The Start of Something New!
This feels likes a dream! For all I know it might be! Because never in my 26 years of life have I allotted this much space for myself in the world. Never have I been so deliberately determined to live full out. For a few years now I have operated my small sector of the “influencer” space. I have collaborated with phenomenal brands. I have traveled the world (Solo mostly). Ive made tons of worthwhile connections. Yet, in all of this so called “dream living” that I was doing I never pushed myself to put my all into my personal brand. I did just enough. And the bare minimum worked for me. You see when you live a big life like myself and you possess great potential & wit people can mistake your 50% effort for their 150%. Audience members and friends see you succeeding and make a “hard worker” out of you. Automatically, the “Hardworking man” label is stapled on your forehead. Now instead of being an average hustler you’re considered a ball busting super hero.
I was born with charisma so the role: super hero fit me well but the hard working bit not so much. For most of my life I was that hardworking guy but I reached a point (post grad) a few years ago where I realized that life was about so much more than achieving the next goal. I got fed up with the chase. And who wouldn’t be…. I had done school my whole life, 4.5 years of college, and studied abroad. In undergrad I served as a President, Vice President, social media director, and at large senator. I went greek. I made way too many friends! And I graduated. I did what was expected of me… and by the time I was able to sit down I realized I was BURNT OUT! BURNT OUT AT 22?!? Yes! There is such a thing and I was it!
Life was just beginning for me and I was already slowing down. I was the real life Benjamin Button. As exhausted as I had become I was adamant about one thing. I was going to be a BIG SUCCESS! People were going to notice me…. and if they didn’t I was going to make them take notice. So I did the logical thing…I started applying for jobs. I wanted a corporate marketing position and I was going to get a corporate gig if it killed me! However, my life took an unexpected turn. I submitted application after application but the corporate world eluded me. I couldn’t understand. They wanted experience. I didn’t have any. Needless to say, the search for belonging and purpose seemed grim.That was until social media content creating fell into my lap!
Making considerable money on Instagram was a fairly new concept in 2017 but I had been following the big league bloggers and influencers since 2012; so when I got my first brand email from Godiva I knew what I was getting into. I knew the hard work and dedication it would require and I was ready for it… or so I thought. What I figured out fast and what they don’t tell you on the youtube videos though is just how difficult it is maintain a brand with a team of ONE! I often felt like and still do feel like a one man corporation. I am responsible for client outreach (brand proposals), administrative duties like scheduling and organizing. Im the CEO, Director of marketing, Social media manager, personal shopper/stylist, data analyst, copywriter, creative director, personal photographer & videographer. The list goes on and on….
Don’t get me wrong I happen to love every bit of my job. However, it can be extremely difficult to focus when you’re juggling 17 plates at a time and trying to look “fashionable” in the process (for years my to do lists looked like something out of the Old Testament). Focusing was hard. I was moving in every direction but forward. I didn’t realize though that clarity wasn’t going to surface until I stopped moving. Ive recently learned that clarity is next to Godliness! I not only needed to focus but I NEEDED TO BECOME CLEAR ABOUT WHAT MY INTENTION IS AND WAS WITH THIS PLATFORM! So I sat down. I stopped working with brands for a little bit to clear up my schedule and make room for whatever creative ideas were to spill out of me. I sat in the stillness. And the Stillness saved me. Breathing and finding focus led to clarity and clarity led to a new direction. My intentions are crystal clear now. I intend to play full out in the world and to hopefully inspire the next person to enjoy the journey and focus less on the end goal. My life has been consumed with looking forward to the future but this website and this space will serve as an escape from the pressures of the world. Here we shall be so fully present… so full of joy… so terribly authentic that we inspire each other to shine even brighter than before.
My space….this space…. Is for the creator who was afraid they couldn’t have everything they dreamed of and more. This space is yours, mine, and ours. May we endeavor to create magic here. May this space surprise and delight you. WE ARE FINALLY CLAIMING WHAT BELONGS TO US! WE ARE CREATING OUR OWN SPACE IN THE WORLD! THIS IS THE START OF SOMETHING NEW!
And trust me we are just getting started…