Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Piya Pahwa. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Piya, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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?

To start with I would have to say yes, I am happy as a business owner. I love the freedom I have with my own schedule, project choice, and workflows! That being said, just recently I had a lull in incoming work and a mountain of managerial tasks, and I found myself asking this exact question, what if I just had a “regular” job. As a business owner it’s not just your job to execute projects and tasks for the client, it’s also your job to pitch and secure new work, manage costs and expenses, and even handle the marketing for your brand’s exposure. While it’s easy to assume this added pressure is what leads to doubts, I found that the biggest hurdle for me is operating alone. One of the biggest draws of a regular job is the daily social interaction and sense of community. Right now, when I’m stuck on a new idea, need some help on a complicated task, or just need a few minutes to walk away from my desk and chat, I find that my cats are my most involved “co-workers”.
All jokes aside, I think building a strong dependable team and meeting other business owners is the key to making entrepreneurship feel less isolating! In creative spaces especially I think it’s very easy to see each other as competition and feel a reluctance to share skills or resources, but only when we start doing that will the professional environment feel like a real community! Call me optimistic, but I genuinely believe there is enough opportunity out there for everyone who wants to pursue this kind of work! Whenever I feel doubts creeping in this is the part that keeps me going, sharing opportunities that I can’t take on, recommending new talent and building my own team and community along the way!

Piya, 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?

I’ve always believed that digital media should not only inform but also entertain, inspire, and most importantly have a sense of authenticity! I still remember spending hours on iMovie on my outdated mac, stitching together videos for my high school assembly that covered football wins, or class trips and the absolute joy of capturing people’s stories and making them feel seen. In hindsight that was really my first big step into the world of digital media. From that point onwards I was all in, and the floodgates opened. In college I dabbled in everything from motion graphics and illustration to 3D animation and filmmaking. Despite all the warnings to “settle down” or “pick a lane” I constantly pushed the boundaries and pursued whatever felt right to me in the moment even if I wasn’t excelling at it. In the earlier years of my career, I was worried my resume was starting to look like a roadmap with 8 different destinations. From a Production Assistant to Motion Graphics Artist, Assistant Director or Graphic Designer I was always looking to expand my skills and experiences hoping when I’m in the right position I would “just know” that it’s right for me.
In hindsight it is so clear to me that every experience taught me valuable lessons and helped me realise I don’t have to fit into someone else’s job description.
Today I am the founder and creative director at Creative Nonsense, and we’re not your average video, animation, and motion graphics studio. We create multi-platform content for a diverse clientele all over the world, but it’s not all business. We’re passionate about pushing the boundaries of creativity, crafting authentic, fun, and distinctive content that helps our clients stand out from the crowd. So, if you’re looking for something a bit different, a bit bolder, and a lot more fun, you’ve come to the right place!

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

There are so many resources that help me on a daily basis that would have been great to know sooner! The mantra I always take with me is “work smart, not hard” – so use whatever resources are at your disposal! – From a project management side Notion has been incredibly helpful. It lets me keep track of all my projects, calendar, to-do lists, and is great for organising tasks with a team!
– Although there’s a lot of discourse around it Canva is also an incredible tool! Even though I wouldn’t recommend it for complex design, if used correctly it can be great for quick mock-ups, social media posts, templates, etc.
– From a software side I have always been most comfortable with the Adobe creative suite and while many people opt for free resources, I have to say that paying for the whole creative cloud has been totally worth it! Having access to the latest updates, Beta apps, and fonts are just a few of the benefits of investing in the plan!
– A Subscription to Epidemic sound. While again it’s not accessible for everyone to invest in paid subscriptions, when doing high end video work for clients this has been one major asset. Having the subscription gives you the right to use the audio and sound effects without any copyright issues!
– Last but maybe most important, Youtube tutorials! Whenever I’m stuck in a technical bind trying to master a technique, looking to upskill or just finding inspiration YouTube is my go-to place!

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Funding must be one of the most complex parts of starting a business, and for me personally math/accounts has never been one of my strengths. At the start my approach was entirely from a creative point of view, counting only on myself and my needs to get the business started, but over time I’ve realised that you do need to implement business thinking to really have your business grow. As someone who is definitely not an expert, here are a few things I would recommend.
1. If you’re not an expert, get advice from the experts. Whether it’s my Dad, my Sister or other business owners I always look to people I trust to give me the right advice with full transparency! The more you have honest conversations about rates, and expenses the better you’ll be able to manage your own!
2. Don’t make it all about the money, especially in a creative field the work must come first. So, find good talent, pay them fairly, and as your work grows trust that the funds will grow too for all parties involved!
3. Make your investments slowly and carefully, whether it’s software, equipment, etc. just because things are popular doesn’t mean they’re necessary, especially when you’re just starting out! Discussing with other creatives is a terrific way to get a sense of what tools are must haves and what can wait!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://creative-nonsense.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscreativenonsense/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555618771921