Here's what my typical day looks like as a web designer/developer
Here's what my typical day looks like as a web designer/developer

One of my favourite things to read online is "behind the scenes" looks at how my peers (and other creatives) run their businesses and schedule their time. I love playing the comparison game to my own schedule, and usually find myself picking up pointers or suggestions along the way. I always get a kick out of seeing how different or similar our calendars are because just when I feel like a chicken with my head cut off, I'm reminded that we're all out here doing our best with what we have. 

Those of us who freelance or run our own businesses don't always have to follow the traditional 9-5 schedule. THANK THE LORD!

Take a look at how I manage client work, business administration, and ongoing tasks while also balancing out my personal life. I break down a typical day for you so that you can peek behind the curtains to see how I work. I've also created a free printable that will help you design your day, focus on the most important tasks and get sh*t done.

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BusinessCharlotte O'Haralife, my business, it's personal, scheduleComment
Understanding the difference between web design and web development
Understanding the difference between web design and web development

“So, what do you do?”

That’s a simple question but hard to answer, right?

Personally, the way I answer depends on who is asking the question. Do they have any sort of tech background? Will they understand the type of work I do, or do they come from a completely different industry? Is it really something I want to get into? These are all things I consider before I reply.

I usually keep things super simple by saying “I build websites”. However, sometimes I’ll go a little deeper and say that I’m a web designer/developer.

This, my friends, is where I usually lose people. And if we’re being honest, it’s for good reason!

Most people aren’t familiar with how a website is made - they just know that it gets “built”. In reality, a website is a combination of web design AND web development. Sometimes the entire process can be done by one person (like me!) but depending on the complexity of the project it may be completed by several different professionals.

Today we’re going to break down the difference between web design and web development so that we’re all clear on the different roles and responsibilities that go with both parts. Whether you’re interested in starting your own project or hiring it out to someone else, this will give you a better understanding of what’s involved.

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Web Design/DevelopmentCharlotte O'Haraweb design, web developmentComment
A look at the gear I use everyday in my business and life
A look at the gear I use everyday in my business and life

To quote my beloved Sound of Music, “these are a few of my favourite things”!

Lolllllz, I crack myself up.

But jokes aside, I fully admit that I am NOT a minimalist. Yes, I like to keep things simple and focus on quality over quantity. But I still have stuff that I'm not ready to get rid of and I'm okay with that. I know the movement has been sweeping the world by storm, but I don’t think I’ll ever fully get behind it. That’s not to say that I’m a packrat or anything - quite the opposite - but I do know what I like and I’m not afraid to purchase it.

On my website, I share a list of all the Tools & Resources I use to run my business. I do this because I want to show everyone exactly how I’m able to run a lean and profitable business without a bunch of crazy things. If you haven’t checked it out already, I definitely encourage you to visit that page and take a look for yourself.

While that guide is awesome if you really want to see a “behind the scenes” look at what I use to run my business, I also wanted to share my favourite gear and items I use in other areas of my business/life.

The list below covers stuff that I use pretty much every day, both in my business AND in my personal life. I bet if it’s helpful for me, it’ll help you out too.

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BusinessCharlotte O'Haragear, products, things i love, tools, resourcesComment