Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brady Gilliam. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Brady, thanks for joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?
In short, yes, I am thrilled to be a business owner. It can be extremely gratifying, but it’s not all sunshine and daisies.
There are many reasons to be a business owner, but I believe it boils down to five things: autonomy, flexibility, creativity, personal fulfillment, and financial potential.
As a business owner, I have the autonomy to make my own decisions and have greater control over my work life. I can choose the type of business, the business model, the location, and how it operates. This kind of independence is very satisfying. This level of freedom also plays into the flexibility of my working hours. I often work more than 40/hrs per week, but I get to choose when and where I can work. I’m not mandated to commute to an office setting for 8 hours per day. Being able to take breaks and hit the gym or work on my garden has a lot of benefits for my mental clarity.
I also can be as creative as I’d like in my business. Business ownership provides a platform to implement creative ideas and innovative strategies. Since I own a video production company, I have many opportunities to showcase my creative abilities. I can simply share my most recent work. I can write a blog with a breakdown of how we created a client’s video. I can film my own videos that educate my audience about my industry. The creative opportunities are endless, and I wonder if I’d have that same level of creativity by working for someone else.
There’s a great deal of personal fulfillment as a business owner. Creating something from the ground up brings great satisfaction and pride. Seeing my ideas become successful is extremely rewarding. I would have a different level of fulfillment by building up someone else’s business. It would be rewarding, but it wouldn’t be mine.
Last but not least is the financial potential of owning a business. While risky, owning a business has the potential for significant financial rewards. My earnings are not limited to a salary. My paychecks are tied to the success of my business. The sky is the limit! Initially, it can be challenging since I still have to reinvest my earnings into the business. As time goes on and the business grows, my earnings should also increase. There’s also a level of fulfillment in providing income to contractors and employees. I am providing a community of growth and experience.
As previously mentioned, owning a business is not all sunshine and daisies. Some things can be perceived as drawbacks: financial risk, stress, time commitments, unpredictability, and lack of benefits. Many of these things keep people from becoming business owners. It takes a lot of work.
If my business fails, the financial consequences could be significant. I could lose the money I have invested in my business, and depending on how my business was financed, my assets may be at risk. Failure would also affect any employees I may have. I also have to provide my benefits. I don’t have a 401k with an employer match. My health insurance is whatever I can afford. But without the risk, there would be no reward. To see growth, you have to make yourself uncomfortable.
There’s also a lot of stress that comes with owning a business. I am responsible for all decisions, big and small, which can significantly impact my business’s success. Stress can also come from the long hours worked and unpredictability. Business revenues can fluctuate, unlike the steady paycheck of an employee. This can make financial planning more challenging.
One of my biggest challenges as a business owner is my work/life balance. I find it difficult to “turn off” and stop thinking about work. In this regard, I get a little jealous of people who work a 9 to 5. They can go home at the end of the day, completely turn off and relax. I do know this is case-by-case. Unfortunately, some salaried workers are always working and can’t “turn off” either.
The unpredictability can also be concerning. In the beginning, I’d have good months and bad months. During the bad months, I’d wonder if I should try to get a full-time job somewhere to have some consistency in my income. It plays with your head. But, if you keep putting in the work, you should be able to stay in business. The longer you’re in business more likely you’ll be able to get a consistent income. A part of me also thinks opting for a full-time job is “giving up.” I don’t want to give up on something I’ve worked hard to achieve.
Have I had thoughts about wanting to get a regular job and opt out of owning a business? Yes, I absolutely have had this thought, and not just once. This is a thought that comes up time and time again, especially when things get tough, or I feel overwhelmed in my business. When I have this thought, I have to take a step back and analyze the pros/cons and how far I’ve come in my business. After doing this, I tend to come to the conclusion that I am making the best decision for myself and continue on with my business.
Overall, at this time of my life, I wouldn’t trade my business ownership for a cozy 9 to 5. In my opinion, the pros outweigh the cons. Business ownership is not the right path for everyone, and careful consideration should be given before pursuing this route. Even though I have my ups and downs, I am still happy as a business owner.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Hey there, my name is Brady Gilliam. I am a Video Producer, Director, and owner/founder of Visionaery Productions.
My video production journey started while attending Wabash College, where I majored in Studio Art. One of my part-time jobs was filming football and soccer games for the media center’s live-streaming events. During my Junior year at Wabash, I scored a sweet internship with a cinematographer in NYC named Eric Schneider. That internship piqued my interest in video production and influenced what I’d do in the future. Upon my return from NYC, I focused on creating video art in my senior studio.
