Shipmates
Success is not a solitary journey.
As I mark the 10th anniversary of Justin Kerr Design, I want to thank all the shipmates who have been part of its success — clients, vendors, advisors, mentors, family members, colleagues, advocates, and people who simply love pirates.
Origin Story
I’ve wanted to be a graphic designer since the seventh grade, after my dream of becoming an architect was dashed due to lack of math skills. I graduated from design school directly into a recession and took a job roofing houses. This turned out to be a blessing because hauling 50 lb. packs of shingles up a 35 ft. ladder in the August heat quickly deflated my design school ego. I eventually found work as a designer and slowly started to gain experience.
At the beginning of 2016, I was quite comfortable as the creative director of a web development company. My tenure there had withstood the dot-bomb of the early 2000’s, the company moving its headquarters to North Carolina a few years later (I came very close to relocating), and the economic crash of 2008.
In spite of my resilience as an employee I was down-sized in February of 2016 and was left to consider what would come next. I was in my late 40s and it made logical sense to find another creative director or senior designer position, but the notion of working for myself had been idling in the back of my head and I decided to not let it become “the thing I never tried.”
Did I have experience as an entrepreneur? No. Did I know the first thing about running a business? No. Did I let my ignorance and inexperience stop me from leaping into the unknown? Of course not. A friend told me (or maybe I read it?) that to be a successful business owner I should join a networking group. So I found a local BNI chapter and for the next five years learned everything I could about networking, developing a 30-second pitch, and how to find referral partners. I also convinced my best friend Bill (who had just launched his business, too) to become my networking wingman for the next year.
During the first few years of entrepreneurship I experienced almost as many missteps as I did successes. When asked what it’s like to own a business I always respond, “Do you like rollercoasters? Then you’ll love this!” My fledgling business also suffered from a lack of distinction in the marketplace. My brand was about as exciting as a beige mini van — which was sadly ironic since I was promoting myself as a brand strategist.
In 2019, I was accepted into DESIGNxRI’s Catalyst business development program which became the “catalyst” for my rebrand. You can read the full story here but, in short, I took my passion for historical pirate re-enactment and merged it with my passion for brand strategy. This was the tipping point I needed — a way to differentiate my business in the marketplace and become a more authentic version of myself.
Last year I completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program which applied defibrillator paddles to my long-neglected growth plan and forced me to get serious (and strategic) about the next five years of Justin Kerr Design.
Some of my shipmates
I’ve had to put in the hard work of sustaining and growing my business over the past 10 years but there are many people who encouraged, challenged, supported, and mentored me along my entrepreneurial journey. Here are a just a few of them:
Dawn Kerr - my pirate bride and the one who supported me, without judgement, as I navigated the business world like a newborn deer finding its footing on a frozen pond.
Bill Parmentier - my networking wingman at the very beginning, a trusted confidant, and a fun podcast co-host for two years.
Alicia Piazza and Nicole Eller - the dynamic duo of The Spark Social, some of my biggest advocates, and one of my first brand development clients.
Dave Lubelczyk - the “Brain for Rent” strategist who first suggested that the designer side and the pirate side should come together into a single brand.
Tuni Schartner - one of the sharpest, most generous, and enthusiastic entrepreneurs I’ve ever met. She knows absolutely everybody and is always willing to make connections.
Libby Patterson - my trusted assistant who’s been keeping me accountable for the past eight years. And one of the fiercest accounts receivable collectors you’re ever likely to meet.
Chris Butler - a talented designer, a deep strategic thinker, and a good friend that has advised me since my corporate days.
Katie Schibler Conn - she knew me as a pirate first, a brand strategist second. A truly inspirational entrepreneur who knows how to get shit done.
Jessica Kerrigan - one of the most talented marketing experts I ever worked with and who taught me the value of working with people you actually like.
Kathleen Lawson - a down-to-earth business strategist who taught me how to focus on the most important things and avoid the tyranny of the urgent.
There are many others that have played a role in my success and I’m grateful for each and every one of them. As I set a course for the next leg of my entrepreneurial adventure I look forward to meeting my future shipmates.
