Monday Motivation: Giving Up On The Dream?

Post by Trey Anthony.

16 year old Producer, Wondagurl, Shows Us That Dreams Can Happen at Any Age

16 year old producer, Wondagurl proves that age ain't nothing but a number when it comes to chasing your dreams. Her story spread throughout the Internet this week with the release of Jay-Z's much hyped album release Magna Carta Holy Grail, as it was discovered that a 16 year old producer from Brampton produced a track on the album.

Talk about defying any limitations - she's a female (how many womyn producers can you think of?), she's young and she is North of the border farrrrr away from the life of Jay-Z. So how did she make this happen? She visualized what she wanted and then took action to get there.

In a Toronto Star article, she explained that she got started because she saw a video of Jay-Z and Timbaland in the studio working on beats and she wanted to do what they were doing, she wants to be one of the greats. So, fast forward a bit and she may still be working on establishing her name but her hard work landed her on the album of one of the very greats that she first visualized.

She is more proof that you can make whatever you want happen as long as you have a dream, a plan and are committed.

Happy Friday!

For the Dreamers...

I saw this on Tyler Perry's page and wanted to share it with you all for some mid-week motivation. This is for all of you who are feeling that frustration with where you are at in life and are at the point of giving up to accept mediocrity because you don't see how you can make the dream placed in your heart possible. I've been there before. I think that anyone who has been successful has wanted to give up at least once but more realistically many many times. Don't give up. This is your time to strengthen your faith in yourself and in the plan for your life.

Check out what Tyler had to say about this here: 

THIS IS FOR FRUSTRATED DREAMERS

I was driving in to work this morning and I started thinking about all the days I dreaded going to work. I was so sick of it… the job, my boss, the people I worked with, the traffic… I would wake up angry every morning. I didn’t want to deal with the crap of the job, but I was forced to go. I had been homeless, I was broke, living paycheck to hopefully the next paycheck. I couldn’t take a day off for fear I would get fired. I was just frustrated. I thought I hated my life and the job.

It was so aggravating because God had placed all these dreams and hopes in my soul and mind and I had no idea how they were going to come to pass. To have a dream of being something better and living better than the way I was at that moment and to not see a way of getting there felt like death to me. I thought, “Dear God, why would you give me so much hope and not make a way?” But what I learned through prayer was, with no path in front of you and no road map… this is where true faith begins. With faith I realized that I wasn’t frustrated with my life or the job, I was frustrated because I was a person who had dreams for myself, a person who had visions for my life and I wasn’t living it. Have you ever been there, where you felt so strongly that there was more to this life than what you see in front of you?

One of the most difficult things about being a dreamer is the fear that the dream will never happen. I’m here as a living witness to tell you your dreams can come true. You can’t give up. And I am here to let you know that everything can work together for your good. The time that you are spending on that job that you think is a dead end is not. You’re being prepared just like I was. I was a shoeshine boy, I worked as a bill collector, a used car salesman, in housekeeping in a hotel, and they all were preparation for where I am now.

What do these things have to do with where I am now? I’m glad you asked. I am able to use skills that I learned. I shined shoes, so I know how to shine my shoes if I need them to look nice. Selling used cars was a great way to learn how to close a deal. Bill collecting taught me great negotiation skills. Working at that 5-star hotel taught me a lot about travel. Every experience in your life is here to teach you something.

Today, while you’re at work, don’t be frustrated. Look around you and ask God what are you there to learn and how will it be a part of your future dream. Honor that job, do the best you can at it, because God will bless you for honoring something that belongs to another.

I hope this inspires you today. If you need a little more inspiration then watch my first sit-down interview in years with Oprah on Oprah's Next Chapter. It airs this Sunday on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network at 9/8c. I talk a little about not giving up. I know it will move you.

Here’s a prayer for today: “God help me hold on, help me to get to what I dream of, help me to honor where I am today so that I can appreciate where I will be tomorrow. In Jesus' name.”

MONDAY MOTIVATION: Who's Going to Believe in Your Dreams But You?

 

By: Safia Bartholomew

There's something about seeing a woman who knows who she is at her core, that is so beautiful. A woman that is filled with the wisdom and self-awareness to have a vision of her goals, she knows the boundaries of what she will tolerate as well as the knowledge of what lengths she will go to achieve what is in her heart. This past Saturday, I attended trey's Millionaire Artist workshop and the thing that resonated with me the most was the feeling of being witness to a glow of self-awareness that circled trey and the 4 women panelists that spoke - Olunike Adeliyi, Cindy Ashton, Shannon Skinner, and Denise Bukowski. They all shared their stories of struggle and every obstacle they faced that should have been reason for them not to pursue their dreams, but they didn't listen to that inner voice of fear or any of the outer noise.

The greatest lesson that I took away from the workshop is that there is no point in waiting for perfection to pursue your dreams, because perfection doesn't exist. So many of us are waiting for the right situation, or to meet the right person, or to look Halle Berry pretty. We sit waiting for the confidence to suddenly come to us first before we decide to take the steps to create our vision. But in actuality, confidence comes from pursuing your dreams despite not feeling pretty, or confident but from doing it anyway. The only path to greatness is to stumble then pick yourself up, to shut out the voice of your fears, silence the noise of naysayers and most importantly, to build a belief in oneself that is unshakable. As trey shared, "I'm not arrogant, I'm convinced. There is nothing wrong with believing that you are great. Say it daily to yourself." We ended the day off with everyone standing and shouting out their greatness in unison.

