We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Austin Schulenburg. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Austin below.
Austin, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
I don’t see optimism as a “hands-off” belief that things will work themselves out for me. A better word for that is probably “naive” or “denial”.
Optimism feels different. I see it as a feeling of confidence that I can and will make the most of whatever I’m dealt. It’s letting go of the things I cannot control, (which is most things), and promising myself to do my best with the things that I can control. What more can a guy do?
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Pen & Mug is a caffeine-fueled creative studio cooking up engaging brand identities and silky-smooth websites for the hospitality & events world. We’re a key partner to our clients, operating as an extension of their teams to help improve all communications and crush their business goals.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
People-first attitude
Conversational skills and open-mindedness are hugely valuable no matter where life / career may take you! Talk to people who are different than you. Read books. Travel when you can, and be curious instead of judgmental as often as possible. These are all things that have helped me connect with people and surround myself with a diverse group of friends, collaborators, mentors, clients, referral partners, etc. – everyone I need to pursue my goals!
Hone your craft
Whatever your “craft” is, keep pushing it. Keep practicing, experimenting, evolving, learning from others. This isn’t “fake it ‘til you make it.” It’s “make shit ‘til you make it.”
**(I can’t take credit for this quote, I heard it in the Side Hustler’s Perspective podcast https://coachscottyrussell.com/side-hustlers-perspective and I’ve it jotted down for years!)
Play the long game
I can’t advocate enough for the slow & steady climb. Don’t just strive for splashy / glamorous, or get disheartened when your business doesn’t have a million-dollar revenue in the first year. In my experience, building and refining over time provides a LOT of key benefits that overnight success simply won’t give you.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
Hospitality & events brands in development or in a stage of evolution that requires a new or revamped visual brand identity and/or website.
Founders & marketing leaders of mid-size businesses who’d prefer to partner with a small, multi-talented creative studio instead of hiring a single full-time jr. level graphic designer or developer for their ongoing creative, web, and marketing needs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://penandmug.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/penandmug/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/penandmug/
- Other: Clutch: https://clutch.co/profile/pen-mug#summary
Image Credits
All photos shot or created by Pen & Mug team.
