Exclusive Trusted Magazine Q&A with Nourhan Deeb, Founder @Noon Design
How could you describe your career path in few words?
I graduated with a bachelor in Architecture, but I had a hobby of making customized light boxes for my close circle. Everything that has lights captured my attention. While I was working in an architecture office, I decided to start an Instagram page and show my work and that was just the beginning. I didn’t really understand what entrepreneurship is, I didn’t have a business mindset to grow the business and develop it, but I just started anyway. I didn’t know where am going but I wasn’t really so happy about that job behind the desk During Covid-19, I stopped temporarily and wanted to come back. I had a stock of lighting that I just got before the Lebanese economic crisis and I had to do something about it. I didn’t know what to do so I followed my heart. I made my first luminous cloud for children and things started developing from here a lot. A luminous cloud evolved to wall designs, then full space designs for children. We researched everything about children, safety, mentality, psychology and discovered that designing for children is different from designing to adults. I deep dived in this ocean with lots of competition but now I know I have a vision that I want to create a better space for the future generation. Looking back now at the beginning, I wish I had someone to guide me when I first started, the internet teaches you but doesn’t guide you, so I decided to help people with ideas start their businesses & save the time and effort I had to put to get on the track. What was your most challenging experience and it has changed your mindset?
The Lebanese economic crisis did hit hard, I really didn’t know how to deal, especially with products that are considered as a plus or luxury, and then covid-19 popped up. Many ideas and businesses grew from here but I didn’t have *the mindset* to keep growing. While jumping from one obstacle to another, I became more resilient and able to amend strategies accordingly. Developing a business mindset combined with art was not easy in addition to being emotionally attached to some ideas and thoughts. However, by the end of every day, there’s a small lesson that you will learn then analyze. There are decisions that we have to take and move forward, never back. We don’t wake up every day loving what we do, let’s face it. It’s those days where you push yourself to do it that will make difference. I realized that I grow at my own pace, I am different from others, and everyone has a different story to tell and this is what makes you/your business unique.
Starting a business from a hobby, what should one gain in order to make it happen?
Having a hobby that you’re passionate about and working are separate things, so, imagine the magic of working your hobby and seeing the happy faces behind what you do. Always remember that the happiness you make others feel is the motivation that will keep you going and push you to give more and improve. Even if what we do seems very simple, one hand doesn’t clap on its own, you need to keep learning and reviewing yourself on different levels, your hobby skills, character skills, commitment… where you find a gap, especially from people you work with, because they see what you don’t see. Today, the world is running fast and with growing artificial intelligence, we always need to adjust and adapt accordingly while being genuine to what we do, and I emphasize on being genuine because this is what makes you stand out in the crowd.
Based on your recent experiences, if you had one piece of advice for an entrepreneur's success in the context of 2023, what would it be?
There’s no one magic secret, it’s collective lessons we keep learning. Understanding that we are students who will keep learning from people who are ahead of us but also people who we might think that are behind us will allow developing a growth mindset. It’s very hard to put one piece of advice so here are some of my favorites:
It’s never perfect, now or later, just start and you will gain the expertise needed.
Consistency is a key for success, a basic plan for a long period is better than a perfect plan for a short time.
Don’t blame others for mistakes, save the lesson, and move forward.
Seek help from others and ask questions, you don’t have to do everything on your own.
Focus on what you want, stubborn about your goal, flexible about your method.