I left the workshop feeling inspired and grateful for all of the ladies that spoke that day. For sharing their stories, advice and by showing us all that real beauty is in absolute confidence. It's a trait that I aspire to stand in and that I believe every woman and man deserves to possess. Scrolling through some of the attendees' Tweets, I realized that many shared my exact sentiment and takeaway:

Did any of you attend trey's workshop this past weekend? What stood out to you? Meet me in the comments section and share the lesson that resonated with you the most!

I Ain't Got Time For Dis!

I've been known to be a straight shooter! And one of the things I have little to no tolerance for are people who complain about stuff but do little to make any changes in their lives. You know the ones? The ones who constantly complain about all the stuff that's not working in their lives.... or maybe you are that person, the person who can't stand their job, can't stand their husband/wife, can't stand the colour of their socks! The list is endless. But day after day, month after month, year after year..... they are doing the same thing wearing the same damn socks! and doing absolutely -----NOTHING to change their circumstances!!!!

I constantly get emails from artistic folks who dream about making it in the industry. They will send me a random email or stop me in the street asking for advice on how to make it,   demanding information!  Yet, when I tell them about my upcoming workshops, they have every excuse in the book of why this time, once again, they won't be able to make it!!! Sabotaging themselves before they even start!

Well, as my mother would say, "I'm done talking! I ain't got time for dis!!!" I'm interested in helping folks who are people of action not talk! So if you want to make some changes in your career, and your life, the  workshop this Saturday is for you! Stop with the excuses and do something different!

There are only 22 tixs left!!! 22??? Are you going to be the person who sits at home again this Saturday complaining or are you going to be the person who is going to take a pro active role in changing your life, be inspired, and network with like minded people! Who do you want to be this year?

Check this new link out to find out what folks have to say! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqmh4czoc9w

Please note we will be seating folks with advance tickets first and accommodating walk ups, on a first come, first serve. Guarantee your seat and register over at Eventbrite. We are also accepting email money transfers at trey@treyanthonystudios.com

In Her Artist Shoes: Entertainer, Cindy Ashton on Learning To Triumph Against All Odds

Cindy Ashton is a modern day renaissance womyn - as a singer/entertainer, author and speaker coach, she pretty much does it all! Born with only a 20% chance of living, Cindy knows the idea of exceeding other people's expectations of you. She proves that you can make your dreams happen when you fight for it! Very happy to have Cindy as a panelist at The Millionaire Artist workshop this Saturday, as I know she will have a lot of wisdom to share. (Reserve your spot here: Eventbrite)

The life changing experience that convinced her to go for her dreams
I always knew I was meant to perform since I was a fetus swimming in my mom's belly. I was born with a 20% chance of living, underwent 3 heart surgeries by age 14 and was told I would never be able to be healthy enough to dance or sing (I had a damaged lung). At age 13, I shared a hospital room with a girl named Stephanie. Like me she went through several heart surgeries and didn't know if she was going to live beyond her teens or not. We made a pact that we would both survive and I would become a world class performer and she would become the world's greatest heart surgeon. I was released from the hospital for a few months. When I got re-admitted at 14 years old, I kept asking the nurses where Stephanie was and they kept avoiding my questions. Eventually a nurse pulled me aside and told me that Stephanie died. Part of me felt guilty and unworthy to live but the other part of me KNEW I had to live and make my dreams happen for both of us. Watch the video on: http://speakerstardom.com/bookinginfo/ = it has the story.

Who she looks up to in the industry
Madonna - since she appeared on the scene when I was 7. She is always willing to push boundaries & get people questioning society norms; she is a fantastic performer (in terms of the energy & creativity she gives, not the actual singing voice); a brilliant business woman and has a real pulse on trends and creating trends.

Best piece of advice given
Just be yourself... that is enough.


If you haven't done so already, register here. Only a FEW spaces left! Guarantee yourself a seat to this inspiring workshop and make the step to finally start pursuing your artistic dreams more seriously.

Check out what an attendee had to say about my last workshop below: an eye-opening & life changing experience!

MONDAY MOTIVATION: Jada Pinkett's Message to the Dream Stealers

 

One of the most important aspects of being in a relationship is having someone who supports not only  the person that you are within the relationship, but also the person you are becoming or have always dreamed of being. If you have a dream of being an actress, a writer, singer, CEO of a Fortune 500 company, whatever the dream is that you hold in your heart, your significant other should not only support that but be actively engaged in your passion. If you are a writer, at the very minimum, your partner should read a few of your pieces. I received an amazing email from a man a month ago who wanted to inquire about my coaching packages and upcoming Millionaire Artist workshop for his girlfriend. In the email, he spoke about his belief in his girlfriend's talent as a designer despite her own doubt and that he wants to help her take the steps towards pursuing her vision. I loved this because this is what a partner should be!

Another issue that many people relate to is the feeling that one has to give up on their dreams once they settle down and have a family. While taking care of a family and pursuing a dream that may not initially offer stability can be overwhelming and scary, it is possible. Jada Pinkett Smith, a womyn who has successfully juggled a career and family, had a few things to say about this problem:

Dream stealers…
I think one of the worst atrocities we can commit on people we say we love is to steal their dreams through our overbearing expectations. Whether we steal dreams consciously or unconsciously, it renders the same effect…RESENTMENT.

Someone we say we love should NEVER be forced to choose having your love and support over having their dreams. There is a way to have BOTH.

