Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in arts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Samby Sayward, Owner of Boundless Bard, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

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

My business as Boundless Bard is two-fold: On the comic publishing side, I write stories that empower women and break gender boundaries. My best-known work, Daughters of Grimm, is a fairytale coming-of-age comic targeted toward young adults.

On the illustration and branding side, I create story-driven images for blogs, landing pages, and other marketing platforms that fit a brand’s style and message. This spans across a variety of industries, but my most consistent clients are in the tech world – often through partners like Laetro and Jcurve.

Tell us about yourself

I grew up seeing very little of myself in media. Historically, at least mainstream content has revolved around stereotypes – girly girls, macho men, nerds, goths, “manic pixie dream girls,”... You get the idea. Characters were always put in a box, and I never fit any of them. Which often made me feel I didn’t fit in society.

Eventually, instead of trying to fit a box, I started breaking them. And I’m not alone. Media has become more inclusive and real over the past few years, and it makes me so happy! Though my focus often falls on empowering women, I really just want everyone to feel seen, heard, and validated as they are. People shouldn’t have to fit in boxes. People are boundless.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

So far, I’d say being able to live off my business income alone. I read somewhere once that startups should be prepared to stay in the red for seven years after conception. At the end of my 4th year, by leveling up my skills and not compromising my worth, I managed to get into the black. And now I’m living off the income! I’ve still got many goals ahead I’d like to reach, but I’d say this is a huge milestone.

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

Keeping a work-life balance. Especially when you’re building a business you’re passionate about – or on the other end, struggling to pay bills with said business – there’s a lot of desire and/or pressure to just keep going. Just keep working. One more thing after another. But that’s a sure fire way to reach burnout. It may take years, but it WILL happen. And when it does, the blowback will be proportional to the extra work put in before.

I’ve hit that wall before, and after a whole year or more of non-stop, the blowback put me back by months. Now, even if I’m stressed about work or passionate about a project, I try very hard to keep boundaries and make time to recharge and enjoy other things. But it’s still a struggle.

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

  1. PROTECT THE ASSET. This is a paraphrase from Greg McKeown’s “Essentialism,” and I love it as a rule. You are the most important asset in your business. If you are compromised, your vision is too. So set boundaries and take time to care for yourself physically, mentally, and creatively. You’ll thank yourself in the long run.
  2. PREPARE FOR THE LONG HAUL. A kingdom isn’t built in a day. People like to imagine (myself included) that a business can be profitable in a year. That huge milestone can be hit in less. But that’s not really realistic. As I mentioned above, a business can take up to 7 years to get in the black. Step back, strategize, and build something that will last.
  3. TAKE ACTION. In contrast, don’t wait too long to get started. It’s easy to sit and wait for the perfect plan. The perfect idea. The perfect time. But nothing will ever be perfect. Are you too swamped with a full-time job? Dedicate an hour on the weekends for your product or business. Not sure you’re ready to launch a big product? Test the water with a small, scalable one. If progress is slow, that’s okay! It’s still progress. And if something fails, that’s okay too! You’re one step closer to finding what will succeed. Just keep moving toward that end goal.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.boundlessbard.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boundlessbard
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boundlessbard/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/boundlessbard
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sambysayward/

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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