We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dawn Duncan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Dawn 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?

All entrepreneurs face challenges and I don’t know any who haven’t failed at least at one thing (or 100). However, I also believe that most business owners will tell you they are happy, at least happy in the sense that they don’t long for a regular job. Real entrepreneurs don’t relate to regular jobs; they find them dull and confining for the most part. An entrepreneur lives rooted in vision, possibility, and pivoting—fast. In regular corporate jobs, there is red tape, hierarchy, and sometimes boards and shareholders. That’s a lot to travel through to get things done and at least in my experience and opinion, it prevents things from moving forward fast enough.
I never think about regular jobs. Even at the lowest points of my time as an entrepreneur, which has been about 95% of my adult life since owning my first business at age 26 and I am now turning 55, I haven’t wanted to work for someone else. I am a creative person and have been my entire life; reports, audits, data, “have to’s…..” those are not how I want to spend my time. I also like executing my ideas fast and then, if something isn’t fruitful or I am not enjoying it, I can move away from it quickly. I don’t have to ask permission, sit through meetings, or have my ideas shot down because of a boss or a team.
This being said, I like to collaborate with other businesses and create unique opportunities where each party shines. With everyone having their own enterprise, we all get to engage, go all in, and then if something doesn’t work for someone, they have an out. This fuels the creative mind and spirit; we don’t perform as well if we feel boxed in. It may sound like we’re highly particular because I guess we are in many ways. We like to create our own reality and manage it through intuition and emotions; that’s where our art, writing, music, etc. comes from.
Regular jobs offer stability such as paychecks on predictable dates, known salaries and bonuses, insurance, retirement, and reimbursement of expenses. Some people are driven by these things, but I am not in the least. All of these sound draining and confining; I’d rather make my own way and have freedom. Control of my time is true wealth.
I think as the world evolves, people will slowly realize that being able to design life on one’s own terms—having time for kids, pets, travel, downtime, and just simple things like naps—means much more than feeding a 401K under someone else’s rules and expectations.
My days are spent as I design them and they involve daily exercise (including fitness classes that I teach as my fun side gig), time with friends, family, and my new cat (Marais), creating art, and teaching others. I make time for rest, and I don’t treat things like baths, walks in nature, resting, etc. as “indulgent.” These are just part of my regular lifestyle. I know what it’s like to work 60-80 hours a week because I did it in my first round of entrepreneurship. I look back and realize there were times that I was so beholden to my work and so addicted to the grind, so competitive and driven, I might as well have had a boss. But burnout (more than once) finally taught me that was not how I wanted to live. If I was going to be self-employed, I was going to enjoy it and as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come into my real, authentic self.
I confidently create life as I want it and I have never been happier as a business owner; it’s now coming from the heart every day and rooted in serving others. I no longer “climb.” I don’t care about awards and being driven by money; the funny thing is that those actually show up a lot more when you’re not chasing them. Success, to me, is not loud, it’s quiet and carefully crafted with intention. I didn’t understand this when I was younger, but I do now.
Creativity has guided me naturally my entire life, and I am so grateful that everything I do each day reflects my innate skills and talents. Work is easy for me even when I am really busy, which I usually am, but always with a buffer built in. I am very “on” a lot of the time, which makes people assume I am highly extroverted. I am when I am in public, but I’m actually much more of an introvert. I have to recharge and have a lot of solo time to think and just “be.” That is where true power comes from, as we can’t create from a burned-out state of mind.
Regular jobs are just not a fit for me, and I always say you’ll get more than you expect from a creative person if you just tell them what you want, perhaps assign a deadline, and then let them go their own way. Anything that hinders or micromanages the process will usually be a detriment or at least deflate them a bit, making it harder to complete the project.
