A lot of people have big dreams to start their own business, be successful and work for themselves. Some pursue that dream and others continue to dream. Most people just don’t know how to start. They are inundated and overwhelmed with everything they have to do. I suggest starting with the basics, find what makes you happy—get inspired, be organized and use your network to gain exposure. Let me explain…
About a year ago I found myself at a crossroads as an artist and I asked myself, “What is it that really makes me happy?” I knew the answer was making art. But I also knew that I needed to zero in on a craft that I would want to do for the rest of my life. It took me a while to figure out what form of art that was because I’m constantly evolving as an artist. Life is always changing, so I needed something that would challenge me, but would also be viable as a career.
I felt like a kid in a candy store…
I started doing craft projects that I loved doing as a kid and one of those was making jewelry. When I went into the bead store for the first time in Los Angeles, I felt like a kid in a candy store, immediately I had a million ideas streaming through my head. And they never stopped. That was the beginning of Katie Dean Jewelry.
Starting a business was no cakewalk. There were times when frustration kicked in and I wanted to give up. But the important thing is that I didn’t. I knew what I had to do to continue to grow this company—I had a very clear vision of what I wanted to create.
Another important piece of advice for starting a business would be to stay organized. This is SO important. If you are organized from the beginning it will help you become more efficient and things won’t get as stressful when you get really busy. It also allows you to use your creativity to its fullest degree because instead of worrying about finding something that got lost in the shuffle of things you are dreaming up your newest idea.
What got me going so strongly with Katie Dean Jewelry was my hard work ethic. Once I get an idea I make it come to life and I don’t stop until it’s done. There must be some drive within you to get this business up and running!
I have had my jewelry featured with some celebrities like Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Amanda Crew, Willa Holland and more! I did this by finding people that I already had in my circle who could help me to gain exposure. I asked photographers, stylists and marketing experts if they could help me a little here and a little there. And before I knew it, I had accomplished so much in just six months of starting my business.
Katie Dean is the Founder of Katie Dean Jewelry.