We caught up with the brilliant and insightful RC Goslee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi RC, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
I would say my resilience comes primary from 2 main sources: 1) being a member of the LGBTQ+ community working in accounting, a primarily straight and cis male dominated field, and 2) being a drag entertainer in an era where we are constantly being attacked by people who have a preconceived notion of us that couldn’t be further from reality.
When it comes to my professional life, I am often used to being the only non-straight person in the room. There have been times in my career where I couldn’t help but wonder if any coworkers or clients are thinking differently of me because of my sexual orientation. At the end of the day, I would carry out the job I was assigned to do and remind myself that if anyone had any negative perceptions of me, the problem was with them. Thankfully, I currently work for a company that celebrates all facets of diversity with various employee resource groups and marches every year in the Charlotte pride parade.
With the current onslaught of attacks against the drag community, performing requires more resilience than ever. Often our shows are protested, we are attacked online, and the far right have these notions of drag entertainers being groomers and pedophiles. Occasionally I will be harassed online with hate messages calling me disgusting and that I should be ashamed of myself. All I can do in these situations is ignore the hate and live my life according to my moral compass; I won’t change the way they think so all I can do is be resilient, not let their words phase me, and be a positive example for others.
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 am a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in North Carolina; I work as an accounting manager in the travel division for the media company Red Ventures. When I’m not crunching numbers, I perform as RC Cola, Charlotte’s premier off-brand drag queen. Because accounting is a more straightforward and unimaginative field, performing in drag gives me the opportunity to show a more creative and artistic side.
I also serve on the board of directors for the Charlotte Gaymers Network as treasurer, doing their accounting on a volunteer basis. I love to be able to give back to the community that has provided so much to me, and being a part of organization that is involved in philanthropic efforts is an amazing feeling. In addition to philanthropic efforts, such as providing kids in need with school supplies and gift cards, we host various monthly events that give members of the LGBTQ+ and allies a safe space to come together and connect over common interests in all aspects of gaming.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The most impactful qualities for me have been passion, determination, and authenticity. Loving what you do will make the biggest difference in life, whether if be in your professional or personal life. Sometimes it can take a while to figure out; I graduated with a bachelors in international affairs before I realized I didn’t want to go into government work and that business was what I was more passionate about. Having the drive and determination to realize my goals and persisting no matter what obstacles popped up has made all the difference. I wouldn’t be where I am today without living my life authentically. Sometimes we can be afraid of what others think, but sticking to how we want to live our lives will bring the most happiness in the end.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I would have to say my mom; raising three kids as a single mother couldn’t have been busy. She was part chauffeur, chef, nurse, etc. and doing it all solo could not have been easy. She worked hard to give me and my siblings a comfortable life and taught us the importance of a strong work ethic. I don’t think I would have done as well in school or my job if I hadn’t learned from her growing up. My resilience and perseverance definitely come from her and have helped me get to where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: linktr.ee/rccola
- Instagram: @the.rc.cola
Image Credits
Bobby Kerns Graham Morrison Velvet Rose Photo