The scary part is that most of the time we may be infringing on the dreams of others in order to fulfill a dream of our own. Partnership, parenting, marriage should reflect the desire to help each other build fulfilling lives for all parties involved. You’ve got ONE life ( that we know of ). LIVE IT…to the FULLEST!
BUILD on your dreams and on the dreams of those you love…TODAY!

Surround yourself with people that believe in and support your dreams and stay focused on the vision that you have for yourself. If not, you will find yourself living a life filled with doubt, regret and resentment. Think about what an awesome example that will be for your children as they will look up to "mommy / daddy" who made their dreams happen despite having to put food on the table and provide for X amount of kids. If you believe that it is possible, then your children will believe this as well for their future dreams.

I will be sharing a few stories of my own at The Millionaire Artist workshop this Saturday February 2nd. Secure your seat and register here: Millionaire Artist Eventbrite. Only a few spots left!

Do at least 1 thing today that focuses on and invests in your dreams. I dare you!

Happy Monday!

Nobody Knows My Name! The Value of Personal Branding with Shannon Skinner & Artist Challenge Day 4

When it comes to personal branding, Shannon Skinner has managed to create a brand that is authentic to her passions and purpose. Her resume is quite extensive: creator/ host of a talk show, author, inspirational speaker and public relations professional. When it comes to introducing yourself as an artist to the world, Shannon understands the value of being your own promoter, showing the world exactly who you are and going for what you want despite the fear that may try to convince you to sit in standstill. I’m so happy to have Shannon come speak at The Millionaire Artist workshop on February 2nd!

Here are 3 lessons I believe Shannon will be able to offer you all:

On pursuing your dreams despite the fear

When I had the idea of creating my talk show Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner, I had a lot of fear and, although I knew I would do it "one day," I was waiting for all the conditions to be right. I had envisioned doing something like this since I was a child, as I was born and raised in a family of television broadcasters. I spent much of my youth in a television station. But instead of doing it, I sat on the idea. Fast-forward...one beautiful summer evening in 2010, a good friend of mine gave me some bad news: he had less than one year to live. Shocked and saddened, I later asked myself a question: "If I had one year to live, what would I do?" That quality question pushed me past my fears and other obstacles, and within a short time I birthed my show -- and my new career was started. I since realized that conditions will rarely be right to follow your heart, so you just have to do it.

The importance of having an inspirational source to continually refer to when needed

"The Whispering Heart: Your Inner Guide to Creativity" is a book I wrote a few years ago. It is my favourite book, not because I wrote it, but because I keep re-reading it to take my own advice when I need a courage boost or clarity.

Putting your best foot forward & creating a great impression is just as much about creating the right appearance as it is about your talent.

The best advice I’ve received in this industry is to never wear short skirts or dresses for television interviews.

Artist Tip #4: Nobody Knows My Name! Tell the World Who You Are!

It's never too early to tell the world what you do and who you are! Usually when I start working with my coaching clients, their first complaint and biggest concern they share is that no one knows who they are! They then proceed to tell me they aren't "big" enough yet, to have a following or it too soon to think about branding themselves!!! 

Well, how do you think you are going to start to build a following unless you start today??? 

When I first started in the business, my first show was in a Brampton Public Library, I had about four people in the audience! And two of them were family members who felt sorry for me, so they showed up! But even back then I knew the importance of branding and building my audience. I faithfully mailed out flyers, and newsletters monthly! Yes mailed them! Licked envelopes! Remember those days?! There was no internet or Facebook back then!  

My shows eventually grew from 4 people to 10, to 100, to 1000, and now 'da Kink in my hair theatrical show has been seen by over 125,000 people! Not bad for a person who had four people at her first show!  

START TODAY--- start to think about how to build your audience and how to find clients for your work. Start by buying your domain name, start a fan page on Facebook, get a twitter account, get a Youtube channel, create a website, start a blog...  Let people know what you are doing!

At the workshop I will give several valuable tips on how to grow your audience and how to let the world know who you are! I will also let you know a secret tip on how to immediately make your brand/ yourself look more professional! It works every time trust me! See you there! 

****** Today's give away, the seventh person to Facebook me and say, “I want to know how to get paid and paid now!” will win a ticket to my Millionaire Artist workshop! 

The Millionaire Artist Challenge Day 2: Which Route Are You Taking To Success?

 Day 2: MILLIONAIRE ARTIST TIP - Always create a mini schedule for your day.

Always have a road map to where you are going and what needs to be done!  Before I check email, go on the phone, write or do anything I create a schedule for my day every day! * I will go into more details at the Millionaire Artist Workshop on February 2nd on how to do this and how to avoid procrastinating on facebook! 

An artist must always have a road map! Have a plan for your day and have a sense of what you wish to accomplish and the time frame to do it!

And remember to turn off your phone, allot a certain time in your day to respond to and answer the phone!

Remember to register for the Millionaire Artist workshop on February 2nd go to www.millionaireartist.eventbrite.ca spaces filling up quickly!

Remember to tweet, or facebook me to let me know how the challenge is going for you! If you missed Day 1 check it out here. Join us!

In Her Artist Shoes: Actress & CTV Flashpoint's, Oluniké Adeliyi + My Challenge Inspired By Jay-Z

Canadian born actress, Oluniké Adeliyi is a truly talented womyn and actress. With an impressive resume that includes starring in CTV's successful series, Flashpoint; a film role in Saw 3D (2010) and a television appearance on The Listener. Her story proves that success will come if you believe in yourself and work hard to master your craft. I'm so happy to have her as a panelist at my Millionaire Artist Workshop! I know that this womyn is filled with so much valuable advice to share with all of you.

