We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amber Dorsey. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amber below.
Amber, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
Whether it’s being the only woman or the only Black person in a space, one thing I have learned is to show up as your true self and never shy away from speaking up. You would be surprised how far that gets you while also it’s necessary to establish yourself in certain situations so you aren’t overlooked or taken advantage of. I have had plenty of instances in life where I was the ONLY (woman / Black person) and it was oftentimes intimidating and challenging in my younger years. I wasn’t as confident in myself and abilities and certainty that I was welcomed or supposed to be there and that I would be respected in that space. In short, I let the aspect of being othered intimidated me. As the only Black person, let alone woman, you find that you get stereotyped in a few categories and that colleagues or potential clients only see you one way or as a representative for your entire race or gender.
That was certainly the case before I truly found my purpose and voice as a writer and creative. I would easily shrink myself to be more digestible and to assimilate to my environments but overtime I learned that my ‘otherness’ was actually one of the best things about me and that I truly brought more to the table than had previously imagined.
One of my biggest assets is that I am chatty and knowledgeable about a myriad of subjects making it easy for me to join or lead a conversation in any instance and I have learned to view that aspect of my personality as an asset, as well as my voice ( I can be loud) as a way to establish myself in rooms I haven’t always been welcomed in.
Establishing myself as an authority of subject matter and maintaining my contagious enthusiasm even when I can tell others are not as comfortable with my energy and intelligence is now a marker that I am on the right path as I am no longer intimidated by those who are unable to see me beyond my initial appearance.
As a Black creative that crosses multiple industries I now make it a point to stand out in both style and energy. By making my mark whether it is with my speech, personal style or my work ethic I am going to be remembered!
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a freelance writer, photographer, as well as the Creative Director of Jus’ Peachie retreats – a retreat company serving individuals seeking to expand their horizons and community. Jus’ Peachie Retreats is an intimate event experience company specializing in mindfully-curated experiences and activations. I am a Southern California native and truly embody that West Coast lifestyle and energy. I am also the owner of Elevated FlatLays, a creative photography company that specializes in compelling, unique and captivating high quality brand content within the wellness, lifestyle, and beauty categories for both cannabis and ancillary brands, with over a decade of experience in the world of online influencers, writers and creatives I consider myself a social media magician and the originator of the #flatlayslay . I am also an active champion of the cannabis industry and normalizing its use among women, (mother’s in particular) and letting go of the stigmas that are attached to its usage.
I believe in supporting women owned businesses and loves that all of my business endeavors allow me to help other women to take something off of their plates and focus on what they need to grow within their industry while exercising my creative muscles in a variety of manners from shooting content, writing bio’s, crafting storylines and sharing products with my own online community. When I’m not creating or writing, you can find me tending to my plant babies, hanging with my human babies, scouting sneakers, or indulging in tacos.
In the next few weeks (end of May/ beginning of June) expect to see me on streaming platforms everywhere as I launch my long overdue and much anticipated podcast! A place where you can come for the conversation and cackles but leave with a sense of community and some fun facts for your daily life!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1) Being flexible – knowing how to roll with the punches and personalities while navigating conflicts as they arise is one of my greatest skills alongside my love of language and words. No one project is exactly the same and being able to ebb and flow with ideas and different personalities is an acquired skill. 2) Not taking things personally – I also do not take it personally when the client doesn’t quite see the vision the way you do. Learning that it’s not really ever about ME helped me take a step back and reevaluate what might work better in those scenarios. 3) I also firmly believe in the mantra that you are not for everybody and everybody is not for you and that’s okay. Knowing when to walk away from a project or client is just as important as having a multitude of clients and projects. Because I work in a variety of industries I understand, I may not be the best creative for a particular project and that’s okay- I am happy to bow out and / or pass the baton to someone else who might better fit that clients needs and desires. I make it a priority to ensure my clients vision is executed to the best of my abilities and that all parties involved are happy with the final outcomes and that includes myself.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Whenever I feel overwhelmed I stop what I’m doing and walk away for a bit. I’ve learned that at times I am too deep in the process to see the forest for the trees and that stepping away and changing directions/ shifting my energy is what helps me the most. Sometimes that looks like simply sitting in my backyard without any devices and just enjoying the sounds of my local birds. It also often looks like an impromptu trip to the beach to marvel at the mysteries of the Universe and soak up some sun and just be still. Alternately it can look like taking myself on an artist date for some inspiration (museum, fun shops, or the book store) to get my creative juices back flowing. I spend a LOT of time on the internet, tethered to either my phone or laptop and it can be hard to tear myself away when I have a deadline or am trying to get into a groove, but if I find myself stuck on a project or not feeling motivated or inspired to create I have learned it’s best for my Human Design type to simply switch gears for a bit and focus on something else that somehow ultimately leads to me an even better idea for whatever project I’m working on. It also helps that a lot of my friends are creatives and they are great for bouncing ideas off of and inspiring me to keep going when I want to throw in the towel. I would encourage anyone who feels stuck/ overwhelmed in some way to examine what is making them feel stuck and focus on how they want to feel at the end of the project and to have a support system to help with that overwhelm and to get them back on track.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcarpools2cocktails/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Carpl2Cocktail
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fromcarpools2cocktails
Image Credits
Photo Credits: Amber Dorsey for Elevated Flatlays
