Meet Richard Dillard | Creative. Visionary. Serial Entrepreneur.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Richard Dillard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Richard, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
That recalls, the age-old question, “Are Entrepreneurs born or are they made?” I think both apply to me. I feel I was born to be an entrepreneur, but I was also groomed to be a better at it, through growing in my business experience. For most of my life, I’ve been in one form of business or another my entire adult life. I’ve been an entrepreneur before being an entrepreneur was cool. For me, I can’t imagine doing anything else. I am a creator. I am a visionary. I am an entrepreneur through and through. It has not been easy, but I refuse to live life any other way.

I once heard someone say, “business is an organized hustle”. I was fortunate to grow up under some very good hustlers. As a young man, my father would send me out to sell frisbees, hats, t-shirts, collect cans, etc. This was in the late 70’s and early 80’s. My mother was a small business owner, owned an at-home beauty salon and later a custom-made furniture store. So, I grew up with parents who were self-motivated and had hustle and grit. Most parents would tell their children to get a job, but not me, I was encouraged to go out and create jobs.

The sum of these things lends itself towards entrepreneurship. It’s in my bloodline and I’ve worked at my craft for over 30 years. I consider myself a “real entrepreneur”, at this point maybe even a successful entrepreneur.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Many times, people mistake entrepreneurs as very risk-taking, but I disagree. I find that most successful entrepreneurs are very risk averse. I am not afraid of taking calculated chances. What do I mean by that? Well, before I make any decisions on what I will and will not do, I try to evaluate all the different scenarios that may play favorably or not so favorably for me. I ask myself, ‘Am I willing to deal with the worst-case scenario this decision will bring?’. If I can answer, ‘yes.’, it is likely I’ll take that chance.

I also know that everyone historically written or spoken about did not stay watching from the porch. You must be willing to leap into what isn’t promised, and in a lot of ways uncomfortable, to accomplish anything great. Every great thing has been developed or created by someone who took risks. Someday, I also want to be spoken about and sit at the table with risk-taking pioneers and legacy builders.

I’d like to share a personal story that I feel embodies my thought process regarding risk. When I was 8 years old, I had to take swimming lessons to learn how to swim. I was not successful and was humiliated by my swimming coach in front of my peers. This set the stage for an opportunity for risk, as I decided I would learn to swim on my own. One night, I snuck into a pool unsupervised, stood over the depths of the water, and told myself 1 of 2 things would happen. Either I would learn to swim, or they would find my lifeless body floating in the pool. I took the jump. I would consider that a major risk at 8 years old. That determined who I would be for the rest of my life. I have been swimming ever since, and I’ve been taking what many call “risks” since then. I find myself in those risks. That is part of my legacy.

You will find that I am a lot of things, an artist is one, and I don’t want to work a day in my life. Art and being creative is something I’ve innately adorned my whole life experience on and within me.

I created Rich Dill Studios to allow myself to be around creatives daily and provide an incubator to water and grow their talents in a safe and creative based platform. There, they can express themselves through art, fashion, and various forms of visual artistic expression. We spotlight the most talented and prolific creatures in metro Atlanta. This encourages me, feeds my creative spirit, and allows me to generate revenue.

I also created Rich & Pour Opulence Lounge as a space where creatives can display their artistic values on stage in front of an audience that can appreciate it. As a curator of these opportunities, I find business as an art form, and as my canvas. So, I may not pick up a paintbrush or a microphone, but I create businesses that allow me to be creative in my approach to them and serves as a conduit where “We”, the artists, my businesses, and I can create a rich, colorful, and beautiful experiences together. This provides me the privilege to never have to work a day in my life. I only build, restore, and create.

And a final take-a-way, the value or principle of replacing an “I” for “We” is critical in the success of any business. Early in my entrepreneurial endeavors, I would often think a lot about the “I” aspect of my life. ‘How much money could I make?’ ‘How successful could I be?’ One of the key differences between my place of challenge and growth is when I replaced the “I” with “We”. When I started thinking in terms of “We”, I began thinking about how I could improve the lives of those around me. With that focus, I began to see them grow, and surprisingly I also began to grow exponentially, and I have not looked back since. Every business endeavor I’m involved in has a “We” component.

I would encourage anyone who considers themselves an entrepreneur to remove the “I” and start thinking about “We”. Your vision becomes greater, and your reach grows further. Entrepreneurship is not a solo sport; it is a team activity.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The Beltline provides a view into different cultures, walks of life, and activities. It offers a beautiful landscape and a kaleidoscope of the people of Atlanta.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to thank the talented people who are the cornerstones of my various businesses.

Website: RICHDILLSTUDIOS.COM THERICHANDPOUR.COM

Instagram: @RICHDILLSTUDIOS @RICHANDPOURLOUNGE

Image Credits
PS PICTURES, LLC