Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ashlyn Cook, Founder of Creative Countess, located in Oklahoma City, OK, USA.

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

Creative Countess is pushing the boundaries of creativity, beauty, and design with makeup, body painting, and special effects makeup with inclusivity of all at the forefront.

Tell us about yourself

Given my passion for makeup artistry, I noticed how inaccessible and unaffordable services could be and wanted to start a company to help change that. Additionally, it allows me to experiment, grow, and continually push myself and this industry towards a more accessible and inclusive future.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment has been the amazing opportunity to work on set for a tv show. I was able to demonstrate my skills as well as learn about the film industry and the techniques used. I had wonderful moments that will hold a special place in my heart for lifetimes to come.

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

The hardest thing I have had to learn is that, as a business owner, I do not have to take every single job that is offered. I can say no to jobs that do not fit within my schedule, jobs where the client and I do not mesh well in our creative visions, or just jobs that do not inspire me. You are not meant to go through every door. It only takes one special door to open your world.

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

  1. Find the thing that sets your soul on fire and takes your mind to places unknown. That is your business.
  2. Brand yourself, not what you think others will want from you. The ones that want you will find you. That is your branding and marketing.
  3. Take the leap. Never stop doing what you love, even when everything seems to be falling around you. There is always a light in your life; find it and never let it go. That light will be your cheerleader and help you get to places you only dreamed of. That is your growth.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

As a business owner, you can work closely with other businesses that compliment you and your values, and that relationship helps you both grow and find new clients. Do what you love, so it never feels like “just a job.” Keep pushing, dreaming, learning, and growing. The world is open to you.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.creativecountess.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creativecountess
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativecountess/

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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