by Ralph Severson

This is my corner of the internet — a place where I write about whatever happens to capture my attention at the moment. Sometimes thoughtful. Sometimes opinionated. Sometimes completely random.

When I can steal a little time away from business and family, these are the things I tend to obsess over:

• Board Games
• Cigars
• Home Improvements
• Recipes & Cooking
• Spirits
• Travel
• Writing
• Entrepreneurship
• Technology
• And whatever else sparks my curiosity

If you’ve stumbled across this site, welcome.

Ralph Severson, Entrepreneur

Most of my time is spent building businesses, solving problems, creating things, and helping people bring ideas to life.

Over the years, I’ve launched eight different business ventures — some born out of necessity, others from curiosity, opportunity, or simply a desire to build something meaningful from the ground up. Not every idea turned into a lifelong pursuit, and honestly, I think that’s part of being an entrepreneur. A couple of businesses became successful enough to sell, which was both rewarding and bittersweet. A few others taught me valuable lessons, even if my interest in them eventually faded over time. That’s the nature of entrepreneurship: sometimes you discover a business is profitable, sometimes you discover it no longer excites you, and sometimes both things happen at once.

What matters most to me is that every venture taught me something — about people, creativity, problem-solving, leadership, marketing, customer service, and myself. Some ideas evolved into thriving companies. Others served as stepping stones that helped shape the next opportunity. Today, two businesses continue to remain at the center of my professional life, both still growing and evolving in their own ways. One operates in the digital and creative space, while the other allows me to work with my hands, build tangible things, and help people improve the homes they live in every day.

For me, entrepreneurship has never been just about making money. It’s about creating something from nothing, solving problems, building relationships, adapting when things change, and continuously finding new ways to grow, both professionally and personally. Even now, I still catch myself sketching out new ideas and business concepts when I should probably be sleeping. Some habits never go away.

The two that continue to define much of my professional life are GraphFX Media and FM Pro Remodeling.

Back in 2010, I sold a digital media company I had built called Blackstone Media. Like many companies, it struggled after the dot-com crash of 2000, but over time it evolved into one of the Louisville area’s leading web development and online marketing firms, eventually attracting the attention of a New York-based company.

Not long afterward, several talented professionals I had worked with over the years encouraged me to start something new. These were people who loved the creative and technical side of the business — graphic design, programming, SEO, social media, IT support, content development — but wanted little to do with sales, negotiations, customer management, or business operations.

That’s where I came in.

In 2011, I launched GraphFX Media Online Solutions in New Albany, Indiana. My role has always been less about writing code and more about understanding people, developing solutions, coordinating talent, and managing projects from concept to completion.

I’ve always believed customer service doesn’t end when the invoice is paid. In fact, that’s when it truly begins.

My philosophy has always been simple:

1. I want to be the first person clients think of when they need help solving a problem.
2. The greatest compliment a customer can give isn’t a trophy or testimonial — it’s a referral.

Ironically, if you search for a website for GraphFX Media, you probably won’t find much. I took the site down several years ago because I found myself turning down more consulting work than I was accepting.

My path into remodeling started unexpectedly in 1990 when I resurfaced my retro kitchen countertops with ceramic tile using a tiny manual tile cutter.

I discovered something surprising: tile work relaxed me.

I loved the creativity of it — the patterns, textures, colors, and the satisfaction of building something tangible with my hands. Before long, friends and family started asking me to help with their own projects. Every completed job funded more tools, and eventually, what started as a hobby became something much larger.

After the dot-com slowdown in the early 2000s, I decided to diversify and take remodeling more seriously. I placed a newspaper ad and landed my first major tile project. Within a few years, I was managing multiple installation crews and growing a full-service remodeling company.

Over the years, I became:

• Licensed in Kentucky and Indiana
• Certified in wood and tile installation
• A Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist
• Accredited in lead and mold abatement

Today, FM Pro Remodeling specializes in high-quality remodeling and renovation work, supported by a trusted network of talented professionals, including electricians, plumbers, painters, roofers, HVAC specialists, and other skilled tradespeople who share the same commitment to craftsmanship and customer service.

I take pride in solving problems, building beautiful spaces, and treating customers the way I’d want to be treated myself.

And yes… I’m still buying tools.

I also have a few more business ideas quietly brewing in the background. Some things never change.