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

Hi Molly, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Risk regarding business is often referring to investing in something before you know the return. In my own business, I view all the investments I make as investing in myself. And investing in myself doesn’t fall into the risk category because there’s an underlying certainty there is no such thing as losing. I’ll simply figure it out and keep moving forward.

I think that confidence is built outside of work. For me, physical pursuits like mountaineering helped build the mindset of “oh, I can overcome this”. It’s crucial to have some of that mindset before starting a business. A seed of the confidence that you’ll plant and continue to build when work hits the fan and you’re forced to problem solve.

Risk in my day to day life is different than risk in my business. I calculate “is it worth it?” in daily life situations. But in business, I think the question is more “is this good for my business and growth?” and if the answer is yes, then it is not a risk. Just an investment!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a tattoo artist specializing in black and grey illustrative linework pieces. I’m most proud of my ability to connect to clients during appointments. Something I’m really excited about right now is the educational content I’ve been creating with the hopes of creating some change in the gatekeeping aspect of the industry.

I’ve owned two studios (so far) and while it hasn’t been easy, it has been incredibly rewarding working for myself and seeing all the hard work blossom into these vibrant creative settings.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned (and continue to see the importance of) is you must surround yourself with the right people. Coworkers, friends, employees etc. that will help you get closer to your goals. Hire people that you respect and have qualities you wish to embody. Surround yourself with friends who are also self-motivated & disciplined. The qualities of the people around you will rub off on you no matter what. The wrong people can derail your goals or create unnecessary detours.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would first go mountain biking either in Lyons, Boulder Canyon (Betasso) or down in Black Hawk. Then we would come home, have a shower, change and head out to get a margarita and tacos! Probably at Rio Grande restaurant down on Walnut street.

We’d likely take my dog to the Valmont disc golf grassy area and throw a frisbee for him (his favorite place ever). We’d stop at the studio to show her how much it has grown and honestly she would probably convince me to give her another tattoo.

Drinks at Rayback after, dinner at Darkhorse (such a good vibe there) and maybe an evening bike around valmont bike park!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Dr. Dave Wyman was my entrepreneurship professor at the College of Charleston. My success in business is largely thanks to everything I learned in his classes. And also the example he set as a professor and friend.

Website: https://www.mollymurrayink.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mollymurrayink

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.