Judith Briggs has been brightening and bringing to life with colour — offices, restaurants, cafes, and other establishments for the past 15 years. As the principal colour designer of Colour Consultants Australia she has a passion for colour and creating “fun, exotic, and eclectic interior spaces.” She has an eye for great colour and uses her expertise in many different areas. Such as, colour psychology, interior decorating, concept design &and direction, branding colours, and strategic colour design for the workplace.
“I believe there’s never been a better time to bring the joy of colour into our lives. Used strategically and in context, colour changes lives. If used well, it not only makes our living spaces ‘sing’, but it promotes better relationships and enhances our wellbeing.”
Judith’s favourite entrepreneur:
“My favourite entrepreneur is Maeve O’Meara. Most people know her from her television program Food Safari. Maeve has written and published several books, her business runs cultural food tours – half days through to several weeks both in Australia and overseas. She followed her passion and her business grew far beyond what she ever imagined.”
Following her dreams and wanting to pressure a career that fulfilled her love for creativity and colour Judith knew that after she graduated she wanted to start her own business and share her passion with others.
“I’ve always loved colour and been creatively orientated. My parents discouraged me from taking up a creative career and told me I needed a real job.”
Three pieces of advice Judith wishes she’d been given when she started her own business:
- Find a support team of others who are in business. You need people to bounce ideas off and to connect with. Share your dreams and goals – create accountability with a group so your goals become a reality.
- Acknowledge your achievements – celebrate the wins, however small.
- It’s easy to immerse yourself in your business. It can be all consuming. You need to remember to make ‘me’ time to recharge your batteries and allow time to think and get new, fresh ideas – new ways to do things.
What advice would YOU give someone thinking about starting a business?
It will be a harder journey than you think. You will feel isolated and at times completely alone on your journey. But you will find your strengths and your weaknesses. You will get to know yourself in a way you could never do working for someone else. It will be the best personal development program you will ever do. You will know when you get to that point, because you will know then that you have become unemployable in the normal sense of the word. That is a good thing – you have become a real individual.
Skills and knowledge Judith recommends those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly:
- Learn what you need to make your business profitable.
- Know your strengths and weaknesses and ask for help where you need it.
- Clearly define your target market.
- Always be learning.
Judith on HerBusiness
“HerBusiness is my business knowledge resource. The library has many varied resources and the Roundtables are a great opportunity to take time out to focus on my business objectives and goals.”
A few ways Judith can help members:
- Creating environments that change behaviour, either in the home or workspace
- Increase the value of real estate
- Manipulating spacial dimensions
- Select the right colours for your brand
- Creating a space for you to experience the joy that colour can bring to your living spaces and life
This post was co-authored by Chantel Shuman. Chantel is completing a journalism internship program at HerBusiness. She studies Strategic Communications at West Virginia University in The United States.
