Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in branding and marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Brad Woodard, Founder of Brave the Woods, located in Boise, ID, USA.

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

I co-founded the creative agency Brave the Woods with my wife, Krystal. Though we have a lot of different creative ventures, our specialty is illustration and branding. Because of the variety of work we do, our clients vary significantly as well. We do a lot with ad agencies, independent art directors, publishers, toy companies, apparel companies, directly with businesses, design studios, and more. It's great in the sense that the work is always fresh and interesting, but also hard because that is a lot of different business languages we have to learn.

Tell us about yourself

Early in my career, I bounced around between several different design jobs. I worked at a small start-up, an in-house design team, a small design studio, and a massive ad agency. Nearly every year, I moved to a different job and state. The work I was doing was interesting and educational for me, but I didn't like that I didn't have control over who I was creating for. Once I learned I was never going to be happy working for someone else, I made plans to start my own business. Now, a decade later, our business is still growing and changing. And that is what I love about what I do. I'm motivated by the prospect of learning about and making something new. My passion has always been to create, so getting the opportunity to do that for causes and companies I believe in is something I am deeply grateful for.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment with my studio is the fact that we get enough project inquiries that we can afford to say 'NO' to projects. It might not sound like much, but being able to say 'NO' to a project or client that doesn't bring me anything of value outside of money is what allows me to love what I do every day truly. My best work shows when I am creating something I am passionate about. It allows me to be happier, and my work continues to get better and better because of it.

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

As a creative business owner, valuing myself and my work is the hardest part. In design school, I was never taught how to operate my own business. I was taught how to climb the corporate ladder to find success in titles. That doesn't help you understand how valuable your time and experience are. And then you add on top of the fact that art is so subjective. Every year that goes by, I feel more comfortable with my estimates, but it is constantly evolving and is my least favorite part of running my business.

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

  1. Figure out who you are as fast as you can. The sooner you know what makes your business so unique, and you fully embrace it, the better off you'll be.
  2. Never stop evolving. Nothing is certain, so make sure you build a business that is flexible when needed. For example, my studio has experienced some client droughts due to slow economies, presidential elections, and COVID-19. Because of this, we started creating online courses, selling digital products, and even driving around the country, holding illustration workshops to keep our business going.
  3. Be passionate about what you do. Starting and running your business isn't a 9-5 job. I work more hours and spend more time thinking about work than I ever did working for someone else. The difference is it is my baby. I care about its future. There are extreme lows, but that also means the highs are that much higher.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.bravethewoods.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brave_the_woods/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-woodard-3828b81a/

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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