Meet James Mcleod

We recently connected with James Mcleod and have shared our conversation below.

James, 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?

Having a visual difference, I experience being the “only one in the room” that looks like me on a daily basis. It is an unchangeable part of my life, and I had to make a choice to either accept it or live in fear and self-pity. As I grew up, I began to develop an inner strength and a confidence that allowed me to become more and more comfortable being “different.” And now, I have reached a point in my life where I LOVE being “the only one in the room.” People notice me, and I try to turn every stare, every curious look, into a positive interaction. I have been given the opportunity to connect with so many people in a positive way because of my visual difference. I not only get to educate others about Vitiligo, but I get to share my positive uplifting spirit with them.

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?

One of the things I love most about my life is that I do many things! After working for others, at big companies, for many years, I decided to take a leap of faith and venture out on my own, starting my own company, That Vitiligo Guy, LLC.

I started my entrepreneur adventure doing personal training and DJ’ing, but I knew I had message to spread to the world, and there were more ways to do that. I decided to share some of my experiences growing up being different, by writing a children’s book “The Boy Behind the Face.” The response to it was so amazing that I wrote a second children’s book “My Daily Superpowers.” The books opened the door for me to really get into the public speaking space, and now I share my message of overcoming adversity by doing author visits, read-alouds and keynote speeches at schools, libraries and other events.

Seeing how my message impacted others in such a powerful way, I was inspired to start a non-profit (That Vitiligo Guy Foundation) to empower youth, especially disadvantaged youth, to overcome their insecurities and fears and become positive, confident, and proud.

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?

1. A relationship with God – knowing God made me as I am, for a purpose, that God doesn’t make mistakes. My relationship with God helped me to see my visual difference as a gift, rather than a burden.

2. Perseverance – never giving up on my goals, or on myself. Being able to turn a setback into a comeback.

3. A powerful force of love within me – love for myself, and for others – these are what fuel me to live my purpose

I would suggest to others, that the best thing you can do, is truly get to know yourself – who you really are, not who the world says you are or wants you to be. And, find the things that bring you joy and fill you up, and do more of them.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

My mother has been one of the most impactful and influential people in my life, and I owe so much of who I am to her. She is the one who instilled the gifts of faith and self-confidence in me. She never let me believe I was different than others, even if I looked different. She never treated me differently or abided anyone else doing so. My mother loved me in such a way that I learned to love myself.

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