Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jordan Mansour. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jordan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?
Fortunately, I have been able to live comfortably on a full-time artist income, but the journey has been both challenging and highly gratifying. I started my business on my 35th birthday, while I was still working full time for the federal government. My original plan was to slow-build a side hustle over the course of my career so that I could have something good rolling when it came time for me to retire. I was in a law enforcement position at the time, so I was eligible for full retirement benefits at age 50, 15 years from the time I started my journey.
In the beginning, I focused on getting in the habit of accomplishing a couple of small tasks every day in the business, as well as improving my drawing skills and techniques. Since I wasn’t in need of income to sustain my family, I didn’t feel the financial pressures that can easily derail a dream. Even when I didn’t feel like working on the business, I would still force myself to get at least one thing done that day that was in the direction of where I wanted to be one day. I have two young daughters and a wife who also require my time, as well as other personal interests, so some days I didn’t get to any of my side hustle work until after the kids were asleep.
Over time, each new decision and subsequent follow through led to a new opportunity, which may have succeeded or failed, but always continued to lead to another decision and opportunity. I had to get comfortable with putting myself out there, and not always succeeding. I had to be ok with knowing that there are a million other artists out there who are better than I am, but in time, with consistent practice and effort, I will eventually end up at the skill level I aspire to be at.
October 2020 begin a six month decline in my US government career. I increasingly became frustrated with my leadership and responsibilities, which manifested into emotional and physical atrophy. By March of 2021 the work environment became truly toxic and I had my first anxiety attack as well as a physical breakdown in my back that laid me out for a couple of days. Fortunately, Simple Mind Design was more successful that it had ever been by this point, and although it didn’t earn nearly as much income as my federal job, it give me hope and and out. So after many long conversations with my wife, and checking our finances over and over again, I shocked my employers by submitting my resignation after 13 years at the same Agency.
After leaving, I took some time to decompress and process the magnitude of the decision I just made. Fortunately, I believe the Universe is benevolent and I saw my dreams manifest as new opportunities began to line up for me. I started participating in art shows regularity and my financial success multiplied with each new show. New creative ideas began to flow into my consciousness and since I had already trained myself to treat each new attempt as an experiment, I learned which ideas worked, and which needed improved.
With my wife Megan’s help, we ended up being accepted into the Makers of Maryland cohort, where we given a space in a retail shop outside of Baltimore. That exposure boosted sales which was great, but the most important thing that came out of that was being approached by REI to have some of my work sold in their stores. That was a pivotal moment for me because I had been actively thinking about how I could get my products in their stores for months, and out of the blue, they reached out for me. That solidified my believe that the Universe was indeed conspiring for me.
2022 was twice as good as 2021. My wife (business partner) and I participated in art shows locally, regionally, and nationally. We even took our kids on month-long road trip in July to visit friends, family, and participate in art shows in Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin. I also applied and won a small business grant from Hello Alice and Baltimore Gas and Electric.
The journey can be difficult some days, and this path requires a lot of self-love, persistence, tenacity, and a continued big picture thinking. However, I wouldn’t change a thing because I know the best is yet to come.
Jordan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Simple Mind Design is powered by a husband-and-wife team (with occasional “help” from our two young daughters). We focus on continuously learning and trying new things to see what helps reach our goals. In April 2021, I officially left my 13 year career in the government to follow my dream and passion. I decided to commit my time to the artist/small business owner life and my life has been better than I could have imagined at the beginning of this journey. My art is purposefully simplistic and most often drawn in black in white because I find that it helps relax my overactive mind. I seek to address our hyper stimulation problem by creating simple scenes to take the viewer away from the hustle of daily living and into a world where nature envelopes them with peace and serenity. We have so much going on in our personal lives and in our heads that it’s a relief to just sit and allow your mind to be at ease for a few moments. I begin with hand drawn pen and ink designs that I offer in limited edition prints, vinyl stickers, and hand-made upcycled bottle cap magnets.
In 2022 I began working with wood which really leveled up my art and success. I started getting accepted into fine art shows, which exposed me to a new clientele and opened doors that had once been closed. I am most proud of my work in wood because it isn’t anything you’ve likely seen before. In other words, I believe I am on the forefront of a brand new style of art that may eventually explode and become popular. Please have a look and judge for yourself!
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
The most important thing people can do in my opinion is to visit art & craft shows. Seek out shows near your city or town, and when on vacation if you have the time. These events are vital for artists and creatives like myself because they expose our work to new people who likely wouldn’t have found you otherwise. Not only does my work get to see the light of day, but I also get to engage with the people who enter my tent. I often find these interactions with people crucial because it allows me to connect on a deeper level with them and get feedback about how my art makes them feel. These connections inspire the vital moments when a buyer is on the verge of making a purchasing decision about my art. This kind of support of the small business owners who are putting themselves out there for all the world to see makes a real difference in peoples lives. You’re simply not going to make that kind of impact when shopping at Target or Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Additionally, shopping at local, independentOver shops and boutiques supports not only the creatives who have created the products your buying, but also the store owners who may well be chasing their own dreams of being a small business owner.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I am a bit of a non-fiction book junkie. I try to read at least 1 or 2 new books every month, and I’ve been doing that for years. So I will try to keep this list to a minimum so as not to overwhelm anyone.
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
The 4 Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (and her companion podcast)
The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath
Be Water My Friend by Shannon Lee
The One Thing by Gary Keller
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.SimpleMindDesign.com
- Instagram: Simpleminddzn