Hey, all! I'm an illustrator, writer and character designer.

Business is not my forte, but rather than deeming it the lesser evil that I always choose my pen over, I want it to become my White Whale of sorts. My hope, related to Wealthy Affiliate, is that I'll be savvier about online business not just for the sake of financial stability, but that I'll learn a thing or two about outreach and network with fellow creative-types like myself. I look forward to learning more!

Hobbit I may not be, my journey has nevertheless been nothing but unexpected:

I’ve a B. A. in Digital Media Arts (Multimedia Focus), and an unplanned minor in Theology. Somehow I managed to enroll not only in my main school, Duquesne University, but also the University of Pittsburgh for a credit towards learning advanced Japanese-Language. Boring resume stats, I know. But there’s a reason I chose these. Not many peers I attended college with had a positive experience. I didn’t realize until years later that many young adults and kids don’t learn that just because there’s a distinction between “work” and “hobby” doesn’t mean they can’t be related. Hobbies are not time-fillers to me. I act because I want to. I attended college with that in mind and I now strive to build a career from the same mindset.

Some of you may have wrestled with the same question: How can I gain income from a business model not made for me? Working started to feel like “I’ve already done it all” even if I didn’t do much of anything. Anymore jobs feel like replicas of nothing but “what used to work” and chain businesses feel change is too much of a risk. People don’t get paid their worth or lifestyle demand. Benefits are almost non-existent in some places. Policies talk about progress and are updated, but the work itself is outdated.

So I got stuck in the middle.

I’m over qualified with all these new skills. Jobs either can’t yet handle what I do and/or want my skills in the quickest way, without paying me the value of said skills and the time I spent to gain them.

Checkpoints in my journey included working as: a Japanese-language tutor, a graphic designer for a non-profit organization [DURING COLLEGE], an Independent Business Owner (I’ll get back to that) and a retail cashier for 3 years. Total work experience: 7 years roughly. All were significant experiences that shaped me and I’ve no regrets about meeting all the people who helped me “grow up” essentially. But NONE of those jobs fit me.

I understand that there will be work that’s not so much enjoyable, but has necessary steps to get to my “fun” goal. Am I too greedy to want not only the freedom to choose my hill to climb but a love for climbing as well? Is my path to doing work I enjoy, based on MY interests, not a “real job” unless enjoyment’s out of the equation? Why must I choose pleasure or work? Why can’t pleasure BE the work? I’m willing to roll up my sleeves for the sake of something I’m truly invested in.

I mentioned independent business earlier. In my search for financial independence I had the pleasure of working for a company called Amway. Most criticisms I’ve seen at the time stemmed from OLD perceptions of what the company used to be. It changes with the times. A recruiter who asked about my interest in entrepreneurship wondered if I’d be interested. Why not? I tried it. I got inspired, met some influential people and was basically coached by those who did both their day jobs and independent business. The atmosphere was one of the most inclusive work environments and at the time the most encouraging community I’ve ever been introduced to.

I wanted to love it, but…SALES again.

My career to pursue is character design and storytelling. Eventually I will get into storyboarding. Mangas, comics, books and films are, in unison, my jam. I not only indulge in all the above in my spare time but I seek to play a hand in the creation of them in some way shape or form. But with online content and an audience, I need to know the business of sharing my work and making my own impact in the world.

So without further ado…let’s see what happens!

~ Dawn
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My Social for anyone interested (^^)...

G+: https://plus.google.com/u/1/+DawnLawsonPen

G+ 2 (co-author): https://plus.google.com/u/0/108148660250580004391

TW: twitter.com/pennydoth

IG: instagram.com/pennydoth

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pennyDoth/

FB1: https://www.facebook.com/NovelCharacterDesign/

FB2: https://www.facebook.com/pendothpersist/