Blending Ideas Into Illustrations

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lucian Tarnosche, owner and founder of GraphicRaw, located in Southampton, UK.

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

Hi, I’m Lucian! I’m a graphic designer, owner, and founder of GraphicRaw. My services include photo editing and manipulation, media photo, custom logo design, and other services related to image design. My clients range from people who are looking for just simple tweaks for their personal photos to people that are active on social media and require a certain quality standard for their pictures, and even businesses or people who are looking to create their own graphic branding (things like personal logo, business card tags, letterheads, compliment slip design and other services revolving around that).

Tell us about yourself

I had my first contact with graphic design almost 17 years ago when I started working as a trainee graphic designer and photo editor at a Japanese company that opened a new branch in Bucharest, Romania. It was a relatively new subject for me, and the fact that I was also provided with at-work training in the field was an incredible opportunity. So I can honestly say it was faith that led me on this career path, and I was really lucky to have found something that I really enjoyed doing. In 2015, when I relocated to England, I started working for NHS. This was another challenge for me, but I loved the medical field, and it turned out to be another good choice for me as I’ve always been appreciated by my superiors and my patients for my hard work and dedication. But I never forgot my love for graphic design. So, in my spare time, I started working on a plan to transform that passion into a business. This is how GraphicRaw came to be. And my incentive in all that I do is the progress that I make and the things that I have the opportunity to learn each day.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I think the biggest accomplishment is that I get the chance to do what I like, what I’m passionate about on my own terms, and the fact that I can experiment and be creative. That was always an important factor for me. Having the freedom to be creative and give life to all of my ideas.

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

The fact that I need to sleep from time to time :)). There are downsides to running your own business, don’t get me wrong. But the things you get to accomplish will make everything worth it. It’s hard to manage so many things at once, but when you get the hang of it all and you see that the product you offer gets so much positive feedback, you kind of forget about the hard stuff.

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

I think the most important thing is to not compare yourself with others. Everyone is unique, and we each have our story and our destiny. As long as you do this with dedication and don’t cut corners in your work, I think you can achieve everything you want. Another thing is to take it slow and never forget that everyone starts somewhere. Success doesn’t happen overnight, so make sure you have a way of financing your dreams first and then dedicate as much of your time to getting that boat to sail. Set goals each day and try to achieve as much as possible without impeding your time with your family because this is something that no amount of money or success can buy back. Be patient and consistent. Things that last are done in time. And most importantly, when you feel like giving up, take a look back and see what you’ve accomplished. See all the things that you’ve managed to overcome and understand that everything has a solution. Give it time, and it will all work out. There is a quote by Roy T. Bennett that I’ve used almost as a mantra all this time: “Failure is a bend in the road, not the end of the road. Learn from failure and keep moving forward.“

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.graphicraw.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/graphicraw.website
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graphicraw.website/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucian-tarnosche-a429a125a/

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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