Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Emmy Kalia, Artistic Director,based in Arnhem, Gelderland, Netherlands.

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

I have an art membership called Artistic Journey membership. Artists can join the membership to learn how to draw and create realistic portraits with graphite, colored pencils, and watercolors. For beginners or more advanced artists, the video lessons are easy for everyone to follow.

Tell us about yourself

I’m from the Netherlands, and after working as a childcare worker, I realized that my interest in art, which started as merely a hobby, started growing in recent years. When I started drawing again in 2014, I had no idea what I was doing. Drawing can seem impossible if you don’t know how but drawing is a learned skill that anyone can learn. In these past years, I have spent a lot of hours drawing, observing, and practicing, and after more than seven years.

I discovered that there isn’t a ‘talent’ I was born with. It took me to practice, dedication, and failure to get me where I am now. I want to help others on their journey of becoming an artist and give them the support they want, so they don’t have to figure it all out by themselves. In the membership, they will learn the right techniques, the importance of mindset, and practice.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Art is my passion, and I found a way to turn my hobby into a profitable business which is quite a big accomplishment.

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

Staying motivated and dedicated! Being a business owner, there isn’t anyone else telling you what to do and when to do it. So the hardest thing can be planning and actually sticking to your plan.

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

Just like with anything in life, there can be unexpected challenges, ups, and downs. It’s important to stay focused on your goals and to keep showing up no matter what. 

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.emmykalia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmmyKalia/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmykalia/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/emmykalia
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmy-kalia-76081b1aa/

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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