Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Zuzu. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Zuzu, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
In my experience, confidence and self-esteem are both fostered and nurtured from our own mindset, how we treat ourselves, and how we allow others to treat us. A positive mindset, daily affirmations, and a constructive support system are the building blocks of self-confidence and self-esteem. You have to believe in yourself and learn to trust yourself. It’s about knowing your worth and stepping into your power. The hard truth is that no one else is going to do the work for you. Confidence requires self-discovery, dedication and perseverance. Real greatness is never easily achieved — You need intention, patience, and unshakable trust in yourself.
I’ve been developing my confidence and self-esteem since I was a little girl. I was lucky to have parents that were invested in teaching me the important life lessons including confidence, poise, honesty, creative expression and work ethic. The intrinsic values that I learned early in life keep me moving in the right direction.
My father was my cheerleader and mentor growing up. He was always motivating and inspiring, but he was also tough. I often found myself learning lessons the hard way. What’s important is that my father was always there to encourage me to work through it, acknowledge the lesson, and be a better person because of it. Overcoming challenges and doing self-work is how I’ve developed my confidence and self-esteem. I’m a work in progress, just like everybody else. There’s no end destination to get to, this life is a never ending journey of self-discovery.
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?
Hi, I’m Zuzu! I’m an Austin based Visual Artist, Muralist, Curator, Event Producer, Maker, etc … To sum it all up, I consider myself a Creative and an Entrepreneur. My art is recognized for its vibrant colors, abstract design, and positive messaging. I specialize in large-scale public murals and private commission artwork. I believe deeply in the power of collaboration and community and love to work with with like-minded brands and creatives.
My artistic journey began with a love for graffiti and street art in the mid 2000’s. I started spray painting and creating digital artwork in 2008 during my time in the Creative Advertising Program at University of Texas at Austin. After graduating, I worked as a freelance artist, designer, and writer until I was hired by various creative brands and organizations doing Artist and Project Management, Event Planning, Marketing, Creative Direction, and Copy Writing. Shout out to Mindzai Creative, SprATX, and the HOPE Campaign! I then became focused on my own art career and decided to go independent and start my own company. This was a huge leap of faith for me and the Universe provided all of the opportunities for me to build and grow my business. This brings me back to the question about self-confidence…. I had to believe in myself to leave the consistent paycheck. I had to trust that I could become successful working for myself. That confidence in myself has led me to work with brands like Rolling Stone, American Express, Coca-Cola, Lexus, SXSW, Budweiser, Facebook, Red Bull, Fender, MLB, and W Hotels.
I’m honored to have been voted ‘Austin’s Best Muralist’ by the Austin Chronicle in 2021, 2022, and 2023! I’m a proud member of the Board of Directors for the HOPE Campaign, and have recently partnered with the team at Good Dad Studios, to open the largest art studio space in Central Texas. In addition, I’m currently managing anywhere between 5-15 projects at all times. The hustle is real as a visual artist and I’m loving every moment of it!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities that I’ve found to be most impactful on my journey are purpose, positivity, and perseverance.
PURPOSE
Living without purpose is like floating in the middle of the ocean with no compass and no land in sight. I believe that all humans need purpose to feel truly fulfilled. We all need a dream to chase, challenges to overcome, and passion as our driving force. Purpose can be anything — it’s what you love doing. You’ll know you’ve found your purpose when your soul lights up and your heart feels full. Your “job” won’t feel like a job when you’re following your passion. This doesn’t mean that it doesn’t take effort or struggle, but it’s different when it’s purposeful and fulfilling.
POSITIVITY
Positivity keeps the mind right when life gets hard. There will always be obstacles and challenges along the path, but it’s what we do to overcome those challenges that matters most. Positivity will give you the strength you need to push forward. It’s my experience that what we believe becomes our reality. I remind myself daily of how lucky I am to exist, to be able to make art for a living, and to continue to grow. Every day is a gift.
PERSERVERANCE
Perseverance, grit, and dedication are all necessary for any type of success in this world. Life doesn’t hand you success, fame, financial abundance, or happiness. Hard work, determination, and conviction on the other hand will get you to where you want to be. Never give up on your dreams. You deserve the life that you want to live — that dream job, the family, the financial stability, the connection to source, and everything in between. Develop your plan, take the steps to get to where you want to go, and never ever give up on yourself.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed I try to take the high road. Feeling stressed and overwhelmed can be debilitating to creativity and growth. I always try to get out in nature to calm my nervous system and ground my energy — there’s nothing like fresh air and reconnecting to nature for healing and perspective. I practice yoga and meditation which helps get my mind on the right path. When I’m in need of connection or uplifting energy I reach out to my friends and fellow creatives for positive reassurance and guidance.
In all honesty, the feeling of being overwhelmed and burn out is something that I experience often. I love to work and I have a tendency to overcommit and overwork myself — I’m a Capricorn 🙂 This requires balance, commitment to self-care, and discipline to weather the storms of life. My advice is to know your boundaries and maintain a healthy balance of quality of life and dedication to your work. Life is never “easy” but it’s wild and beautiful. There can be happiness and gratitude discovered in every moment. I remind myself everyday of how lucky I am to be alive and to do what I love.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ihavepinkhair.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/zuzubee
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zuzuperkal/
Image Credits
Naedaze Zach Lyons Viktor Cepeda
