Creative Black Wall Street is an inspiring series focusing on the Young, Determined, and Ambitious Hustlepreneurs who are making things happen while building their amazing brands!
Today, we're hitting the virtual streets with Brittany, creative illustrator and graphic designer behind BrittLynn Designs. She's a triple threat that has skills in not just illustration and graphic arts, but also photography. BLH Designs opened for business last year + has already proven to be a business worth watching. I caught wind of her work a few weeks ago on Instagram after she liked one of my photos. Life works in mysterious ways ...indeed. Let's get to know this talented hustlepreneur.
Q: Why does BrittLynn Designs make a creative difference?
A: When I began BrittLynn Designs, it was because I wanted to create my own art and share my art with others. Though this mission still reigns true, I decided to expound and create branding graphic art for businesses and young entrepreneurs. I want to make a creative difference by helping beginning entrepreneurs, young creatives, and other business owners. I meet so many wonderful young creatives, who need someone to understand their dreams and their aspirations. BrittLynn Designs’ difference is to understand them, and to take the time to hear their visions, their style, their stories, and we learn from one another. It’s not always about the money that’s made, but the people that you meet and the creativity that you help propel!
A: As a creative, I define hard work as making myself get out of bed in the morning, and getting work done during the week. Leaving my full-time job was difficult, but I knew that in order to accomplish my dream, I had to take that leap of faith! Since I don't have the usual 8-5 job anymore, hard work is getting assignments completed without a supervisor looking over your shoulder. Hard work is never hard if you love your work, even with my most challenging assignments, I carry on and push through because I KNOW that this is what I want to do.
Q: What are 3 lessons you wish you would have learned before becoming an entrepreneur? Why?
A:
- 1- Be prepared for the unexpected. - Things may not always go as planned, just as life. Entrepreneurship takes dedication, leadership and effort, all qualities I had beforehand, but it definitely takes just a little bit more. I researched tips and advice, connected with other entrepreneurs, learned from my clients, and these are the things that have helped me on my journey.
- 2- Stay true to your goals. - As an entrepreneur, if you have a set goal in mind, stick to it. There will be people that say, "Oh, I couldn't be an entrepreneur, I need a steady paycheck." Though this statement has some truth, nothing is guaranteed, even if you have a full-time, 8-5 job. Keeping your head screwed on straight, staying prayerful and depending upon your willpower is the key. Never forget why you're doing it in the first place!
- 3- Legalities - Research what it takes to be an entrepreneur, in the eyes of the law! I researched for weeks before I went live with my website. With only a few months into my entrepreneurship, I am still researching topics of, paying taxes, trademark law, copyright law, LLC/Sole Proprietorship/C-Corps, etc. It will make your head spin, just stay calm, seek guidance and keep record of EVERYTHING!
FILL IN THE BLANKS: If I had words, I could create a book without meaning."
R: As an artist, all you need are the tools, talent, paint brush, whatever, (words) to create art (book) and should not have to provide interpretation or explanation (meaning) – you are an artist, because you express that you are, not by following expectation. As an artist, you are the words that create the book, and therefore, not responsible for the meaning that the words create, because meanings change, the art does not. For instance, if I create an art piece, very obviously, of a woman sitting in a chair, people will establish various meaning to that art piece, thus, the meaning changes, but the art remains the same - a woman sitting in a chair.
A:
- 1) Project Timeline and Time Management - Once I left my full-time job, I had more time to dedicate to my clients, which was great!
- 2) Managing Multiple Projects at once - Managing the time that is spent on each individual project, and multi-tasking.
- 3) Defining pricing and payment guidelines - I researched how to price varying projects and gave myself guidelines on how I would receive payment.
- 4) Balancing Work and Personal Life - Since this is still a job, finding time for myself was still very important and keeping a balance between my professional and my personal life, was also very important, whether it was completing projects for family members or friends.
- 5) Saving the money that was earned - It's easy to go out and purchase pretty things when you have a job that has a consistent paycheck, but I am working two part-time jobs and managing a business, therefore, setting a budget for myself and separating business and personal money is an essential decision.
Q:Where do you see BrittLynn Designs accomplishing within the next year?
A:Within the next year, I plan to launch an online digital magazine, for young entrepreneurs. It is in the beginning stages of trademarking and development, but I am very excited! It will be under a different name, but I will be Founder and Editor-in-Chief of course, so, still Britt Lynn Designs related! For my graphic art shop, adding new products (in addition to prints) and for my branding company, gaining new clients and branding packages.
Q: If you had only one major piece of advice to give to anyone seeking to start their own creative business, what would that advice be?
A: Be willing to take a leap of faith for what you want to accomplish and always develop and grow your skill. I'm not saying to quit your job with no PLAN B or way of paying your rent! I am not doing this full-time, since I still have part-time jobs, however, I did receive a reduction in pay per month. Some people can start their own business while working a full-time job, I could not afford to dedicate 40 hours a week in an office. I needed more time in order to make things happen for the multiple avenues I was taking. I believed in God and made it happen!
Drop a comment! Click To Tweet The Quotes if you took any great advice from this post! We'd both love to see and hear from you!!
FOLLOW THIS HUSTLEPRENEUR
www.brittlynndesigns.com | Twitter: @brittlynndesign| Instagram: @brittlynndesigns| Facebook: BrittLynn Designs
Great post! I admire her for taking the leap of faith to do part-time jobs so she could focus on her company more. I'm right at that crossroads, any advice?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! I'd say take advantage of the income you bring in from working a job and use it to help build your business. Keep a side savings handy to prep yourself for entrepreneurship minus the safety net of a paycheck. I'm 4 years in soon and never regretted my decision once.
ReplyDeleteI will do this! My current situation doesn't allow for much saving but I will definitely keep this in mind for my next job (after grad school this October!).
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to you!!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDelete