We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jameal Pullins-MDRD. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jameal below.
Jameal, 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 have often found myself being the only person in the room who looks like me. Growing up, this was a common occurrence for me. I always tried to be fair and never let my background define me. I let my skills and abilities speak for themselves and worked hard to improve in areas where I was lacking. I never boasted about my accomplishments. When people ask me about my race, I often think about the complexities of being African American in a society that has its own internal divisions based on skin color. Despite having African American parents, I often felt judged by different groups within the black community. I was raised to judge people based on their character, not their skin color. I had to find creative ways to overcome the challenges that I faced. In my community, I made it clear that I was an equal and stood up for myself. In the wider world, I made sure to act with dignity and respect. I followed the advice of my parents and conducted myself in the way that I wanted to be treated. Above all, I learned to adapt to different situations and preferred collaboration over competition. If I had nothing constructive to say, I chose to remain silent. In the workplace, I made sure to prepare well in advance, tailored my resume to fit the job, and dressed professionally. I avoided leaning into stereotypes from any group. It’s frustrating when people make assumptions based on stereotypes, but I’ve learned to navigate these situations with grace. Essentially, I learned to read the room and respond accordingly, and if in doubt, I chose to remain silent.
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?
I am a recording artist and business consultant. Currently, I am focusing on my career as an artist while also learning more about business and investing. My main priorities right now are recording music and launching my fashion line. I have always aspired to work in the entertainment industry but lacked proper guidance. I am navigating this path on my own and looking forward to the journey. I am thrilled to announce that I will be releasing new original music soon. Creating music has been incredibly fulfilling for me, and I have been focused on this rather than sharing content on social media, as I value my privacy. I view music as a form of therapy and hope that my message resonates with others. I am determined to achieve global success. When I am not working on music, I am busy sewing and coming up with ideas for my fashion line. I have also begun recording content for my fashion line, and although posting daily is challenging in today’s fast-paced world, I am gradually building up my archives and will start sharing soon. Lastly, Dj Rico Sanchez & MDRD are available for bookings on RStours.co and via phone. Stay tuned for new artist merchandise, music releases, tour dates, and vlogs!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Solitude, listening, execution, and discipline – these are key elements in achieving success. Sometimes, finding a quiet place to listen to our inner voice and its guidance is essential. Executing our plans and having the discipline to stick to them are crucial. It’s important to listen and follow our intuition, using a moral compass for direction. I truly believe that by talking less and listening more, we can learn everything we need to know about a person and life. Solitude is necessary in a noisy world, helping us quiet the mind and maintain composure in any circumstance. Being alone provides the space needed to make our own decisions. Finding time to disconnect from people, social media, and life in general can help us enjoy our own company and gain a fresh perspective. Silence and solitude bring clarity. Knowledge is indeed power, but putting that knowledge into action is crucial. Execution is key in any field. What’s the point of learning from self-help books if we don’t take action and implement what we’ve learned? Giving our all every time while maintaining the readiness to do more is important. This is where discipline comes in, as it holds everything together. Without self-control, it’s difficult to accomplish anything. It’s important to focus on our purpose and remember why we started. Having mentors is not a prerequisite for success – it’s up to us as adults to take responsibility for our growth. Bettering ourselves in these areas requires practice and a mindset of continuous improvement. It’s essential to show gratitude for even the smallest accomplishments. Success is a journey, akin to a marathon rather than a sprint. Embracing the journey and the process will make the accomplishment all the more meaningful, and in reaching the top, we may realize that what we sought was within us all along.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
Work with what you have. Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do. If you have no one to do the job, then learn that job until someone comes. Don’t make excuses; figure it out. We have so much at our disposal. It depends on what side of the line you fall. Either you’re distracted or being a distraction, but instead, be a person of action! Play into your strengths and embrace your weaknesses. Work on your strengths in the front and work on your weaknesses behind the scenes.
When I was a kid, I wanted to do music but didn’t have the equipment or resources. I would still write my rhymes on a pad. These days, we have a recording studio on a phone. Eventually, I purchased my equipment and started recording. I wasn’t ready to put out music when I first started, so instead I started modeling. Modeling was my strength; it came naturally and didn’t require a lot of talking, especially since I was shy at times. I slowly broke out of my shell and gained confidence in modeling, then later gained confidence in my musical sound. The moral of the story is that I didn’t stop believing in what I truly wanted because I didn’t have the resources. I just improvised and worked with what I had.
Now I have music and I wanted to shoot music videos for them, but I didn’t know how to edit videos. For a while, I said I’d wait for someone until one day I just decided I’d learn. Now I can edit my videos and film myself. Honestly, I’d rather be an artist and focus on my fashion, but the job has to be done and I can’t wait for the person to show up.
Speaking of waiting for a person to show up, I am open to collaborating with other artists, videographers, producers, designers, models, and graphic artists – anyone who’s building their brand. Let’s network. I welcome all who read this interview to reach out if you’d like to join the team or if I can be of assistance. It would be a pleasure.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rstour.co/roster
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jameal.pullins
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameal-pullins-399529b5/
- Youtube: http://youtube.com/@mealdarealdeal
Image Credits
MDRDPRODUCTIONS
