Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Himanshu Bharadwaj, Design & Strategy Leader of Joyful Design, located in North Haven, CT, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a designer. My area of focus is product design, branding, and marketing. I worked for S, M, L, and XL organizations.
Tell us about yourself
I started as a painter and cartoonist. Then moved into graphic design and branding in particular. Graphic design led me to advertise. From advertising, I moved into UX design. My main focus has been on product design for the last few years. This is an area that is evolving, and I am bringing new ways of problem-solving and design processes to teams.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Solving client problems and seeing them grow. When clients returned with a new business or referred me to someone, I knew I might have done something good. There are plenty of such case studies in my career, and it is difficult to point to one. Having the skills and motivation to help others for so many years, I think, is an accomplishment. I see people getting burnt out or becoming arrogant after achieving success. I try each day to be humble and help others.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Understanding people is the hardest thing for a business owner. Mind is like a safe deposit box for the owner of the mind as well as for others. People hide a lot inside, and it is impossible to understand. As a designer, it takes special skills to understand your users, customers, and team members. Design is a team sport, and knowing everyone, including yourself, is important.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't start a business just to make money. Start a business to solve problems people are facing. When money becomes a priority, it clouds creativity and diminishes happiness. One can never be fully happy with any amount of money.
- Do not neglect your own life, happiness, and family at the cost of business. Happiness in personal life will improve business performance.
- Take care of your health. It is the biggest wealth and more valuable than any successful business in the world.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.joyful.design/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/himanb/
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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