Meet Morgan Hochstetler

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Morgan Hochstetler a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Morgan, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
This question has plagued me in my life for a very long time. It wasn’t until recently at the age of 35 to know my purpose. Are you ready for the answer? Well, I still don’t have it. What a let down right!? But let me share with you the perspective I’ve gained.

In the midst of chaos, I find beauty, embracing the imperfections that come with being human. Rooted in my Christian beliefs, I consider serving my God as my primary purpose, viewing everything else as a natural part of life’s journey.

I’ve discovered fulfillment in living to love people, in telling stories, and in creating something meaningful in a world that often seems lost. It’s an acknowledgment that my purpose is a dynamic force, evolving as I navigate the complexities of existence. In this ongoing process, I find purpose not solely in a destination but in the continuous journey of self-discovery and contribution.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I come from a family deeply immersed in the arts, with musicians, dancers, singers, actors, and artists. My artistic journey began at a young age, painting and earning awards, singing, playing drums, guitar, piano, photography, and acting, this list can keep going but I will stop here. I was born in Monroe, LA, and grew up way down south at the border of Mexico, in McAllen, TX. This is where a lot of my early growth in life started. Early on, I developed a keen interest in photography and film. In 2007, I pursued my passion further at the Savannah College of Art and Design, focusing on film, television, and photography. This was a feeling of a right of passage in my life. Going forward my life in the arts would explode to a whole other level.

Art is not just a hobby for me; it’s a way of life. I find joy and purpose in creating and sharing stories. My most ambitious artistic undertaking to date began in 2020, amid the pandemic.

In 2020, I embarked on a music project with two friends, aiming to create a comprehensive album experience. Our vision extended beyond the music itself; we meticulously crafted every aspect, from the color scheme to the sound, font, album covers, and even marketing strategy. Initially, we toyed with the idea of maintaining anonymity under the band name “Keyodis” and fabricating a mysterious meaning for it. The funny thing is that its only a play on words.

Amidst the chaos of the times, we pushed to create just that. We noticed a trend in bands using AI a lot in the artwork and we deliberately avoided AI image creation, opting for a more hands-on approach. The entire process was marked by an array of designs and photo-bashing techniques. We didn’t just want to produce music; we wanted to create an immersive experience.

My creative process involves a time of just thinking. I refrain from putting anything on paper or screen until the idea fully matures in my mind. It’s a nerve-wracking yet rewarding journey.

After a time of hard work, we successfully released the full album, along with music videos and merchandise, this November of 2023. I wholeheartedly recommend this DIY approach to any aspiring band. Not only does it yield a unique and authentic portfolio, but it also serves as a testament to your creative capabilities—a valuable asset when showcasing your work to labels, fellow musicians, or potential clients.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
First My Faith. Second My Failures. Third My listening skills.

Faith: Seriously, you do not have to be a believer in anything to have faith. If you have faith in something it pushes you to develop in your mind, heart, and soul. Yet for me, my faith kept me humble. Like I said before, I created to prove myself yet over time I created because I felt led to create. I wanted to create because I know God gave me this passion and gifts, which I wanted to honor. I pursued faithfulness in the process. Trusting something greater than me. Shoot let’s go away from religion for a second. Do you have faith in yourself to create? If you do not I recommend starting small. A great example is in my video editing. Sometimes I feel I am not capable of overcoming an obstacle that comes up whether that be in color grading, VFX, or sound design. What do I do? I take the time to step back and look for guiding resources to help me grow. I learn that one step I need to learn for that project and after completing that step I have gained the trust in myself to move forward. Not only this but I have gained faith in myself to overcome the same obstacle in future projects.

Failure: I hate failing…yet I love it when I do. I get to learn. If you never learned from your failures then true growth is unattainable. No one reached where they are today because they had endless successes every step of the way. Had I known these lessons at a younger age, I might have spared myself from being excessively hard on myself. I would beat myself up over my failures. It took a lot of time to learn that failure is a part of life. Failure is one of the greatest teachers in life. It’s honest and there when it happens.

Listening: I can not experience how important this skill is in any field you are in. If there is someone wiser than you in the room: shut up. Just because you think you are smarter or wiser than someone else in the room doesn’t mean you are. I had a mentor drill me hard into this.

