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Ep 113 | Learning to say "No," to clients | Maria Manila

Jan 8, 2025
01:13:19

I’m your host, Jack, your failure connoisseur, and today I’m joined by the immensely talented Maria Manila. Maria is the co-founder of Higher Ground Studio, a creative agency that has been crafting high-performing marketing websites for over four years. Alongside her partner Armando, Maria specializes in helping businesses launch, refresh, and expand with clean, modern, and impactful web design.

Maria and Armando’s journey started with a shared vision of traveling the world while building a business together, and their dynamic partnership has led to incredible results. With a reputation for client collaboration and organized, above-and-beyond service, they’ve built a studio that’s as authentic as it is effective. You can check out their impressive portfolio at highergroundstudio.ca.

But of course, no creative journey is without its challenges. In this episode, we’ll explore Maria’s experiences with failure and what she’s learned along the way. Specifically, we’ll dive into:

  • The importance of collaborating with partners earlier in her journey.
  • The risks of neglecting personal growth and skill development.
  • The hard lessons learned from being too flexible with clients.

Maria’s openness to share these lessons is a testament to her growth mindset and dedication to becoming better in every aspect of her work.

00:00 Introduction to Episode 113
00:42 Meet Maria Manila: The Creative Powerhouse
02:00 Discussing Failures and Lessons Learned
05:54 Working with a Partner: Challenges and Advice
12:57 The Importance of Collaboration and Self-Improvement
36:59 Client Scope Changes and Communication Issues
39:23 Difficult Conversations and Ending Contracts
41:30 Learning from Failures and Improving Processes
44:42 Setting Boundaries and Managing Client Expectations
50:17 Embracing Conflict and Personal Growth

WEBFLAIL FREEBIES
10 Step Process To Land Your First Webflow Clients: The Ultimate Guide:
https://www.webflail.com/resources/10-step-process-to-land-your-first-webflow-clients-the-ultimate-guide

LINKS FOR MARIA
‍💻 See Website: https://www.highergroundstudio.ca/
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariamanila/

TRY OUT WEBFLOW
🚀https://webflow.grsm.io/webflail‍

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SAY THANKS
💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
💜 Leave a rating on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5834...

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