My very first real client was SelinskyForce, and the story still gives me goosebumps every time I think about it. At the time, I was helping a friend with a remodeling project, trying to make ends meet while slowly piecing together my dream of building a business. I was literally sanding a cabinet, covered head to toe in dust and paint, when my cellphone buzzed.
On the other end was the CEO of SelinskyForce. We were connected on LinkedIn from his previous role at a company I’d worked with years ago. He had noticed that I’d started a new business and wanted to meet—that day.
In that split second, everything changed. But I couldn’t let him know I was standing there with a sander in one hand and sawdust in my hair. So, I took a deep breath, steadied my voice, and calmly told him, “I’d love to meet, but my calendar is packed this afternoon. How about tomorrow?” Little did he know, my “packed calendar” was more like an empty slate, waiting for a spark like this.
The moment I hung up the phone, it hit me like a freight train: It’s time to take this seriously. This wasn’t just a random opportunity—it was a wake-up call. The very next day, we sat down, and that meeting became the launchpad for everything that followed. I ended up designing SelinskyForce’s website, trade show materials, and contracts. That single moment—standing there covered in dust—was the beginning of StandOut Design as I know it today.
Looking back, I realize that was more than just a first client; it was the moment my dream started to take shape. It reminded me that opportunities often come when you least expect them, and sometimes, you just have to answer the call—dust and all.
Comments