Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Marouane Bembli, Founder of TheSketchMonkey, located in Morrison, CO, USA.

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

My business is mainly creating automotive content on YouTube. My channels are TheSketchMonkey and Bembli. I also teach design sketching online and run TheSketchMonkey.com eCom store.

Tell us about yourself

I worked as an industrial designer for years before realizing I wanted to own my time and build something I had control over. I realized that the effort I put into building someone else's business could be used to build my own. In 2016 I quit my job and was running a dropshipping store which I sold in 2020. Since then, my main focus has been building my YouTube channels and continuing to make better content. Most days, I'm excited to get to work; some days, I'm not. I don't really care if I'm motivated to do the work on any specific day or not. I do it regardless. I think that's something that takes time to learn. If I want to continue to grow, I know what needs to be done. How I feel about it doesn't matter. I'm still enjoying it, and I'm lucky to be able to make it my full-time job.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Probably building and selling my eCommerce store from scratch.

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

The constant problem-solving and figuring things out as you go. But that's also the most rewarding part. If you don't have problems to solve, you're playing it too safe.

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

  1. Be committed in the long run. Expect to work harder than you've ever done for a lot less for years.
  2. Give away your best content for free. This way, you build a relationship and trust with your target audience, and they'll reciprocate in one way or another.
  3. Be consistent. You'll run into roadblocks all the time, especially when you start out. Whether you succeed or not depends on how much momentum you've built up by being consistent over a long period of time.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website:
https://thesketchmonkey.com/
https://analogdesignerpropack.com/adpp

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thesketchmonkey
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSKCHMNKY/videos
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesketchmonkey/

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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