A couple weeks ago, I wrote “Monday Thoughts” with the promise of sharing some learnings that you may find both interesting and personally helpful as we approached our 10th anniversary. The photograph above captures our “window sign” during the construction phase leading up to the opening of our first school in Englewood in 2012. Yes, the DIY sign was a reflection of the organic and small business nature behind the origin of One River School.

One River School was born out of my passion for and curiosity in the creative process. I wanted to create a program that could “teach through the lens of living artists” so that we could ”celebrate the art of today”. As part of this process, I decided to also do exhibitions so that students could see artists work in person and so we could demystify what it meant to be an artist.

Like any small business, it took a while to figure things out. Unlike a lot of new ventures, I wasn’t focused on growth but getting the experience right. It took us three to four years to fine-tune all of the elements that allowed us to build a successful small business.

So, if your future contemplates a new business venture, here’s a few learnings from me:

• -Do something you’re passionate about
• -Find new wrinkles that become uniquely yours
• -And make your first sign yourself! 🙂