Ting Lin is a creative entrepreneur based in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) area. She is the founder of The Ting Times LLC, which is an organization with a long-term vision of supporting creatives through mentorship, opportunities, and resources. She is a singer-songwriter at Ting Lin Music, where she promotes cultural diversity, raises awareness for important social causes, and breaks the boundaries of the industry. She is also a fashion consultant at Ting Lin Fashion, where she provides services in wardrobe audits, personal shopping, personal and fashion styling for individuals and brands.

·       Can you tell our readers about your background?

I have had a pretty interesting career path! I started out as a musician at a very young age in China. Then I chose to major in fashion design in college while I worked at fashion retail stores after school in California. After I graduated, I landed a corporate job as an Executive Assistant for a creative company in New York, and that has been my main career for 8 years now. Given my creative and entrepreneurial nature, I started my own ventures on the side about 4 years ago in DC. I created The Ting Times because I wanted to support and encourage fellow artists to pursue their passion. Then I started Ting Lin Fashion & Ting Lin Music to keep pursuing my own passion and fulfilling my potential.

·       What inspired you to start your business?

I started my own business because I wanted to build a legacy with my own name on it. I like the stability and benefits of a corporate job, but it lacks a sense of ownership, creativity, and flexibility which are all very important to me. With my businesses, I can create my own rules and be in charge of my fate. I have the freedom to imagine, create, and do what I want. I can build my own network and community. I can make real connections with clients and have a real impact on their lives. Of course, there are risks and challenges for having my own business, but I think the rewards are far greater.

·       Where is your business based?

My businesses are based in the DMV area, but a lot of my products and services are online.

·       How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

The first steps were to figure out what my talents, skills, and passion were. Then I thought about how my assets could serve others. Once those ideas were clear, then I started to form my businesses by finalizing the names, registering trademarks, getting an EIN number, creating websites, establishing my presence on social media platforms, and refining my products/services.

·       What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

I believe digital marketing has been the most effective for my business. I have built a network just by posting on social media. I have gained clients by doing interviews with different online media outlets. I have established credibility through my websites. But I would say everything takes time, so do your best and let time do its thing.

·       What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

I think my biggest challenges have been trying to scale my business and make more profit. I research other similar businesses that are more successful and take notes on how they grow and expand. I try to find ways to cut unnecessary costs and expenses. I find different methods to advertise my businesses to larger audiences. I stay patient while continuing to learn and grow as a business owner.

·       How do you stay focused?

It’s easy to get distracted and overwhelmed because I have so much to do as a one-woman team, so I try my best to focus on one task at a time. I divert all my attention to completing that one task, then I turn to the next. I also think it helps to change up the type of task so that I’m not bored or lose focus easily. For example, if I have been writing for a while, once that’s done, I might turn my attention to practicing a song or shopping online for a client.

·       How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

My businesses are all about building real connections with people, whether it’s a song that I write or a fashion session that I host. My services are tailored to the clients’ individual needs. I go above and beyond to make a positive impact on people’s lives.

·       What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

I believe reaching out to online media outlets and having reputable press coverages have been the most effective for me. They help with my google search presence so that my clients can find me easily and directly. They also help me establish credibility for my products and services.

·       What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Get out of your comfort zone! Being an entrepreneur is not easy nor comfortable. It takes a lot of effort, time, patience, and hard work in order to succeed. But as long as you are pursuing your passion and following your calling, then it will all be worth it in the end. And your name will be on it!

·       What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

My current favorite app is CANVA because you can create your own graphics there for posting on social media, websites, or other digital mediums.  It’s like you are your own graphic designer!

·       What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

I love Mailchimp for email marketing because I can design my emails, send emails to a large group, maintain a contact database, and receive helpful analytics on there.

·       Who is your business role model? Why?

I don’t have a particular role model but I admire women who have ventured into different industries, had many careers and succeeded in them. Celebrities like Beyonce, J-Lo, and Rihanna.

·       How do you balance work and life?

A balanced life is a good life. It took me some time to learn that. Work is endless, so I create a list of tasks that I would like to get done for the day by a certain time, and if I don’t finish by that time, I stop anyway so I can cook dinner, have a conversation, watch a show, and just relax. It’s important to take care of other aspects of your life so that you are more centered at work. Sometimes I find inspiration while I’m not at work.

·       What’s your favorite way to decompress?

I have many! I love watching shows, eating good food, singing, shopping, or dancing it out!

·       What do you have planned for the next six months?

For The Ting Times, I want to create a website that provides helpful resources for creatives and find other ways to support them. For Ting Lin Music, I want to keep writing new music and sharpening my performance skills so that I can do more live shows. For Ting Lin Fashion, I want to scale my consulting business and work with more businesses, brands, and corporations.

·       How can our readers connect with you?

The Ting Times: https://www.instagram.com/thetingtimes/

Ting Lin Music: https://www.instagram.com/tinglinmusic/, https://www.tinglinmusic.com/

Ting Lin Fashion: https://www.instagram.com/tinglinfashion/, https://www.tinglinfashion.com/