At the age of ten, Brandon L. Griffin discovered his hobby in web page design. At
the age of twelve Brandon turned that hobby into his first moneymaking business,
Quality Web Solutions. Entering its 5th Year, the company has created more than
500 web pages and is a one-stop-spot for Internet presence needs.
At the age of 14, Griffin began speaking to other young people about his endeavors
and encouraged them to turn their hobby or idea into a moneymaking business as well.
In 2004, he founded FyeBye (www.FyeBye.com), an online
community for young and potential young entrepreneurs. FyeBye magazine, which stands
for “for young entrepreneurs, by young entrepreneurs” is a bi-monthly publication
and includes articles written by Griffin and other successful entrepreneurs under
the age of 21.
Q: What is your business?
Brandon: I started my first business when I was 10, it was called Griffin Household
Press. I learned how to do different desktop publishing activities on my computer,
design flyers, business cards, brochures, things like that. I still have the business,
it’s under a new name, it’s much larger now, it’s call BLG Publishing.
When I was 12 I started my second business, which was Quality Web Solutions, it
was a Web development firm. I did that for about five years and until recently this
year I merged that into a publishing company and that way we could create a larger
force behind FyeBye magazine, FyeBye, which stands for four young entrepreneurs
by young entrepreneurs and that’s a signature publication for BLG Publishing. It’s
a national business magazine for young people.
Q: Was publishing a passion of yours?
Brandon: I like to write, but most importantly what I really like is seeing my –
seeing my vision just come into reality. Working with an idea and bringing it to
life.
Q: What were some of the challenges you faced in starting the business?
Brandon: Working with a low budget. I had to take baby steps. Baby steps to success
if you will. I created a black and white sample and I used that to gain support
from local businesses. And then I was able to use that to actually create a pre-inaugural
issue, which was in color and then I was able to use that in color issue to gain
the support of Wendy’s and Comcast. And so it was baby steps to success.
Q: What kept you going when there were challenges?
Brandon: Well I’m a big believer in turning your vision into a reality. A lot of
mentors and advisors, even the ones who were closest to me, wanted me to keep the
magazine online or keep it in black and white or keep it a certain amount of pages,
but I really saw it in my mind as being successful as a four-color, full blown,
and I didn’t want to let my vision go. So I just persevered, I remained dedicated
until I made it – until it was successful.
Q: Did you get help or advice from other people?
Brandon: Having a mentor is so important because you have those individuals who
have been there and want to help you get there quicker than they did. They want
to share the experience with you and so you have this wealth of information right
in front of you. Someone said if you don’t know history you’re doomed to repeat
it, well they’re mentors who can help you with things that you don’t know so that
you don’t have to cross those hurdles.
Q: Do you work alone or with a team or a staff?
Brandon: Well I – with the publishing company we work with people all over the country.
We have the editorial teams, we have the layout design team and then we have people
who manage with the advertising and then we have the core team who help me operate
the company and come up with new strategies, not to mention – not to fail to mention-
that we have an advisory board as well.
Q: What do you like most about running a business?
Brandon: My favorite thing about being an entrepreneur is that I’m able to control
my schedule. And it allows me to just – to really just have control of my visions,
just wait and see, you know seeing something come to life.
Q: Does your business give back to the community in any way?
Brandon: Giving back, that’s so important. In fact for next issue of our magazine
I’m actually going to be writing about the importance of corporate responsibility.
I have helped our school system teach other young people how to design Web pages,
and they worked with their high schools’ Web sites throughout the year. I also have
started an entrepreneurship club in my high school to help my peers who are interested
in starting a business. And although FyeBye is a business it’s given back because
I want to help young people realize what they have and use it so that they can improve
the quality of life not only for themselves but their family as well.
Q: What would you do differently next time if you start another business?
Brandon: Planning is so important, it may take awhile but always plan and I mean
just start small but don’t forget your large vision. I always think big, no matter
what I’m doing, I’m thinking big. But sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s bad
because sometimes you have to start small in order to get to the large picture.
So don’t forget your big picture but also take baby steps to get there.
Q: What would your advice be to other kids thinking of starting businesses?
Brandon: Don’t give up, don’t let go of your vision, and you’re only limited to
the limits you set for yourself.