In 2021, I was working on a festival one weekend and my mentor was there as well. After the first day of the festival, we were hanging out with a few veterans we invited to spend the weekend. These were people who saw some intense stuff during the war overseas. Books have been written about them and more will be written. I was cracking jokes and trying to feel a part of the group. At one point Dave, my mentor, pulled me aside and told me we needed to talk for a second. We started walking and it seemed like that walk was an hour long because we were walking in silence. The weight of what was about to happen had not set in. Dave stopped and turned to me, “This is not the time to be talking.” I am being honest that he did not say those exact words. It was a slew of profanity and some serious growth time. There is a time to have fun and then there is a time to listen. You see he knew what I was trying to do. I was trying to gain trust. When I had already gained the trust of the leader of the group. Dave, My mentor. If the boss of the group trusted me I did not need to gain anyone else’s. We walked back to camp and I sat and heard stories you would never think of. There were a couple of times I was asked my thoughts on things and I would give short answers and everyone would think I just said the most profound thing. Of course, I screwed up a few times but I was learning.

That moment still sticks with me. Since then I have practiced active listening to clients, friends, acquaintances, colleagues, pastors, and even family members. You want to gauge what the person is wanting in the conversation. You want to emotionally understand what they are saying as well. You do not just do this the next day. You learn how to do this with practice. My mentor had worked on million-dollar projects and still uses this practice. You are always growing.

I know I have not mentioned anything about project skills because seriously You can learn how to do anything in media, marketing, or music on your own. I recommend getting a mentor and telling them what you want to learn to develop yourself as a person. It will be the biggest investment you could ever make for yourself.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Saying “I don’t know, let me get you that answer” and “Can you help me with…” has been a significant growth for me. The desire to constantly prove myself is a struggle, especially when it comes to projects or job opportunities. The fear of being caught off guard in a work setting is real, and it can be really embarrassing to respond with a simple “I don’t know” when you think the expectations are not what they seem.

My parents, both with over 30 years of experience as band directors, instilled in me the importance of admitting when you don’t have the answer. Even in their later years in the school system, they continued to practice saying “I don’t know” or “Can you help me with?” They emphasized that, regardless of experience, asking questions and seeking help is an ongoing and valuable part of professional growth.

I recently was struggling with updates for my website, I resisted accepting assistance, insisting that I had it under control. The frustration mounted as the design wasn’t progressing as desired. It took a friend’s suggestion and a realization that it’s okay to ask for help. Together, we successfully redesigned my entire website, showcasing the power of collaboration.

Another instance occurred during my time at the Mighty Oaks Foundation. Tasked with creating email campaigns for a book that eventually generated $1.6 million in revenue and 36,000 prints sold, I found myself staring at an email blast program — I had never created an email blast in my life. Instead of admitting my lack of knowledge, I hesitated, feeling scared and embarrassed. Eventually, I reached out to a co-worker, admitting my uncertainty. To my surprise, he responded with understanding and guidance, showing me how to design the email.

These experiences reinforced the importance of asking for help. It’s a crucial aspect of professional development, fostering a healthy relationship with co-workers and creating opportunities for collaborative success.

Now with all that said. There will come a time when you will have a client, co-worker, or any form of relationship you have that these responses are not okay. I recommend doing what I did… first do not crawl into a ball on the fall and cry. You got this. Then after you have fought this urge research. Gather information. When all else fails gather the information you have and deliver the question of I do not know or Can you help me?

Considering all that has been said, there will inevitably be instances where responses like “I don’t know” or “Can you help me?” may not be deemed acceptable, especially in client or professional relationships. In such situations, I suggest taking proactive steps, as I did.

Firstly, resist the urge to crawl into a ball on the fall and begin to cry. Remind yourself that you are capable. Next, engage in thorough research and information gathering. When faced with uncertainty, presenting the question “I don’t know” or “Can you help me?” is more effective when accompanied by the efforts you’ve made to find a solution independently. This approach showcases your initiative, willingness to learn, and commitment to finding resolutions.

Fail to succeed.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
The Photo of myself is credited to: Lauren Elizabeth England @laurenelizabethcreates All other Photos and Designs are credited to myself: Morgan Vincent Hochstetler

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