Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Guglielmo Bottone, Creative Director, Brand Identity Strategist, and UX Expert of Bott.one, located in Naples, Campania, Italy.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I am a creative director. With my team, I help companies and professionals to adequately communicate and promote their brand through visual communication, with a focus on brand identity and UX UI.

Tell us about yourself

I started designing about 20 years ago, working as a graphic designer and then in typography until I specialized in web design. Today I work on a regular basis as a creative director and consultant for digital agencies, and I participate in the most interesting and innovative events, always looking for new challenges and contaminations. I approach projects strategically. The whole creative process is always supported by data to ensure that the brand's objectives satisfy the needs of users through design and usability.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Today I am particularly happy to have carved out my little space in the world of design and digital marketing. My greatest satisfaction is receiving the esteem of clients and colleagues. Finding companies that contact me because they've heard of me and choose to want to work with me because they appreciate my way of working and aptitude for creative problem-solving. I am also very happy to be able to train and share what I have learned during my career in order to be able to improve the quality and time at work of people who work in the world of digital design.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

I think one of the hardest things that comes with being an entrepreneur is balancing education, work, and personal life. I work in a sector that changes 5-10 times faster than others; I necessarily have to keep up with the times to always be competent and to survive in this world. One of the mistakes I see many entrepreneurs make is to remain firm on their beliefs and not accept change or not want to adapt to it. Finding the time to do everything is not easy, and I have encountered some difficult periods. It takes a lot of discipline and concentration. But in the end, you understand that the time you dedicate to your family (I have two beautiful children) allows you to be more serene at work and motivates you every day to give your best. Every aspect of your life needs to be given proper attention. They are connected and if you neglect one of them, it is easy for the rest not to turn in the right way.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Live like a creative traveller. Even in everyday life, try to explore new places and new people as you would on a road trip. Change bars, genre of movies, food, and area where you go for a walk. This helps you to see things from other perspectives, explore and stimulate your creativity. Letting yourself be contaminated can really help you solve the problems you face every day in a different way.
  2. ALWAYS study! Whatever your field, there's always something to learn. Today the world runs fast; sometimes, even just keeping up with the times allows you to be among the first to provide new solutions to your customers and to grow your business exponentially.
  3. Treasure the experience. Failure is a necessary evil to propel progress, and failures shouldn't be stigmatized. Some argue that developing a culture of failure is good for the company. Learn from your successes but above all from your mistakes and treasure them. You will see that your next project will find much less obstacles, and your level of seniority will grow very quickly.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.bott.one/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guglielmo.bottone
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gugliagram/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guglielmo-bottone-6b5b685a/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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