Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with H. Gorlitz Scott, Founder of Dragonmun Studios, located in Orlando, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I have the best customers in the world! Fun-loving, book-reading, art-collecting humans that enjoy fantasy realms to escape into. As an artist and author, I set them on a path into my imagination.
Tell us about yourself
I've always been an artist and storyteller, which naturally led me toward drawing comics of the stories running around in my head. I took this passion to comic conventions and trade shows, where I built up a small audience that enjoyed my creations, but it wasn't until 2010 - when I lost my call center job - that I started to take this seriously.
At first, I sought out graphic design jobs and art commissions to supplement my lost income, but I found that I needed to beef up my portfolio with personal works to market myself better to potential clients. This had the effect that I created marketable products that I own intellectual property rights to that now serve as the foundation of my business. It's so incredibly rewarding that people like and support my art and stories that I can't stop.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Hands down, the fact that I can be on hand for all of my family's needs is the best thing about my work life. A very close second is that my novel, Sivoa: Sunrise (the story of which the majority of my artwork is built), won the best fantasy novel award at the Indie Original Awards in 2019.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I wear entirely too many hats and always more than one at a time. Being an artist, author, producer, marketer, bookkeeper, social media manager, traveling sales rep, storekeeper, and so much more all the time is exhausting. It's always rewarding, but coffee and a very good day planner quickly became good friends. 😉
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Research everything before jumping in. Find out what you plan to offer and to who. Find out what it takes to reach them and prepare to have something to show them when you do. Have a financial buffer to live off of in that rough transition period from employee to a business owner, and always, always find enjoyment in what you do.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.dragonmun.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dragonmunstudios
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dragonmun_studios/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dragonmun
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dragonmun/
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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