Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with James Barricella, founder of Lionworks Designs, located in Ramsey, NJ, USA.

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

We specialize in bespoke lighting, furniture, and custom interior solutions. My company was started with the specific goal of making a series of lighting fixtures, furniture, and décor that, at its simplest categorization, are highly artistic and highly functional – functional artwork. While I do use modern elements and new materials in much of my work, many pieces usually start with a “found” or renewable object that sparks the creative inspiration for the entire piece.

My original business model entailed designing and fabricating my personal work. While I plan to return more to that space, the bulk of my time is currently spent on commissioned work. Customer pieces are built keeping in mind the client’s personality, a specific space, and their special function/purpose.

I have designed from Victorian/Art Deco all the way up to Ultra Modern for both residential and commercial spaces. My favorite style is Midcentury Modern. I have been lucky enough to have my work showcased in nationwide store designs, on national television shows, and with celebrity clients, but I’m truly blessed to be able to love what I do. Thank you all for your appreciation.

Tell us about yourself

I could say I had several "past lives" before I decided to follow my calling instead of just chasing a career. I always walked through that financial door of opportunity no matter where it took me: hotels/restaurants, music/entertainment, publishing, or information technology. If there was ever a chance for financial advancement, I voraciously fed my appetite on the offer of more and then moved on to the next job...always wanting a bigger meal on my plate. I was solely driven by money and the success of a more prestigious job.

I can't recall when I started to feel unhappy about my life, but I do remember when I decided things needed to change. An old friend, who was a vice-principal at a local high school, asked me to talk at their career day. I was working on my presentation the night before the seminar and really had an amazing deck of slides. They showcased a pretty interesting and fascinating job that I had in the entertainment industry. It highlighted celebrity glamour and all the amazing places I had been able to travel to. I remember thinking, the students will love this life - this career. Then, why do I hate it so much? It would be a lie to portray my life in this way. I can't do this anymore. I couldn’t live like this anymore. If I proceeded, I would be selling these kids something that I don't believe. At 11 pm that night, I reworked the entire presentation for the next morning.

I showed up excited, passionate, and looking the part of a successful executive in the entertainment industry. I presented enticing slides of all the glitz and talked about all the fabulous things I had seen. I had them truly dazzled and engaged in my career, and then...I dropped it on them. I said firmly, "you see this fancy suit, this fancy car (throwing the keys to my Mercedes on the table), you see this fancy life? None of it matters! You know why? It doesn't matter because I'm unhappy doing this job!" I continued the rest of the presentation by showing a famous video clip, “what would you do if money didn't matter by Alan Watts.” I explained to them to follow what they love, and the rest will fall into place. Don't make my mistake of chasing the money because you will never get the fulfillment you deserve. One of the teachers came up to me later and told me it was the best presentation he had ever heard. I never got asked to speak at career day again.

I left that day feeling hopeful and honest with myself for the first time in my life. Not long after, that fancy job decided (after dedicating three years and 24/7 of my life) that they didn't need my services anymore. I recall the day vividly because they fired me on my birthday. In hindsight, it was more of a rebirth.

I took time off and traveled the world (for myself this time). When I returned, I engaged in projects for my home that I had been putting off. I spent the latter part of 6 months focusing on just me - my health, home, and mind. I would regularly exercise and meditate. I found balance and spiritual wisdom. I showed a friend, who had a furniture store, some of the things I had made. He was impressed and asked me to sell them in his shop. I never went back to the corporate world.

Let's back up a bit. Now, every good story has a little magic. Just before losing my job, I enlisted the help of a career coach. One of his excises was to engage in activities outside of work/finding a career path. Yes, I know this seems counterproductive. However, I was working in such a toxic environment that I had started putting up walls to protect myself, and those barriers carried over into my personal relationships. As smart as I thought I was, I somehow missed this, and it was truly a huge revelation in the turning point of my mental health. How simple yet how powerful. Just go out and have fun!

I met with a friend at a local arts festival as one of these career homework assignments. My counselor told me to "be present" during these exercises. My friend and I cruised the fair for a couple of hours. She was looking for artwork for her apartment. I walked into one artist's booth and felt this overwhelming sense of wellness as I stared at her painting. I had never had a painting invoke a visceral response before. I left thinking that was so strange. Shortly after that, my friend decided she wanted to leave. I walked her back to her car and then went back to mine. I started the engine and sat there for a few minutes. I didn’t want to go. I couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened and how that painting made me feel. I shut off the car and walked back to the art show, something told me I had to return. I found my way back to the booth and talked with the artist.

I took her card, and a few days later, we met to discuss a piece of artwork I had commissioned for a family member. We sat for about 10 minutes, talked about the project, and then spent over two more hours learning more about each other. Have you ever met someone and felt like you have known them for a lifetime? She felt so familiar.

Over the course of the next six months, I fell in love. I can't explain what happened next, but that's the magic part of this story. Some may call it a soul connection, a soul mate, because all this creativity that I never knew existed started pouring out of me. I wanted to build, fabricate, and create. She left me inspired with these amazing gifts. This love, though short-lived, was definitely not shallow. We never spoke again. That’s where this story begins.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Taking the initial thought/inspiration of having your own business and bringing it to sustainability. I'm blessed with doing my own way every day.

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

There will be days when the fear and anxiety are so overwhelming that they cripple you. You will take a knee for the day or crawl up into a little ball on your bed. Those are the hard days they don’t tell you about in “entrepreneurial school.” Feel them, own them, and understand they are part of the process.

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

  1. When you become overwhelmed with the work in front of you, make a list. Break everything down into different milestones to complete the goal. Then, break those down into a set of daily tasks. Once you complete a task, check it off the list. Once you start to see you are making progress, your mind will unwind from that feeling.
  2. I think you are never more focused on the growth of your own business than you are in the first year. Run as hard and as fast as you can for as long as you can. When you get tired, rest, then repeat.
  3. Take every job you can when you are starting. It will improve your skill set. Only take what you want once you realize how valuable your time is.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.lionworksdesigns.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lionworksdesigns
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lionworksdesigns/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lionworksdesign

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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