We had the good fortune of connecting with Sam Toerper and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sam, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
As cliché as it may sound, turning 40 flipped a switch in my mind about where I was in life and where (who) I wanted to be. I don’t care much about things like legacy or “leaving my mark”. I just realized I wasn’t happy.

My wife and I decided long ago to prioritize travel and collecting experiences over possessions. It became clear that to focus on what truly made me happy, I needed more control over my schedule. I’m fairly risk-averse financially (because world travel is expensive!), so it took me a couple of years to convince myself that I wasn’t making a terrible mistake by giving up a well paying job. Securing some verbal commitments from local agencies to send steady work my way, combined with some much needed confidence building pep talks by a good friend, finally convinced me. I gave my notice and went downtown to register my business.

My work-life balance has improved 100%, and today I’m a happy, well-traveled person. No regrets.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Apparently, most web developers seem to be a bit… cranky. And maybe somewhat difficult to get in touch with. I honestly don’t know what that is, but I hear it over and over when clients tell me about “the last guy”. As simple as it sounds, I suppose I’m most proud of being neither: I love my work and am VERY responsive to my clients. It’s been my experience that if I show them they are my priority, and make their work lives easier, they become clients for life. And often, good friends.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I like to experience a city through food. If I’m your guide, we are eating. People come to Texas for BBQ and Tex-Mex. So if there’s time, we are having the experience of standing in line at Goldee’s on a Saturday morning. If not, Cattleack or even Pecan Lodge will just as easily blow their minds. We are eating at Mariano’s so they can see where the frozen margarita was invented. Then we are having tacos at Taqueria La Banqueta to taste the real deal. And if I’ve not worn them out on tacos yet, we might also do the taco tasting at Revolver in Deep Ellum to see what a great chef can do to a simple food. I also tend to believe Dallas does hamburgers better than anywhere in the world. Maple and Motor, Angry Dog, Peak Inn, Lakewood Landing, Rodeo Goat, and so on. You can’t go wrong.

I also like to show off Klyde Warren Park and the museums downtown. I think Dallas shines there. And we probably have to go out to the Fort Worth Stockyards to see some “cowboys”. Everyone wants confirm their vision of Texas, right…

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I 100% would not be writing this today if it were not for Rob Wilson. Rob’s a world-class illustrator, but he’s an even better friend. He convinced me I could make it as an independent, he is my biggest cheerleader, and does a better job promoting my work than I do. If you are associated with the creative community in Dallas (and now New York), you probably know Rob. And you’re probably better for it, like I am.

Secondly, I have to, um, “shout out” my friends at Ashlar Projects. Brooke and Missy have been dream clients from day one and I owe much to them.

Website: https://freehand.studio

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.