Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in freelancing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kitanya Harrison, Author of The Muralist, located in Mandeville, Jamaica.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I'm a writer. It's a bit strange to think of readers as strictly customers because writing, like any creative pursuit, is about sharing your ideas with others. I suppose my customer base is people who enjoy discussing the rapidly changing world we live in from an ethical perspective.
Tell us about yourself
I've been writing in some form or another my whole life. I didn't think it was a practical or lucrative profession (it really isn't lol), but a traditional corporate job isn't right for me. My writing journey has been mostly trial and error. I started out writing fiction and published a couple of Sherlock Holmes novels under the pseudonym Harrison Kitteridge. I also tried my hand at writing screenplays. I got featured on The Black List, but I haven't been able to make any headway in the industry yet. I started sharing essays (mostly cultural criticism) on Medium and got a much better response than I expected. From there, I managed to land an agent, and I'm hoping to take the next big step soon. My motivation is that I sort out my thoughts and feelings about the world by writing. Sharing them for money doesn't necessarily have to be part of the process, but I'm grateful that I've been able to do so.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My Medium essays led to interviews with The New York Times and Vanity Fair, and I was hired and credited as a Writing Consultant on the documentary "Kaepernick & America."
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
There is so much uncertainty without the security of a regular paycheck. There is also a lot of rejection in writing. It's not always easy to brush off and keep plowing ahead.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure your business is tied to a passion of yours. It's too hard to sustain otherwise.
- Make sure your integrity is obvious to the people you serve.
- Keep your head up and be persistent. A lot goes wrong before it goes right.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.kitanyaharrison.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kitanyaharrison
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kitanya-harrison/
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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