Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Aram French, Owner of Mandatory Roller Coaster, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

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

I'm a cartoonist making art for anyone who wants to laugh and enjoy a bright spot in an increasingly bleak world.

Tell us about yourself

Drawing is something I've been doing since I was a little kid. My dream job was always "artist" before I even knew what that entailed. In 2011, frustrated with my tendency to start projects and not finish them, I began posting comics online. The idea was that every Monday, I had to put something new up. It was a way to give myself a deadline.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Selling my first book. Everything leading up to it was so much work, and everything after is simply a continuation. Today, I expect to make sales, but that first time is so affirming and magical. It's like, "oh wow, I can really do this."

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

I never wanted to be a business owner - I'm an artist! But the way things are structured today, artists also have to be promoters, managers, public relations, tax preparers, and all that extra stuff that gets in the way of making the actual art. Of course, no one was going to come along and offer to do these things for me. I had to teach myself everything on the fly. So it's difficult but necessary.

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

  1. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
  2. Don't compare your failures to other people's success stories.
  3. You're going to fail. A lot. That's just what happens. Get up and try again.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://mandatoryrollercoaster.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandatoryrollercoaster/

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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