We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful McLynn Banks. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with McLynn below.
McLynn, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
First off, thank you, Bold Journey Magazine for connecting us with really cool and inspirational people and for taking the time to highlighting my story. Recently, my resilience has been greatly influenced by a shift in my perspective towards rejection. As a fashion model, I’ve had the opportunity to become quite familiar with rejection. So, now rather than viewing it as a setback, I’ve learned to see rejection as redirection towards opportunities better suited for me. This mindset has empowered me to bounce back stronger and more determined, recognizing that every ‘no’ brings me closer to the right ‘yes’. Additionally, drawing strength from supportive mentors in the industry, like Coco Rocha, personal experiences, and a commitment to continuous growth has further fortified my resilience.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My dream of becoming a model hibernated in my heart for years. Throughout my thirties, self doubt weighed heavily on me, convincing me it was too late to chase that dream. But as I am watching my children grow, and encouraging them to pursue their aspirations, I realized I owed it to myself to lead by example. So at the age of forty, I took a leap of faith, defying conventional wisdom to pursue my passion. Now, my predominant focus is nurturing my modeling career. As a professional model, I stand as a pillar of support for creatives such as, photographers, stylists, designers, and brand clients—helping them bring their visions to life. From captivating photoshoots to dazzling fashion shows, I’m allowing myself in every opportunity to collaborate and create. Yet, my journey doesn’t stop here, or there. I continually strive to expand my skills, embracing every chance to learn and grow, while also sharing my experiences on social media.
My next stop is my CoCo Rocha model camp training during this Spring season. I’m excited to learn and gain skills and insights from one of the best in the industry. It is a pleasure and an honor to take part of this world class experience and personally gaining Coco, herself, as a mentor. I love that she has created such an experience for people like me who seek to sharpen their skills in an intimate setting…a safe space where I can vulnerably be seen and heard and ask questions without judgement. So many models today seek spaces like this.
But amidst the glitz and glamour, what truly excites me is my latest endeavor—a testament to my journey and a beacon of self discovery: my ebook. In its pages, I delve into a slice of my story and the transformative power of self love, a lesson I’ve experienced firsthand along my path. It’s a thrilling prospect, knowing that through my words, I can touch the lives of others, offering guidance, actionable steps, tools, and inspiration to those along their own journeys.
I’m filled with anticipation for the road ahead. Each step forward is a testament to the courage it takes to chase my dreams, and I’m eager to see where this journey leads me next.
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?
Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful aspects of my journey have been self love, resilience, and consistency. Self love acts as the umbrella, encompassing qualities like self belief and worthiness to name a couple. I’d say, even if it doesn’t start off crystal clear as complete self love, it’s what fuels belief in oneself – you can only believe in what you feel deserving of. Self love becomes your partner through highs and lows, giving you the strength to persevere. Resilience is a natural result of self love. It’s what helps you bounce back from setbacks and roadblocks that are inevitable in any journey. When you believe in your worthiness, you’re better equipped to tackle challenges with grace and determination.
Consistency is a result of that determination. With self love as your guide and resilience as your armor, consistency becomes the engine driving you forward. It’s the repeated actions, taken day in and day out, that propel will you toward your goals.
For those at the beginning of their journey, I’d advise them to believe in themselves fiercely, knowing that they deserve to chase their dreams. And to consider strengthening their self love relentlessly. Start by acknowledging their worthiness and embracing their inherent value and committing to small, steady steps toward your goals every day. And don’t forget to be patient with yourself when and if you fall short of your goals.
My ebook on self love delves into these very principles, offering guidance and inspiration to those who have decided to embark on their own journeys. It’s a self awareness roadmap for anyone seeking to unlock their full potential.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
I appreciated, “Awaken The Giant Within,” by Tony Robbins. It was one of the first books I listened to when I made the decision to “change my life.” In this book he loosened my lid, allowing me to, in time, start to unleash the giant already lying within me. It helped me to understand some basic human behavior…like why we do the things we do and why we don’t do the things we know how to do that would actually benefit us and move our lives forward. I learned to take notice of and closely look at my limiting beliefs and interrupt those repetitive patterns and associate them with negative consequences…and consciously redirecting my limiting beliefs as they arise. I continue to go back to this book and some of his more recent works for reminders because life gets busy and I start to forget and have to remind myself.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mclynn_banks/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbiwyigBPb5hzOagz4z9ycA
- Other: eBook: https://payhip.com/b/Aqtfw
Image Credits
Images 1 and 2: The Klark Images 3 and 4: Hakim Wilson
