YHP Interviews the Founder of Vive Designs

Vive Designs provides these services:

BUSINESS CARDS
BUSINESS APPLICATIONS
FLYER DESIGNS
LOGO DESIGNS
WEBSITES

Hello, how are you?

I’m good thank you, how are you doing?

I’m ok, just excited that I’m interviewing another young entrepreneur.

Briefly give us some more information about yourself; you know everyone wants to know who is behind vive designs, so what is your name? How old are you? Where do you live?

Well I’m Tina, from east London, 24 years old, a young educated and dedicated chick!
Graduated in 2006 from Kingston, Bsc (Hons) Computer Information System, I’m also
MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) got the certificate signed by the man himself Bill Gates! I thought I’d slip that in since the exam was 4 hours straight!

Wow, Four hours, I’m definitely not taking that exam then (Laughter!!).

Back to you Tina, sorry.

I have a genuine passion for InformaionTechnology which is evolving our world every day, and I’m also due to take my CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Engineer) exam.

So when did you start vive designs?

Hmmm well Vive Designs is funny as it started by itself or let’s say unintentionally by me. At uni one of my modules was to create a flash website, at the time I wasn’t really that into web design and was more into the Project Management side, I submitted a “Project”, which I will let you judge, you can view it at www.vivedesigns.com/my1stwebsite
http://www.vivedesigns.com/my1stwebsite and I got (D) for dummy for
it (Laughter)!

Tina, I would have to be real with you on this one, I would have given you a D aswell, on a generous day, maybe a D+ (Laughter).

I then had to design a web application for my final year dissertation which I took more seriously. The company I did the project for later on asked me to design a quick site for them, just a page with their name, address a few pictures etc, so I went and bought a book and taught myself Flash MX, so that was that and a few months later, someone else
called me and was interested in a website after seeing that site and that was end of 2007, so my 1st proper website was “www.vivedesigns.com/mcadams”, which is not too bad.
Well, it’s the effort and dedication that matters; you have come a long way from this website.
Since then I haven’t done any major advertising just word of mouth really I been so busy i haven’t had time to really put myself out there and just about made a Facebook group. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113852005436&ref=mf
I just thank God as he is the one directing Vive Designs, I really never saw this coming God is my project manager.

Why start a business?

Ahhh (deep breath) why start a business?
For me personally it aint really about why start a business its about the individual behind it, im the sort of person if my heart is in something and I start it be sure that I finish it, I know of many people who “Start” a business but within few hours, weeks, months you never hear about it again, and their drive and passion about it has gone. Having your own business has many advantages, you are in 100% control and it’s a massive learning curve, oh and the money is sweet!

Do you feel it is difficult starting up a business?

It is difficult, but im grateful for the people around me who have been an encouragement from the beginning, I think a lot of business starters need that push and positive words to keep them going, they need to hear it to help them pursue their dreams.
Business starters need to get up when they fall as failure is not falling down but staying down… ahhh the things you learn at my church Glory House!

Why the name vive designs?

VIVE Design was made up by me and a friend; there was no real motive behind it to be honest. I had loads of names in mind, Banana designs, Avocado Designs (Laughter)… I look back and can only laugh!
But on a serious note the VIVE stands for VISION, IMAGINATION, VIBRANT, EMPIRE, and it’s definitely expanding into an empire!

Have you encountered any setbacks or negative experience so far and how did you cope with it?

I definitely have and it got harder as VIVE designs started to grow, more than ever from November 2008 it got manic. I got a lot of business come my way not just for web design, but other IT services, anyone who knows me will tell you I hardly slept and Red Bull and I had a serious relationship!
I had to learn to manage my time well, prioritise my work, resolve issues effectively, while balancing new customers and giving them realistic deadlines, I remember buying myself a diary, calendar and other bits to be more organised, (sigh)…it’s not easy.

Can you give you more details about vive designs? What is vive designs made of? What do you do?

Vive Designs provide a whole load of IT services, web design, Business applications, Business IT Infrastructure setup, Technical hardware and software support, the list goes on.

Do you feel that vive designs is different any other related business?

Yes our designs are very different and we often get the WOW response. We are very versatile in our designs and tailor them to the exact requirements of our clients. We also do business cards, logo designs; have a look at www.vivedesigns.com for some of our work.

Who is your Role Model/ Influence?

In terms of business Bill Gates, his ideas got laughed at, he had many knockbacks but look at the man today! I also love the fact he gives so much to charity that is another area which carries a heavy place in my heart.
My family and friends have been there for me and God has truly been my strength as he knew where this was going from the start.

What are the most important lessons you have learnt so far?

You reap what you sow, I honestly work hard I have learnt to be a word of encouragement for others, when clients enquire about a website I also try to encourage them about their own business idea as a few words go a very long way.

What has been the best advices you both been given so far?

Well I appreciate people’s honesty I often hear similar things from people I meet like “You are a positive person”, “You will
make it”, “You’re going places” and it’s just the honest advice good and bad that I hear and learn from.

What are your advices for Aspiring young entrepreneurs looking to web design/development business?

I would say study and work hard at what you do, think about it before you Google it! And if your heart aint in it don’t do it! Lol I feel like a rapper, but I will say it’s about your mind and heart, as I have a genuine passion for this now more than ever.

One of the questions that has been bugging me for quite a while, I need to help me in understanding, do you feel that a university degree is essential in this field of profession?
Especially people that already know how to design and develop?

Nope! It’s all about the passion you have for something, yes I have a degree in IT, but when I did my A’levels I actually struggled with IT and I got better grades in my other subjects but that wasn’t the same story for IT which I got a grade E, which in my books stands for Excellent now!
But my heart was in IT, I share that with you because IT was my weak point but at the same time my passion and i turned it around. People need to know that your grades don’t determine your future; right now I have a verrry good job in IT and run my own business which has taken off beyond what I imagined and I just thank God. 

So what should we expecting next from you and vive designs?

Wow, do you realise what you are asking me? Let just say the sky is not my limit!

Thank you for your time.