Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Zemo Zheng . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Zemo, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
That’s a really great question, I think every entrepreneur experiences imposter syndrome at some point of their career. Even right now, I just called myself an entrepreneur, I relived a five-second imposter syndrome. It’s all about the mind set. I used to think that one day, when I have made something of myself, I will overcome imposter syndrome, but does that day ever truly come? I have decided to think that instead believing one day, in the future, that i am going to be someone, I should recognize that today, I am someone. Everything I do today is because I want to do it, not because I am forced to do it, and that is something, and that makes me an entrepreneur. That is the hardest thing. I recently was just talking to my fellow entrepreneurs about it. One of the key takeaways from our conversation was the importance of actively choosing to be an entrepreneur every day. Motivating ourselves is the most important part of the job, and it can be all too easy to give up and go do something else when the going gets tough. But as entrepreneurs, we have to remind ourselves of our passion and purpose and actively choose to pursue our goals, even in the face of adversity. Knowing that, is how I assuage imposter syndrome.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I started as a fashion photographer back in Boston, and moved to LA and my area of expertise quickly expanded into fashion, beauty, skincare, or even tech commercials. Then, soon enough I started doing videography work for a Netflix Reality TV show — The Bling Empire, and from there I ventured into videography, short films, and mini-documentaries for artists. Starting this year, because of all the emerging technologies, I founded my company, Seemingly Virtual LLC, which focuses on virtual production.
Our mission is to incorporate the newest tech, AR, VR, AI, into the traditional production practices to innovate, making visuals that are surreal yet tangible. With the help of an awesome team, I was able to create surreally beautiful visuals, that were actually in an art exhibition just a few weeks ago. The art piece exhibited was called “CLAIRVOYEUR”. Penetrating the realms of privacy through the lens of a people, security cameras, or VR goggles, CLAIRVOYEUR exposes the myriad moments and emotions typically reserved for the eyes of the self alone. It magnifies the candid, bringing to light an intricate tapestry of emotions, struggles, and desires that dwell behind closed doors. The meticulously crafted scenes, laden with dramatized and exaggerated environments, serve not just as a backdrop but as sentient extensions of the individuals who inhabit them.
We had really positive response from the viewers who attended the gallery show, a lot of people told us it was really immersive and were really impressed by the level of details in the visual production. That is also the future direction our company is heading to, providing immersive experiences for everyone everywhere.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three skills that I have learned along way that benefits me greatly are keeping my exposure, delegation, and the truth that perfectionism is the enemy of progress. A lot of these things I actually learned from other entrepreneurs and great coaches, like Freddy Tran Nager or Misha Kouzeh.
Keeping my composure during difficult times is crucial. There are inevitably, just like a staircase, rises and runs. We will encounter setbacks and challenges, and there will be times when we feel unmotivated or discouraged. But these feelings are natural, and they often precede the next rise in our journey. By recognizing and accepting the ebbs and flows, we can maintain a sense of perspective and stay motivated through tough times.
Another thing I learned over the years is delegation. Delegation is not just about offloading tasks, but it’s also about trust. As self-starters, we often feel the need to control every aspect of our business, but this can be counterproductive. Learning to trust and delegate tasks to others can help us focus on our strengths, while also actively seeking other growth opportunities. This is something that I have struggled with personally from the beginning, as I am such a hands-on person. Every day I have to remind myself that, it takes a village.
Another thing I talked about with Misha is the danger of perfectionism. While striving for excellence is important, perfectionism can be the enemy of progress. I confess that I struggle with perfectionism all the time, which leads to burnout and stalled progress. Instead, Misha encouraged me to focus on progress over perfection and to embrace “imperfection” as a natural part of the growth process.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I have been extremely lucky to have a tight circle of friends and allies who support me along the way. I feel like these sincere relationships are hard to come by. Of course I am very thankful to my business partner, Jonathan Warner, who not only supply the skills that I need, but also an integral part of our company when it comes to decision making. Many times he sees what I cannot see, and vice versa, but that is also what makes our partnership great. I also think I learned a lot from my friend Bee Davies who is a great writer/producer, who I have partnered up in so many different projects together, and always on the look out for me. I learn a lot from the people that I do business with, not just their hard skills but also their endurance, persistence, and drive. My friend Queena, who I just did a New York Fashion Week showroom with, is extremely hardworking, and I get inspired by her calmness, composure, and organization everyday truly.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zemozemo.com/
- Instagram: @zemovisuals
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhenze-zheng/
- Twitter: @zemovisuals
Image Credits
art exhibition artwork: Videographer/Art Director: @zemovisuals Creative Director/3D Artist: @jwarn18 Model: @randyy_lam Wardrobe Stylist: @estella.png Makeup Artist: @itis_kelly Coordinator: @lanniejavenue Post-Production: @laoraya0429 3d immersive world: Videographer/Art Director: @zemovisuals Creative Director: @jwarn18 Model: @ezenwailabor Wardrobe Stylist: @hypnolyze Makeup Artist: @makeup_by_jessicarobertson Post-Production: @laoraya0429 Coordinator: @lanniejavenue Fashion editorial 1:Photographer/Art Director: @zemovisuals Model: @cuixinyier Stylist: @phillysincere Studio: @potala.losangeles Fashion editorial 2: Videographer/Art Director: @zemovisuals Creative Director/3D Artist: @jwarn18 Model: @ezenwailabor Wardrobe Stylist: @hypnolyze Makeup Artist: @makeup_by_jessicarobertson Coordinator: @lanniejavenue Post Production Assistant: @laoraya0429 BTS Videographer: @oliviawong11 fashion editorial 3 : Photographer: @zemovisuals Model: @holakimmylola Wardrobe: @vivastylehouse virtual fashion: 3D Contributions: @zemovisuals @jwarn18 @laoraya0429 Photographer/Art Direct: @zemovisuals Model: @nicegeorges Makeup Artist: @kaisa_nowik
