Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in content creation but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Drew Shahoud, co-founder and CEO of BlackBox Media, located in Greenville, SC, USA.

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

My main business is BlackBox Media, which is a full fledge production company that specializes in creating thumb-stopping content. Anything from small videos for local clients to massive national campaigns, BlackBox does it all. However, BlackBox isn't my only business endeavor.

Tell us about yourself

My entire life, I have always been an entrepreneur. Whenever I meet with people in person or give a lecture to some students, I always end up telling the same story. When I was in 2nd grade, I really wanted this cool Hulk action figure. The action figure was a pretty nice one. A massive middle shelf in the store, and $40. Like any other 7-year-old, I told my dad I wanted it. My dad lovingly said, "I'd want that too! That thing is awesome. How are you going to pay for it?" This then started one of the greatest lessons my dad would ever teach me. After some teaching, I learned that in order to buy something, I needed money. In order to get money, I would have to work. My dad told me that I could have $10 if I washed his car, but I could only wash one car per weekend. So I got started! Four weeks later, I finally had enough money to buy the Hulk action figure. So my dad drove me to the store. I picked it off the shelf, gave it to the cashier, and gave her my $40 in cash to buy it. (my dad covered the taxes for me.) I can still remember the moment that I unboxed the action figure like it was yesterday. Such a great, satisfying feeling.

I would then go on to start a custom necklace business in 5th grade, then a paracord bracelet business in middle school. That business took off so much that the principal had to shut me down for "professional soliciting," meanwhile, I watched Boy Scouts sell popcorn like it was going out of style.

From then on, I have always been a die-hard entrepreneur. I co-started a wedding videography company called WeddedProductions when I was in my sophomore year of college. With that same business partner (Lucas Williams), we then started BlackBox Media when I was in my senior year of college. Lucas and I kept going to co-found a rentable studio in Taylors Mill called WhiteWall Studios with our new business partner, Max Huggins. I then got into real estate investing and started my own flipping company called WhiteBox Homes. A few months later, Lucas and Wes (one of our employees at BlackBox Media) started a clothing company that specializes in making the perfect clothing for people that work within production. That company is called On-Set Black (or OSB for short.) Lastly, I am helping start up a residential house cleaning company that automates the entire house cleaning process with the use of our own custom-built software. On-demand cleaning with transparent pricing, whenever and wherever you want. This company is called CleanSpace.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

As a business owner, the greatest accomplishment is when you no longer need to work within the company for the company to work. With my co-founders, we have been able to do this with WhiteWall Studios and Wedded Productions, and we are very close to BlackBox Media. A passive income stream from a company you built is the best accomplishment ever.

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

It is inevitable. When you start a business, unless you want to stump growth substantially, you have to be on call pretty much all the time. When you are your own boss, and you hold the final decision-making power behind everything, you have to be available to your team at all times. This is why the answer above is the biggest accomplishment. Not having to be available and work within the business is a luxury that comes with time. It isn't inherent. A 9-5 job gives you the ability to clock out at 5. Owning a business does not grant that luxury – at least not for a while. The only solution is to simply set that boundary when you start the business. However, your growth and the speed at which you grow will be drastically hindered.

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

The top tips I would give anyone starting a business are probably much like anyone else would suggest:

  1. You really have to want it. Getting a good-paying job is easy. Starting a business is hard. You can absolutely do it, but it will take lots of hard work, discipline, and self-motivation.
  2. Honesty. You very well may have a great business idea. You also very well may not. Being a business owner doesn't end with a bad business idea. It just means you pivot. The goal is to be your own boss and to own a successful company. Just because the idea you have is awesome doesn't mean it is going to work. Talk to mentors. Talk to your parents. Talk to your friends. Get the honest truth behind your idea before you spend lots of money and time on it.
  3. Find a mentor. Youtube is awesome. You can learn a lot there. Actually, for most businesses, you'll learn more there than you will in college. However, there is nothing like having a trusted, experienced business mentor. They will protect you from the mistakes you might make, teach you the mistakes they made, and encourage you when it sucks sometime. This tip is an annoying one because you're probably like, "Yeah, easier said than done." But what’s harder: finding a great business mentor? Or trying to recover from a failing business. Take the time it takes to network with your parent's friends, the random business guys at church, friends of your own, etc. If you don't have the confidence to boldly ask for coffee and a mentor relationship from one of these people, you may want to reconsider being a business owner.
  4. Confidence is key. You must have it. If you don't have it, fake it. Play a character in your head. Just act it out. Technically speaking, you can make it without confidence. It will just take much longer and be harder. You can do this. Truly. Don't tell yourself the lie that you can't. It's pretty easy once you get the flow down. The hardest part is getting started.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.theblackboxmedia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drewshahoud/

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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