#startingfromscratch

The great thing about art is it’s one of the few careers that you can break into that don’t require a degree or schooling of any kind. You can be entirely self-taught, but if your portfolio is rocking, then you’ll get hired.

If you’re starting at ground zero, I’d say start with the cheapest — but still the most impressive — art technology. A pencil. If you hone your skills and your craft so well even just with a pencil & paper, You can build a following, get noticed, and start earning money to save up for adobe programs and online classes in digital art.

A few ideas:

—Make great drawings and take pics of them and start an instagram or tumblr and start gaining followers and offer online commissions. 

—The best way to get into comics is to MAKE YOUR OWN COMIC. Scan it and put it on the web. So many comics artists launch their careers with their personal work as webcomics and cheap xerox printed comics. (Nimona being a great example. Noelle Stevenson launched her entire career by just posting a comic page once a week.)

—Go to the park on your off days, start sketching people for $20 and sell it to them.

—Put some work up in the restaurant for sale. Maybe they’d even let you sit in the corner and sketch customers, then sell them to the diners.

—If you get really good and really fast, you can get jobs doing storyboards for advertising agencies, or even concept art jobs freelance.

There are art jobs in every city in the world. There are plenty of startups and creative agencies and small game companies in Portland for sure. If you’re nowhere near a medium-to-big-size city then get creative. Look around your town. People need art for all kinds of things. Start drawing out in public. Start putting your work around bulletin boards in town. You’ll start getting hired for all kinds of little jobs that you can save up to get started digitally. Remember, you don’t HAVE TO start with Adobe programs. There are free clones of photoshop and illustrator online, just google them. Lynda.com is a great cheap resource to learn any computer program, and it’s only $25/month. There’s also a ton of free videos there. And literally anything you want to learn has a video on youtube.

Get creative. Use what you have, then upgrade as you go. If you really want this to work, then put the time in and people will notice.

—Agent KillFee

So you've got the entrepreneurial itch – congratulations! But now comes the big question:  Fresh Start or Fast Track?  There's no one-size-fits-all answer,  but here's a breakdown to help you choose the path that aligns with your goals and resources.

Fresh Start: Building from Scratch

Pros:

Unlimited Potential: You're the architect! Craft a business that perfectly reflects your vision and fills a unique niche.

Perfect Fit: Pursue your passion and build something you're truly invested in for the long haul.

Lower Startup Costs: Often, fresh starts require less upfront investment compared to acquisitions.

Full Control: You call the shots! Make all the decisions and steer your business in the direction you choose.

Sense of Achievement: There's immense satisfaction in building something successful from the ground up.

Cons:

The Long Haul: Success takes time. Be prepared for years of dedication and hard work before reaping significant rewards.

Uncertain Path: There's no guaranteed formula. You'll need to navigate a sea of unknowns and be adaptable.

Wearing Multiple Hats: You'll likely be the marketing whiz, finance guru, and product champion – at least initially.

Financing Challenges: Securing funding for a new venture can be tough. Be prepared for creative solutions.

High Risk of Failure: Statistics are sobering – studies suggest a 90% failure rate for startups within the first few years.

Live Examples of Fresh Starts:

Zomato & Swiggy (India): These food delivery startups revolutionized the way Indians eat, starting from scratch and now dominating the online food ordering market.

Uber (Global): This ride-hailing giant began by disrupting the taxi industry and has since expanded into various mobility services.

Airbnb (Global): This hospitality pioneer challenged the traditional hotel industry by offering unique lodging options through a user-friendly platform.

Fast Track: Taking Over an Existing Business

Pros:

Established Clientele: Inherit a ready-made customer base, saving you valuable time and resources on acquiring new customers.

Proven Track Record: You're buying a business with a history of success, reducing some of the inherent risks of starting fresh.

Reduced Risk: There's less uncertainty with an established business model compared to a completely new venture.

Faster Growth: Leverage the existing infrastructure and customer base to potentially scale up more quickly.

Expertise Acquisition: Gain valuable insights and knowledge from the previous owner(s).

Cons:

Higher Upfront Cost: Acquisitions typically require a larger initial investment compared to starting fresh.

Hidden Liabilities: There could be unforeseen issues like debts or legal entanglements. Careful due diligence is crucial.

Integrating Existing Culture: Merging your vision with the existing company culture can be challenging.

Legacy Issues: The business may be burdened by outdated practices or technologies that require upgrades.

Limited Growth Potential: Established businesses may have a defined market size, potentially limiting your ability to achieve explosive growth.

Live Examples of Fast Track Acquisitions:

Salesforce acquires Slack (2021): This acquisition allowed Salesforce to expand its software solutions into the workplace communication arena.

Facebook acquires Instagram (2012): This strategic move bolstered Facebook's position in the social media landscape by capturing the photo-sharing market.

Microsoft acquires LinkedIn (2016): Microsoft leveraged LinkedIn's established professional network to strengthen its position in the business productivity software market.

Finding Acquisition Opportunities

If the Fast Track approach resonates with you, here are some resources to help you find acquisition opportunities in India:

Merger & Acquisition (M&A) advisory firms: These firms specialize in connecting buyers and sellers of businesses. They can help you identify suitable targets, value businesses, and navigate the acquisition process.

Online marketplaces: Platforms like IndiaBizForSale list businesses for sale by category, location, and industry.

Investment banks: Many investment banks have dedicated M&A teams that can source acquisition opportunities for their clients.

Industry associations: Industry associations often have resources or publications that list businesses for sale within their specific sector.

Choosing Your Path

The ideal path depends on your personal circumstances and goals. Consider the following:

Risk Tolerance: Are you comfortable with the rollercoaster ride of a startup, or do you prefer the relative stability of an established business?

Resources: Do you have the financial backing and industry expertise to launch your own venture, or would you benefit from the existing framework of an acquired business?

Entrepreneurial Drive: Do you crave the freedom to build something entirely new, or are you more focused on profitability and rapid growth?

There's no right or wrong answer. Weigh the pros and cons carefully,  do your research, and choose the path that excites and empowers you to turn your business dream into reality!

Remember:

Fresh Start: Ideal for those with a unique vision, limited resources, and a high tolerance for risk.

Fast Track: A good option for those seeking faster growth, established clientele, and a proven business model, but with the understanding of potentially higher upfront costs and integration challenges.

Embrace the Journey!

Lately, its been feeling like god, the universe, the Amen race (or what ever you choose to call it) has been testing me.

Within a matter of two weeks, my wallet was stolen, I lost the album I was making for my deceased little brother to a rotten computer, I was scammed out of Fifteen Hundred dollars due to an apartment scam, and to top it all off I was scammed out of my instagram account with over eight thousand followers on it.

Not such a stellar week for me, not at all. I recently made the decision to begin my spritial reconnection and regain my connection to nature. I know im not that important, but the narcisist in me cant help but think I’m solely resposible for the reason that the negitive events surrounding me have taken place.

Despite all of this turmoil, I remain unphased- almost numb to the pain of material loss. Losing my little brother was the most devestating, rude awakening event that I've had to endure thus far. I genuinely feel like the mundane circle and its bundle of materialistic ups and downs could never out weigh the magnitude of that losss….

I understand universal law, Thats why I choose to look at this as an opportunity to cleanse and restart. I was always planning on collecting all of my social media data to utilize it when my own website launched. as a lesson to any aspiring artists out there, its imperateive that your final landing page is YOUR OWN website. get off of these social media sites theyre easily hackable and instagram still hasnt taken down @owennessmusic and he is trying to scam everyone I know.  I may have lost it all but I will gain 100 times more very soon!