We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kevin Farmer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kevin, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Thought I feel as though I have not truly found my entire purpose. Where I am today came from my trials and tribulations, prayer and sacrifice. As a black man, I find that purpose is something that takes time and it does not happen overnight. At times it seems more difficult because of the numerous obstacles that we face as being men and being black but staying consistent and focused helps.
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?
I was born in Glendale California. When I was a toddler, my family moved to Atlanta. Following my parents’ separation, I was sent to live with my father in Cincinnati, Ohio. Fast forward to my adult life, I was emancipated from the foster care system at 18. I completed my GED, teaching myself to read being. Being a product in the system there are many children like me who become lost and are overlooked but I knew my education was vital.
As a teen I had a love for talking and engaging with people. These skills morphed me into the PR/Marketing Guru I am today. Made You Look Promotions was established in 2017 as a direct marketing promotions firm. As a one man show, I distributed fliers at events and conferences. From there, I took those profits to scale my company to provide digital media and later to providing marketing for political candidates.
In 2021, I was referred a non-profit client who was interested in billboards. The client was well-known in Cincinnati for her work with teen parents. She saw potential in me that far outweighed the work that my company was currently doing and I was given an opportunity to promote her capital campaign. That same year the organization partnered with the NFL and my company was there to promote the organization for the My Cause My Cleats campaign. This partnership led to the organization raising millions and national recognition for Made You Look Promotions.
Made You Look Promotions currently provides PR/Marketing for clients setting up media interviews, engagements with the community and attending elite events to connect big business with people with a purpose. We continue to provide digital support for all businesses.
I am most proud that despite difficult circumstance that I have not allowed this to deter me from trusting people. With the support of a few special people mentors, leaders, and friends I have learned to trust the process and people. These acts of kindness are the root of my generosity and philanthropy work today. Yearly, my organization donates service hours to local non-profits and funding to support several causes. In addition, I personally volunteer as a mentor for young men who are products of the system.
My goals in business are to continue to partner with local and national affiliates who need support.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The qualities that are most impactful in business and your personal life are faith, work and resilience. If you are early in your journey the best advice, I can give you is to not quit despite the struggle. Remember to pray and thank the Big Homie daily. Finally, remember “Health is Wealth.” You can have all the skills in the world but if you don’t have a healthy body it affects you mentally, spiritually and emotionally. You will not be able to pursue any purpose if you are not here, so add just as much activity to your life as you do your desk life!
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?
Recently the most interesting book that I have read was that of my clients, The Rose Who Blossomed Through the Concrete Consequence vs Choice by Rosemary D. Oglesby-Henry. From the inspirational book it teaches you to continue to move forward, forgive those who hurt you and forgive yourself, and finally ensure that whatever choice you make be prepared for the consequences.
Many people make choices and decisions not thinking about the outcome, I was one of them. This book teaches you to think of the consequences first, determine your outcome, then make the choice. A great short read!
Contact Info:
- Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/kevthesmokeking
- Other: Phone 513.658.7348