Here are 3 things I learned about Oluniké:

On discovering her passion

I was an actor straight from the womb. I began to pursue it professionally after an encounter with Denzel Washington on the set of "John Q". He took a special interest in me and lectured me daily with fantastic advice on how to approach the industry. He suggested studying theatre in NY and I did it. He suggested fine tuning my skills daily and I continue to do so. He told me to never think about the money and I haven't. The main reason I followed my dreams was for my daughter. She has watched her Mom face obstacles and overcome them. She is now following her dreams, because I showed her it was possible. In turn my daughter became my biggest motivation to continue knocking doors down.

The circle of powerful womyn she looks up to

I look up to Viola Davis. She is looking to pass the torch and I'm working hard for it to be me. She blows my mind the way Cicely Tyson, Ruby Dee, Angela Bassett did and still does. I want in on that circle of talented women. So I'll work my butt off daily living and loving.

Best advice

"Always maintain your grace." Phylicia Rashad gave me that advice personally at theatre school. I had the pleasure of being in her presence. I've never forgotten her words to me and I have been tested many times in this industry and life since then, but my grace is always in tact. My grace is always remembered and re hired :)

Make sure you secure a seat at the workshop - limited spots available! Register here: www.millionaireartist.eventbrite.ca 

And, My Artist Challenge to You All - Are You Ready? 

I do difficult in an hour--impossible in a week! 

The running joke with several of my colleagues is that every one else has 24 hours in a day, and I have 32! Needless to say my favorite Jay Z quote is,  " I do difficult in an hour, impossible in a week!"

People ask me every day how do I get so much work done, how am I able to be so productive in my career, life and personal life? How can I balance writing, producing, acting, coaching, and public speaking plus just every day living! So I'm going to give you a few tips!

On Monday, we will begin the seven day Millionaire Artist challenge!  For seven days I will post one simple tip for you to follow to increase your productivity as an artist. Let me know you are up for the challenge by any means of social media!  I will be giving away five tickets in total through out the week  to people who make a comment on either their facebook page, twitter or my blog, about doing the Millionaire Artist Challenge. Let me know how it's going for you, are you learning anything? Doing things differently? 

Remember to tag me or tweet so I know you're doing it! You never know which day I will pick a winner so it's always good to post your comments pertaining to the challenge! Remember  the Millionaire Artist Challenge starts on Monday! I'm looking forward to giving away some tickets! See you soon! 

Invest in YOU: Back by Popular Demand, Excited to Announce Details For the Millionaire Artist Workshop!

Psst!!! Hey you! Yes, I'm talking to you!  

Remember your new year's resolution to finally pursue your artistic dreams? To FINALLY take your art more seriously? To FINALLY start getting paid for your creativity? Well this workshop is for you! Back by popular demand! My 2nd Millionaire Artist Workshop! 

Register now, spaces are limited! 

We have a power house line-up of speakers that will definitely get you excited and give you the information to make 2013 YOUR YEAR OF ACTION! 

Register now before we sell out! 

For more information and to register, click here: www.millionaireartist.eventbrite.ca or call 647.771.7086

MONDAY MOTIVATION: 2013 is Knocking at Our Doors. Are You Ready?

We're finally here folks! 2013 is just a few hours away. Everyone will soon be out celebrating - popping bottles of champagne in fancy dresses and clothes, blowing party horns and toasting to the New Year. But, when the ball has dropped and  the music begins to fade, can you say that you are really ready to take on 2013?

I had a wonderful holiday season. Although I was sick, I had the chance to relax, spend time with those that I care for and went on a small trip. In the time that I got to relax, I had the opportunity to really reflect on my year - all the successes, disappointments and lessons. I had a fantastic year full of so many blessings. But if you are like me, you may have also set a few goals for this year that you did not see come to pass. But that's okay. While it is awesome to accomplish everything on your to-do list for each year, I think it is more important to understand what has worked for you, what you need to let go of and what new mindset you want to create for the new year.

I realized that the best way to prepare for a journey to success is to create a few guiding principles for yourself. These principles will help you evaluate each moment and each decision that you make to see if you are headed in the correct destination.

Here are few simple principles that work for me and serve as an inner GPS for whenever I’m veering off of my path:

Let go... 
As we head into the New Year, it's important to recognize what hasn't worked for you and what you need to let go of. This can be letting go of any fears, old mindsets, past hurts, untrue beliefs about yourself or forgiving someone who hurt you. Maybe you need to let go of that double latte-whatever with extra whip cream each morning to finally shed those pounds. The point is that you have to let go of what hasn't worked in order to create a clean slate for 2013.

Be thankful
Get a gratitude journal so that you can keep track of your blessings. The more that you are thankful, the more that will continue to come to you. Make a habit of giving thanks every day.

Clean house
No, literally…clean your house! Clutter in the physical is an indication of the clutter in your mind. Take a day to organize your life so that you have the room for newness – new thought, new creativity, new opportunity, etc.

Don't talk about it be about it
There are going to be a lot of people proclaiming that “2013 is my year!” but come February when the excitement of resolutions wears off, we will see what separates the talkers from the doers. Create a vision for what you want and go for it! Start talking once you know for sure that you’ve put in the work and start to see results.

