Meet Francis Baker

We were lucky to catch up with Francis Baker recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Francis, 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?
I developed my confidence and self-esteem by putting myself out there to be judged. First, I started by experimenting with my style. Most of the guys around me didn’t care about fashion, meanwhile, I was trying my best to recreate outfits I saw in magazines. It was a little nerve-wracking dressing differently from my peers, but I quickly overcame this fear when people started to compliment my style choices. Next, I started posting my outfits on Instagram. This helped me build a community of positive and supportive people who encouraged me to take risks and continue experimenting with fashion.

One of the most important things is making note of things that spark joy. For example, I try to add pieces to my wardrobe that make me feel good. It instantly boosts my mood whenever I wear them, so I walk into a room feeling myself. Paying attention to what sparks joy has helped me affirm myself and develop a stronger sense of self-esteem.

All of these things combined helped me become a more confident and self-assured person.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m a model and digital content creator. What I love about it is I’m able to create my own opportunities. When I lived in Kentucky, there weren’t many options to pursue a career in fashion. I started blogging as an outlet to express myself and learn more about the industry. Over time, doors started opening. My favorite brands started contacting me about working together. I even had a modeling agency DM to see if I would be interested in signing with them. This year I had a feature in a magazine and landed on a billboard in Times Square. Rather than waiting for my big moment to fall in my lap, I’ve been able to chase after it instead.

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?
Sparking joy, consistency, and confidence have been most impactful in my journey. I create content because it makes me happy. I feel a sense of pride when I bring my visions to life. Don’t get me wrong, I love the money and free products, but when business slows down, joy is what keeps me motivated. Consistency as a content creator is essential. It’s the only way to grow and keep people engaged. Confidence is also essential, I’m constantly putting myself out there for people to judge my appearance. I learned to welcome the negativity. When people take the time to say negative things, I know I’ve done something impactful.

Do the best you can with what you’ve got is the advice I would give to folks who are early in the journey. There will always be challenges but consider overcoming these obstacles as lessons to improve your craft.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
One of the books that has played an important role in my development is “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert. The most valuable nugget of wisdom that I took away from this book is the importance of manifestation and setting your intentions. The book also talks about how we don’t own our ideas and stories and how other people can capitalize on them when we sit on them for too long. Overall, this book has taught me that I have the ability to speak things into existence.

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