January 2018 - Black Wednesday

Meet: David Jessup, Jr., founder and CEO of Digi-Bridge

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

Our first two years in operation, I used my kitchen cabinets to store Legos, simple circuits and other programming materials. Staff would have to come over and scavenge through my kitchen to prepare for class.

What gets you up in the morning?

My unwavering belief that all kids can succeed in the 21st century, and this really awesome alarm clock that gradually lights up my room in the morning (a recommendation from fellow entrepreneur, Haley Bohon).

What quote best represents your work ethic?

“Never, never, never give up.” – Winston Churchill

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

Get to work! Don’t wait for the strategic plan to be finalized or the website to be perfect. As one board member often reminds me, “there’s no need to put lipstick on a pig.” It’s going to be messy. Embrace the mess.

Any other inspiration or fun to share?

Surround yourself with people who will challenge you. If you’re constantly being told that your ideas are great and your plan is flawless, you’re in the wrong room.

Meet: Katie Schindler, Owner of Fine Grit

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

100 hour work week.

What gets you up in the morning?

Survival and my alarm (sometimes).

What quote best represents your work ethic?

And though she be but little, she is fierce.

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

It’s amazing and overwhelming. Be very prepared to give all your time to it if you want to see success.

Any other inspiration or fun to share?

I wouldn’t want to be any other place than here. The responsibility, the fear, the courage, the pride, the honor, and the opportunity are all things that have made me the woman I am today. I am blown away by the support and love that I have felt from the surrounding businesses and individuals and only hope that I give the same back in my every day.

Meet: Scott Wooten, Owner of 704 Shop

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

What gets you up in the morning?

Creating things … anything.

What quote best represents your work ethic?

“Whatever it takes”

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

Don’t worry about what the roadblocks are, just start. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel stifled if you start looking at the whole picture. Just start and tackle challenges as they arise. As long as you’re moving forward, you’re winning.

Any other inspiration or fun to share?

Remember to have fun and do what you love. Don’t do things specifically for money if you don’t have to. Passion projects are far more rewarding than any amount of money I’ve made.

Meet: Courtney Schramm, Owner of Charlotte Lately

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

Worked for too little money. Sometimes the trade off makes sense– and sometimes you feel like a loser. Find someone close that knows your skills and encourages you to not sell yourself short in those tough times. It demeans your value most especially to you.

What gets you up in the morning?

My family

What quote best represents your work ethic?

You are solely responsible for your success. You will always fail if you blame others for your shortcomings.

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

Keep balance a priority. Ask for money, you get advice. Ask for advice, you get money.

Any other inspiration or fun to share?

I have a folder in my email called “rejection”. It’s always awkward knowing what to do with rude or insincere communication– so I put it in that folder. I’ve reviewed it a time or two and it is clear how far I’ve come.

Meet: Kyle Mosher, Full-Time Artist

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

In the early days, not paid my bills in order to drive my business forward – countless times. It’s risky and “silly”, but you have to be willing to bet on yourself and take risks.

What gets you up in the morning?

Opportunity. Everyday is a new day to write or rewrite your story.

What quote best represents your work ethic?

“I am as bad as the worst, but, thank God, I am as good as the best.” – Walt Whitman

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

Take a good, long, hard and honest look at yourself. I can only speak for myself and my experiences, but If you’re doing it for any reason other then love, you will fail. It’s not romantic, it’s not easy, and it’s not always fun. You need to be willing to eat, sleep, live, bleed and breath what you do in order to succeed. Being an entrepreneur is dirty, hard, defeating, and exhausting. It’s also a marathon. Be honest with yourself and ask, “Do I want to work on this all day and everyday until the day I die?” If not, you’re in the wrong industry.

Any other inspiration or fun to share?

Be honest, be genuine, cut negative people out of your life (even if they’re family) work until it hurts, be a student of the game, and don’t be afraid to make pivots, but don’t ever stop.

Meet: Brigitte Oger, Owner of Craft Cakes CLT

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

Renting an office then realizing I didn’t really need it.

What gets you up in the morning?

