How Grammy Award-Winning Artist Erykah Badu Influenced My Business Start-Up

The Official Orange Moonwerks Studios Logo

Coming up with a logo design for your business can be difficult.  Depending on the nature of your business and the mission behind it, you can spend hours or days brainstorming ideas for the logo design you decide to use to represent your brand or company.  As far as me designing the logo for my for my small business, Orange Moonwerks™ Studios, I wanted to make sure I was completely comfortable with the visual representation of the logo.  It had to be simple, catchy and easily recognizable.

I guess you’re wondering how I came up with the name for my business.  Around the time I started my business back in 2009, I was going through a rough period of my life.  To make a long story short, I was bouncing back from a bad breakup, while adjusting to being a single father.  I was also working as an accountant for a real estate firm for nearly nine years at the time.  Despite job security and the decent salary I received, I wasn’t getting any “creative satisfaction” out of my current career.  I had spent the majority of my 20’s working nonstop– and I didn’t want to spend another twenty doing the same thing.

Photo Credit:  Warwick Saint | Essence magazine

So during my search for new inspiration, renewing old passions while teaching myself to start a business, I came across a song written and performed by one of my favorite music artists, Erykah Badu.  The title of the song I was listening to was called, “Orange Moon.”  I was immediately inspired by the lyrics of the song.  The words in the song that I found most significant went like this: “I’m an orange moon/ I’m brighter than before/ Brighter than ever before/ I’m an Orange Moon and I shine so bright/ Cause I reflect the light of my sun.

The reigning queen of neo-soul adds a romantic element to this metaphor with the image of a spectacular full orange moon.  To me, this image evoked a sense of harmony, as Sun and Moon – man and woman – both appear to shine their brightest, and combine to light the Earth equally together.  That’s what I wanted Orange Moonwerks™ Studios to represent.  My goal to establish my business as a major art studio (or “art collective”) and a international apparel graphics company.

Hopefully, I’ll continue on the path to achieving the goals I’ve set for my business and with determination, devotion and development– my own personal “3 Ds of success,” the journey will be it’s own reward.  To Ms. Erykah Badu… thank you for your inspiration.

So I want to ask other entrepreneurs, small business owners or those individuals who are in the midst of building their business start-ups, what inspired you to build your brand or business? When you were given every reason to give up on your dreams to run a successful business, what was your motivation to not quit?  I’d love to read your comments and thoughts.

To my readers, I invite you to join me on Facebook and to follow me on Instagram and Twitter. You can also reach me via email at:rgilmore@orangemoonwerks.com. If you find any joy and value in what I do, would you consider providing support to help keep my blog going? Learn how by following the link here: Support the Blog

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