So much is at stake in the beginning of a business. Where else in life do we begin so high up in the air—without having the least bit of practice? I happen to love this part. Even in the early years of your business, I can see that essentially profitable story, and tell it visually, so others see it and believe it, too.
When your business has the right visual identity, you’re no longer afraid of heights. You begin to take exciting, profitable adventures. Your business becomes an effortless performance that draws the right crowd.
That’s what we do around here.
Bella Guzmán
If someone had asked me early in life whether I’d rather launch a business or go skydiving, I’m sure I would have said neither.
As it turns out, I grew into quite the reluctant adventurer.
After graduating from college and working in the publicity/design department for an adventure theme park, I eventually opted for both. Skydiving and launching a business.
I’m Bella Guzmán, art director, designer, business sightseer, and proof that following one’s butterflies can lead to the best of places.
True to the name of my business, I’ve never been able to resist the thrill of taking my clients’ businesses to new and ever-more-lovable heights—although these days my adventures tend to be of the escaping-my-hubby’s-ukelele-practice-for-a-local-café-on-a-week-night variety.
[Me, demonstrating my perpetual love of heights, 8 years before launching Highwire Creative]
I possess the ability to see feelings in living color, and to somehow turn those feelings into profitable visual identities. Magic? Not really. Just lots of practice and a deep curiosity about every kind of business.
My professional life as a designer began in the tourism and land development industries in Orlando, Florida. Today, my work makes my clients as enticing to their people as destination vacations.
And now for the fun stuff:
• I’ve created a now-defunct line of greeting cards, the aptly named BitterSweetInk. Even though the business didn’t work out, it did result in one of my proudest multitasking moments. I actually shipped out my last set of greeting cards to the Electric Fetus in Portland while in labor on my way to the hospital! The work I did for the greeting cards provided insight into creating and selling a product, which I bring to my client work today.
• I joined the Army at 17. Now I live in the weirdest city in America.
• I know a great café in Austin. Coffee is on me if you can find me there on a weeknight.
• I love roller coasters and got to test-ride the new coasters at Islands of Adventure® when they were opening the new theme park. We would sometimes have to ride 6-10 times in a row. It’s excellent training for being an entrepreneur.
• Hands in the dirt, gardening, growing stuff – that’s my happy place.
• I have not traveled the globe as much as my Sagittarius soul would have liked, but I’ve always enjoyed exploring cities alone, and hiking with my sweet family and lazily tubing down the river with friends.
• I specialize in the beginnings of things. My mission is to give my clients trust, safety, consistency, and permission to do slightly uncomfortable things—like grow their businesses.
• I love connecting my clients with other great people and watching a new brand unfold before our eyes.
Turn your leap of faith into a profitable adventure. I can’t wait to show you the magic of what your business already is—and what it’s capable of turning into. (Ready whenever you are.)
I am a member of Business + Balance Austin, a unique community
of entrepreneurs dedicated to assisting you in creating a business and
life that supports you inside and out!