Ayana Love of Detroit, Michigan on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Ayana Love and have shared our conversation below.

Ayana, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
This is a great icebreaker! As stoic as I tend to be for such a lovey dovey type of person, I believe a general struggle that others deal with but never say anything about is love. Whether it’s lack of finding genuineness in another individual or maybe actually finding and connecting in love, sometimes our environments, people we call friends or family, or the social space doesn’t offer safe energy to encourage opening up about it even if one feels safe within their relationship or one’s own skin. I believe this concept applies to both platonic and intimate relationships. I feel I’ve been overwhelming blessed with love in my life in many forms but at times maybe I fall short of a genuine friend or social circle, that’s life. I can understand how yearning for these types of connections and maybe not receiving real reciprocation can affect how others perceive themselves, how it can change someone over the long term and simply solidify a narrative within the collective hive mind that love doesn’t exist. Real love is universal, it is loyalty, it is patient, it is kind, and it is clay to be whatever one intends for it out of pure intentions. A lot of people don’t know at first but my real given surname is love and historically throughout time a family’s surname is the profession or work that they deal in or have great expertise for. For me, living in the modern world where love, kindness and respect isn’t always at the forefront anymore it can be difficult because its who I am at core but I’ve come to understand like many the modern environment calls for discernment of when it is safe to talk about love or even apply love to solve problems, or naturally navigate our world space. It’s complex for sure.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ayana Love. I am a multimedia artist via music and visual arts. I also am the founder, developer of L.A. ENT. ManagedByUs (MBU). It is a full service consulting firm with in-house production. MBU has been an organization since 2017 but as of 2023 I officially registered it as a business. As an artist I tend to focus on music and those interested can find my catalog listed on all streaming platforms or can explore more of the artistic brand via Google by searching ‘Ayana Love’. All quick links and more article reads can be found there. I also paint and from time to time will paint on commission but painting is mostly a creative exercise I reserve just for me. This time, my interaction with readers I’d like to focus in more towards my start-up company MBU. I believe we are all tuned to the newest growing industry of consulting and know at least a little bit about consulting services. However with MBU my team and I are approaching same industry challenges with different perspectives. The perspective of having 10 – 15 years minimum of what’s it’s like building something like this from ground level. Embodying a real perspective of what it’s like to search for production gigs and no one will hire you, or beginning a new business and just having no idea where to start when it comes to business development. The list goes on but I say this to say that the world will always be made of real people and real people desire real support, real access and something that they can trust in as they grow. Otherwise, it’s just more services offered that result in confusion, unnecessary competition and another thing the public is being told they aren’t good enough for or can’t afford. MBU services are available to both B2B and B2C type clients and offers hybrid access to those services nationally and internationally. Currently my team and I have been seed fund raising and have garnered early support from the community as well as our network throughout the years of building. I am very appreciative of investments received so far. Recently, MBU received the opportunity to do collaborative seed fundraising with Kiva organization and it has been amazing to see the nationwide support of my story as the founder of MBU but also the vote of confidence that we are offering the market something that will be of great assistance to public independents and business owners as well as stimulate ecosystems globally. To learn more about MBU and offered services, I encourage readers to visit the new landing site on www.managedby-us.com or on social media via Instagram and Twitter (X). Just look for the eye.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
This is a great question. I believe the moment that really shaped my view on the world was stepping foot in Japan for the first time in 2016. Growing up and traveling within my adolescence I’ve seen many places and experienced many cultures, ways of life, and types of people at a very early age. My studies in my academia career were in sciences and STEM, later shifting towards communications and Japanese history, culture and language. It’s a trifecta of knowledge that supports my current work, art and lifestyle that I have invested over a decade of time into each. In 2016, I completed my university credits in Japan and now also have a home in Japan. I’ve begun jump starting conversations for partnered business in Japan and also just enjoy my own sense of peace as I feel it’s the place I can be my full self. For me it was Japan that opened my eyes to how big the world is but simultaneously so small in the ways we have chosen to close ourselves off to the differences of one another within our global community. I’ve learned that no matter the location or culture, it is the mindset and integrity of the people that matters most. You can be in Europe, America, Asia, Africa, or space and it’s just about mindset, the heart, and the inner character that one chooses to live by. For example, those of us who have attended university know that if you’ve gone to one party, you’ve pretty much been to them all. This can be sometimes similar to travelling to a new place. There of course are different ways of doing things, different cultures, different languages but at core the basis of it all is humans. Humans who feel, humans who work, humans who love art and music, humans who love and even humans who hate. As I finally circled back to completing some milestones for myself recently I had the time to reflect on these things and it has really helped me to embody more understanding and acceptance of people, different mindsets and practices and when to also choose to simply be kind.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If there’s one thing that I’d tell to my younger self, it’d be “yes, without a doubt”. A lot of the time as a teenager, I believe second guessing things and situations that I already knew the truth of was my biggest weakness. Although you can’t control every aspect of life’s journey, you can decide to stick to the things that serve you for the better because it’s like sticking to and being there for yourself–now and future. Once I learned to trust myself, it didn’t really matter about what anyone else does or the curveballs that life may throw at me. Once I grew into the confidence of my own strengths and gifts, I felt no fear, and I utilized perceived negatives to my advantage. So, I definitely would tell my teenage self just starting our journey that “yes” you can start and succeed with the business, “yes” you can open yourself to this love, “yes” you can live where ever you like and speak its languages and “yes” you deserve everything you will have because you’ve truly earned it.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
A belief or project I am committed to no matter the challenges are sort of one in the same. “Follow through” would be the best words to describe it. I believe the work I am doing with the start-up business ManagedByUs (MBU) is a manifestation of those words. From the beginning as a freelancer to now taking things to the next level, I wouldn’t ever see the fruits of labor had I not decided to be secure and follow through on ideas and projects. Even as I am met with difficulties or challenges at times, these are the times where it matters most to stand on business and follow through. Following through consistently is what builds trust for clients, partners, and also what lasts in the legacy of the business and for how long. If something or someone consistently shows up with flaky energy or no reliability regardless of what it make take to do so, the overall energy has been decided for that entity/brand or person on its own because it’s what has been manifested due to the input for lack of follow through. Not only do I apply this to my business efforts but also to life’s many aspects. I believe follow through can be a game changer as well as the lack thereof. Which is why I will always be committed to following through on the belief to do so while it is healthy and for completing the project that has manifested from doing so, my consulting business MBU.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
Something I deeply understand is doing things based majority upon my own merit. I wouldn’t necessarily say that others don’t understand merit but I do know that the majority tends to be more comfortable with doing whatever one else is doing, even if it’s destructive. In a now modern world of uber type careers and get-rich-quick schemes I believe the point is being missed in most industries. Having been blessed with so many unique connections, opportunities and having access to some of my industries’ best, I was also taught the value of creating and having my own as well. For example, I believe where most merit based industries used to stand on talent, work ethic and time invested its shifted towards a more barnicle type work culture and is clout driven. Individuals seem to be validated by constant name dropping or riding on another’s work history with no intent to build foundation of their own. I’ve observed this type of energy contribute to a scarcity driven work community where healthy competition becomes toxic and you’ll find yourself defending your work, credibility or businesses more rather than just simply focusing on what’s important and for me that’s building. Doing things on your own merit doesn’t always have to mean you don’t have support or you won’t gain a fast pass here or there but it’s mostly about having the foundation to stand on your own completed work and genuinely appreciating every opportunity when they are received. Doing things on my own merit has really shown me the importance of truly owning your money and owning your brand. Doing things on your own merit gifts you the power that no one can take from you because the foundation you stand on is sourced directly from you.

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