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

Randi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I’d be lying if I didn’t say the though of returning to a normal 9 to 5 didn’t cross my mind about once a month. Why? Because owning a business is hard.

There is a business owner meme that says something like, “Oh you work 40 hours a week? I remember my first part-time job too.”

I look at the job recommendations that pop up in my LinkedIn notifications for social media jobs and instantly become envious of annual salary. What I would net isn’t what I gross in my business annually right now.

But then I have flash backs to past jobs and remember how miserable I was.

Memories of enduring boss that belittled you despite the amazing progress you have made with the community outreach program.

A non-profit that boasts they are a person centered organization that fights for the rights of individuals with disabilities while constantly looking for ways to keep costs low so the upper crust can keep their 6 figure salaries funding by the state and federal government.

Or an organization that no matter how much time and talent you bleed to growing its mission, will never be truly recognized or even acknowledged.

2020 was truly a “shit or get off the pot” moment. Besides the Covid blow back that all small businesses were facing, I had a major health issue that led to the left side of my liver being removed.

But the thought of having to work for someone else’s dream rooted me to keep with my dream of business ownership. I pivoted. Instead of pursuing photography as my main source of income, I fell back on my social media and marketing knowledge and was able to find a path through the Pandemic freeze.

It has been a lot of work. Long hours. A lot of brain power to help businesses create their content and social media strategies. And there are days I’m just done. But I look over my reasons why I don’t want to give up and it keeps the flame burning. I’ve set clearer goals. I found ways to supplement my salary. I pay myself in time if the cash isn’t always there. And that has made a world of difference realizing that what is portrayed as the “successful” business owner isn’t the success I need to aim for. And when I do that, I am truly happy being a business owner.

Randi, 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 been blessed and cursed with a creative mind. I’m a life-long learner and always look for ways to put into play new knowledge.

If you asked me 20 years ago if I thought I’d own my own business where my services include photography, marketing, graphic design, and social media I would be stunned.

In 2011, I had been working six years for a non-profit that provided services to adults with disabilities when I was unexpectedly let go. It was a complete surprise. I thought I was on the trajectory of a life long career in the non-profit realm for this organization.

I wasn’t sure what career path to take. I applied for graduate school thinking I would get a Masters in Social Work, but wasn’t accepted. My undergrad degree was a BA in Creative Writing and I wasn’t sure what options where available with that degree with no experience.

Thankfully, my husband had a stable job and I was able to collect unemployment. I decided to at least go back to school and take some classes that could inspire me on a new career path.

Digital media was growing discipline at the school, so I dabbled with photography, web design, graphic design, and film. It was fun to be exploring a creative path when I had been on such a traditional one.

The year following, the non-profit my husband worked for was celebrating a milestone and wanted to freshen up their logo and get on Facebook, who had just made available business pages. (yes I’m that old.)

It was exhilarating to take their ideas and turn them into something tangible.

At the time, I was also introduced to a digital scrap-booking direct marketing company. I liked the idea having my own business, though at the time I hadn’t quite realized yet it wasn’t really my business.

But I was determined to do something with the new talents I had acquired. After researching networking opportunities I joined the local chamber of commerce. I didn’t find much success selling the scrap-booking but I did start getting asked to help other businesses with setting up their chamber of commerce directory because didn’t look cookie cutter. I was also picking up a bit of traction on social media and that made people curious.

So I formed RK Creative Consulting. I would help people with logos, websites, and other digital marketing. At the time, people were not really in the mindset to set up or manage their social media. And I lacked the confidence and know-how to manage it for them, the consulting died down a bit. But because of a part time job with the Chamber, my photography skills came into demand.

When I left the Chamber in 2015, I opened a small (and I mean small, maybe 600 sqft total) photo studio, RK Creative Studio, on Main Street. The rent was affordable, thanks to the landlord being a good friend. I worked as a substitute teacher to help make ends meet and allow me the time to take on photo sessions.

I was there until 2018. Unfortunately, I had to find a new location. And I did. I had another close friend who was renting out the basement of their business. It was 3000 sqft and so intimidating. The rent double and there was a lot of work that needed to go into fixing it up. But after a successful trip to a Missouri casino while visiting a friend, I had enough funds to get things moving.

