We were lucky to catch up with Leslie Joy Ickowitz recently and have shared our conversation below.
Leslie Joy, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I found my purpose by having an honest conversation with myself and realizing that I live to fall in love and to share it with others. And that it was worth working for.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My story continues to evolve and I am grateful for that. In 2009, I launched the digital fashion & lifestyle magazine, VERTICAL Tampa Bay. It was designed to uplift our community by celebrating its treasures—the people, places and things we rejoice to discover. During those five years, I was also Style Editor for Creative Loafing and an on-air fashion & lifestyle correspondent for the local CBS affiliate. It was there where I earned the title, Purveyor of Fabulous.
Currently, I am exploring and expressing myself artistically through my photography and mixed media art, and also by creating beautiful, inspired habitat interior design for fish and small pets.
New for me, I am guiding creative Photo Safaris as an instructor for Dunedin Fine Art Center. They are a wonderful way to connect with community and to proliferate my ideas about the creative (non-technical) side of photography.
And it’s an exciting moment for Leslie Joy Original because I am preparing to launch my online gallery (LeslieJoyOriginal.com) where people will be able to view and purchase my artwork. Every person who chooses to “hang” with a Leslie Joy Original is appreciated, makes a lasting impact and propels me forward on my journey.
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?
She who seeks shall find. Be open to exploring possibilities.
Be deliberate about living your life and achieving your dreams.
Engage with and surround yourself with what matters to you. You can fashion your own existence.
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?
I wish I would step out of my own way sometimes—when I am overwhelmed with ideas or I don’t know if I am capable of something or when my pessimistic alter ego shows up and asks, “why bother? What’s it all for?”
I realize I am happiest when I create and when I am sharing with others.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://lesliejoyoriginal.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesliejoyoriginal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeslieJoyOriginal
