Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to JEFF K%NZ. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
JEFF, so great to have you sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our readers and so let’s jump right into one of our favorite topics – empathy. We think a lack of empathy is at the heart of so many issues the world is struggling with and so our hope is to contribute to an environment that fosters the development of empathy. Along those lines, we’d love to hear your thoughts around where your empathy comes from?
I believe my father taught me empathy at a very young age. He would always make a point show me empathy when I was going through something. He took the time out for empathy, he made room for it. My father has always been a very helpful, and reliable person. I saw how that translated to him being empathetic, even in his actions. Overtime I learned how to adopt it into my life in my own way. I truly appreciate empathy and I’m disappointed when it’s not shown.
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?
My name is JEFF K%NZ. I am a recording artist, painter, curator, and Business Owner. What I do is serve as a direct line of communication from God using the power of art and creation. I truly believe I was put on earth to spread the creative consciousness.
I come from a small town called Champaign where there isn’t a lot of inspiration. So we took upon ourselves to be that inspiration. I moved to Houston to expand my horizons and then I moved to Chicago, where my career has truly flourished.
What excites me most about my life is that I get the opportunity to connect with others through my art, whether it’s music or painting. Performing live is really where I love and live. In my opinion it’s the best way to connect with new listeners and fans.
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?
The 1st important skill I learned was work ethic. Some might not consider work Ethic a skill but I definitely believe it’s a quality that can be learned and taught. Either first hand or by example.
The 2nd skill I learned was self courage and self sufficiency. Self courage will lead to high self esteem, which will lead to you being more comfortable with self. Which will in turn provide you with space and ability to get things done on your own.
The 3rd important skill I learned was listening. Sounds simple but I promise it’s a game changer. As sip and paint owner, I’m aware that people love to talk. It’s on our nature, not many of us love to listen though. I enjoy listening. It gives me better tools to respond instead of out emotion.
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
As artists challenges never stop coming. At the moment a big challenge for me is managing my creative energy, and allotting it properly. When you have multiple creative outlets, it can be tough to figure when to use which. I’m learning when to use certain outlets to serve different needs for myself and other’s.
Contact Info:
- Website: thinkandpaintgr8.com
- Instagram: @_JEFFKOONZ
- Facebook: JEFF K%NZ
- Twitter: @_JEFFKOONZ
Image Credits
@vsidaugaite @madiisonelanie @injaekim_ @thoughtpoet77
