Meet Andrew Snorton

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Andrew Snorton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Andrew, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
How does anyone handle being the only one in the room who looks like me?

I remind myself of who I am and whose I am. I recall the fact there are people whose names I may not ever know who advocated for the opportunity for me to be where I am, even though they realized they may not ever see it come to fruition.

I’m reminded of countless examples such as (but not limited to) my parents, relatives, friends, and associates who may have or may be the only one in the room who looks like they do. Even with pushback I’ve received from people and places (anticipated or not), it’s a reminder I have the acumen and overall ability to be there.

Be it in the classroom, lecture hall, television studio, venue/hall, the field of play, and the press box, I do what I can to press forward, and continue to get better so not only may I do better, but the people I’m fortunate to work with can also do better, including those who are younger/the next generation who need to see that it CAN be done and THEY can continue to raise the bar..

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My story is pretty straightforward, and it is to do the best I can with what I have, continue to add to my skill sets, and leave the biggest positive footprint possible across the professional and community landscape. Through my endeavors as a published author, press/media personnel, and education-based services, I’m positioning myself professionally, community-wise, and otherwise the opportunity to do so and more.

Through my books, ranging from journaling/creative thinking and engagement (quotes and notes: something’s on the horizon), taking an intimate and accessible look at the game of baseball (nothing Minor), stories of motivation/encouragement/empowerment (9 stories of faith: volume 1), to a poetic retelling of a conversation on the action/energy/manifestations of love (Deeper than your deepest sleep: thoughts on love with Joseph Snorton), it allows for some truly amazing ways to engage and connect with readers and more in efforts to speak to key topics and help them find their voice. The current 5-volume audiobook series (The Authors’ Mixtape) is another way to draw connections via the creativity of freestyle music and spoken word; all of the work is done in studio and essentially recorded in one take. Be it the first 3 (solo artist) or the last 2 (co-authored with Kris Kinder), this creative, innovative, and enriching experience (in tandem with 3rd Level EMG and Canis Major Digital) is even more accessible (as it’s on 300 streaming platforms, including Tidal, Spotify, SoundCloud, Pandora, Amazon, iTunes, Apple Music, Google Play, and others)..

The collaborative project with Fante’s Coffee is more than just providing a cup and bag of “really good coffee” via the Author Andrew Snorton Blend (we currently have a light and medium roast, and we’ll release a decaf and dark roast in the coming weeks). With any online order, patrons (at checkout) can earmark a percentage of their purchase to a nonprofit; currently, it’s setup for a Metro-Atlanta, Metro-Louisville, and nationally recognized nonprofit, but our hope is to expand the ways we can support the communities where we live, work, and play. Doing so allows us to use our platforms with an even greater sense of purpose (and hopefully encourage others to do the same).

Additional collaborative efforts with I Am Rooted and The Gumbo Show through the quarterly series “Sip and Flow” is more than your essential “social painting” series. It’s truly a way to decompress via the creative and allow people to really reconnect with their creative selves. Combined with the amazing networking and energy of the collaborative team and the venue, Paint/Sip/Socialize, we can help give people the positive “nudge” they need to just realize what is truly inside of them; we’ll add service components so we can have fun AND give back to our community.

And of course, ranging from individual tutoring and coaching to standardized test prep, working with our young people is more than just business. It’s about empowering them and regardless if they select a 4-year, 2-year, trade/tech school, or certification once they graduate high school, it’s about positioning them to be on track to pursue their professional and community aspirations so they can do the same for others and keep the cycle going..

And even with these moving parts, who knows what’s in store and on the horizon?

And that’s what keeps me excited and going forward with these and related services provided.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three qualities that come to mind which are having a major impact on my journey are as follows:

1. Be willing to learn.
2. Communication is a 2-way street.
3. Keep the faith.

Many have heard the term of being a “life long learner”. This is definitely true. There’s always something new you can learn in any setting. There’s new formats and ways of doing things, new technology or equipment to use (this is a hint to myself, LOL), but they key is to add to your “toolbox” and ways you can get things done effectively.

When it comes to communication, one of the best pieces of insight I’ve received and focus on applying (and improving) is the mantra, “When I talk, you listen, and when you talk, I listen”.

The goal is to listen for UNDERSTANDING. When we can engage respectfully and with the mindset of understanding what you do or think and why you do what you do (and vice-versa), you put yourself in a better position to get things done. When we do this, we can come up with truly game-changing collaborations to seeing that perhaps now is not the time (for a certain project), but it could be down the road.

And you have to keep the faith.

To some, it may not be a skill set per se, but you have to have faith in a higher authority and in yourself. When you lack that, you miss out on so many things and may not have the potential positive and life-changing impact you can make. Faith allows you keep perspective on your successes and delays to success; it allows you to pause and then proceed (once you have “rebooted”, taken a break, or gone back to the drawing board), let alone know the potential for better on the horizon is there; you just have to put one foot in front of the other.

Be it early or advanced in your career, when it comes to additional learning, look at it through the lens of “iron sharpens iron”. That class, workshop, or learning/growth opportunity is just that, so take what you can and apply it to your field/profession as fully as possible, and take the best of what you have learned/applied to the next place you end up going.

Keep communicating “flowing”. How are you going to help someone if you don’t listen to what they have to say?

How are others going to consider you for a job/project if you don’t take time to share enough of what you know and have done to how it is transferable and applicable to said setting?

And how can you NOT have confidence in yourself when you consider what you have worked through to get to where you are and are still focused on going? Consider those who are advocating for you; they have some belief in you, so how can you not have belief in yourself, especially when you are putting in the time, energy, and effort?

Exactly.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
All of us are going to have moments where we are overloaded, overwhelmed, or simply stressed. It sometimes happens.

One thing I do on a regular basis is go for a walk in the park. I try to do at least 3 miles and I’ll use this time to cut myself off from things and enjoy some moments of solitude. While walking, I may get some reading and praying in, let alone look at my calendar and see what I can do to fine-tune things, or just be a big kid and take photos of the birds and squirrels running around. Even better is seeing the youthful energy of little kids running around (but hopefully not into me while I’m on my walk, LOL) and simply BREATHE.

At times, you do have to leave things alone to clear your head. Be it moments of solitude, prayer, mediation, fitness, cooking (I can do a few things in the kitchen other than fixing a plate, LOL), listening to music, or decompressing with trusted family, friends, and loved ones, you have to fine constructive moments to just reboot. Yes, there are times we fall short, but get yourself together informally or professionally if need be.

And do not feel that you are alone or something is wrong with you! It’s no sign of weakness to get the help you need or change the way you do things to protect your peace. As long as you are not doing anything detrimental to your health and well being (along with that of others), we all need to simply be still sometimes.

It’s ok to take a breather or break!

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Kris10 Media (profile photo) EmoryRose Photography (photo of me throwing the first pitch)

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