We recently connected with Terrance Brahsun and have shared our conversation below.
Terrance, thanks for taking the time to share your lessons with our community today. So, let’s jump right in – one of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. Where does your self-discipline come from?
My self-discipline comes being in the Navy. Going to the military, I knew that was one thing that I lacked as young adult. After high school, I wasn’t ready to go to college but I knew that I needed something to give me structure and get me away from home. Once you enlist, that cover from your parents is lifted. You on your own. You have to account for your own decisions. No one is going to help finance you. No one is there to tell you that everything is going to be ok and you can drop out if you want. No, you signed a contract. You have to honor that contract. So developing self-discipline was a must to be able to take advantage of all the opportunities that were in front of me from being in the military. Without it, all those benefits would have been taken away from me.
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 am an upcoming CEO, director and author out of Oak Cliff. I started my own record label in 2020 called Classic Villain Music Group. Under the label, I am the only talent. Musically, I perform under the moniker of KickInTheBeat, who has put out 3 EPs and a number of singles, and then on the spoken word side, I perform under the name Terrance Brashun. In addition to doing music, I also write, direct and produce short films under Classic Villain. I started my own streaming service to put my content out called Villainwood (www.villainwood.com). From Villainwood, I’ve put out 2 short films – Ridge Run and Ridge Run II: Familiar Places – as well as being in the process of creating my first shorts series called Too Woke. You can subscribe to Villainwood for $5 a month or $50 a year and it will give you access to view everything that I have ever created for content. As an author, I have written nine collections of poetry and two collections of short stories. I think what’s most exciting about me is that you can never just put me in one lane as a creative. I give you stories and experiences from three different mediums. In addition to that, Classic Villain is a clothing line as well. You can view all my designs by checking out the online store at www.classicvillain.com. I did an exclusive line of candles for men in 2021 and I plan to bring that back soon.
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?
I think learning how to take advice helped me a lot. In creating my films, I always try to listen to the suggestions of the actors involved to see how I can make their characters more in tune for what kind of person they are willing to portray on camera. I think patience helped as well. I credit that from being in the military because of the time you were rushed to get to a destination and then told to wait for the next order. Now, I’ve learned that sometimes, the sign of what and where to go next isn’t immediate. Sometimes you have to sit down for a minute and look at everything around you before getting the instruction on what to do next. I also think learning to be my own filter has been the most valuable skill I have learned. A lot of people will try to suggest doing something that other people have done to be successful but you have to recognize what you feel good with doing. Just because it works for one person doesn’t mean that you will duplicate that same success. You have to filter out what you feel works for your character and conscious. I think the best thing that anyone can do that’s starting out is to always be willing to learn because no one knows it all about everything. Knowledge is power. However, with that knowledge, know when to let it apply and when to let it fly
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am always looking to collaborate with other creatives but it has to make sense. I would def like to take someone’s idea and turn it into a dope visual for others to relate to. Whether it be a video or book, I want to be medium to help them bring the idea to life in a way that they can’t really get it done. Some people have very creative or dope ideas for things but just don’t know what to do with it, whether it should be a book or a film. I would like to help those who are at that impasse to continue down that creative road. If that fits someone out there, hit me in an email – [email protected] or leave a message on my website – www.classicvillain.com
Contact Info:
- Website: www.classicvillain.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classicvillainbrand/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/classicvillainbrand
- Twitter: /terrancebrashun
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj6xS0jtQZL0k67nX9_jxsA
Image Credits
Harold Smith II, Maxx Calzz
