We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melody Olivas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Melody, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I actually first thought I was going to be a piano player for a living. Since my name was Melody and I was put in piano lessons at the age of seven, I thought it was in the stars for me to do music. Later, I had this dream of having three jobs; a waitress in the morning, a vet by day, and an ice cream truck driver by night. At one point, I even thought maybe I could be in the military like my parents. But it was actually my parents that told me and my siblings; whatever you do, just do what you love.
It didn’t take long for me to pick up a camera though, and I quickly became fascinated by this ability to freeze moments in time. As a teenager, I dragged my friends everywhere and took photos of them. I met new friends and traveled to new places. I grew to embrace wherever the camera took me. More than that, photography became less of what I did for a job and more of a way for me to connect, tell stories and share moments with new and familiar faces.
There is a Japanese concept known as Ikigai that I’ve grown to embody. Iki, meaning “life,” and gai, meaning “worth.” When you take what you love to do, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for; you can find your reason for life so to speak. When I think about why I love to do what I do now, my purpose remains the same. To use my gifts to cultivate joy, nostalgia and love to whoever I get to meet.
Purpose can be transformative but I think the key is awe, altruism, and gratitude through it all. Thinking of all the things I aspired to do; a pianist, a vet, an ice cream truck driver, I know now that I probably could have served any of those roles. (And honestly, I don’t think the ice cream truck driver dream is dead). It was less about finding, and more about *aligning* to a life that served purpose. And in the process, I get to honor my younger self, camera in hand.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Hey, I’m Melody(she/her). California based creative focusing on wedding, brand, and editorial photo + video. I am grateful to have found what I loved to do at a young age, inspiring me to create a life that embodies that. Outside of taking photos, you can find me adventuring for the best sunset, curating vintage finds, or cooking my fav vegan dinners. Big fan of the moon, the stars + you. CA is home but open for travel worldwide.
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?
Being passionate, being driven, and having heart. You can achieve just about anything with a fire in you. The best advice I could give to others, or even to my younger self is find time to tune it all out. In this digital era, we can get easily distracted to the point where comparison settles in. Focus on you. Find your own voice. Make your own art. Celebrate others in the process. We’re all winners!
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
The book that remains on my bedside table at all times is Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill. It’s actually not about money at all, to be honest. Something that always stuck with me is when Hill talks at one point about desire and success. “Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to burn his ships and cut all sources of retreat. Only by so doing can one be sure of maintaining that state of mind known as a BURNING DESIRE TO WIN, essential to success.” Now go and get it.
Contact Info:
- Website: melodyolivas.com
- Instagram: bymelodyolivas