To my surprise, I was doing well. I was still heavily involved with the Chamber which was probably 85% my clientelle. Introduced a photo booth business as well. Things were looking great by the end of 2019.

Then 2020 came in like a storm of the century. By March, events had come to a halt. No one was interested in taking photos of any sort. And on top of the Pandemic, I had surgery to remove the left side of my liver. My business was only holding on because of the kindness of my friend, who gifted me a few months of generous rent assistance at the studio.

By the holidays, I was still recovering from my surgery and contracted Covid. I was down for the count.

I contemplated closing the studio and started looking at job options.

To my surprise, a past client had called me out of the blue asking for social media help. I was fully aware of businesses utilizing social media to stay afloat during the lock-down so I sat down with them and created a plan for how they can use social media to market the homes they need to help sell.

I had a flash bulb moment. I could pivot back to social media. And this time, I have 8 years of running a business to help me understand what my clientele wanted and would need to make it social media work for them.

I began to take on clients – real estate agents, non-profits, and other professional services. I would help them create a strategic plan and coach them on execution or I would take on their accounts for full management.

Business owners who swore they would never need social media have been seeking out my services and I’ve had a blast helping them understand how it can be a huge benefit to their businesses.

Unlike other social media management/strategists I know it’s essential that the business owner knows the basics of platforms they want to be on. and the questions they should be asking.

I prefer working with local businesses. Many can’t afford to have full time help, so I work with their allotted budget or provide coaching or training so they can manage until they can afford more services.

I still do quite a bit of photography but it is mostly for content creation and other marketing. I enjoy being to combine all my talents and experience into my business. Makes me a swiss army knife of sorts.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

From the previous page but it applies – 2020 came in like a storm of the century. By March, events had come to a halt. No one was interested in taking photos of any sort. And on top of the Pandemic, I had surgery to remove the left side of my liver. My business was only holding on because of the kindness of my friend, who gifted me a few months of generous rent assistance at the studio.

By the holidays, I was still recovering from my surgery and contracted Covid. I was down for the count.

I contemplated closing the studio and started looking at job options.

To my surprise, a past client had called me out of the blue asking for social media help. I was fully aware of businesses utilizing social media to stay afloat during the lock-down so I sat down with them and created a plan for how they can use social media to market the homes they need to help sell.

I had a flash bulb moment. I could pivot back to social media. And this time, I have 8 years of running a business to help me understand what my clientele wanted and would need to make it social media work for them.

I began to take on clients – real estate agents, non-profits, and other professional services. I would help them create a strategic plan and coach them on execution or I would take on their accounts for full management.

Business owners who swore they would never need social media have been seeking out my services and I’ve had a blast helping them understand how it can be a huge benefit to their businesses.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Sweat Equity.

Before 2018, I considered my business more of a “hobby” business. Any money I would get for services, went into rent. When I got bigger jobs, I’d let the money build up to purchase new equipment or pay for some advertising.

I actually payed my first month of rent in my new space with money I won playing Black Jack at a Missouri casino while visiting a friend. That’s when I knew I was making the right decision expanding and jumping into my business full time.

We also had refinanced our home and I was able to take a small portion of that money to help fix up the studio and create a rent buffer which came in handy during 2020.

I’ve also been lucky to have a supportive husband. I wanted to join a networking group but it cost over $1000 to join. He drove Uber and Lyft to help me with that money. This was a great investment because within a year I made my money back and enough to join a second year. And today, it is the #2 source of income for me.

If I can’t pay cash, I wait. I know that isn’t idea for all business types but for mine it works. I own it all, not a bank or credit card. I realize that there will come a day I will need to scale and it may mean considering credit, but it’s one thing I take pride in with my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: rkcreativestudio.com and rkcreativesocial.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/rkcreativestudio/ and www.instagram.com/rk_creativesocial/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/rkcreativestudio and www.facebook.com/rkcreativesocial
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/randi-kaufman-68705861/

Image Credits
All images are mine – Randi Kaufman or RK Creative Studio