Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Phillip/Phil Leonard. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Phillip/Phil, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
While healing from a string of personal loss, hardships and health scares, I realized Life is precious and mortality is real. Asked myself, “What makes me genuinely feel good? Why am I not thinking of how to best utilize who I am, with what I know, can do, where I am, and want to become right now? After a lot of self-reflection, therapy and meditation, Writing On The Walls, LLC is the manifestation of “my purpose”, preserving the ancient art of history on walls and honoring/showcasing those who do it.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Public Arts are an essential component to feel good. The Creative Arts, are my mechanism for personal, familial, professional and community growth and development. Combining my personal and professional knowledge into what Writing on the Walls, LLC and its network do, to build community. I accomplish this as a board member of the local Chamber of Commerce, local member Kiwanis club, a service organization, and the Public Arts Initiative out of the Museum of the San Fernando Valley. I get to be creative with a bunch of other creative artist, entrepreneurs, small businesses and other community members.
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?
FAITH – I pray and meditate throughout the day, everyday. Be it reciting mantras and affirmations, guided meditations, yogi breaths, quick prayers, or chanting. I try to remember there’s something greater than lil’ ‘ol me. I still struggle with my frailties daily, anxiety, fear, depression, shame, rage, guilt, insecurity, sorrow.
VOLITION – With Will power being applied, knowing Life isn’t easy, but with constant effort, be it steady, or intermittent, can help it flow easier. Being determined to achieve a goal to fruition.
HUMOR – At a young age, I learned how to channel my creativity through improvisation games, techniques and performances. It’s a hidden supper power.
Seek out the people you want to be like,
Find mentors and locals who inspire you,
Join things, or groups doing what you want to do.
Be open to learn your own way.
Don’t be crippled by opinions from people who haven’t lived your life.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
Accepting who I am, what I am, where I am, why I am, and how I am, when I’m being “Me”, good or bad, perfect or flawed.
Breaking up with a decade’s long tradition of self-harm in the form alcohol, poor diet and an avoidance of living a life with purpose was difficult! Then came a series of life events requiring way too many Doctors for way too long. A constant reminder of how little time we have on this planet.
Accepting this has allowed me to have compassion and forgiveness for myself and freeing me up to live a life with Purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: writingonthewalls-la.com
- Instagram: @writingonthewall_la
- Other: Please note that the website is -la (hyphen la) Instagram is _la (underscore la)
Image Credits
Photos (1,2,6) by Phillip Leonard Photos (3,4,5) by E.F. Leonard
