Meet Roderick Jackson

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Roderick Jackson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Roderick below.

Hi Roderick, 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?

My work ethic definitely comes from my parents. From an early age, they instilled hard work, discipline, dedication, and perseverance through their parenting. Everything they taught me, I also saw them live out in their own endeavors. I watched my mom start a business from scratch, and I watched my dad stay with the same company for decades—both powerful examples of persistence. They’ve been the foundation of my work ethic, and I’m grateful for the example they set.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a visual artist and entrepreneur based in Cleveland, and my work spans photography, textile art, and creative studio management. I started my photography journey years ago, evolving from shooting local projects to working with clients across a wide range of industries — real estate, editorial, product, restaurants, events, and more. Today, I operate both independently and through my creative home, Cleveland Sky Studios, where I continue to develop new concepts and collaborate with brands, artists, and businesses looking to elevate their visual presence.

Alongside photography, I also run a rug-making business, Rugs by Rod, where I create custom, hand-tufted pieces that blend graphic design, texture, and storytelling. What excites me most is the ability to turn ideas into something tangible — whether that’s a striking image or a rug that becomes a centerpiece in someone’s home or business.

Across all my work, I’m driven by creativity, quality, and the desire to give people visuals that reflect who they are. I’m grateful to serve a diverse mix of clients and to continuously expand the ways I can bring art into everyday life.

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, the three qualities that have had the biggest impact on my journey are resourcefulness, commitment, and patience.

Resourcefulness has been at the core of everything I’ve done—both in my photography career and my creative projects. Whether I was shooting in less-than-ideal environments, building out Cleveland Sky Studios, or growing my rug-making business, I’ve always used the resources available to me to their fullest extent. I learned early on how to make things work with what I had, and that mindset allowed me to create opportunities instead of waiting for them.

Commitment has carried me through every stage of my growth. From the early years of building my photography portfolio to working with clients across many different industries, I stayed dedicated even when the path wasn’t always clear. The same commitment shows up in my rug-making business—an idea that started small but grew because I stuck with it, refined it, and continued learning.

And finally, patience has been one of the most important skills I’ve developed. Working with a wide variety of clients, navigating different opportunities, and managing evolving creative situations taught me that progress takes time. Patience allowed me to grow, stay calm, and trust the process instead of rushing it. In any creative or entrepreneurial journey, patience isn’t just helpful—it’s necessary.

These three qualities together shaped who I am today and continue to guide how I approach my work and my future.

The one piece of advice I have for individuals just starting this journey is, “it’s not about what you have, it’s about how you use it.”

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

What book has played an important role in your development and what were a few of the most valuable or impactful nuggets of wisdom?

The book that has played an important role in my development would have to be The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. I first read it at a young age, since then I’ve tended to circle back and give it a good read thru. The book taught me to always do my best, not to take things personally, and most important be impeccable with your word.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Shotsbyrod.co
• Instagram: @shotsbyrod @rugsbyrod
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/shotsbyrod

Image Credits

Dave @93rdNative

@ivkyal1