Listening to podcasts. It’s a bit of a ritual and when I stick to it I know it’s going to be a good day.

What quote best represents your work ethic?

Cake is Food, Food is Art. – Craft Cakes Clt

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

Don’t wait till tomorrow, or next year, or when you enough money saved up. Just go, start your business and doors will begin to open and things will fall into place.

Any other inspiration or fun to share?

The more that you read, The more things you will know. The more that you learn, The more places you’ll go. Dr.Suess. “I can’t read with my eyes shut!”. 1978

Meet: Andrew Wilen, Co-Owner of Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

We thought we needed question flags during cooking classes. So we made cute little flags that people would raise whenever they had a question. That didn’t last very long once those got into use!

What gets you up in the morning?

I love what I do and I love helping people. Monday’s are fun.

What quote best represents your work ethic?

Outwork everyone to accomplish your goals – Mark Cuban

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

Success ebbs and flows. Whatever you do, do it because you sincerely enjoy the product/service/opportunity.

Through this series you’ve already met: Meggie Williams, Owner of The Waggle Company

(but we made her answer some more questions…)

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

There were days when we were first getting started when Sebastian and I would go out and do back-to-back visits from 7am-10pm taking care of clients. We’d each pack a cooler to take with us on the road that had all the food and water we’d need to get us through the day. Sebastian would hide funny/uplifting notes in my cooler, and I’d find them throughout the day – they’d remind me that, even when things got hard, we had each other and we had a vision, and that made everything worth it. I still have all those notes.

What gets you up in the morning?

Feeling incredibly grateful to have a sense of belonging and purpose in my life. I’m just really happy to be here.

What quote best represents your work ethic?

Annie Duke is professional poker play and thought leader on decision strategy. On how to play your odds, she sums it up nicely when she says, “Wrap your arms around the uncertainty. Accept it. Know that the way things turn out has a lot of luck involved, so don’t be so hard on yourself when things go badly, and don’t be so proud of yourself when they go well. Focus on the process instead.”

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

Be persistent and patient. Fall in love with the journey.

Any other inspiration or fun to share?

What you take with you is what you give away. – It’s A Wonderful Life

Meet: Mac Lackey, Business Startup Leader

What gets you up in the morning?

Helping young entrepreneurs scale and reach their dreams.

What quote best represents your work ethic?

Work at 2am on Saturday so you can go to your daughters recital at 1pm on a Wednesday.

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

Becoming an entrepreneur might be the greatest decision you ever make… An entrepreneur has the rare opportunity to create a life of freedom, success and impact not only for yourself but to truly impact the world.

Any other inspiration or fun to share?

I am a believer in Life Wealth. It is my idea of living a life where you control your time, effort, opportunities, and success by designing your business to scale and support your goals and passions. Whether you have a $10m dollar net worth or not you can choose to live the life of someone that does (freedom, travel, impact, legacy)…

Meet: Davita Galloway, Owner of DUPP&SWAT

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

Silly or stupid—either way, I’ve got stories for days. It’s cool, though, as it’s apart of the process and I’ve just learned to laugh at myself, a lot! No, seriously, like a lot, a lot!

What gets you up in the morning?

In most cases, a combination of: being hungry, a full bladder, music, the day’s agenda or my loud ass neighbor.

What quote best represents your work ethic?

I often say that if you’re gifted an idea, you have an incredible responsibility to real life it.

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

Welp, there goes your personal life! I hope you don’t care for sleep. Be prepared, yet welcome the surprises. Hi, we were waiting for you!

Any other inspiration or fun to share?

Most people, I believe, wait for this thing called perfect timing. It doesn’t exist. The time is now, take the step. I promise the journey will be filled with both ‘pickles and pineapples’ but, hey, digest it all. Trust me, it’s worth it!

Meet: Erin Maddrey, Owner of BlueTide Creative

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

Although everything I’ve done has gotten my business to where it is today, looking back the silliest thing I’ve done was to take on every client or project that came my way. I wanted to build up my portfolio, client base, and (let’s be honest) to make money. In actuality, I ended up taking on things that didn’t make me happy and that didn’t fit in with what I was trying to build.