People who are driven by creativity at their core can be on teams and might thrive in a regular job, but if they do, it’s usually because they figure out how to deal with the rules and protocols, focusing more on the actual projects they get to be part of and the stability the job offers. Entrepreneurship is a risk, but I think it’s far safer being in control of one’s destiny than being hitched onto a corporate wagon that could be taken away any second. That stability can disappear in an instant, whereas being self-employed, I know whom to blame when things go wrong and I can quickly fix the situation. Is it for everyone? No. It requires immense discipline and willingness to jump in at any given time to ensure that customers are happy and things are getting done correctly and on time. However, it also offers that beautiful freedom that I find sparks happiness on the most organic level and that is what will drive me to “work” as l choose. My vision is to create art, write books, contribute to magazines, and teach fitness forever, threading in my love of travel, animals, and hobbies. This is the “designed life” and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

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

I’m a lifelong creative who was fortunate to be raised by parents who believed children should be exposed to art, books, music, dance, and fun opportunities that spark curiosity and intellect. I grew up in a tiny town of 800 people in rural Minnesota but was exposed to other places through countless roadtrips with my family. My mother’s side of the family is very artistic and creating was always encouraged. What I do in owning Yellowbright Creative is really, to me, just an extension of who I have always been, and I named the company Yellowbright after a word I created while playing Lite Brite as a kindergartner! I was obsessed with yellow, so I took all of the yellow pegs from the toy’s box and made an all-yellow object on the screen, which I called “Yellowbright.” When it came time to name my company, I remembered this.
Yellowbright evolved since its start in 2012. It was originally rooted in the music industry, and I did publicity, booking, and management of bands, applying my writing and social media skills to various projects on behalf of artists. My own art was very much pushed aside as I worked in such a busy industry. Four years in, the company moved into doing this type of work for businesses. This was all in Colorado, where I lived for 26 years until relocating to my home state of Minnesota. Here, for the past five years, Yellowbright has been a creativity company, an outlet for art and writing education, which includes classes, courses, and retreats. I do sell some of my own work here and there, but it isn’t my mainstay by any means. I self-published a children’s book a few years ago, and that has served as a platform to help other authors conceptualize, produce, and publish their own work.
Today, Yellowbright Creative operates out of a downtown Detroit Lakes, MN studio that is a flex space, easily converted from creative art studio into a classroom. I teach an average of two art classes a week in-studio, and also travel to other towns/cities in the region at times. Last year, I taught in Colorado as well. The studio is expanding fairly rapidly and has a steady following of regulars who are accomplished artists and some sell their work.
I teach multiple mediums, but mainly watercolor, acrylic, drawing, Cyanotype, lettering, and various crafts. I help others solve the problem of remembering who they are; I guide people back to their inner artist. People will often tell me they are not creative, they can’t draw or paint, their sibling got all the talent, etc. I respond the same way every time and say, “You were born creative. We all were.” And it’s the truth. My work creates opportunities for self-expression, relaxation, connection, and joy; I also know that many of the older people who come to me benefit from having new hobbies and discovering things they can do as they go into the elderly period of their life. Art and writing provide opportunity and purpose, things that people are seeking. Creativity makes the world seem a bit more manageable and enjoyable.
I am really proud of the fact that I got back to who I really am—an artist—and that I have been able to meld my intrinsically creative soul with solid business acumen that I have honed over many years as a business owner. I am proud that I am a good teacher and that I know how to communicate in ways that inspire people to push themselves and also have fun—to not take themselves too seriously! Yes, we need to be responsible adults, but we also need to rediscover our child self and just let go. That’s what I help people realize and that makes me feel great about my work.
Perhaps the thing that sets me apart is transparency and a willingness to try new things without getting hung up on mastering them. I am constantly learning new art mediums, techniques, etc. and I then get busy teaching them. I don’t put pressure on myself to be perfect anymore; I am not going for the title of “best artist.” I am shooting for “inspiring.” That’s it. I am able to laugh at my own mistakes, work alongside my students—many of whom will exhibit greater skills than I have—and have fun working. I don’t see what I do as work, despite being busy and making a living. It’s a good feeling knowing that my studio, the classes and courses I offer, the events I put together, and all of the branding of my company has come from me, my ideas, my vision. When it came time to rebrand, I did it myself and I love it. I’m proud of my brand because it stems from my own mind; that’s the reward of being a creative entrepreneur.
