Meet James Crawford | Writer, Martial Artist & Entrepreneur

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

Hi James, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Draper Norwood was born out of a desire to find the hidden connections that others either don’t have the time or ability to figure out. The company is named after the corner where I grew up. I was raised in a two-red-light small town called Ninety Six. Draper Norwood started out as a small consulting & marketing services company, and expanded over the past year into product and content development with an emphasis on entertainment and martial arts.

From a young age, I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I noticed the way others spoke. “Can’t wait til Friday,” or “Maybe someday we’ll hit the lottery.” I knew there had to be a better way. My childhood was mostly spent in books. I’d read these stories about people overcoming the odds and I thought, “Why not me?”

When I was ten, my friend and I would ride our bikes around the Mill Village, and he’d knock on people’s doors, asking if they wanted me to draw their car or house for $2. I kept a dollar and gave him a dollar.

Luckily, the internet began booming around the time I was a teenager and from there I saw the massive opportunity. From customizing Nikes for classmates to flipping on eBay, I’ve always found a way to make money for myself. This early foundation has served me well over the past twenty years, as most businesses don’t truly understand the evolution of platforms and internet culture as a whole.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
While my journey began as a marketer, it’s evolved over the past few years into more of an entertainer and martial artist. I still share stories about entrepreneurship, and work with certain companies on a limited basis, but I’ve shifted away from the marketing world into comedy and martial arts. It’s way more fun and more in tune with who I am. Many great lessons are taught through the martial arts, and I look to continue using that as a platform to help people find confidence and strength along their path.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Growing up in a small town, it’s common for people to complain that there’s nothing to do. Not true. There’s so much history here. My friend and I would start the morning with a training session at Divinus Lux Jiujitsu before heading to Seasons on the Lake for the best ribeye they’ve ever had. Then we’d set out on the boat for a day of fishing on Lake Greenwood then go for a nice stroll through Star Fort, where one of the first battles of the Revolutionary War was fought. We’d end the day with deep conversation, looking up at the night sky from the corner of Draper and Norwood where my parents still live.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My life is a direct result of having a loving, secure childhood with two phenomenal parents. Not that my path has been easy, but I recognize this gave me the foundation that a lot of people don’t have. Beyond that, it was sports that really drove home this concept of enduring short term challenges for long-term success. Running track and cross-country in high school, and then in my early twenties becoming a Brazilian Jiujitsu competitor. Toastmasters also played a big part in my confidence and ability to speak to an audience. I took the fruits of all of this, found a platform (I began creating content on Snapchat in 2013) and just started talking about what I was experiencing in my professional and personal journey. I’ve also had many mentors along the way (shoutout to Debbie Summers and Kimberly Faith especially for opening doors I didn’t even know existed).

Instagram: jameskcrawford

Twitter: inkscriber

Other: TikTok: @inkscriber