Most people don’t dream of becoming entrepreneurs in the lab. But when science meets innovation, business ideas are born.

In this episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer, I’m joined by Dr. Nathan Bryan, a molecular medicine researcher turned product-based business owner. He shares how his discoveries around nitric oxide led to supplements, skincare, and therapeutic innovations—and how branding and marketing have been just as critical as the science itself.

You’ll learn:

• Why communicating benefits matters more than ingredients or features
• The role branding plays in building trust for premium products
• How to differentiate your business in a crowded market
• Why mission and vision must lead before profit

Grab a cup of coffee, your notes, and get ready to redefine how you think about product-based branding.

And if you're tired of wasting time on invoices, tracking payments, or chasing overdue bills, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FreshBooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. It’s the all-in-one invoicing and accounting software I use to stay organized and focus more on design - not admin.

Aventive Academy’s Resources:

From Crickets to Clients: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/crickets-to-clients/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

$12k Client Attraction Masterclass: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Client Portal for Designers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Mockup Magic: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/mockup-magic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Brand Guidelines Template: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/brand-guidelines/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

12-Week Business Program for Designers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/profit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join My Weekly Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventive-academy.ck.page/0fc86a336f⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Creative CEO Accelerator: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator⁠

What does it really take to show up confidently as a designer?

In this episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast, I’m talking with Jeremy Slagle, the founder of Slagle Design. With decades of experience, Jeremy shares what it means to have the courage to create, how he built his studio, and why staying curious has been a key part of his process from day one.

We also talk about working with clients, building trust, and how design is just one piece of what makes a creative business thrive.

You will learn:

• How Jeremy transitioned from designer to studio owner
• The services he offers and who his typical clients are
• What courage and creative confidence really look like in practice
• His advice for designers who feel stuck or unsure about the next step

Grab a cup of coffee, your notes, and get ready for a grounded, honest conversation about what it means to build a fulfilling creative career.

And if you're tired of wasting time on invoices, tracking payments, or chasing overdue bills, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FreshBooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. It’s the all-in-one invoicing and accounting software I use to stay organized and focus more on design - not admin.

Aventive Academy’s Resources:

From Crickets to Clients: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/crickets-to-clients/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

$12k Client Attraction Masterclass: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Client Portal for Designers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Mockup Magic: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/mockup-magic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Brand Guidelines Template: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/brand-guidelines/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

12-Week Business Program for Designers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/profit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join My Weekly Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventive-academy.ck.page/0fc86a336f⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Creative CEO Accelerator: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator⁠

Being fully booked does not always mean you are successful. I know because I hit ten thousand dollar months as a freelancer and still felt broke, exhausted, and trapped. In this episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast, I am breaking down the real difference between freelancing and running your business like a CEO and why making this shift changed everything for me.

You will learn:

• Why freelancing keeps you in survival mode even when revenue looks good
• The mindset shift that allowed me to position myself as a Creative CEO
• How productizing my services and building systems gave me control
• What life and business look like once you stop hustling and start leading

Grab a cup of coffee, your notes, and get ready to rethink what success really means as a designer.

And if you're tired of wasting time on invoices, tracking payments, or chasing overdue bills, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FreshBooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. It’s the all-in-one invoicing and accounting software I use to stay organized and focus more on design - not admin.

Aventive Academy’s Resources:

From Crickets to Clients: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/crickets-to-clients/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

$12k Client Attraction Masterclass: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Client Portal for Designers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Mockup Magic: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/mockup-magic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Brand Guidelines Template: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/brand-guidelines/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

12-Week Business Program for Designers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/profit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join My Weekly Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventive-academy.ck.page/0fc86a336f⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Creative CEO Accelerator: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator⁠