I’ve read a zillion business books in the past, been in seminars and courses, done the networking groups—all of it. Now, I just do what I want and I am more successful for it. That’s because people are looking for real people, ones they can relate to, and I’ve just brought things full circle in terms of getting back to who I am naturally. That sells better than ads or sales pitches ever could. Be magnetic but make sure you’re real.
Yellowbright has always centered around fun, being a bright ray of sunshine, whether in the music industry (which is full of rejection and turmoil a lot of the time), or in creative education. Helping people find that spark inside of them, ignite hope, and stimulate learning is fabulous, especially when people feel safe and nurtured along the way. I love providing that space for them and seeing what they can do naturally. In my classes, we never paint the same picture one person to the next—we create from our own mind and ideas. It’s incredible to see even beginner painters come into class timid and unsure and leave two hours later with a “framer” in hand! They are so much more capable than they think they are and I love offering opportunities that give them the foundation to create.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I had to pivot HARD when the recession hit in 2008-2012. I was in the career industry and owned a boutique recruiting company where I did headhunting–executives, higher level tech personnel—and also provided consulting services to businesses. I had been very successful in my career, starting out as an entrepreneur at 26 when I bought out my boss (who was twice my age and going into early retirement). My boss made it easy for me to move into ownership, as she carried the business loan for three years, helping me to avoid having to get loans and deal with a bank when I was still really young. But, I drove myself into the ground many times mentally, working too much, not taking time for myself, and just being addicted to working. I had all of my focus in this one business endeavor and I learned the hard way why that is a very bad idea. I also took on a business partner during the recession; huge mistake, as they had no small business background, came from a huge corporation where they had sales, marketing, and administrative support each day, and they were bad with money. Eventually, they left to work for a client of ours, but I still held on—basically bottlenecking the company. I wouldn’t let go until I finally crashed hard enough, many of my clients were closing shop and even going bankrupt, and I was forced to face reality. The world had changed, the economy had tanked, and I was in an industry that was cut in the process. No one was hiring, everyone was losing their job/home/security, and I needed to change quickly.
One of my closest friends owned a company and she asked if I’d come to work with her. She knew I wouldn’t be there forever, but she gave me a soft place to land, with a paycheck, benefits, and a fun creative team. I had a great office in a high rise and was able to transition out of my business, shut it down, sell the accounts I could, and move on. I was there a year then I pivoted again, going to work for another friend who needed help with marketing and managing her company. Nine months later, I was fired abruptly. It was shocking and terrible, I had never experienced anything like it, and I lost a friend in the process. It was a very dark day for sure.
But three days later, I opened Yellowbright. From the moment of getting fired, I was full throttle, finally moving into my next endeavor after nearly two years of employment. I jumped in, created an LLC in a few minutes, got a friend to whip up a logo as my new brand after I picked the name (that was a very long night of filling notebook pages full of the worst possible names imaginable before choosing Yellowbright), and I went forward. I got my first client the day I opened, someone I had met who was looking for a publicist. It was a strange and shaky time, I wasn’t mentally all in as I was still really rattled by the fallout of the firing and tangle with the friend, but I just pushed it into high gear. Things took off and I loved it.
I had to pivot again after four years when the toll of the music industry got to be too much. I worked with people much younger (12-20 years usually) and much of what they were going through was no longer relatable to me; I had worked in high level business with people in suits and who had very traditional backgrounds, but now was in an industry with zero rules, no set protocols, and never a guarantee of success. It was competitive and tough, but I am glad I did it. It taught me a lot and I am proud that I was able to shift and meet so many creative, interesting people, many of whom are my friends still today. (Side note: the friend I had the falling out with came back to me after six years and we resolved things. We are still friends and that showed me that even things you don’t think will ever work out just might.)
