We were lucky to catch up with Joel Roache recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Joel, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
I’ve never contributed my success to race and I’ve never thought of myself as “less fortunate” because of my race. I think that mentality would have placed me in a position where I contribute all my failures to things completely out of my control. That mentality wouldn’t have allowed me to create at the same level I do now because I would have always believed that my work would never be good enough. I focused a lot more on what I can do and the real strengths I have. I’m good at speaking, good with cameras, good at editing, and good at telling a story. I focused on improving that aspect of my creation, things that are completely in my control. I do think there are discrepancies when it comes to race and age for sure. But I let my work speak for itself and focus on the parts of my creativity that I can control.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m blessed to be able to create content about the various struggles and difficulties I’m going through in my life through storytelling and visual effects. I’m also able to teach people about storytelling and building their own brands themselves, and I believe that I’m in this position because of the “risks” that I decided to take when I graduated college.
I worked a job as a mechanical engineer for 8 months, but I believed that I was pushed into this direction by what I was told was correct and didn’t do much critical thinking for myself. I was in a position at work where I felt comfortable financially, but not content with the outlook of my life if I continued down the path I was going.
I took a leap to create content full time and for 1 year, I grew my social accounts, and traveled and documented it on social media. Fast forward to today and I’m not able to have my creative projects fund my life!
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. Patience is key. Good things take time to create and build.
2. Consistency is even more important. It takes continual effort to reach success
3. Identifying a purpose. If you’re doing something for money you WILL NOT be happy. You need to find your purpose and why and devote your time to it, even if it doesn’t seem like you’ll make all the money in the world, at least you’ll be working towards a purpose you believe in.
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?
The most important book in my development (besides the Bible) has been a book called Set for Life.
It’s a book that details how someone can go from “nothing” to being able to build up a cash reserve that allows them to do what they find creative for a year. It is singlehandedly the reason that I am in the position that I am in now.
Core messages: Reduce your expenses to $2,000 a month and build a reserve of $24,000 which will allow you to spend a year building a business without the worry of income.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stan.store/Joelroac
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelroac/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-roache-958b44262/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@joelroac
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