We recently connected with Casey Nwachukwu and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Casey, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
– When it comes to having solid work ethic, I got this trait from my dad. – My dad was born and raised in Nigeria, where his childhood was not an easy journey. From not having consistent electricity to walking several miles to get to a destination, he never gave up. This mindset translated to his education, where he eventually got his Masters degree in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin.
– Growing up, my dad would remind my three younger brothers and I about the importance of working hard. It got to a point where if we got a B in a class or a test, he would question us about why did we not get an A. This viewpoint has subconsciously motivated me to not settle for anything less than what is meant for me.
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?
– My name is Casey Nwachukwu, and I am a proud Houstonian. Out of four boys in a Nigerian household, I am the oldest. The reason I am being interviewed for this series is because I am the founder of #CaseysMotivationMondays, a motivational platform. – This motivational journey started back in high school. Whenever someone either needed advice, a smile, or a spark of confidence, I was the person to go to. There was a specific moment my junior year that really sparked interest in motivating others. During English 3 class, there was a project that included creating a unique quote. After presenting this quote to the class, several classmates surprisingly gave me a round of applause. This reaction ultimately inspired me to brainstorm many motivational quotes.
– Three years later, this growing confidence led to frequently posting inspirational sayings on Snapchat. As someone who loved being in front of a camera as well as having friends/loved ones telling me to start a channel, quotes slowly transitioned into videos. In March 2018, the #CaseysMotivationMondays platform was established.
– What I want both current and potential viewers to know about me is that I talk about several topics on #CaseysMotivationMondays. Topics such as unlocking gifts within yourself, not comparing yourself to others, disabilities, and self-confidence have been discussed on this platform.
– Something that I am most proud of and excited about this journey has been the impact that the #CaseysMotivationMonday platform has had on people. This platform is not for me; it is for others. Going back to my time at the University of Houston, there have been people that have told me how much the content gives them a boost of energy and inspiration. Having people tell you that is a blessing; it means you are living within your purpose.
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 three skills and qualities that helped the most on this journey has been perseverance, being open-minded and confidence. – My definition of perseverance is “viewing every situation with joy”. There would be days in which I would not feel like putting in the work or that the content may not be relatable to others. Through it all, I had to remind myself to keep my eyes on the grand prize; the ultimate goal for this platform is to “impact at least one person”.
– Being open-minded has been a tremendous blessing. This platform would not be where it is at currently if it was not for the advice from friends and family. Their input on content has allowed me to see things from a different viewpoint, which has helped to not be stagnant. One can not grow without getting advice from other people; it takes a village to be victorious.
– This journey has not only left its imprints on the lives of others, but myself included, particularly when it comes to confidence. When this platform took off in March 2018, I was not totally confident in my abilities. Creating content every week has increased the belief within myself on a week-by-week basis.
– One piece of advice that can be beneficial to anyone starting a hobby is to see the good in every situation. Having this mindset can allow you to be hungry and go after what is truly meant for you. Inspiring others since high school all started with having a smile on my face consistently. A saying, that was self-created, that floats in my mind from time to time is “if you think negatively, you give yourself no chance; if you think positively, you give yourself A chance.” Remaining positive has allowed me to push past being stagnant (perseverance), seeing the good from other people’s viewpoint (being open-minded), and believing in my own capabilities (confidence).
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
– Slowing down time helps out a lot anytime there is a lot going on in my head. Whenever the mind gets overwhelmed, it feels as if time is moving too fast. Something that I remind myself is that to solve an issue or circumstance, I have to do the opposite–in this case, it is slowing down time. This method allows myself to truly process the current situation. – Another thing that I do whenever I get overwhelmed is to rely on my favorite Bible verse, James 1 :2-4. This verse basically states to view every trial with joy. Anytime this saying is repeated in my mind, I feel calm and rejoiceful, knowing that I will get what is meant for me in no time!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/casey_nwa411
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseynwachukwu411/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/casey_nwa411
Image Credits
-Ryne Williams (Styles of Houston) -Eniola (Ajax Productions and Media) -Mo Media
