Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Derrick Akinyanju, Owner of Paint Your Lifestyle, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

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

I am a Travel Photographer, Videographer, Drone Pilot, and Content Creator. My customers are people wanting to learn how to travel on a budget. People who want to learn how to create and edit videos. My customers are also brands and companies with a vision that reaches out to me to turn their ideas into a reality.

Tell us about yourself

I've been creating content for 12 years since the beginning of Youtube under a different niche. I first discovered VFX on Youtube as a coping mechanism for my best friend's passing. Initially wanted to study computer science to make video games, but that did not go very well. Another friend of mine I grew up with in the dance community convinced me to study special effects in undergrad since I was growing an audience fast on Youtube. Discovering most UC's and Cal States didn't provide education in such a specific field, and most private schools offered such an education at a high rate. At a rate I could not afford, I studied a more linear route of Cinematography at San Francisco State.

Fast forward, I earned my Bachelor's Degree but did not create any network or leave with any leads; in fact when I received my degree, my professor said, "Good Luck" because in the film industry it is not by what you know, it is by who you know unfortunately. Bills wait for no one, and my student loans were down my throat, so I had to take up a job quickly. I found work in the banking industry, something that was very outside of my field, but I equally wanted to take the opportunity to learn how business and money move.

I quickly learned I hated this field of work. It made me feel like a robot, and I didn't utilize the skills I knew I had. The pandemic was a prominent force, and nobody knew how long we would live with all these restrictions. I came across several Youtube videos of people getting stuck in countries, and these people were travel vloggers. They had combined skills of film and traveling, which was both my passions; I told myself if they could do this, why couldn't I find the same success?

During the pandemic, I saved 15,000 dollars, gave up my apartment and car, and sold everything except my 60-inch Samsung Smart TV, I really liked that TV. I opened up an LLC and invested in a new camera, lens, and drones, and went straight to Egypt. I documented my travels, took photos, and helped small businesses reach wider audiences with the content I made for them.

What motivated me every day to find success was that this was my dream. I've been talking about doing this for many years, even before undergrad. I also let go of friends who didn't believe in my ability, so I walked by faith and not by sight. All I received was my mother's blessings, and I just kept moving forward.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I had several accomplishments and milestones I aimed to achieve within the first year of starting my business, one of them earning a dollar. My idea was that if I earned a dollar, it could eventually turn into 300 or 900 at some point, so it felt good earning money at a skill I was good at rather than a job I was told to be good at. Building a website, having a registered business, and landing my first tourism board collaboration were accomplishments for me.

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

I feel one of the hardest things was understanding the first year will always be the hardest. Most businesses don't take off till 3-4 years in. It was very frustrating going a year without seeing a return comeback. Another would be filling in all the roles to manage my business. I am the shooter and also the model. I market, write scripts, email brands, create digital products, and manage my website all by myself. It gets overwhelming sometimes.

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

  1. Surround yourself with like-minded people or business owners. I found success surrounding myself with people who shared the same vision and goals, which ultimately made me switch my approach to things.
  2. Patience. Even right now I haven't found the success I'm looking for, but it's a patience game that you really need to be prepared for. Whenever I express doubt to my mother, she reminds me that Rome was not built in a day.
  3. Invest in people who have already found success; it makes sense. I spent a lot of time searching and reading about how to manage a content creator business, but there are people already out there that know the ins and outs. I would highly suggest paying for a consultation to get the blueprint of how to replicate a successful business without wasting your time wondering if it would work or not.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://paintyourlifestyle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Paintyourlifestyl
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paintyourlifestyl/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Pntyurlifestyl

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.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.