We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Djuana Ross. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Djuana below.
Djuana, 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 because I was looking for it. I kept asking God to reveal it to me. Life has not been a crystal stair for me and I would sometimes have to fight through feelings of inadequacy and invisibility. Even at a very young age, I battled with thinking that it had been better if I had never been born.
I feared God even though I didn’t fully know Him, so I never felt led to actually take my own life. However, I cannot tell you how many times I wanted Him to take me out of here. All before the age of 12 years old. Since God is wise and didn’t listen to my foolish requests, He kept giving me opportunities to explore creative ways to feel fulfilled. Primarily, those opportunities seemed to be anchored in the arts.
I attended a public elementary school across town that infused fine arts into its curriculum. It was there that I was exposed to visual arts, creative writing, public speaking, and the performing arts. I tried them all. It was the outlet I never knew that I needed. It was in those classrooms and on those stages through those teachers that I felt useful and seen.
I furthered my education with music as my focal background. After I’d graduated from top tier schools that I entered the workforce as an adult. I went the traditional route as I had been shown by my family and mentors, but I could never get settled in a 9 to 5. I knew that I was not walking in my purpose, but I was still unclear on what it was.
As a creative, I reflected on all of my experiences and it finally clicked that I needed to use all of the talents that I’d cultivated in school to produce excellence in this world. I had a strong desire to leave a legacy – one that would give God glory. Thus, I officially founded my company, Tru Talent Productions, in 2006.
In its 18th year now, Tru Talent Productions’ mission is still in tact. In every single service, training, and product, I lead with purpose. Through this unique journey, I have learned that it has been in my pain that I find my purpose. It is in my life’s experiences and drive to help others that I find purpose. It is the gifts and talents that God has bestowed upon me that I am equipped to fulfill my purpose.
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 operate Tru Talent Productions which is a multi-faceted company that offers professional services, life education, and products that bridge administration with creativity. My expertise is in giving aid to every client in bringing their visions to reality. The primary departments are: public speaking (Miss BJB), life coaching (Tru S.T.A.R.T.), character and life education (Tru YOUniversity), event coordination (Tru PRO Consulting), and print and media publications (Tru Story).
As aforementioned, my purpose is to use all of my talents to produce excellence in the name of Jesus Christ. My company has had quite a few restructurings over the course of 18 years. I have found that I am most excited to operate in the gift that I feel is most useful in the time and space that I am occupying at that time. My experiences range beyond what services are available today.
In the past, I have taught private piano lessons and was a wedding planner. Today, I am building my eSchool dedicated to helping the youth find their identities and purpose. Also, I am building a community for women who have a desire to fulfill their purpose in daily life whether married or single. My passion drives me to create what I see may be necessary for someone out there that may be looking to find their purpose or identity such as I did.
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?
Exposure to Knowledge is key. Like some entrepreneurs, I had to blaze my own trail since sometimes what I wanted to do didn’t quite exist. It has been extremely impactful to my journey that I seemed to always find ways to be exposed to ALL kinds of knowledge. One truly can do anything if you put your mind to it. There is almost no excuse to not bring one’s vision to fruition in today’s information age.
Strong Work Ethic is vital. I have learned that you cannot beat hard work! The time you put in to anything is unmatched with even the most talented individual. One cannot be fickle in business. You must have a drive to complete that thing and to finish well. People are always watching you. You may not be famous, but you will always work if your work ethic is top grade.
Attention to Detail is definitely in my top three! I still get my mind blown when I witness anyone in business simply not paying attention to the fine things. Making it a priority to learn the details or read the details or operate with attention to detail is can secure your “spot”. One can avoid lawsuits, being cheated, and losing clients with this skill. There aren’t enough words to emphasize the importance of paying close attention to detail.
One can acquire each one of these skills by reading and researching beyond what you know now. Every chance you get read an article, attend a seminar, watch a YouTube video… put yourself in places where you will learn something. Oh, and listen to those around you. You would be surprised what you can learn.
Also, make it a point to let your word be your bond. Your work ethic becomes stronger when you value what you have committed yourself to. Set schedules, meet deadlines, and create checklists. Create a system that works for you. Build upon this skill by trying more things and taking risks. Do the hard things. Don’t despise the easy things. Do all things well and in a timely fashion.
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?
Truthfully, it all depends on who you are as a person. To be well-rounded gives you options and a variety of opportunities. However, to go all in on your strength makes you an expert. Experts will always have work and are invaluable to their selected field. Unfortunately, I have no solid stance on one or the other.
One of my struggles since I began working at the age of 14, has been that I felt like a jack of all trades and a master of none. What I have learned at the age of 40 is that being well-rounded had an undercurrent of a strength that I didn’t know I even had. If I hadn’t tried investing in a myriad of different skills then I never would have learned my strength.
For example, I spent my adolescence exploring fine arts. I have tried them all. I learned to play several musical instruments, danced, acted, wrote poetry and scripts, learned to draw and paint, was backstage crew, played around with graphic art, and participated in oral competitions. I was all over the
place. Nevertheless, every one of these arts disciplines gave me the same thing. They taught me how to be fearless in creation. They taught me how to lead and follow. Taught me how to collaborate and solo. Taught me how to emote and to assist others when it was their time to shine. Taught me how to communicate. Taught me how to be disciplined in practice and to achieve mastery. Taught me how to respect and be useful with my time. All of these things are necessary when you teach and when you lead. Today, I am both a teacher and a CEO.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TruTalentProductions.com
- Other: www.missbjb.com
