We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Darnell Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Darnell below.
Darnell, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
I use my status as an anomaly or outsider to my advantage, disarming others in the room by being energetically different. I don’t feel shame or guilt about who I am; I exude a quiet confidence in my own skin, which is palpable in how I dress (usually in athleisure clothing) and how I carry myself.
In other words, being “different” in a room full of people who don’t look like me is a feature and not a bug. One of the worst things I can be is seen as “normal” or “average.” I prefer standing out and disrupting the status quo rather than bending the knee to what’s the norm.
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?
I’m a seasoned multidisciplinary creative + community builder with deep experience and proficiency in digital branding, marketing, and storytelling.
I most recently founded Forge, a distraction-free growth lab that enables creative entrepreneurs to connect and cross-pollinate as coequal experts. This allows them to grow their ingenuity, impact, and income without sacrificing their wellness or worth.
Love connecting with aspiring-to-seasoned heart-led creative business owners who are in meaningful transitions; some may identify as neurospicy/neurodivergent.
Some of my past clients include BAND-AID, Passport Parking, and /dev/color.
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?
Three qualities I possess that have impacted my journey the most are discipline, resourcefulness, and professionalism.
Discipline is about consistent follow-through and integrity, where you hold yourself to a higher standard than most and claim a strong degree of accountability for your successes and failures. This keeps you from blaming others when things don’t work out and from constantly seeking external validation to boost your opinion about yourself and your worth.
Resourcefulness is a stand-in for creativity; an ability to work yourself out of any unwanted circumstance regardless of your odds. It also means that even with a lack of money and connections, you can still surprise people and do great things.
Professionalism helps you stand out and in a sea of people who are anything but. It’s pride and ownership of your work. It’s being more responsive and punctual than the next person. It’s respecting your time as well as the time of everyone else you interact with.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I’m looking to partner or collaborate with ethical, heart-led creative business owners–whether they’re aspiring or seasoned–who care about experiencing joy and leaving an impact. These are people who question things; deep thinkers who challenge the status quo.
They can connect with me through email, LinkedIn, and/or through our community called Forge.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://darnellbrown.com/forge
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bulletproofhustle
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darnellbrown/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
