In this episode, Emily Court shares her unconventional journey from freelance writer to brand and web designer for solopreneurs. She opens up about the career-altering conversation that inspired her to pivot into design, what it was like to land her first high-stakes client project, and how she built a booked-out business without relying on inbound leads. Emily also talks about working through chronic illness, why she never thrived in traditional jobs, and how solopreneurship gave her freedom and purpose. She unpacks the emotional and strategic layers of building a business that actually fits—and sustains—her life, and why helping others break free from broken systems fuels her every day. Plus, she teases what’s next: a productized offer and a podcast of her own.

(00:00) Intro

(01:06) From freelance writer to designer

(02:32) The pivotal conversation with James Martin

(06:50) Emily’s first major design client

(09:33) Building credibility through public work

(12:59) Managing growth and booking out

(14:13) Client fit and discovery call red flags

(20:30) The balance between style and flexibility

(23:46) Lessons from cancer, chronic illness, and healing

(28:00) Designing for people like her

(30:25) Choosing meaning over scale

(32:34) Why working with solos feels different

#50 The Emily Court Route