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Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Scott Milano, founder of Tanj, located in New York City, NY, USA

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

I’m the founder and managing director of Tanj, a leading brand naming and language studio. We name companies and products across nearly every sector — tech, finance, healthcare, gaming, and beyond — and we partner with all types of businesses, including large global brands and venture-backed startups. In addition to naming, we focus on brand strategy and market research to help clients make smarter decisions about their brands.

Tell us about yourself

After earning a degree in Philosophy, I started my career as an editor for a B2B trade magazine in Washington DC. I loved writing professionally but wanted to focus on advertising and copywriting while traveling abroad, so I pursued work as an English-language copywriter in Japan. After launching my own freelance copywriting practice in Tokyo, I discovered the world of naming, and I ultimately started running the naming division of a global brand consultancy. Turns out, I loved the work and had a talent for it. Upon returning to the US after nearly seven years in Japan, I moved to New York City and started Tanj in 2009.

My passion for the craft — and working with others who share it — is my primary motivation. Naming, in particular, blends strategy, creative, research, legal, linguistic, and other issues, which makes it incredibly challenging and rewarding. A name is the ultimate in high-impact decision — you have to get it right, right from the start. And if you do, it lasts the entire life of the brand.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I’m very proud of the team we’ve created. We are a lean, agile group of namers and writers, each with unique backgrounds in everything from linguistics and research to creative writing and editorial. Together, we’ve amassed a rich, diverse portfolio of work that has helped hundreds of clients launch businesses, products, and experiences that have a positive impact on the world.

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

One of the hardest things I find as a business owner is also one of the things I love most. You need to continuously create a vision of the future and bring others on the journey to realize it. And if you’re focused on growing your business long-term, that vision will continuously evolve. That’s why I wake up every day excited to partner with an amazing team and clients. Together, we keep learning and growing.

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

Focus on what matters to you. To succeed and make it count in the big picture of life, do what you love.
Specialize, specialize, specialize. Finding and enriching your own unique flavor of what you do best helps ensure you stand out and above your competitors.
It’s a sprint and a marathon. As a business owner, you have to execute quickly. But it’s never one-and-done. Something else will always pop up. So also pace yourself for the long run.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://tanj.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanj.nyc/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tanj_nyc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmilano/

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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