Daily Inspiration: Meet Autumn Eden-Goodman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Autumn Eden-Goodman. 

Hi Autumn, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I relocated from Sacramento, CA to Columbus, OH in November 2014. After over 16 years working in technical support for software companies, I took a chance and started working for myself as a technical consultant. I started small with a couple of clients, but over time, I got more and more referrals and have grown my roster to over 50 clients from a variety of backgrounds, including doctors, therapists, coaches, law offices, and financial planners. Though the tasks can vary from office to office, the needs are consistent: a partner to help keep their hardware and software up to date, ensure they are protected when online, and making sure they are HIPAA-compliant where appropriate. 

In addition to my technical work, I am also a semi-pro photographer. I say semi-pro since I’ve sold enough of my work over the years to pay for my equipment and so on but not necessarily enough to pay my bills consistently. I’ve had my work shown in various shops in California and in downtown Columbus, and I’ve been featured at Gallery Hop. I try to keep photography as part of my daily practice, but the pandemic has definitely halted any travel around the U.S. or abroad. 

When I’m not working, I can be found knitting or crocheting, or sewing! I discovered fiber arts in 2018 while recovering from spinal surgery, and I’ve never stopped. I shifted from knitting to sewing when the pandemic started, and there was such a huge demand for masks. As the CDC guidelines shifted, I returned back to my knitting, which brings me immense joy. I love knitting shawls, sweaters, hats, and scarves but also enjoy crocheting blankets. I also cross-stitch and have been designing some patterns that I haven’t released yet. Most of my pieces sell via social media posts or commissions. 

Between my small business, creative pursuits, and family, I am never bored! 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
While there are always small bumps in the road, the pandemic has been, by far, the most challenging obstacle I’ve had to deal with. So many of my clients rely on my hands-on skills, but we were limited to remote sessions until a little earlier this year. Between the majority of my clients working in clinical settings and my family being considered high risk for various reasons, it made it very difficult to maintain a consistent schedule. Thankfully I have loyal clients who have been understanding and willing to work via Zoom or FaceTime, etc., but it truly isn’t the same as being able to see each other in person, and it definitely had a major impact on my business over the last couple of years. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m uniquely positioned as a technical consultant in that I’m self-employed and can choose who I work with and what our work together will look like. For one client, I’ll help set up a new computer, migrate their data over from an old device, and get them trained to use their new equipment while for another; I will scan their patient records, upload them into an online patient management solution and help ensure that their work is always secure and HIPAA-compliant. One day I’ll be setting up an office with the ability to scan from a network printer to client desktops, and another, I’ll be diagnosing a failing hard drive and recommending upgrades. I love that I have so much variety to my work and that my clients trust me to provide them with appropriate and timely solutions. 

One of the reasons I started in this line of work is there are so few women in tech doing what I do. So many of my clients worked with technical firms that were overcharging and under-delivering. They had monthly maintenance fees for websites that were never updated. They had hard drives failing but were told they needed to replace their entire computer unnecessarily. I found phone and internet plans that were never reviewed, and I was able to get better speeds and pricing, which resulted in savings every month. 

The most important aspect of what I do is ensuring that my clients understand the options available to them, why I’m suggesting solutions, and trying to resolve issues while saving money wherever possible. It is incredibly frustrating to see how clients have overpaid for basic work and been led to solutions that were unnecessary and expensive. There are times where they just want an issue fixed and hand the project off to me to resolve, but they can do so knowing that I always have their best interests in mind. 

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The pandemic has taught me to be patient and flexible. Troubleshooting issues via Zoom or FaceTime isn’t always ideal, but my clients and I have learned how to work together to make the most of our sessions. 

I’ve also learned to pivot as needs arise. When technical work slowed down with the shutdowns, I took up sewing masks and sending out 3D-printed mask clips that my husband helped print. When masks and clips were no longer needed, I took on custom knit commissions. It’s wonderful to see that the need for handmade items is always there. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.byautumn.com
• Instagram: @autumnedengoodman