Meet Carlton Lee Jr.

We were lucky to catch up with Carlton Lee Jr. recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Carlton , we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

Confidence. I think that is something that will be forever evolving for me. I can definitely say confidence and I have not been friends for very long. Growing up, I lacked both confidence and self-esteem. From early on I knew I was different than most kids. I was black in a predominantly white space, I was gay, I was a creative, & I was not great at sports! I never felt like I truly “fit in” in any space I was in. Even in the circles I found, I internally didn’t feel like I belonged. Because of this, I went on a long journey to find out who I was and where I belonged. I tried soccer, the marching band, karate, the theatre department, and even western equestrian. I even frolicked through the field of music, listening to country, hip-hop, alternative, heavy metal, pop, jazz, and even showtunes. I was all over the place. It was in this non-stop searching that I never felt like I had a “home” which ultimately lead to a low self-esteem. Although, there was one thing that brought me constant joy and that was my art. I loved to draw, paint, sculpt, graphic design you name it! When I finally realized that was my true passion, I pressed forward and never looked back. I was always enrolled in art classes, Mastered in Architecture, and went on to become a Set Designer & Art Director in television/film. I worked very hard for 8 years trying to become a better designer and learn as much as I could along the way. I even started a business called Carlton Lee Studios that specializes in event design and fabrication. It was in this business creation that I started to realize I had to carry a certain level of confidence in order to succeed. I had to believe not only in myself , but the work I was creating. My clients had to gain my trust if they wanted to hire me. How did I do this you ask? I faked it until I made it! I forced myself into believing that I was capable. Capable of designing amazing things, capable of running a business, capable of being able to handle set backs and failures. I even got noticed by HGTV to compete in a table scape competition featuring Martha Stuart. You want to talk about a fish out of water?! I was not a TV personality, just a creative from a small town, but I forced myself into believing that I could. While I did make it to the finale of the show, I did not when, but the level of confidence and self esteem that I gained in that month and a half of shooting made it all worth it. I proved to myself that with determination and bravery I am capable of anything I put my mind to. Now, being a full time entrepreneur, I carry that confidence with me at all times. I am no longer that boy constantly searching for a place to fit in. I finally realized that one thing does not define me and that I can embody all elements. I can be the band geek, I can be artist, I can be the soccer player. They are all me and as long as I love me, nothing can come against that.

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?

Hi there!
Well my name is Carlton and I am originally from Youngstown, Ohio. Growing up as mostly an only child ( I had step and half siblings outside of home) in a small town, you could imagine the many ways I had try and keep myself entertained. In my adolescent days, one could call me a little bit of a trouble maker, but I think that can be traced back to boredom. My family finally found the secret to keeping me entertained. They realized that anything that challenged my mind & creative abilities seemed keep my attention. I was obsessed with drawing, building those giant K’nex roller-coasters, & those elaborate marble run sets! I think this where my creative talent was birthed. I also had a knack for entertaining…a passion passed down from my great grandmother. I remember hosting family dance shows in the living room where I pulled out all the stops! I had assigned seating, ushers (me), and even strung stage curtains (or sheets in this case) in which I emerged to put on the grand performance. I truly just loved creating a space where my family could have a good time.

Now to fast forward, I attended Hampton University where I Mastered in Architecture. Here, I continued to develop my creativity muscles within different mediums. This is also where I became fascinated with the concept of human interaction within an intentionally designed interior space. I was intrigued with how a space alone could alter the mood and feelings of a person. Upon graduating, I decided not to pursue Architecture, but found myself within the film industry as Set Designer & Art Director. Here, I was able to help shape worlds through the art of story telling. This facet of spatial art was a direct emotional connection to the audience in which I was proud to be apart of, but there was this internal void I felt. I wanted to somehow take things further. While I enjoyed designing these fantastical spaces, I realized I was missing witnessing the interaction of people within them. We were really only designing for the actors and the crew. The audience never truly get to feel the impact of being immersed in the space itself. So how did I figure out how to fill this void? I am glad you asked! I started an event design company called Carlton Lee Studios, which specializes in designing and fabricating experiential design installations. Here is where I began to truly flex my creative abilities while combining reality with fantasy. We became masters in developing spaces that transports everyday people to places that allows them to forget about the outside world and encourages them to be their most authentic self…we call this joy. This what drives me and the business. There is nothing better than seeing guests step in a space you have created and see them beam with excitement.

CLS combines art and hospitality, the true product of my upbringing, Now, 6 years of being in the business we have been able to gain some major traction. We have designed for brands such as Sprite, Coca Cola, Live Nation, Febreze, and P&G to name a few, We are truly excited about the direction in which we are going and look forward to continuing bringing a little bit of joy to the world.

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?

I would say the 3 most impactful qualities that hit home for me are determination, purpose, and love. All three of these have helped get to where I am and I hope they continue to do so along my journey. Determination is the engine, purpose is the steering wheel, and love is the driver. All 3 work harmoniously to get you to where you need to be. My biggest advice I can give someone who is just starting out is patience. While you may possess some of the tools for your journey, it will not be a direct flight! You will have many wrong turns, missed landings, and delays, but do not give up. Keep going!

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was to love and support me. This goes for all of my family really. No matter what I chose to do in life, they always supported me 100%. While they have questioned a decision or two or three, they still were behind me and offered the best advice they could. When there were bad days, I could rely on them to help me through it or just be a listening ear. Without them I wouldn’t be halfway to where I am now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carltonleestudios.com
• Instagram: @carltonleestudios
• Linkedin: Carlton Lee Studios