Keep your circle tight
I wrote about this in a previous post here, but it is so important to surround yourself with a group of people who celebrate you, support you and lift you up to be better. You need people who believe in your vision and who are currently pursuing their own visions. If you feel negative, stuck and limited look around at the people you spend the most time with. Guaranteed they have similar negative attitudes. Find a new circle.

Use these principles and add your own to them. I project big things in 2013 for you all!

I also want thank all of you for sharing this journey with me by reading my thoughts and perspectives, for commenting on the blog and through social media, for coming out to the workshop or sending me emails. Keep connecting with me! I truly appreciate it all and can't wait to share more with you in the New Year!

I have a really exciting year ahead of me including bringing 'Da Kink in My Hair to Atlanta this October (please check out the new website!) and at the top of the year in February I will be holding my second Millionaire Artist workshop (email safiab@treyanthonystudios.com for more info). Please stay tuned for announcements and details J

See NO limits to your potential this year!

Have a safe and blessed New Year’s night!!

Blessings,

trey xo

 



Profile of an Artist: Rick Gold of Design Company, The Stem Group

One thing that I want to do with this blog is to help shed light on other artists of various industries who have a dream and are choosing to chase it and that are passionate about the work that they do. Ryszard (Rick) Gold of design company, The Stem Group, is one of those people who you can tell is in love with what he does. I had the opportunity to connect with him and ask him a few questions about himself and his company. 

For artists who are looking to get into the design field and for those who are trying to figure out branding (web design, logos,etc.) for their own careers, I suggest you read on for great advice on this. Connect with Rick as well, he's a friendly guy!

Hi Rick, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for my readers. First off, tell us about the Stem Group.

The Stem Group allows me to combine all my personal skills and experience into a single outlet. Extensive creative and technical prowess, an insatiable quest to be at the leading edge of technological knowledge and the passion to education others allows me to make a living doing what I love. Customer service is my specialty, preferring to form long term professional relationships with my customers. 

The Stem Creative offers general graphic design services, like cards, logos and other marketing materials, and specializing in website design and development, including micro sites for small businesses and individuals. Video production services are offered to businesses and individuals as well.

The Stem Support offers service, support and training to users of Apple Computers for situations that are not covered under warranty. Physical damages to Apple devices such as glass replacements are handled as well. 

There's a difference between those who dream about doing what they love and those who actually do it. What motivated / inspired you to start your business?

The desire to be my own boss, not having to deal with the corporate ladder. The ability to do what I want and have the risk be my own is very attractive. The flexibility of owning my own business also allows me to spend time with my boys!

What notable projects or clients have you worked on?

Having worked a bit for you (Trey Anthony Studios) was a fantastic experience! My largest client to date has been the Canadian Association of Geophysical Contractors. Over the years I've designed three websites for them, many print ads, events videos (one of them helped win the CAGC the Mayors Excellence Award) and a year long recruitment video project that has near 5000 copies in circulation.

 

Working in a creative industry, how do you stay motivated and passionate about your work?

Being constantly creative is a challenge for sure! That is why I have my support side to keep things interesting. It's nice to be able to switch gears from Photoshop & Final Cut to troubleshooting a sticky Mac OS X issue or making a smashed iPad pristine again. I get the passion from my job from my clients reactions, knowing they love their website makes a long week of slogging through code completely worth it!


What tips/advice would you give to an emerging talent who wants to follow a similar career path as you?

Look ahead always.. be on the forefront of the cure and never let yourself fall behind it. Adapt to changes in the industry and never undersell yourself by charging penance for what you know is quality work; at the same time don't charge prices that keeps your services out of reach of the small and medium business that are most likely supporting your friends, family and community.

Since my blog caters to a lot of artists and emerging artists who are looking to get their name and brand out there, what would you say is the best advice for them in going about collaborating/hiring a design company to illustrate their brand through web design or other design work?

If a deal sounds to good to be true, it probably is; if the price has 5 digits for a website and logo, move on. Absolutely most important, do not ever agree to using a pre-designed template for any of your branding products, this is exactly what those $300 website deals are all about. It's important to stick out, and it's wise to invest a little money in a custom website, logo, cards, etc. And if you can, have the same team do all the work so you can have a consistent branding across all your marketing materials. Invest in the branding instead of the mahogany desk!

Best ways for readers to connect with you?

Connect with me on any of the below mediums. I'm most active on Facebook, check out my page and connect with me there!

   https://www.facebook.com/thestemgroup
 

   https://twitter.com/TheStemGroup

 
   http://ca.linkedin.com/in/ryszardgold

   http://www.yelp.ca/biz/the-stem-group-calgary

Monday Motivation: You've Got The Power - Oprah's Lifeclass Teaches Us The Power of Declaring "I Am..."



"You'll never rise any higher than how you see yourself" - Joel Osteen 

There is nothing more important than the words that you say to yourself repeatedly. Forget having talent, beauty and smarts, if the words that repeatedly come out of our mouth do not reflect this then none of these attributes will mean shit! You can be the most talented person in the world but if you continually downplay your craft to others and to yourself and speak negativity to it everyday, your dreams will never actualize because you are not opening yourself to the positive energy that will allow the right opportunities and people to flow into your life.

This weekend's Lifeclass on OWN was an awesome reminder of this! Joel Osteen spoke to the concept that you become who you believe you are. He described that, whatever follows "I Am..." will come looking for you. So, what do you want to follow you as you go after your dreams? Think carefully about this when you make a statement about yourself because these words that you speak will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. What your future holds is based on the power of your words and will shape who you become regardless of it is positive or negative. Why not make it positive then?

