Matt Miller
Two years ago, Laptop Lounge member Matt Miller declared his independence and became an entrepreneur. It all started when he turned to Elance for side jobs while working as a graphic designer for a chain of convenience stores in Virginia. The work flooded in, so he turned his freelancing into a business.
Matt and his team at Miller Media build brand new websites, upgrade existing sites, and code games and interactive platforms. With clients in the UK, Australia and around the US, including clients such as Hyatt and Newark Interactive, Miller Media has provided massive upgrades to their clients’ web presences. “If you can think of it, it can be done. That’s pretty much my motto for this company. I like to try to be stumped, and so far it hasn’t happened!”
Matt soon moved from Virginia back to California. “I’ve been very lucky to have the flexibility to take my job with me wherever I go,” Matt says. Without the constraints of a traditional job, Matt enjoyed the freedom to chart his own course, but, after a while, his home felt like the office. He’d look up and realize he’d been coding at his desk for the last 12 hours, and hadn’t interacted with a single person. “I love the collaborative environment of the Laptop Lounge. Even if it’s just a quick five-minute conversation with another member, it’s great to be around like-minded people and discuss our businesses and our ideas. Laptop Lounge has the kind of culture that you just don’t get from working at a coffee shop.”
Matt enjoys other benefits of membership as well. “Joining Laptop Lounge has really cemented my daily routine, but the support I receive on a daily basis from the staff and the other members is priceless. The events, the Mastermind group and the general day-to-day chats with other members have really helped me gain confidence in my endeavors. I’ve already begun to get referrals from other members that naturally come from our discussions during the work day. Since becoming a member, I’ve increased my productivity and increased my income.”
The future looks bright for Miller Media, which now has a staff of four and growing. “There’s so much to learn,” says Matt. “Every day is a new set of problems to solve and I really thrive with lists of challenges. The next couple years are going to be really exciting. I’ve begun to work on some internal projects with my subcontractors that we hope to roll out soon. I’m excited to not only continue to provide great service to my clients, but to also begin to innovate and develop my own ideas with the foundation I’ve built.”
