We recently connected with Joseph Oakley and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Joseph, 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?
It’s never easy being the only one in the room who looks like me. The pressure can be immense. However, it’s not an environment I’m unfamiliar with. Growing up, I’ve always been different even from those who did look like me. Being a creative individual, I’ve never thought the same or viewed things the same way as the vast majority of my peers and therefore I’ve learned to read the room and conduct myself accordingly. It’s become sort of a skill for me to identify the audience I have and curate the way I present myself and what I represent to allow me to be successful in just about any room I step into.
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’ve been a content creator for about 3 and a half years now. My passions have revolved around fashion, interior design, music, and general self-improvement. I got my first big break on TikTok in 2022 when I had a series of videos go viral talking about things I wished I knew when I moved out on my own. Those videos helped me get my first 10,000 followers which was huge for me. Then a few months later, I decided to do a Project 50 series which helped me gain over 40,000 more followers on TikTok.
Growth was slower on Instagram. I didn’t get my big break until 2024 when I started to gain some traction from my Get Ready With Me videos. These videos helped me gain over 60,000 followers on Instagram and reach an entirely new audience.
My next goal is to become a full-time creator and dedicate more time and attention to my craft. My audience can expect more lifestyle content where I bring you along on my daily routines and adventures (even if those adventures are just me going shopping every now and then).
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?
If I look back on my journey, I believe some of the things that made the biggest impact were my resilience, my determination, and my passion. Whenever I talk to people who want to create content I always tell them to first think of why they want to create content and make sure that their reason is enough to get them through the times when it feels like there is no progress or return on your investment of time and energy. Once you know your why and it’s strong enough to get you through the hard days, you’re virtually unstoppable.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
Currently, I’m facing the challenge of comparison. It’s difficult when you have peers who do the same thing as you but seem to be so far ahead of you or progressing much faster than you are. Admittedly, my growth has slowed drastically since this time last year and it’s discouraging at times but I know that this is only temporary and I’ll see the growth again as long as I continue to be consistent and genuine.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josephasthetic?igsh=MzVnbGg0eG5ybng4&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@josephasthetic?si=dIEr35awX-LX2qwp
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