A weekend ago, at my Artist Millionaire workshop I spoke about stating who you are and who you want to become. Whether you are currently working in the field of your choice or actively working towards it, claim it! People are often afraid of doing this because they feel that the statement isn't true until they are actually successful in their field. But I believe that even if you aren't writing for a top newspaper or have a published book out, you should still declare yourself a writer as you actively pursue your craft.

There was a really powerful moment at the workshop where I had everyone stand up one by one and proclaim who they are and what they do - no stuttering, shifty eyes or caved shoulders. Declare "I am..."with confidence! The energy of the room shifted as each person stood in who they were and their vision for their life with each proclamation. It's a powerful feeling and moment when you no longer whisper silently hoping that no one calls you out on the inaccuracy of your statement or keep your dreams to yourself out of fear that it won't come true. Once you declare it out loud and with confidence everyday, believe me, you will find a way to make it happen! Try it on when you introduce yourself to others, see how it fits - "Hello, I am a writer." doesn't it feel good?

Share how awesomely talented you are! The more you declare this to others, the more that their actions and their opinions of you will fall into line with your vision and more importantly, you will begin to truly see yourself as who you want to see. No faking it 'til you make it, or trying it on for suit. You will one day look in the mirror and see exactly who you always wanted to be - no blinking, just truth.

Go ahead and make a statement! Meet me in the comments section and declare the life that you want. What powerful words are you going to start speaking this week to bring your vision to life?

Happy Monday!

Ownership vs. Owned: Tyler Perry Drops Knowledge on the Cover of Men's Health Magazine

I was at a store a couple of days ago, passed the magazine stand and I literally did a double take at this month's Men's Health Magazine when I saw Tyler Perry on the cover. What caught my attention is that I would have never expected to see Tyler grinning from ear to ear on the cover of this type of magazine. Tyler has faced plenty of criticism in the past and present about the image that he represents as the infamous character 'Madea' in his series of movies and plays. He recently seems to be making moves towards expanding his brand outside of the franchise that has made him famous by branching outside of his comfort zone. He currently stars in the recently released action film, Alex Cross, as well as his soon to be developed partnership with Oprah's OWN network.

Along with his expansion into new territories, in the magazine he talks about continually sticking to his basic principles of investing in himself and into his craft. A lesson I think we should all take note of. In the magazine he says:

On owning his own things and investing in his career.
The thing about using other people’s money is they’re going to set the rules. So at the beginning I used my money, kept reinvesting in myself. Now I own all my content, as opposed to having someone else own it and me being ‘work for hire.’ That’s the difference between doing well and having generations of wealth to pass on to your children.” [source: NecoleBitchie.com]

This couldn't be more timely of a topic as I will be sharing tips and stories with attendees at The Artist Millionaire workshop this Saturday about building financial success from your passion. I have also worked hard to live by this philosophy in my own career as I think that it is important to keep funding your craft so that you not only improve and reach new levels but also so that you can ultimately have complete ownership of your work. A difficult thing for artists is often seeing your dreams and work pulled apart and altered by someone else's vision because they are funding it so they have the final say.

It's my own Artist Millionaire dream to produce more work, fund my own content and open up a theatre in Toronto to provide opportunities to emerging talents.

The lesson in all of this comes down to one simple word: ownership. Treat yourself and your craft as a business in which you need to constantly invest in, in order to build your brand and propel to the next level. It's easy to value the instant gratification of buying material possessions once some money starts rolling in from your work, but it is truly valuable to put money back into where it counts - you.

If you haven't done so already, please check this link to register for the workshop. Take this as an opportunity to begin investing in yourself and your craft! Space is almost full, take the step now!

Monday Motivation: What About Your Friends? The 5 Friends Every Person Needs in Their Circle

Will smith has said, "You can tell how far in life you'll go by the 5 people you spend the most amount of time with". Does your power circle look like this? If not, create your own version.

I've been putting the final touches on my Artist Millionaire workshop (Only 5 days left!) and I've been thinking about the atmosphere that I want to create for it - one where we can all connect and share. This had me thinking about the people we choose to surround ourselves with. Our mothers have always warned us when we were young that, "you are known by the company you keep" which was used as a warning to stay away from the other kids that were constantly in trouble and heading down the wrong path. But as we've grown up and released our trouble making friends, there are still a few friends that you should be cautious of spending too much time with as they too can lead you down the wrong path. 

We've all at some point in our lives had people around us who consistently seem to get knocked down by the blows of life - complain, lack motivation, stay stagnant and never evolve. You may love the people in your life and share many memories with them, but spending too much time with them will drain you as their lack of passion ultimately starts to creep into your life. It eventually gets harder to stay motivated and be grateful for the awesome things happening in your own life. 

If you look at any successful person, they always have a network of friends around them who are successful as well. Here are 5 types of people that I believe should be in everyone's power circle:

The Jay to Your Kanye - This person has become a mentor in your life. You respect their achievements and who they are as a person. Stay around these types to soak up as much knowledge as you can in order to get to your next level of success.

The Confidant - This is the friend that can talk you off of any ledge. They understand who you are and what you are trying to achieve and will always be there to steer you back onto your path even when you start to drift.

The Professional Friend - Someone who is in your industry who you can bounce ideas off of, will give you insider's advice and who you can hit up networking events with.

