27. On Finding Joy as a Digital Entrepreneur at 55+ with Anne LaFollette

Overview

In this episode, I’m joined by Anne LaFollette, the founder of Anne LaFollette Art, a thriving digital business centered around surface pattern design. Anne found her way to this work after a 25+ year career in corporate with retailers such as Esprit, The Gap, and Old Navy. 

Anne’s story is one of Sustainable Ambition, as she forged a new path for herself and opened a new door building a creative business when the corporate door closed in her 50’s. Having an unexpressed love of art that manifested in a collection of art supplies purchased over the years and with a nudge from her husband and mother, Anne found her way towards a creative business that is both successful and brings her a tremendous amount of joy.

Listen in to hear about Anne’s journey and her counsel to achieve Sustainable Ambition both in managing through a career transition and in the day-to-day, finding a more sustainable work-life while still being ambitious. 

Thank you so much for being on, Anne! It was wonderful to speak with you!

More about Our Guest

Anne LaFollette is a surface pattern designer, coach, and founder of a company she started after a 25 year career climbing the corporate ladder at global retailers like Esprit, Gap and Old Navy. After suddenly and unexpectedly losing her job, she explored her creativity at the age of 55, which is when she discovered surface pattern design. She now runs a thriving entrepreneurial business built around her love of this creative endeavor that includes courses, an art club, a TV channel on YouTube, and more.

Topics Covered

  • Anne shares her story of losing her corporate job after a long career and 15-years at her last company and how she found her way to becoming a digital entrepreneur in her late 50’s and 60’s.

  • What did she find helpful during this transition time? Having family that had her back and served as mirrors to show her what might be her next path. Her husband guided her to pulling out all the art supplies she had been collecting for years, and her mother reminded her of her creative side. With that as encouragement, Anne took an art course and found a love for surface pattern design. She has since created a business around surface pattern design, including her own work and teaching the practice to others.

  • She also found that practicing her art was a healer in many respects. Perhaps finding a creative endeavor, your art, can support you during such a transition.

  • She looks at her work differently now, seeking to find joy and to do something that is good for the soul, while also building a legacy and giving back.

  • We talk about creating space and getting away from our phones to support our achieving more sustainability in our lives.

  • Whenever doing something new, be open to be a beginner and getting into learning mode. And if you are going to learn a new skill, take Anne’s mom’s advice—go to the pros. Even if you’re still in school or in grad school, the advice applies; Anne’s mom said forget about the course, go find the best professors.

  • A core for Anne to her sustainability is being a lifelong learner. I mean, she went and learned not just how to sketch and create art, but also Adobe Illustrator, which as she says “is no joke.” It isn’t! It’s a complicated program. So, you, too, can always learn new things, as Anne demonstrates.

  • How is Anne building a sustainable business? Being disciplined about what she builds and not adding more than is needed. For example, she just has one course that she offers and won’t add another.

  • I ask her how people might think about leaving a Corporate gig when it comes to thinking about stability and income. Anne is now making more than she used to in her Corporate job, but that took time, as she notes. And, that can’t be guaranteed. But, it is possible. So, where to start? Anne would say start with a strategic plan.

  • Anne warns—don’t get in the comparison trap. One of her students says, “Don’t compare your blooper reel to someone’s highlight reel.”

  • Anne’s motto when she invested in learning to fuel her business was that she had to implement it and earn back at least the cost of the program. Sage advice. Implement what the pros are telling you!

  • Anne’s lessons and advice—give yourself some grace, and watch for burnout. Passionate and ambitious people need to be reminded when to take a break and to pace ourselves.

  • We close with our rapid fire questions, and Anne’s final piece of advice so people can achieve Sustainable Ambition? Pacing is really important. Consider doing as Anne does—create a year at a glance. She maps out her year and makes it visual. In doing so, she ensures she doesn’t overload herself at times and ensures there are breaks in her calendar for regeneration and recovery.

Resources Mentioned

About Anne and her upcoming course:

Other resources Anne mentions:

Thanks for Listening!

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27. On Finding Joy as a Digital Entrepreneur at 55+ with Anne LaFollette

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2021Kathy OnetoRight Aspiration, Right Effort, Right Success