An Inspired Chat with Byron K Williams of Greater Los Angeles

We recently had the chance to connect with Byron K Williams and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Byron, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think most people are struggling to hold onto their dreams, their sanity, and their excitement. And the world that’s rapidly changing so it can be hard to keep up.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
It’s always fun doing these!

My story started in Cincinnati, Ohio.
I grew up on the Westside, learning that anything I wanted out of life would cost me something, then moved to LA as soon as I could pay the price. I’ve been here since I turned 21. I’m 33 now. I guess you can say things have been working out.

I came out here with TV dreams. I just wanted to be like the people I used to watch. People like Mario Lopez, Nick Cannon, AJ, Free, Terrence, Roxy, Bow Wow from 106 & Park, Big Tigger, that one guy from Man Vs Food. Even Anthony Bourdaine.

What caught my attention was that they were part of Hollywood, but they weren’t acting. From that moment, I know I wanted to do whatever it was that they were doing. And it turns out that they were just being them.

I wanted that. I moved to LA for that. And now it’s 11 years later and I can honestly say I’m doing exactly that. In my own way.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
Getting my hands, dirty and just doing the damn thing! That’s what taught me about work. Not running from the work, but embracing it.

My first job I was a custodian, which is a fancy term for janitor. And I did that at Disney World in 2012. It was an internship called the Disney College Program. I drove 16 hours from Cincinnati to Florida and that’s where I learned the importance of presentation.

Regardless of title, before you could clock in at Disney, you had to complete Disney University which was at an on-site campus and required for all cast members.

When you think about it, Disney is at the pinnacle of entertainment. they’re 1,000% committed to creating the best experiences and that’s essentially the same thing the people I admired on TV were doing.

I got another internship a year later at Fox 19 where I learned how to produce stories for TV. I shadowed and worked with writers, reporters, producers, and camera operators. I think that’s what introduced me to the pace of modern production.

By the end of that internship, I felt like I had a dollar, a dream, and enough experience to take my faith, my car, and my Vine account to LA.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There’s one time that stands out, In 2016, I had been sleeping in my ‘04 C-class Mercedes for a few months, not a dollar to my name.

I had No job after I was just working my dream TV job a year ago. Also, a year ago I had my mom. Not anymore. Then my car got repossessed.

At this point I wanted to be done.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
I would say yes. Although I keep some things to myself too because these streets ain’t safe and everything ain’t for everybody.

But I been doing this online thing for a while. Way before it was cool and way before influencers. I actually feel like I’m more lit in real life. The internet part is just one aspect of it.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I came, did everything I set out to do. That I lived a life worth following, left a blueprint, and that I got a chance to right my wrongs before my last breath.

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