The Good-Time Friend - Whether you're laughing with each other over a glass of wine, dancing at a lounge or just sharing a quick convo over text, this person makes you smile and laugh HARD. Being around them always brings positive vibes and lightens the mood.

The Accountability Partner - Whether you have hired this person (like a life coach or personal trainer) or a friend has self appointed themselves for this position, they are always there to be honest, keep you in check and making sure that you continue to hit your goals. Never allowing you to plateau or give up.

Some of us are lucky enough to have all of these in our inner circle or maybe I described one person. But, many of us are lacking a few or even all of them. If you can't think of any person in your life who falls into these categories, get out there and meet new people, create the circle that you want! There may be those that you have to cut ties with and others that you may have to see a little bit less. Either way, it's important to take an inventory of the people in your life and see if they are adding to or subtracting from it. Are the people in your life invested in you? Do they want to see you win? Picking and choosing who you want to spend time with is not selfish but the best strategy in preserving and protecting your dreams.

Choose wisely!

The Artist Millionaire Workshop is quickly approaching! This will be a great opportunity to meet and connect with like-minded people to add to your circle. Take this opportunity! If you haven't done so already, please click here to register.

Happy Monday!

Waiting to Be Pretty: Has the Pressure to Be Beautiful Stopped You From Chasing Your Dreams? (Guest Blog by Safia Bartholomew)

We've all had that moment when you walk into a job interview, audition or meeting and suddenly the outfit that you carefully picked out days before makes you feel less than beautiful and not so confident. You start combing through your curly ‘fro wishing you had taken your friend’s advice to flat iron your hair or you can’t help but notice people staring at your more than bee-stung plump lips. Maybe you haven't even made it to the audition because although you dream of becoming a singer the only examples of successful singers that you can think of look like Beyonce with coke bottle slim figures and you are this close to being a not so few pounds overweight.

Are you the type of woman who will check your insecurities at the door and carry on giving the best performance of your career? Or, are you like too many of us who are sitting on the sidelines letting our dreams pass us by because we are waiting to be prettier?

It is no secret that the media and Hollywood dictates our perceptions of beauty – showcasing images of the same type of girl over and over again…we get it!

This past weekend I was looking through the recently launched blog of Tracee Ellis Ross, most known for her role as Joan Clayton on Girlfriends. I have always admired her unique beauty and style. While in some ways she fits the universal mold of what Hollywood tells us is pretty (light skinned, tall and thin), what she is most known for are her unique features – wide toothy grin, Diana Ross’ eyes, and a beautiful ‘fro of massive curls.

In her recent blog post titled “A Culture Confused By Fake Boobs” Tracee describes the trickle down affect of our culture’s expectations of a woman’s body. One that is not a reflection of the everyday woman but of a body that is augmented and modified. While I personally never took note of Tracee’s breast before, she shares that on numerous occasions on auditions and with her management team the issue of the perkiness of her breast (or lack there of) became a focal point as she was encouraged to wear a push up bra. As she describes, “I felt hurt, reduced to an object, a pair of tits – tits that were, apparently, un-cast-able”.

We all know the old adage “You have to look the part to play the part” but where does this concept go too far? How much do we have to modify our appearance to “look the part” and be accepted, be successful?

There are many women who are willing to nip and tuck a little or put in a few extensions to have the long and flowing hair that is perceived as beautiful to get as close to their ideal as they can (which is absolutely fine if that is their choice). But, plenty more women are allowing rejection to knock them down. There is something about being rejected for your looks that can make even the most confident woman want to sit out and stop fighting.

The thing is, there will always be someone more talented, intelligent and prettier than you. The problem is that as soon as you change yourself to meet someone else’s standard, that standard can easily and suddenly change. So, you might as well learn to like what you see and focus on building your faith in yourself, persistence and confidence. Work on your craft!

Get used to hearing the word “no” from people and don't let it affect you. Even Halle Berry, who has become the prototype of beauty in Hollywood, has heard more than a few "no’s" in her career. There are so many examples from all industries of women who are at the top of their game but are not known for their looks. If they made it through the door, so can you.

There is nothing wrong with doing little things to make yourself feel pretty so that you put your best foot forward, but do not stay stagnant waiting to suddenly transform in order for you to go after what you dream of.

I applaud Tracee and other women who are pushing to defy the mold. I applaud YOU for taking the steps in seeing the beauty in yourself, recognizing your flaws and pursuing your passion anyway.

trey will be sharing her own struggles with learning to defy the beauty standard at The Artist Millionaire Workshop. There is only less than two weeks left until the workshop! If you haven’t registered yet please click here to sign up.

What beauty struggles have you had to resist in pursuing your dreams? Please leave a comment and let me know!

- Safia

   Xo

Why Awkward Black Girl Creator Issa Rae's New ABC Sitcom Is a Win For All Artists

When the Awkward Black series hit the net, I immediately liked the smart and funny content of its episodes and felt inspired by creator, Issa Rae's persistence at doing what she loves on her own terms. There aren't too many opportunities in tv land for a young black womyn to write and co-produce for a major network television show. But with this week's announcement, Issa has shown us all that it is possible.

In collaboration with Shondra Rhimes' (Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice) mega successful production company, Shondaland, Issa has sold a comedy called "I Hate LA Dudes" to ABC. I couldn't help but yell out "yes" with a wide grin on my face when I heard this news. It is not only a great opportunity for Issa but a win for all us artists and a reminder to keep focused because your own opportunity will come soon.

