/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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