11/10/2026
Here’s some advice.
When you’re starting out in any industry, people tend to define you by the first role you play or the first service you provide.
The challenge comes when you grow, develop new skills, and want to take on bigger opportunities, but people still see you as the person they first met.
Getting others to recognize that you have more to offer can be difficult, especially when they’ve already placed you in a certain category.
One thing I’ve learned is that you can’t always wait for people to recognize your growth or give you permission to evolve.
Sometimes, you have to create your own opportunities and demonstrate what you’re capable of before others begin to see your true potential.
This photo was taken during my first international gig on a cruise ship, where I was actually paid for my services. I remember the feeling of someone booking my flights, covering my accommodations, and paying me a fee for my work.
I was like, “Damn, someone thinks I’m talented enough that they’re willing to do all of that just to have me there.”
It was a great feeling.
I remember being introduced to the entertainment industry through nightlife. I knew I wanted to be part of the industry somehow; I just wasn’t sure what my way in would be.
Eventually, I found my way in through videography, filming at nightclubs and events. I wasn’t making nearly enough money to survive off it, but I kept going.
