Andrea Heuston: From Layoff to Leading a Million-Dollar Design Firm

What would you do if your employer laid you off and then asked you to come back two days later? For Andrea Heuston, the answer was starting her own company so no one could ever control her destiny again. In this episode, Andrea joins Alice Tang to discuss her 29-year journey as the founder of Artitudes Design. She shares a candid look at the early mistakes she made with the IRS and how she scaled to $1 million in revenue in just 18 months once she fixed her infrastructure. Learn why Andrea believes you must be "risk tolerant" to hit seven figures and how she uses profit to create joy for others. In this episode, you'll learn: The Infrastructure Pivot: How fixing 1099 and IRS reporting mistakes allowed Andrea to hit $1M in just 1.5 years. The "Tribe" Checklist: The five essential professionals every founder must hire to reach the million-dollar mark. Risk as a Given: Why you aren't taking enough risk if you aren't slightly uncomfortable. Values-Based Decision Making: Andrea's process for saying "no" to money that doesn't align with her core beliefs. Key Moments 01:10 – The Layoff Story: Andrea describes being fired and rehired in the same week and deciding to own her destiny. 02:50 – First Money Memories: Growing up in a household where money was taboo and a source of friction. 03:55 – Money as a Catalyst: Why Andrea uses profit to create security and give back to her community. 05:15 – The 10-Year Fix: Navigating legal and financial hurdles before incorporating the company. 06:05 – The $1M Milestone: Celebrating the first seven-figure revenue mark with an office party. 07:55 – Navigating Social Bias: Growing up in a right-wing family that believed women should only be wives and mothers. 08:50 – The Tenacity Label: Choosing to be "tenacious" rather than "stubborn" to get ahead in business. 10:45 – Gathering Your Tribe: Why you must hire a CPA, lawyer, and coach to reach the next level. 12:15 – Risk Tolerance: Andrea explains why you must "jump and trust yourself" to achieve massive growth. 14:55 – The Gut Check: Using meditation and intuition to handle high-stakes decisions. 17:15 – Forward Progress: Why caring for her employees and her own independence keeps Andrea going during low points. 18:45 – Tenacity and Gratitude: A reflection on surviving a health crisis and the lung capacity to keep pushing forward.