Meet Valentino Malauulu

We recently connected with Valentino Malauulu and have shared our conversation below.

Valentino , so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.

Oh goodness! I love me some haterade. Lol. I embrace it. There’s a saying that goes something along the lines of, ..” if you don’t have at least one hater, you’re not doing it right.” And so throughout my life, I’ve always been at battle with myself. If I’m at battle with myself, and someone else is having their own battle with me, that’s really not my problem, it’s completely theirs. They hate me because they ain’t me, they hate me because they don’t know me, they hate me because I speak truly. There’s a power in being able to take ownership and accountability for your actions and not a lot of people have the ability to enforce that behavior. So to the haters..ask yourself: What is it about the person that you’re so mad about?..and you’ll realize that it literally all leads back to you.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I create. People ask me this question a lot and when I think about what it is that I do, those 2 words pretty much sums it up for me. Whether it be opportunity, content. or impact, you can count on me to doing that because I believe so much in me and my ability to achieving the end result of the things I wish to create for me, for others, for the World.

From digital marketing to videography, video editing, content strategy, generative AI, I’m currently working on creating my first business and finalizing the complete business plan. It’s crazy how fast everything is kind of happening right now and I’m just super excited to share that with you all. I’m also finishing up some classes to support my current AI credentials so I can continue to produce quality creative material and further my growth and skillset in the AI space.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Planning & Ideation

My family lived all over the O.C. and at the age of 16, I ran away and went to live in Los Angeles. With no plan and by acting out on “the thrill of things,” I remember sleeping in one of my good friend’s apartment complex laundry rooms, so uncomfortable, cold and telling myself why am I doing this? I never want to live this way, this isn’t me, I don’t want this life, this isn’t who I am. Fast forward to today, planning and ideation is crucial to ensuring my work-life responsibilities and personal goals are met. When you plan, you’re able to build a visual roadmap almost where one could get clear view insight on the path and journey and what’s it’s going to take you to get from point A to point B. You’re well prepared for any obstacles, challenges, and possible setbacks you may face which can save you tons of time down the road versus walking aimlessly and dealing with things as they arise.

2. Growth-Mindset

Being able to continuously adapt, learn, implement, fail, practice, assess, challenge, and succeed, then doing it all over again, while operating under the idea that this thing that you’re working on will contribute to you becoming the best version of yourself, is powerful. You’re more open to ideas and introduced to new methods that you can apply in your own way, which often leads to the discovery of things you didn’t think you could do or things you didn’t know about yourself which is needed for someone who’s on this continuous path of personal growth and development.

3. Doing

What sets people apart is their ability to Do. The easy part is not doing anything. It’s the doing that’s challenging. There’s no more wishing, there’s no more I’ll do it tomorrow..if you do what’s needed to be done you’re already ahead. It’s that simple. There’s this quote from Leila Hormozi that goes, fear is a mile long and an inch deep. Sometimes, the doing..is scary, it’s uncomfortable, it’s not the best feeling…but when you do and you finally face the fear of whatever it is that you feared, you realize all this time has passed and now that I finally did the do, that’s wtf I was scared of this entire time?! You can never unlock your true potential if you don’t take the first step and the only way to take the first step is by doing.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

I’ve always believed that doubling down on your strengths is the best way to stand out. In a world where everyone tries to be decent at everything, being exceptional at what you do best is what truly sets you apart. Your strengths are where your energy and passion naturally flow, and that’s where you’ll make the most impact. People don’t remember those who are just “good enough” at a bunch of things—they remember the ones who excel at their craft. That’s where I’ve always focused my energy: doing what I’m great at and amplifying that.

When I started creating content, I didn’t waste time trying to fix my weak points. I leaned into my natural creativity, my eye for design, and my connection to the party scene, which led to me creating Instagram reels that racked up thousands of views and impressions. I didn’t try to become an expert in everything—I focused on my strengths, and as a result, I got partnerships and recognition. It was that edgy, urban style that drew from LA and Phoenix culture, and by sticking with what I knew, my work gained momentum. I realized quickly that when you focus on what you’re naturally good at, you move faster and gain more traction.

Of course, weaknesses can’t always be ignored, but they should only be improved to the point where they don’t hold you back. I wasn’t strong in marketing at first, but I got the digital marketing certifications I needed to push my content further—just enough to complement my creative strengths. I got the skills I needed through certifications to push my content to the next level, but I didn’t let that process consume me. I made sure it supported my strengths instead. The truth is, when you focus on your strengths, you naturally stand out. People don’t gravitate toward someone who’s simply well-rounded; they’re drawn to those who excel at what they do. That’s where your uniqueness comes through, and that’s what sets you apart. By owning what you’re great at and letting the rest fall into place, you position yourself to shine in a way no one else can because only you do that.

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