Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenzie Fitzpatrick.
Hi Kenzie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I tell people I’m an accidental entrepreneur. I started my business to get paid as a contractor because it made more sense that way. I didn’t know that I would be attracting clients under my brand a few months later and eventually go out on my own. It was not easy to grow to where I got to today. It took years of patience, clients came, and clients went. I realized entrepreneurship is never about stability, but it is about doing what you want when you want, even though you work harder than you would at an 8-5 job. I volunteered at dozens of events, traveled to different states, and met all the industry people I could. I invested my time and money to be at places I knew would pay off later. It was years before it all “paid off,” but every single penny and minute of time was worth it. Now I am more connected in the industry, I have been invited to exclusive events I only ever dreamed about going to, and I am living my dream every single day.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was and still is a rocky journey being an entrepreneur. The biggest struggle is all of your friends and family who aren’t entrepreneurs will never understand why you do what you do or what it means to work for yourself. Health insurance and retirement funds are never as good as they could be if you worked for a large corporation. Learning to manage funds differently when you get paid monthly rather than biweekly was challenging. I also sacrificed a lot of time, holidays, birthdays, etc., to be at events I needed to attend or catch up on work.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I own Reticle Up, LLC, a marketing firm that specializes in working with small-medium businesses in the outdoor space. I manage clients’ social media posts, create content, design newsletters, build digital and print ads, and respond to all online comments and messages. I also am a published writer in the firearms industry and an instructor. I am most proud of becoming a certified AR-15 Armorer through DoubleStar USA’s class and using that knowledge to earn a spot-on Gun Talk Media’s Build Box TV Show. There are very few females in the firearms industry, and fewer that compete in competitions, know how to build guns, instruct, and write. I do it all and am always open to learning more.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I have a master’s degree that I rarely talk about. I almost forget that is a selling point for some people to hire or work with me. I also read a lot. Books are a great way to broaden vocabulary, focus on proper grammar, recognize appropriate spelling, and more.
Contact Info:
- Website: reticleup.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/reticleup
- Facebook: facebook.com/reticleup
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ReticleUpPodcast
Image Credits
Hector Cibrian
Tony Martin
Jason Clark