After graduating from Wabash College in 2015, I moved to Grand Rapids, MI, where I was lucky enough to get a job in Public Access Television. Public Access is where I honed my video production skills. We filmed a lot of community events, sporting events, educational content, PSAs, and more. I enjoyed filming business spotlights and creating promotional video content. In 2017, I started Visionaery Productions to focus on producing creative commercial videos for businesses. Visionaery Productions is in its sixth year and flourishing as of this writing.
Visionaery Productions is a Video Production Agency in Grand Rapids, MI, specializing in Commercial Video, Corporate Video, and Drone Video Services.
We partner with highly impactful brands to channel their vision and values into creative video marketing that makes it easy for people to resonate with their mission.
At Visionaery, we provide a world-class experience. We foster genuine human connection. We take your vision and your brand to new heights.
Business owners and Marketers need to understand that video production is an investment. Just like anything, you get what you pay for. How people perceive your brand is invaluable, and Visionaery is here to elevate your brand with quality video marketing.
If you’d like to book a discovery call to learn more about video production for your marketing and advertising needs, head over to our website: www.visionaerypro.com
I would not be in the position I am in today without the help of my friends, family, and fantastic clientele. I am thankful for all of them. I still plan to continue my video production journey, and I look forward to what the future has in store!
If you’d like to work together, don’t be shy! Please, send me a message.
Thank you for reading!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
There are many rewarding aspects. Being an artist or creative can be fulfilling, provide self-expression, and even offer therapeutic benefits. I think creating an impact is the most rewarding aspect of being an artist.
Through my work, I can deeply affect others, provoke thought, inspire change, and even shape culture. My day-to-day video production work impacts businesses and helps their growth. I have the ability to engage people through visual storytelling. I love hearing from clients about how my videos have positively impacted their business growth.
In summary, creating an impact through my work is the most rewarding aspect of being an artist.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
I’d rather not generalize, but non-creatives must understand that there is a worldwide phenomenon of underpaying and undervaluing creative services. Undervaluing creative services is often related to misconceptions about the nature of our work and the economic dynamics at play.
It may be a hot take, but the “starving artist” is the reality for many people in creative professions. “Small Business Becky” wants me to create a laundry list of videos, the compensation being “exposure.” “Thanks, Becky! My rent/mortgage is exactly 1,400 exposures! I think I’ll pass on this one.”
I think the number one belief people hold for undervaluing creative work is that if someone enjoys their job or it comes easily to them, they shouldn’t need to be paid as much. It’s often assumed that artists or creatives are just “doing what they love” and shouldn’t need as much compensation. People shouldn’t be punished or undervalued for doing what they enjoy. Artists often spend years of training or make a substantial investment in schooling and equipment to get to the level they have achieved. There’s also a considerable need for a greater understanding of the amount of time, effort, and skill that goes into producing creative work. Non-creatives see the end product, not the hours of practice, training, and experience that made it possible. Just because someone loves what they do, doesn’t mean they should be undervalued or paid less.
It’s challenging to measure the value of creative work in the same way we measure the value of traditional goods or services. There’s no universal scale to determine how much a painting or a piece of music is worth, so people often default to paying less than they might for more easily quantifiable work. Also, unlike tangible assets such as physical goods, creative output can be difficult to value accurately. Artistic or creative creation often doesn’t have a direct, measurable impact on bottom lines, especially in the short term, and as a result, it can be undervalued.
Just because creative people may “love” their jobs doesn’t mean their job doesn’t come with things they don’t enjoy. Admin work doesn’t go away just because the job is deemed creative. There can be a considerable amount of stress or overwork involved. There can be a high level of competition in one’s creative field which could make it challenging to find work in the first place. Work is work.
Non-creatives need to realize that artists have enhanced many aspects of their daily lives. Someone created the design on your shirt, shoes, and hat. A digital artist probably made the background on your laptop and phone. Someone designed the packaging that your Hello Fresh box came in. A musician composed the music you listen to at the gym. Creative people made all the videos you consume on YouTube during your lunch break or the video game you play in the evening before bed. A talented crew of people made the TV show you watch every night. The arts have become a commodity that people feel they should have access to for free or at a low price. Artists still have expenses; they still have to pay for food and shelter. We must stop undervaluing creative careers just because art and design can be easily accessible at little to no cost. Can you imagine the world if you took all the art away? Probably not, and it would probably suck.
Fair compensation for creative labor is an ongoing issue. Because art is all around us in our daily lives, it can be easy to take it for granted. Non-creatives must understand that creatives should be valued and fairly compensated for their work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.visionaerypro.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brady.gilliam/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VisionaeryProductions
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/visionaery-productions/
Image Credits
Nik Degraaf