Issa had a passion and a very specific vision of what type of show she wanted to see on television. When Hollywood wasn't knocking on her door or even creating the content that she believed should be shown, she took things into her own hands and created her own series in an unconventional format. She did not wait for the right opportunity to come to her, she made her own. She is a great example of designing your own future.

With relentless belief in herself and her vision, she proved that when you maintain faith and focus on your dreams, money and opportunities will soon follow - but not the other way around. You have to stick it out and be resilient. The right people will evenutally notice, even when they previously doubted you before.

With this news, I refuse to hear anymore "but trey, womyn/people of color/someone my age has never done this before". Go out there and get what you want! No one is going to hand you an opportunity, until you prove yourself and your vision first.

Keep this win for us artists in mind this long weekend as you have time to rest and re-group. Think about all of the dreams that you buried deep inside because you never believed it to be possible. Start planning the steps to make it happen.

If you haven't already, I highly suggest that you look up and watch her original series "The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl". It's perfect for a good belly laugh!

Congrats Issa!

I know I will be tuned in when her new show debuts. Will you be watching?

Don't forget that this weekend, October 6th is The Artist Millionaire Workshop's early bird sale with a 2 for the price of 1 promotion!

To register please call: 647-771-7086 or email info@treyanthonystudios.com

Click here for more details

Save Your Spot Now!! October 6th Early Bird Half Price Sale on The Artist Millionaire Workshop Registration

Sometimes naysayers aren't "haters" or people who want to see you fail. Often, the people who doubt your dreams are those who love you and want what is best for you. They may have the best of intentions, but NO ONE will understand your vision the way you do.  BELIEVE in yourself and hold your dream close!

My story of believing in da kink in my hair when the people that I loved couldn't see my vision. Cuz my bestfriend laughed me.....

Stop TALKING about your dream, ACT NOW!!

The Millionaire Artist Workshop is having a ONE DAY PROMOTION this Saturday, October 6th. Registration will be 2 for the price of 1! Bring a friend and save.

To register please call: 647-771-7086 or email info@treyanthonystudios.com

Click here for more details

Monday Motivation: The Genius in You - 5 Lessons Jay-z Taught Me This Weekend

This past weekend I flew to NYC to attend the Jay-Z concert at the opening of the Barclay Center in Brooklyn. As I was in my spot in front of the stage I had the chance to look around, breathe in and really take in the monumental occasion that I was about to be a part of. Forget what anyone has told you, the rap culture has always been a source of inspiration AND aspiration. The G.O.A.Ts of this culture have shown us how to be moguls, how to be successful off of our passions, why creativity is not just a hobby but a business and how to create a brand built from your authentic self.

Jay-Z, one of the greats, has shown us these examples for years and this weekend reminded me of a few life lessons that I will carry with me into this week and beyond:

There is a genius in us all but it is our job to find out what it is. Then, work!

At a point during the show, Jay took a moment to address the crowd and let them know that he was no different from us. That anyone of us could be standing up there on stage in his place. As he said:

I think every single person is born with genius level talent. You just have to find out what it is that you are a genius at...Once you find out what it is [that you are talented at], that’s not the end of it. Once you find out your genius level talent, you apply yourself in such a way that you do amazing sh-t. I’m a living testament of that. I am no muthaf-cking different than anybody in here tonight and I’m standing on this stage as living proof that if you apply yourself to what it is that you are genius at, you can do anything in the world.

It’s not about where you’re from. It’s about where you are going.

Jay-Z declared years ago, “I’m from Marcy son…ain’t nothing nice”. Growing up in a Brooklyn project, there was no reason for him to make it, but he did. With faith and persistence we can become MORE than our pasts and not allow for it to determine what our future holds.I still have so much that I want to achieve but it still amazes me how far I have come and how much I have achieved since being a little girl from Rexdale who dreamed of being a comedian. Dream big and act, don’t let disadvantages limit you.

Declare your value

Jay-z said it best, “Not a businessman – I’m a business, man”. Whether you are an entreprenuer or an employee, you are a business and a brand. Find out what your unique skills are and be consistent about presenting yourself in this light. Determine a value for what your skills are worth and do not sell yourself short!

Fish in different waters

You will not achieve success if you stay within your comfort zone. Even if you have already achieved success, to reach new levels you need to continue to push yourself past your boundaries.  For Jay-Z this meant hanging in different circles and aligning himself with things outside of the rap culture (politics, sports, entertainment venues) in order to take his brand to the next level. I made the decision to move to Atlanta to test the waters out here. For some of you, it may mean to meet new people, relocate to a new country or city, for others it may be to go back to school or to leave the job that you hate waking up to go to.

Quiet the noise of naysayers

Everyone has an opinion and often times whether well intentioned or not the noise of people’s opinions can often drown out your own voice or steer the course of your dreams. You have to develop a belief in yourself and trust your own decisions. Many people doubted whether Jay-Z as a rapper belonged in the different arenas and ventures that he pursued, but he had a vision for himself that many others could not see. The more people who doubt you, the more you know that you are headed on the right track.

If you visualize it, then you can achieve it!

I don’t know about you all, but I’m ready to embrace my dreams head-on. Are you? Tell me some of the lessons that you are applying to your life today.

Happy Monday!

P.S.  Have you all checked out the details for my Artist Millionaire Workshop? I announced an amazing panel of industry power players that will equip you with the tools to unleash your dreams. Check out the details here.