Tap Into Your Wild Side - Jodie King Media

Team Subkit -

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in fine arts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jodie King, founder and CEO of Jodie King Media, located in Austin, TX, USA.

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

I am the founder and CEO of Jodie King Media, a multi-channel company focusing on art sales and building educational platforms. I champion artists around the world, helping them improve their art and build thriving businesses as artpreneurs. As a professional artist, I also work with collectors, interior designers, licensing companies, and anything in between.

Tell us about yourself

I never expected when growing up that I would become a professional artist. As a South Louisiana-raised wild child, I was more interested in getting my feet dirty in the bayou than rubbing my elbows in paint. However, being on my own and rebellious from an early age really set me up to be an entrepreneur. I never hesitated to get scrappy and roll up my sleeves in order to build the future I desired. When I owned a wine bar, I would clean the restrooms in the morning, then pour wine and shmooze with customers in the evenings. I’ve been an entrepreneur my entire adult life. From managing one of Houston’s premier restaurants at 23 to starting my own organic clothing company in 2004, I have conceived, founded, and ran three separate businesses, all with tremendous success. At 35, I felt the sudden urge to grab a paintbrush to express myself and soon found it impossible to leave. With my entrepreneurial spirit combined with my passion for creating art, I now find myself at my most ambitious, triumphant, and authentic evolution yet: empowering fellow artists to challenge their status quo and build creatively and financially fulfilling businesses. Seeing all the success stories of my students and being grateful that I was able to serve them and be a small part of their journey. There’s no better feeling than making a positive impact in the world, and it gives me not only motivation but a reason to wake up every morning. There are so many artists out there that are undervalued or don’t believe they can build and sustain a successful business. I am here to change that. I am here to champion artists on their journey so that we can shut the door on the starving artist cliché and help artists thrive.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is seeing artists stand with their feet wide and shoulders back, embracing their unique gifts and creating thriving businesses.

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

One of the hardest things for me is I have a tendency to overwork because I love what I do so much. I love so many facets of the business, from painting to teaching to traveling to podcasts, that I have to be very intentional about my own downtime to recharge.

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

  1. SERVE and do so at your highest level. Selling just to make money will only get you so far, but truly thinking of your business as being in service to your customer will reap tremendous benefits not only to your bottom line but to your own level of joy.
  2. TRUST your own instincts. What you’re doing doesn’t have to look like what anyone else is doing. This may keep you up at night for a little while because it takes courage to forge your own path, but once you see that you can trust your gut, it gets easier. There’s a saying that courage is like a muscle. The more you use it, the easier it gets. Trust YOUR gut.
  3. Make a GREAT PRODUCT. This may seem obvious, but it all starts with having an uncompromisingly great product: great art, great food, or a great cup of coffee; it's all the same. This is what keeps customers coming back for the long term. Always keep working to improve.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://jodieking.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jodiekingart/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jodie_king_/

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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