I pivoted again and worked with business clients, which was good. I liked applying my skills in this way and was back in familiar territory. But, mentally I was suffering. I am very open about this as I believe it is helpful for people to hear and to understand that even when people seem to have things together, they might not. They may be fighting internal battles while also putting on a great public face. That was me. The music years really affected me and fueled bad habits. I was drinking more, I started using pills, and eventually cocaine came into the mix. It took a few years, but when I was turning 47, my entire life fell apart. My work was suffering, relationships were strained, I had gone through ups and downs financially, and my mental health was rock bottom. Substances were bandaging all of this (poorly) and I cracked. A mental breakdown and a DUI within days of each other—as horrid as it was— was what I needed to completely change my life. And I did.
Overnight, I left those habits behind and went to work on rebuilding. I had to start with my mental health and that became my top priority. I stepped away from work temporarily and thankfully had understanding clients who supported me through this. Slowly I rebuilt. It was terrifying and felt so foreign, but I started to realize that being creative was going to be the thing to pull me through. I worked on inner strength, mental fortitude, and rediscovering things that made me feel fulfilled. That’s exactly when my company moved to the next level. Even though I was not necessarily 100% out of the darkness, I was quickly becoming more focused and strong, feeling empowered to be myself and create. COVID hit, but I was already working from home for several years. I was already in the lifestyle of being alone in work and being in a home office. I didn’t like the pandemic by any means, but will say that it didn’t rearrange my life in ways that many people unfortunately experienced. Being substance-free, committing to my health, and really focusing on intentional work with excellent clients advanced me in ways I didn’t know could happen. I signed up for Shakespeare courses through Harvard’s program with edx.org and that was one of my many “COVID hobbies.” I also got certified to teach Zumba through the company’s online program. So, these side endeavors became wonderful enhancements in my new lifestyle, just helping me feel like a new person.
In 2020, my husband and I made the tough decision to leave Colorado for Minnesota to be with my family. This was a monumental shift—a hard one to do and it uprooted our entire life together in the place where we had met and the city we lived in our entire post-grad lives. It was easier for me since I am from Minnesota and my family is here, but we did the move and then it was time to regroup again. I needed to make Yellowbright something here, in a small rural city of 10,000 people. I didn’t know exactly what would happen, the pandemic was still in full swing, but I started freelance writing here, which allowed me time to figure out what exactly I wanted to do.
Then I realized I just keep coming back to teaching—guiding—showing. That has been part of every job I’ve had, every rendition of my business, and even the go-to for side work like fitness classes. I love to teach. And so the current Yellowbright was born out of realizing that I’m a natural teacher, an artist, a writer. And that’s it. This very simple foundation is what provides the launchpad for endless ideas (not all of them are good of course). I never run out of ideas, I get excited about every class, and nothing makes me light up more than watching people realize their own natural talents. It has been a RIDE for sure, including personally, but resilience is a key attribute of entrepreneurs and when we learn to own our mistakes—even the huge ones—when we can let go of our ego and admit failure—we can succeed. A lot of this involves just being honest with yourself and others, being transparent (even vulnerable), and never quitting. You can change ideas and projects, but don’t give up on yourself. Just change and be willing to note what’s working and what’s not. That’s the ticket.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is very simple: To create every day and to positively impact those around me through creativity. This includes my own creative output as well as their realization of their own natural gifts. I’m driven by my mantra of “You were born creative.” I believe every person on earth came into this world with creativity. It’s not a gift just reserved for some; we all have it and it’s our job to tap into what feels natural and fun.
I also want to be the person I needed when I was younger. I had older businesspeople take me under their wing and mentor me so I have always passed that on to others and love to work with young professionals. I remember what it felt like being the youngest in the room, being unsure of what to say, and not always feeling confident. It was sometimes intimidating to be around older people in the business world, as they had so much life experience that I couldn’t understand. I now know that ease that they exuded, that comfort, came from making a lot of mistakes and learning to navigate life through many types of people and situations. You can’t learn that any other way than experiencing it. This is why getting older, to me, is actually enjoyable. I don’t miss that uncertainty. There’s a peace and wisdom that comes with aging and it makes business ownership easier.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yellowbrightinc.com
• Instagram: yellowbrightinc
• Facebook: yellowbrightinc
• Youtube: yellowbrightinc
• Other: On Facebook, I use my personal account predominantly, including for my classes and events as my network is much larger: dawnmarieduncan