Meet Jonathan Whitely

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

Jonathan, thanks for taking the time to share your lessons with our community today. So, let’s jump right in – one of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. Where does your self-discipline come from?

I wasn’t always self-disciplined. I’ve worked multiple jobs over the years that didn’t work out and I felt like getting my degree in business communication didn’t prepare me for the workforce. I figured the best option was to go the entrepreneurial route. After a several months of building relationships, people starting reaching out to me for caricatures, and if I didn’t want to let them down, I would need to learn how to discipline myself to provide a service they would be able to get behind!

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am the owner of Jonathan Draws You, a caricature business in the Northwest Houston area.

The most exciting part about what I do, is seeing the possibility of turning my hobby into a potential sustainable career that people brings joy to others.

My caricature sessions start at $120/hr (two-hour minimum) for black and white. $150/hr for color.

You can also order individual caricatures on my website and have them mailed to you as a gift. Starts at $35 and $10 per person added to the illustration.

I am hoping to get some more orders and bookings between now and at the end of July as this is a slower season for me. Any and all support would be greatly appreciated!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Some top skills to have involve being able to be disciplined, flexible, and persistent,

Learn from others who have walked your journey before. Reach out to people who have more experience than you, and learn from their successes and mistakes, and surpass them (with a healthy competitive focus, balanced with a servant-hearted mindset).

Practice your craft and skillset as much as possible. Be inspired by other people who are better than you, rather than discouraged.

Don’t wait to start a business, do it (assuming you are really serious about it)!

Our minds are masters of making excuses. Mine were, “wait until you are financially stable, wait until the right time, etc.” Entertaining these thoughts we’re not going to help me achieve my goal. We must train our minds to not delay our call, but to obey our call.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

Jesus! As a follower of Christ, I couldn’t have done this without Him. Drawing came naturally to me. And even though I’ve dedicated most of my life to honing my skills. It’s only because He blessed me with the ability to create that I’m able to even start this. I hope the way I serve and lead this venture will reflect the love of Christ to others.

Also, lots of friends and family have been encouraging me, supporting me, and referring me to their peers. This has blown me away, humbling me time and time again. I wouldn’t be here without hundreds of people playing a part in my life. So thank you, to all of you!

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