MY JOURNEY

I’m Kendall, a small business owner from the Kansas City, Missouri area.

@the.k.in.kc.designs is an online business I developed in February of 2021. I’ve always had a passion for art. Whether it be painting, drawing, I enjoy it all. I always find a sense of calmness and well-being when I’m creating. No matter what’s going on, it helps me to wind down and focus on other things. I had been wanting an Apple iPad and Apple Pencil for a long time and had gotten them for my birthday.

My first digital portrait was referenced from a photo I had taken at Disney World in 2020. I loved the way I had photographed Snow White spinning in her dress and so I wanted to draw her. I started to draw more and more portraits in the same style and my friends wanted photos of my art frequently. I then decided to create an Instagram account to post all of my designs.

Some of my family and friends wanted portraits of their photos, so I started experimenting with drawing pets, exteriors, everything. I started to get more questions about my portraits and I had gotten asked how much they were. That’s when it occurred to me that I could actually try and start a small business. I started planning my pricing guides and practicing daily.

Fast forward to today, I now sell digital art, stickers, apparel, and accessories. I even self-published my very own book! This business has ultimately defined my path as a college student. It has lead me to scholarships, networking opportunities, and has gotten me connected with some of the most impactful small business owners from the Instagram community.

I have put a lot of time into running my business from creating my brand identity, defining my target audience, and research. TONS of it! I designed my own logo, website, products, and run all of my social media pages. All of this while being a college student and working part-time as a server. It hasn’t been an easy ride. I have had many ups and down that have impacted not only my personal life, but me as a brand as well. It is about overcoming obstacles and realizing that you aren’t going through everything alone.

Personal Life v.s. Professional Life

There are many things I’ve learned throughout the process of creating a business that I think are important to share. The first thing I want to highlight is realizing that there is a difference between a personal life, and a professional life. Sometimes as business owners or potential business owners we think that we have to invest majority of our time into trying to maintain a business. This is not all true. Without a positive health atmosphere, you are not only hurting your mental health, but you are limiting your creativity. Learning to navigate your life as a human being is the most important effort of all. Make sure to prioritize your person health over your business. 

The second piece of advice I want to share is to research. When I started designing, I had no intentions of becoming a business. I didn’t take the time to truly research. I had no idea what a business start-up was, how to find my target audience, or even how to build a brand. It wasn’t until I took a finance and marketing class the following year that I realized I needed to gather information in order to be successful. Thats when my business took a significant turn.

The last thing I want to acknowledge is learning not to take advice from those outside your industry, and finding a mentor. It is important to gather feedback, though you should be aware of who you’re asking for feedback from. For example, find the people in your industry that are willing to help you succeed. During my senior year of high school, I had my marketing teacher as a mentor. She was able to connect me with other resources as well. She had an impactful role in the development of my business. I asked her for feedback on not only my products, but for guidance on the analytics side of things. Find a trustworthy mentor to help guide you and help you learn.