We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jamal-Akil Marshall. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jamal-Akil below.
Hi Jamal-Akil, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I’m someone who was the worlds most renowned procrastinator. This habitual need to wait till the last minute to get work done was obvious during my high school years. Even as I’m reflecting on this behavior, I had no idea how it developed. Today at age 34 I learned undiagnosed ADHD played a considerable role. The stress that took place from an approaching deadline potentially being missed wasn’t enough to alter my actions. I almost missed graduating from high school due to numerous assignments never turned in until it was too late. I would have spurts after close calls like this where I’d intentionally get assignments and projects complete. However, due to how deeply rooted my procrastination was, my actions to fix it were insufficient due to my inability to maintain a healthy relationship with deadlines. I would watch motivational videos on youtube to figure out what tricks I could implement in order to rid my self of this self sabotaging behavior. The progress to better myself was slow in this department. Because self improvement has been a vital part of my overall development eventually things got better but it was at the expense of better growth and opportunities. I hunted down solutions year after year with the game changer being, living in LA. The reality that I could end up not being able to pay rent and the thought of letting people down due to my inability to meet deadlines launched my productivity into shape. My greatest fear is running out of time to reach my goals. The last thing I want to find out is that I missed an opportunity as an artist to level up myself or bring solutions of growth to my business due to me not completing work in time. I’m in another sphere of productivity and efficiency compared to where I was in high school. It took me putting myself in an environment where I had no choice but to act in order to change one of the toughest bad habits that existed within myself.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
A forever learner of self-expression through artistic mediums is who I am. I have ventured through several worlds of artistry over the course of my life which has led me to cameras telling the story of whats in others imagination. Taking photos and recording motion through cinematography has been my career over the last 4 years. Where I started with photographing my friends and family, I now help build portfolios for aspiring artist looking to build and continue their personal brand. The added element of cinematography brings these same artist and businesses video production that only furthers their creative visions elevating their brand . I work at bringing to life what is seen within, outward in a way that reinspires the very person who brought their ideas to me. Creating an environment that makes people feel comfortable, heard and seen is important to the overall experience one gets when creating projects with me. Its about having a great time when one or many chooses self-expression.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Empathy, mindfulness and discernment are quite possibly the most impactful areas of knowledge for my journey. It may be fair to say that majority of us have developed and continue to develop relationships in numerous capacities with those around us. Friendships either in the world of business, homies, or romantic require a certain level of understanding not just yourself but others. When it comes to a professional setting I had to better my skills in the world of empathy. Understanding a clients reasoning behind a project taking it from idea to a tangible work of art is vital to me. I wouldn’t be able to show empathy and compassion for another person if I weren’t first practicing mindfulness with myself. The success I have seen in my life is owed to many factors, people and opportunities. One of those opportunities is the chance to sit with myself and analyze who I really am. What is my purpose and intention with my everyday motion? When I’m able to maintain my center due to taking in the present moment, It allows me to better understand and grow as a person which allows me to be better for others. Lastly I need to have the awareness to know when something is for me or if it isn’t. There are many opportunities that have taken place on my journey. Not every opportunity has left me feeling full. Some have left me empty wondering if I made the correct decision. Its only through experience that my level of discernment has developed to better know what I should say “yes” to or “no thank you.”
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?
If you were to ask me this question when I was in college my response would be to ” Work not only on your strengths but also work at improving the areas you aren’t as strong in.” Now after working for myself going on 2 years juggling multiple areas of passion that I have, I would say go all in on your strengths. The areas that you aren’t as strong in, hire someone who is strong in those areas to assist you. Create a team of people around you who compliment the strengths that you possess, the strengths that are moving you forward as an artist. I’m already too far into learning how to better juggle all my passions to let it go now. This only makes my current journey all the more challenging. But I love it, haha. However in loving the challenge of having my hand in so many pots, I have experienced what having helping hands does to an overall project, campaign or simply carrying gear up and down some stairs. If you find yourself still wanting to develop areas that you aren’t as strong in even after finding people to help you, fulfill that urge. My advice is to fulfill that urge only if it isn’t hindering your own personal growth which would result in hindering the growth of your assembled team.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jmlakl.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmlakl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jmlaklphoto/
Image Credits
Cover photo credit: Kasey Gerst
