Meet Ernest Paige

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ernest Paige. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Ernest, so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?
We have to take a step back and realize that in general, people are a lot more vocal when they have negative things to say. I don’t know where this comes from, but I see it all the time. People are a lot quicker to leave a review on a product when they have a negative experience than a positive one. It’s also important to note that there are very few things, if any, that have a 100% satisfaction rate. Some of the best products on the market have negative reviews, because you just cant please everyone. I like to focus my energy on the supporters because they deserve the attention and the praise. At the end of the day try to pour into those that pour into you, and ignore those that doubt 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 would consider myself a creative, with a focus in music and visual arts. If I had to list out what I do individually (and at a high level), it would be DJ, event curation and coordination, content creation for social media (including shooting and editing video / audio), social media marketing, graphic and web design, and A&Ring. I am the co-creator of Orange Soda, a nationwide 2000s hiphop and R&B party going into its 7th year. I also do marketing consulting. I believe what is special about what I do overall is the way I connect with people emotionally through art. Whether its a party experience, a short video that sparks a nostalgic memory, or a marketing campaign expressing relatable stories, I have a great sense of how to deliver a message to groups of people.

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?
Three areas of knowledge that have been most impactful in my journey is knowing what/how/why something works, streamlining your process to increase output, and prioritizing consistency. If you are trying to create something for public consumption, it’s important to study trends and approaches and review similar creations to discover what works, why it works, and how it works. For example if you want to create a food review video, look at existing videos that you find appealing and ask yourself “Why do I like this video?” Learn what’s working and apply that to you own creative works.
Streamlining your process is important because once you get things down to a system or routine, it makes the creative process easier and will help to create more. Being organized in life in general leads to being more efficient, and time is the one thing we can’t get back. Let’s make the most of it.
Consistency is the most important part of success, and often the lack of is the reason people fall short of their goals. Dedicate time daily to your craft, and stick to it. The same way you clock in daily at a job you hate, you should be as consistent with your goals and dreams.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed I like to take a step back and just breathe. I spend a few minutes in meditation, and collect myself and my emotions. Once this moment has passed, I look at the task(s) I have in front of me and try to approach it piece by piece. Even the most daunting task can be managed better if you break it down into smaller parts. Another way to deal with feeling overwhelmed is to talk to someone, out loud, about your feelings. Sometimes it’s just good to get your thoughts out of your head so that they don’t stay bottled up. The person you are talking with can just be an ear, or provide some advice, or simply just provide the empathy you need to keep going.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Kevin Rigby for Rigby Media

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Where does your self-discipline come from?

One of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. We asked some

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
Working hard in 2025: Keeping Work Ethic Alive

While the media might often make it seem like hard work is dead and that