What gets you up in the morning?

Other than my dog, Smitty, what gets me up in the morning is being able to do what I love for a living and to know that I am helping others with their businesses and dreams. That’s pretty amazing.

What quote best represents your work ethic?

“Do your best. Be honest. Remember that you are human and human’s aren’t perfect. Enjoy the ride. Have fun. Believe in magic.”

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

Starting, nurturing and growing a business is hard, but incredibly rewarding. I would tell someone to do all their research before making the jump. Know your business concept and model backwards and forwards. If you can’t explain what you do to potential clients, no one will understand or will want to hire you. Save your money! Get an accountant, an attorney, and a business advisor in your back pocket for any questions that may come up as you embark on your entrepreuerial adventure.

Any other inspiration or fun to share?

Make a list of all of your accomplishments! It’s really inspiring to look back on all of your small and large accomplishments. Never forget you’re a badass for even considering starting your own business.

Meet: Jordan E. Dollard, Owner of Elsa Fine Brands

What gets you up in the morning?

My shop and the businesses I work with. I love going to the Elsa Fine/TUFT shop and unlocking the door and looking over what we’ve created together. On the other side, I work with a lot of businesses that put their trust in me to create platforms for success for them. They keep me accountable and alert.

What quote best represents your work ethic?

OOF. I have a tough work ethic to nail down. I’m a pretty lazy human being, but loving what I do really helps to get me to do what needs to be done. BUT, this quote by Iris Apfel describes why I do what i do “Life is gray and dull; you might as well have a little fun when you dress.”

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

Take your time and plan accordingly, if you can. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my company that I still deal with everyday, some big, some small. If you take the time to plan everything out, even if it doesn’t go as planned, you can’t say you made mistakes due to ignorance, laziness, or the like. You tried, and mistakes sometimes follow.

Any other inspiration or fun to share?

I think letting your company evolve with you over time is extremely important. Elsa Fine started just as a small shop, and even though it’s still very much that, it’s grown so much and in very interesting directions. I’ve been open to possibilities and that’s what has 1. paid the bills, 2. made this incredibly fun, 3. made me a much better person professionally and personally!

Meet: Brooke Muldoon, Creator of Brüks Bars

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

Dress our crew up like “Santa’s little helpers” during Small Business Saturday.

What gets you up in the morning?

Our people who have supported us from day one and love our products!

What quote best represents your work ethic?

If you are willing to do more than you are paid to do, eventually you will be paid more than you do.

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

Jump! But first… do a lot of research, understand your market and find someone who knows more than you do to mentor you along the way.

Any other inspiration or fun to share?

Keep your feet on the ground, your heart wide open and your eyes on the stars!

Through this series you’ve already met: Garrett Tichy, Owner of Hygge and SMPL

(but we made him answer some more questions…)

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

I’ll send a follow up email

What gets you up in the morning?

Anxiety. I struggle with sitting still. It’s been like this since before I started my business but I feel it now more than ever. It’s a goal of mine in 2018 to be ok with taking time to myself, sleeping a little more and relaxing.

What quote best represents your work ethic?

“Great things never came from comfort zones”

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The grass is always greener on the other side. You know, one of those many quotes. For a lot of us the decision to start our own business came from being unhappy in our current situation. That’s the push we needed to move forward. I knew though that I would likely work longer and harder for less money. If you’re able to give yourself that runway, commit and know that the satisfaction of owning and building your own thing is just as important as the money then you’re all set.

Meet: Suzie Ford, Co-Owner of NoDa Brewing Company

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

I’ll call it silly, when in reality it was crazy: invest every cent of our retirement funds into the business to get started with no real back up plan.

What gets you up in the morning?

My co-workers. I’m not a morning person but I get into the office a little before 7:00 each morning to help get our delivery guys on the road. It’s important to me, to be there for my team.

What quote best represents your work ethic?

Work hard, play hard.

