Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jalen Divad. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jalen, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Everything is an inspiration to me. When I hear something that I like or see a painting that has just the perfect set of colors, or perfect detailing, or anything, I try my absolute hardest to create and get to something as stimulating as that. There’s a feeling of satisfaction that you get when you know you genuinely created something that you have pride in. I search for and am motivated by that feeling. I eventually want to have something I can call my personal Mona Lisa. Something truly groundbreaking for myself, and something that I know I can’t do again in this lifespan. There’s a particular way that you can view things that you love and they give you a genuine feeling of awe and appreciation to what helped develop it. My creativity comes from me feeling there is nothing in this world that has already been done that I can’t do, or learn, and tailoring it to my personal life and place in time. I create from my emotions, and what gives me that drive and inspiration to want to improve myself, whether that’s as a creative or as a person.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am Jalen Divad, and I am an artist and creative that uses various mediums as a form of expressing my feelings and thoughts. I enjoy doing lots of different things, and I use those things to get the thoughts in my head and the emotions that I feel and put them into the world. I don’t like to put myself into a particular box, or niche. I do a lot of art and make music currently, but I genuinely don’t believe there is something I haven’t tried, or won’t try in the future. I love to create and make a world that fits my vision. I have a music project that I’m currently working on and have many different concepts and ideas I want to dive more into as I progress and continue my journey as an overall creative. I work with fashion, I work with film and video, graphics, and I also do branding and marketing for a nonprofit organization. I overall just create and build as I go through this journey of life. Leaving no stone unturned as an artist.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Persistence, admiration, and a confidence that borders on the line of delusion. When there’s something you have passion for, you have to let it consume and be a part of your life and identity. You have to believe that you are exactly who you think you are and are going to do what you think you’re going to do as if you could already see into the future. You have to fill yourself with the idea that everything will work out even when you feel it isn’t going anywhere or nobody is watching. You have to see fulfillment not from others’ praise and gratification, but from the intrinsic motivation you have toward accomplishing a goal. Understand that the only person in the world that can truly see your vision and potential is yourself and the only way you can fail is if you stop seeing that. You have to have interest and appreciation for what you’re doing and know that the only way it could be done better is if you try again and again until you felt satisfied with what you have accomplished. The hardest part is building your mindset in places that can overcome obstacles and fear. Once you finally do, the rest falls into place.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
Personally, I think it’s a little bit of both. You should always strive to be better and strengthen your skill in your craft, but sometimes being more well-rounded and improving your weaknesses is the best way to aid and fuel that. People get caught up in the idea that whatever they do or whatever formula works for them at the time they have to stick to that blueprint. When you do that you limit yourself, and place yourself in a box, and over time that strength becomes the only thing you genuinely have skill in. I feel if you’re passionate about anything, and it’s a part of your identity, you will always recognize what elements of the craft can improve on and seek to improve it. There is always a way to connect the dots, and sometimes it takes a little bit of outsourcing, or learning something around what you’re already strong in to connect them. You wouldn’t be the best basketball player if all you knew was dribbling, just like you wouldn’t be the best artist or a person of your niche if you only played to one element of the overall scheme. You need to be balanced, but you need a starting and elevated point of focus.
Contact Info:
- Website: jaydivad.com
- Instagram: hellodual
