We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Larry Harris Jr a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Larry, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I love this question because many people, especially young people, seem often paralyzed by the feeling that they need to be perfect, overly prepared and a leading expert in their field before launching a project.
We do not ask enough questions! I have heard the phrase “fake it until you make it” from so many talented people in every field in which I’ve worked.
The message mostly being: you will never feel ready enough and do not be afraid to fail or make a bunch of mistakes, as long as you do not continue to make the same mistakes repeatedly.
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 rapper Black Bobby; a writer w/ bylines in the HuffPost, Boston Globe, Boston Herald & Hypervocal and social entrepreneur w/ 20 years of media & political exp.
I co-founded the political org United Leaders at Tufts and ran it for 6 yrs. I left to finish my MPP at Harvard’s Kennedy School, where I won the RFK Excellence in Service Award & was selected as a Student Delegate to the Academy of Achievement w/ 2005’s Rhodes Scholars’ class.
After HKS, I worked as a General Consultant at the Monitor Group (now Monitor Deloitte) before moving to Miami in ‘06 & co-founding my media group, Square Biz, where I am still an artist & manage the label’s publishing, partnerships, social media & organizing.
As Black Bobby, I was the #1 indie rapper in S Florida & most frequent musician in the S Florida press, like the Miami & Palm Beach New Times, NBC Miami, Antisteez, and also TBD- DC, DC to BC, DC Mumbo Sauce & Hipster Overkill. I have performed/hosted parties at the Fillmore South Beach, Bardot, Vagabond, Love/Hate, Jazid, etc. and, was a poker pro, BTS on The Catalina tv show, sushi chef & as a stand up comic.
Also in Miami, I worked for President Obama’s 2008 Historic campaign in Miami-Dade County as the top Field Organizers in the US w/ N Miami’s Karen Andre, utilizing organizing methods I learned in HKS’ core curriculum organizing class taught by Marshall Ganz, the national campaign’s organizing strategist.
In Atlanta, I took 6 yrs off from creating then launched a viral column in the Huffington Post’s Contributor Platform, which often had self-edited OpEds featured on the HuffPost Blog’s front page from ‘16-‘18. I relaunched my music, was reviewed by Virginia Prescott on NPR/GPB, and Aja Arnold’s Mainline Magazine & a round up of local media & performed at 529, Smith’s, Octane & SoundTable’s Cake. I now also have viral music & video content as Black Bobby & The Accuracy podcast.
I have served on the board and have served as a consultant & vol w/ nonprofits, including kids’ orgs & schools/orgs in the education space.
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?
1) Interacting with people of all ages, genders & walks of life in a truly enriching and educational experience.
2) Not only is education a life long process but also, learning differences should not be an impediment to your or anyone’s success. i love experiential learning, auditory learning and experiences like talk radio & podcasts as well as educational video content like available for free on Coursera and EdX, the apps I use to take college classes.
3) Experiences are more valuable than almost any other currency. Die with your Bucket List completely checked off!
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I love meeting super talented people of all backgrounds and life/work experiences seeking a straight forward, honest partner to help them solve problems in their lives or business pursuits that could use a partner for brain storming and off of which to bounce ideas.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://larryharrisjr.biz
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamblackbobby?igshid=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/iamblackbobby
- Linkedin: http://bizstrategy.biz
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/iamlarrybobby
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@wearesquarebiz?si=cm8Pa5A3OpsdjpZr
- SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/iamblackbobby
- Other: http://larrybobby.biz
Image Credits
I own all of those photos.