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

Prepare to work harder than you’ve ever worked before, spend more money getting started than you ever thought, and don’t be afraid to ask for help/advice from others. Enjoy every moment of it!

Any other inspiration or fun to share?

Keep a smile on your face and believe in yourself. Positivity is the only way.

Meet: Andy Henson, Owner of Angry Ale’s and Southside Charlotte

(If you look closely, you can see him drinking a beer in this photo)

What gets you up in the morning?

Family.

What quote best represents your work ethic?

“Do one thing every day that scares you.”

Through this series you’ve already met: Haley Bohon, Owner of SkillPop

(but we made her answer some more questions…)

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

I’ve legitimately taken the TV off of my wall at home to run it to a class when a projector failed. Twice.

What gets you up in the morning?

A good cup of coffee!

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

Trust your gut, and take one step at a time.

Meet: Jon West, Owner of AddShoppers

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

Wore bright orange t-shirts for years.

What gets you up in the morning?

Progress

What quote best represents your work ethic?

“I’m lazy. But it’s the lazy people who invented the wheel and the bicycle because they didn’t like walking or carrying things.” – Lech Walesa

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

The less real responsibilities you have, the easier it is. Start as young as you can. Go all in and don’t give up.

Meet: Chris Stuart, Co-Owner of Made To Last Tattoo

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

It’s pretty silly as I look back now and think at one point I wanted to give up trying to open. There were many hurdles and challenges along the way but I had to remember, I wasn’t just doing this for me.

What gets you up in the morning?

My love for life. Sounds cliche but my life consists of an amazing family, friends and tattooing. My family and friends have supported me for over the last 20 yrs as a tattooer even though I’ve had to sacrifice a lot of quality time with them. That motivates me to push myself harder everyday and make the present day better than the last.

What quote best represents your work ethic?

There are a lot of generic quotes that pertain to working hard, having passion, determination, perseverance and the list goes on. I’m sure there’s a quote for me out there but all I can do is let my work speak for itself. Not a day goes by I don’t think about tattooing or making the next tattoo better than the last. Working countless hours because I love it not because I have to. I push harder everyday to hopefully leave a mark in the history of tattooing. I’ve always said “ The day I quit learning will be the day I quit tattooing.” Maybe that can be my quote.

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

If you have a vision and a passion that you truly believe in, stop at nothing to make it happen. Nothing good comes easy. Try to keep a positive mental attitude even through the tough times and it will be worth it in the end.

Anything else to share?

I need to thank everyone in the city first and foremost for the overwhelming love and support for Made To Last. Not in a million years did I imagine we would achieve what we have in less than 2yrs of being open. We will continue to collaborate with other local businesses with events and projects in the years to come. We have a huge guest list of tattooers from around the world planned on an ongoing basis as well.

And how about this power couple?

Meet: Matt Olin, Owner of Matt Olin Creative, Creator Charlotte is Creative

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

Hard to decide — eating grasshoppers and crickets? Inhaling helium? Dressing up like a wizard?

What gets you up in the morning?

Helping people get present to the creativity inside of them and all around them.

What quote best represents your work ethic?

“Die Empty” – Todd Henry

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

View your business as a party. Invite the people you want there. Bounce the folks you don’t. Play the music you love. And it’s not a real party until the cops show up.

Anything else to share?

So you’re not a morning person, huh? Fine. But the joy + java at CreativeMornings/Charlotte will make you one (at least one morning per month)!

Meet: Sarah Olin, Owner of Luscious Mother

What’s the “silliest” thing you’ve done in the name of making your business happen?

I said the word “delicious” 5 times in three minutes during a TV interview.

What gets you up in the morning?

Getting to spend my day talking to amazing humans. Badass Moms on a mission.

What quote best represents your work ethic?

“The Streets ain’t made for everyone, that’s why they made sidewalks.” -Cookie Lyon

What would you tell someone who wants to start their own business?

Be the best at whatever you are going to do. And get amazing people around you. Be kind.

Any other inspiration or fun to share?

Fun: I once had a job interview with Matt Dillon in which I borrow a friends suit that was too big-he asked about it.