Meet Isiah Barnes

We were lucky to catch up with Isiah Barnes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Isiah , 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?

That’s actually a wonderful question for a couple different reasons. I think self esteem/self confidence is a key piece to success or excellence in any field you’re in. Most people have belief in themselves, and if we can work on us, anything is possible. Firstly just to answer the question…Long and short answer would be my mother. My mom always insisted I could do anything! It sounds cliche and silly but she actually made me believe if I wanted to be president one day I could be. So it all started with consistently speaking positive and encouragement from my mom.

Secondly; I would say when I started doing theater. When I found something I truly loved and was pretty good at, I just gravitated towards acting. And with acting, quickly you will be exposed for a lack of confidence, so from the audition to acting alongside way more talented people than I was, I started to realize I wasnt bad at this. Then my mother who literally never missed a show in 40 plus shows, and most she saw multiple times. She would come acting as first a supporter than the critic, so she would let me know what she saw as an audience member and help me improve my performance. So having someone who can give you the helpful criticism is a game changer. But after so many years of acting, auditioning, I started gaining my own understanding of where I was talent wise and I started to believe in myself on stage and the funny thing is when you believe in yourself in your field, it tends to translate to your personal life aswell. I started asking myself what else is possible if I can do these things and all doors can open for you.

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?

Well I love the question, hmm a little about me and my story…first and foremost I’m a family man not only a filmmaker. Having a 1.5 old toddler, my daughter keeps busy, from her nap time, Ms. Rachel or baby shark, so she keeps me on my toes lol And her two older brothers; Mr. Athlete Jayden 9 and “I’m too cool for you” teen Jackson 13 lol But how I handle film and family is because I have a wonderful support system in my better half Samantha. Without her none of my career would be possible, she’s the best support and after a decade we get married next year.

But that’s my home life like most everybody else. but I can say I do have a very fun and exciting career on the other side. I’m proud to say I’m a professional filmmaker. I’ve been acting since age 7 and just that crazy kid who never gave up on my dream. Now I sit with over a decade of experience on sets, writing scripts and Producing films. But I started with my first feature “That wasn’t supposed to happen” on a penny budget lol that got completed after failing 3 times and taking 7 years to make. All the obstacles, I didn’t give up and it ended up in 6 international film festivals. That opened many doors to the industry for me, and fast forward to today; proudly just recently won my 2nd Telly award for another movie I produced at the 46th Telly awards in New York. Currently about to wrap production on my 2nd script “One Reckless Weekend” with Omar Gooding and Richard Pryor Jr. So that’s been such a fun exciting comedy and we are having a blast making it. So that’s been keeping me busy but my goal in the next 5-7 years I want to be at the helm of one of the largest film, media and entertainment companies in the Midwest. To show the underdogs and other small town kids it’s okay to dream big, and everything is possible.

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?

Self beliefs/confidence: The belief in yourself and your vision. Against all doubters and there will be plenty! You have to believe in you and “why not you”, to stay optimistic about your goal even when there’s no reason to.

Discipline: The art of doing something you hate everyday to get even one step closer to the goal. If it’s working out, studying, rehearsing, practicing to sharpen your craft. When the joy is gone and you would rather pull your hair out then work on bettering your skill, you have to still practice.

Faith: The MOST important of them all. Is when all fails, goes wrong, people screw you over, friends stab your back and everything looks like your going to fail…You have to have faith and put God first. I’m sorry to the non believers, but God has been the most essential part for me, from prayers to people I didn’t know pop in my journey ready to help me or unexplainable things occur in your favor. God is so slept on and I’ll be the first one to say he’s been the some reason I’ve had any level of success.

Bonus skill; Resourcefulness: The ability to take the small to very little that you have and make it work. Being creative, if you don’t have the funds or people, just finding ways to make it happen no matter what. These tend to come from very not traditional sources or paths to success but your ability to do the best you have, with what you have and not limiting yourself on what you don’t, is essential piece to the journey.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

Absolutely love this question! And the simple answer is absolutely yes!! I completely believe that going all in on your strengths is the absolute BEST way to succeed in any field. You have to have a singular vision and staying a thousand percent focused on that. It’s hard to chase 2 rabbits at the same time, so you target one and go after it.

Now contrary to popular belief and I think this is a MAJOR societal problem not just a person or two. Most of my friends and people I actually know were told some version of; “play it safe”, “have a plan b” or “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” mentality and I think that’s one of the major reason MOST people never achieve financial success. With every millionaire I personally know and successful person I study from and watch, their message is ALWAYS to go all in on your one dream. The more energy you put into plan B is all the energy you’re taking away from plan A. And it always comes down to a lack of belief. And we are usually told this by parents or relatives trying to protect us, but it’s honestly the worst advice for anyone ambitious trying to achieve more than average middle class living. Your goal should always be to be the absolute BEST at one thing and be known for that, whether you draw, cook insanely good, tattoo, business, art, whatever your field. That takes years/decades to acquire the skills and experience to be that talented at that skill and if you know that’s what your wonderful at, take the risk. Most people are good a few things but not great at anything and that mentality is a big reason why. The people who achieve spent years and years becoming exceptional not because they’re special, no they just utilize their time much better. Instead of going to the bar, they’re staying up late drawing or coding or rehearsing a song, and when your identity becomes one with what you want to do. It alters where you go, who you hang with, how late your out, it changes you for the better to get you more aligned with your dream. We only live once and my advice to anyone reading would to jump towards your dreams. In spite of fear, rejection, not having enough money or whatever holds you back, and commit. Fully commit to being that person you tell yourself would be amazing to be one day, be that person today. Start with one step.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: Isiah Barnes

Image Credits

Driftlight photography LLC by Emily Burkinshaw