We recently connected with Julian Jones and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Julian thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

The unexpected truth behind the curtain of becoming a business owner is finding out that even though you own a company, it also means it’s up to you to take care of everything. I’ve found this to be a love/hate relationship. I’m sure most business owners know what I mean. There is a sense of thrill, freedom, and creativity in trailblazing and shaping the culture and future of your own business. That doesn’t mean it comes without its heartaches, pains, and lonely nights. There was a time, during the pandemic, where I asked myself if it would be possible to continue because of economic uncertainty, difficult personal relationships, and a death in the family. On top of everything, I was making a push to scale up and ran into many roadblocks. Thankfully, with hard work and little bit of faith, I caught a break by securing an additional client. But, if i had a choice between a 9-5 or my business, I’d choose the business every time. Why? Because there is nothing more fulfilling than having an idea, executing the idea, and seeing the fruits of your labor and hard work.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Julian Jones and I’m a former collegiate athlete and Kennesaw State graduate (formerly Southern Polytechnic State University). My start came from a former employer, Marietta NDT, who hired me right out of college in 2013. I handled all of their marketing needs from website design to product photography and videography. I was young with little experience but hungry and determined to learn this unique skillset. This turned into a love for branding and creating strategies to help build brand awareness and stimulate growth within the company.

I worked there for about 8 years before I decided I was confident enough in my abilities to branch out on my own. Before taking the big leap I told them my plans and received unexpected but much needed support from them as they notified me they would be my very first client. This gave me the boost I needed to really attack and dive head first into business ownership. It was their support that helped me get my start and helped me turn Decorated Digital into a six-figure business.

Decorated Digital is a full-service industrial branding agency aimed at creating brands for industrial businesses that are equipped for the modern (digital) age. Many businesses in the Industrial B2B sector have branding and brand strategies that are dated and ill=prepared for today’ s digital marketing landscape. We help to solve this by bridging the gap between these businesses and the customers they serve through market research, careful planning, and execution.

We serve clients following industries: Nondestructive Testing, Medical & Healthcare, Defense, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Energy, and Tech. Some of our services include brand consults & strategies, web development, videography, product photography, design and technical content writing.

What brings me great joy, and why I do what I do, is my desire to truly help my clients get to where they want to be. It’s the connections made because I truly listened to what their needs are when others where simply looking for a check. It’s the smile I see on their faces when they have the pleasure to tell their employees that sales are strong and healthy end-of-year bonus’ are likely. It’s the families, which make up our countries backbone, that can continue to stay together and without worry. Branding solves more than just a company’s bottom line. This is what I’m proud of.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of clients for my business has been word of mouth by far. I believe that no matter how much marketing dollars you spend to attract new leads, the best marketing is a job well-done for your current client. Recommendations and referrals are gold in this industry and good work travels fast, far, and wide.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I don’t have to think hard about this one. There is a book called Atomic Habits by James Clear. I believe this book should be a required reading for every business owner. The value that it has provided me is immense.

I. like many other, suffer from analysis paralysis. This is when you become overwhelmed thus overthinking a large or difficult task that’s been presented. It usually amounts to nothing being done. This book has helped me to manage my daily routine, important tasks for my business, and also obligations in my personal life. The philosophy behind this book is that small changes to your daily habits add up to big results down the line. After reading this book, I can say that this has been my experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.decorateddigital.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decorateddigital/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decorateddigital
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/decorated-digital
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/decorated_dig
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKFHX-3j6cs_XWPkjIrwdRQ