Conversations with Megan Lollman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Lollman

Hi Megan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was working in IT and dreaming of a change. My (now) husband, Blake, and our good friend, Alex, own a freelance business as a little side hustle and were currently working on a website project that needed a copywriter. I had never done copywriting before, but I did used to write creatively a lot in high school and college, so Alex reached out. I was hesitant that I could do the job justice, but Alex and Blake encouraged me to give it a shot. I fully committed to the gig; bought books, watched some online courses and webinars, did some industry research, uncovered my long-time stored whiteboard I used to use for outlining my novels. After the project wrapped and everything went well, I wondered if there could be a real future here. I’d always wanted to be writer growing up, albeit a creative one, but hey, who was I to complain about getting paid to write at all. I was still working my full time job as an IT tech, and when more copywriting opportunities didn’t arise in the following couple of months, the dream started to fizzle a little. Would I just need to stay at my IT job? That was definitely the most practical thing to do.

But then Alex brought another opportunity to me, one I would have never saw coming. There was a new kid on the block in the website building industry called Webflow. Though historically, their freelance company, Midwestern Originals, built custom code websites, they were experimenting with this new tool. I knew next to nothing about website development. I mean, I dropped a little code on my MySpace page a few decades ago, but that was about it. I had seen what my husband works on, who is a custom developer, and I’d swear I was staring into the Matrix. I thought Alex had to be joking. Writing was one thing, but website development? But Webflow was different, it was visually building, not code. I started to learn it, this time by watching Webflow’s own educational videos and rebuilding famous sites like Apple and Netflix on my own. Everything was so foreign to me. Even really simple building blocks were a struggle to wrap my head around. Slowly, though, I started to gain excitement and confidence for the skill and the tool.

At the same time, the end of the year was fast approaching and I felt I needed to make a decision about my current job. Do I do the safe, practical thing and keep my IT job that I know will pay the bills, or do I take the plunge at 27 years old and start a new career as a Webflow freelancer? Well, I’d hope the water was fine, because I was jumping in.

That first year was scary. I was not only still learning Webflow on the fly, but also learning how to be self-employed. I made a lot of mistakes that first year (which I found out come tax season) and my income was less than half of what it was at my IT job. I cannot stress enough how lucky and fortunate I was to have my husband’s support during that time. Without that, none of this could have been possible. Blake and Alex both never stopped believing in me. And despite the income woes, I was happier at work than I’d ever been. I continued to learn and grow as a developer and a freelancer and the following year in 2020, I doubled my income from the previous year.

In the years that followed, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some really great clients, big and small businesses, non-profits, and some from the KC area, like Mother Clucker! and 3rd Street Social. I’ve forged friendships and partnerships with other successful women freelancers and creative agencies all over the country. I’ve loved every day with this job, even the hard days. Before I got here I didn’t know what it was to love what you do, but boy am I glad I believed in myself enough to take that risk and jump.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s not been a smooth road, but I do think I’ve had some good fortune. My biggest struggle when beginning this journey was not having any formal training or college degree in anything. I felt a little trapped at my current job because I knew it would be difficult to find another job that interested me and yet also paid the bills. It honestly felt impossible.

The challenges were not just financial, however. In late 2019, I started developing some chronic stomach and pain issues and by the time the pandemic was in full swing, I was having a hard time functioning at a normal level. I was immensely thankful for my freelance job at that point, because working a normal 9-5 job would not have been possible. I often refer to this time as my “raccoon era” because I was scurrying around at random hours of the day and night, working when I could, sleeping when I couldn’t. With the help of my therapist and doctor, I finally started to heal in mid-2021. Unfortunately, it was also around that time that I lost my dad to cancer. It was definitely the toughest time in my life, and having a job that gave me so much confidence and safety, as well as a creative outlet, was invaluable. I can truly say I’m proud of what I overcame and built.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Mainly I am hired through Midwestern Originals to build websites in Webflow. Webflow is a visual development platform that is a sort of halfway point between a completely custom-coded website and something like Squarespace. It allows for more custom, complex builds. I work directly with clients as well as other creative agencies that are working with their own clients. Sometimes, a website design is brought to me and I bring it to life on the web, achieving their vision to include things like animations and complex functionality. We also offer design services for clients who are looking for something new and fresh. I’m proud of all of the sites I’ve built, but I have a special place in my heart for non-profits and local businesses. I find people’s passion is infectious and it’s especially prominent with small businesses and non-profits.

In my spare time, I’ve been exploring digital illustration and branding work. Currently, I’m reveling in the opportunity to create logos and visuals for my brother’s punk band. I also did the rebrand for Midwestern Originals in 2023.

Being creative at work gives me so much energy. It is one of the greatest joys of this job.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something people who know me may not know. This one is tough, because most people who know me, really know me. I’m one of those people who oozes passion for everything. If I discover a new hobby or interest in something, good luck getting me to shut up about it. In fact, I’ll probably try to get you do it with me! I really have too many passions for hours in the day. I love sports, playing and watching. Lately that’s been mostly disc golf, but I also love archery. I’m also a true introvert at heart and enjoy my cozy hobbies like reading and gaming.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.midwesternoriginals.com/