We were lucky to catch up with Kaan Avci recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kaan, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Building my confidence and self-esteem was a journey that began in high school and continued into college. Initially, I struggled significantly with these aspects, but things started to change when I ventured into photography and videography—a passion I’ve had since I was six years old, thanks to my dad and older brother.
As I pursued these passions, I frequently interacted with strangers who would approach me with questions. These interactions gradually helped me build my self-esteem. I began booking shoots and engaging with people who shared similar interests, realizing that everyone is just as human as I am. Sometimes, a simple conversation can spark a connection you never anticipated.
For those who identify as introverts, I want to emphasize that there’s nothing wrong with who you are. My advice is to embrace a balance between being an extrovert and an introvert—a sort of hybrid. Teaching and guiding others in their passions also played a significant role in my confidence-building. For me, this meant sharing my love for art and storytelling through my lens. Often, words aren’t enough to capture the moments we live through, and photography and videography allow me to do just that.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am the Production Manager and Co-Founder of MKVizual, a creative agency that my best friend from high school and I started out of our shared passion for small businesses. We capture, develop, and curate content for small businesses in Rochester, MN. While big businesses have their internal teams of digital media specialists, the backbone of our community—mom-and-pop shops—often lack the resources to do so. We saw an opportunity to create and launch our agency to support these vital community members.
What excites us the most about our work is the chance to tell the unique stories of these small businesses. They operate with love and care, setting them apart from larger corporations, but their behind-the-scenes efforts often go unnoticed. Our mission is to highlight what makes them special and showcase their contributions to the community.
At MKVizual, we believe in the power of storytelling to connect people and businesses. We’re dedicated to bringing the heart and soul of small businesses to the forefront, celebrating their individuality and importance in our community.
As for what’s new, we’re continuously expanding our services to better serve our clients. We’re planning several community events and workshops to help small business owners enhance their digital presence and storytelling skills. Stay tuned for exciting updates and upcoming launches designed to empower and elevate our local businesses!
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?
The three most impactful qualities in my journey have been being open to feedback (coachable), being a learner, and having self-assurance.
Being Coachable/Open to Feedback:
Being coachable means always being willing to take in crucial feedback from those around you, whether they’ve been in the industry longer or are newcomers excelling in ways you admire. Ego and envy are the biggest obstacles to growth. Instead of comparing yourself to others, reach out and communicate with them to seek feedback on how you can improve. Embrace constructive criticism as a tool for personal and professional development.
Advice: Actively seek feedback and view it as an opportunity to grow. Engage with mentors, peers, and even competitors to gain diverse perspectives. Stay humble and open-minded.
Being a Learner:
Never get comfortable with where you are. No matter the industry, changes are constant, so always strive to learn. Be ambitious and curious. Our generation often spends more time consuming content than creating it because we’re either too comfortable or afraid to take the first step. Learn by acting on your ideas.
Advice: Cultivate a habit of continuous learning. Take courses, attend workshops, read extensively, and stay updated with industry trends. Be proactive in seeking knowledge and experiences that challenge and expand your skills.
Having Self-Assurance:
Self-assurance ties everything together. Without it, you may block out feedback and stifle your willingness to take action on your ideas due to fear of failure. Don’t be afraid of failing; failure is the biggest opportunity for growth. The more you fail, the more you learn what to do differently and how to navigate your next steps better.
Advice: Build your self-assurance by celebrating small wins and learning from setbacks. Set realistic goals and take calculated risks. Surround yourself with supportive individuals who believe in your potential.
Remember, the question to ask yourself is: Will you regret not knowing what could have been, or will you take that first step today?
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
We are always looking to collaborate with small creators, businesses, and service providers in our region, as well as nationwide or worldwide. We love sharing what we are working on and believe that collaboration allows us to gather and share valuable feedback, ultimately improving the quality of what we create.
If you have an interest in digital content and media and are passionate about creating impactful stories, we’d love to hear from you. You can reach out to us through our website at mkvizual.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mkvizual.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaanproductions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557583172932
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaanavci/
Image Credits
My portrait was taken by Adele McLees. All other pictures that were submitted were taken by me. @KaanProductions @MKVizual
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
