Tapping into my creativity to become financially independent

I recently had the great fortune of traveling to the Continent of Africa, specifically the countries of Ghana and South Africa. My experience was phenomenal and while I was there, especially in Ghana, I had something of an epiphany.

Poverty or lack breeds and fosters creativity.

Don't believe me?

Exhibit A

Handmade tapestry from South Africa, this piece alone took 4 months to make and was done by one woman. These women generally live in Townships and this is their sole source of income.




Handmade Jewelry



Need I say more?

It is absolutely incredible the beauty and brilliance of the mind as evidenced in the thousands, upon thousands of artwork, carpentry, woodwork, services, and skills, found in Africa. What "brought it home" for me though is that the common denominator of the people that are producing most of these things are among the poorest of their respective populations. These brothers and sisters do not have cozy jobs that they MARC/Metro into or drive in to work at each day. Instead, they are making their own way. Unfortunately for most, it's a forced entrepreneurship in that this is the only means to getting food on the table and a roof over their head, and I use the word "roof" very loosely here...

From talking to locals, I discovered that employment by others is a rare opportunity in both of these countries, especially in Ghana, so it's basically every man, woman, and child for himself. This is interesting and it would be easy for one to look at the negativity in this fact. But that won't fly in this blog.

I believe that there is something, actually several things that can be learned from this.

1. All human beings have the mental capacity to create a self sufficient way of life.

The capacity is there, it's just suppressed in most of us because we have too many other opportunities presented to us that don't challenge us to think and create outside of the box. We get comfortable and complacent with simply working within the parameters/confides of someone else's creativity.

2. Our personal values will be fulfilled through self sufficiency.

I know that this is a pretty strong statement, but I am theorizing this based on what I gleaned from observing and talking to people in these countries. In Ghana, and probably in many developing (BTW, I abhor the term "third world country") countries, maintaining the family unit is the bottom line. People hold their familial ties very closely and the extended family concept is widely accepted and embraced. As a matter of fact, it's often very difficult to distinguish between blood relatives and "friends of the family". With that said, what better way to be able to make your family responsibilities your number one priority and be able to respond to your family's needs accordingly, than to be a business owner? I mean is that not one of the number one reasons why people here in the states go into business for themselves? We want to make our own hours and be our own boss with the belief that this will allow the flexibility required to respond to the most important things in our life. I don't believe that this is in the forefront of the minds of the entrepreneurs that I am referring to in Ghana or South Africa, because most of them don't really have another apparent option. But it's interesting to me that being an entrepreneur does allow them to uphold their familial values, is it not? Or is this value a bi product of the situation? That's up for debate, but it's worth pointing out nonetheless.

3. Being thrust into the "right" situation, human beings will tap into their entrepreneurial ability.

Yeah I know, I'm reaching with this one...but please allow me to elaborate.

Here in the US most of us (I'm talking about X, Y generations, especially) are taught to go to school, get a degree, get a job and bring home a check..albeit signed by someone else. So from childhood, we begin to neglect the idea of working for ourselves (with exceptions of course). Slowly but surely, that creative brilliance within us begins to fade and as we climb the corporate ladder, begin acquiring some "things" and getting comfortable with our lifestyles, that creative side sort of just checks out. We get downright lazy with OURSELVES. Oh but let us lose our job and our mind gets busy with a plan to get back on top. Unfortunately that plan usually includes getting another job, or getting a second job if our issue is that the first one is not enough to make ends meet. Thus, the cycle continues.

I will use myself as an example. Several years ago, I was three years into home ownership and things were getting tight for me. I made less money than I do in my current job, so I got a part-time job. I had actually held two jobs for a while before and up until the time I purchased my home. But once I moved in and got settled, I quit the second job and decided to go back to school. Now I had a tuition bill to pay along with the mortgage and other bills. Desiring to be debt free, I refused to take a loan; so I got another second job as a makeup consultant with Clinique Cosmetics at Macy's. I fell in love with doing make-up and I was brilliant at it! I had never been one to wear a lot of make-up but I grew up learning the importance of skin care so I already had a passion for that. I was drawn to Clinique because they emphasized skin care, and working in a department store allowed me to get exposure to Lancome, Chanel, Estee Lauder, and other make up brands. I developed a good client base and was hired on several occasions to do weddings, proms, and other events on the side. My years of working with the designer Betsey Johnson also taught me some styling tips that I was able to share with some clients and earn their trust in that regard as well. So here I was, thrust into this great opportunity and not even realizing or taking full advantage of it. All I could focus on was that I needed the money just to get by for a minute until I got a better paying full time gig, which I did and then I would quit, which I did; shortly after starting at my current job. BUT what if I had kept that side hustle and worked it on my terms? Where would it have taken me? Would I be totally self sufficient financially by now? Now I understand that being a make up artist to the stars, or a fashion stylist is a lofty dream that many have and don't achieve...but so what? I am good at this...for real. I actually did the make up for one of my new co worker's wedding. I even have photos that I just found in my email today, which along with a conversation with a friend, inspired me to blog this.

Getting ready at the house

That is actually makeup and not ashiness on the back of my hand, thank you!

Touching up at the church before photos


I have a passion for skin care and make-up and people have even told me that this is my "calling". I don't necessarily wear a flawless face of make up each day or even obsess over having my eyebrows perfectly waxed and plucked at all times because well...it's just not that serious to me. But I try to maintain impeccable skin and I have gotten several people I know on good skin care regiments. I have also been known to do a bathroom make over on female colleagues going to the club or impromptu dates..LOL...because at one point (when I was honing my craft) I almost always carried a small make up kit with me.

I am saying all that to say...where would I be if had continued along this path? I have some other ideas that when I analyze them, all relate to this past experience, heck I even took classes and got a darn make up license...for what? Just to say I have it?

So back to my original thesis if you will, that poverty or lack fosters creativity. When I was in need, I tapped into some of my creativity and it paid off well for me. As soon as I began doing well, I got lazy and I let it go! Period. Should it really take extremes for us to dig deeper and try harder to develop the skills that we have and make them work for us? What is the difference between us (the diaspora in the states) and our brothers and sisters on the continent? In my opinion, it's the opportunity created for us by others. This is a luxury that to me, should purley be regarded as such. We should see the necessity in getting it for us by us. I am not implying that I want to become poor just to get my creative juices flowing (although I have wondered where I would be if I had grown up in Ghana) and I am not at all "looking in the mouth of the gift horse" of opportunity that we enjoy here in the states. But I am proposing and for myself, I am purposing to master my destiny, utilizing the resources that are available to me and the potential that is inside of me. I have my ideas and I have already begun to move forward to making some things happen.

Frankly, my current employer will never pay me enough to become wealthy let alone build an inheritance for my children or provide for my extended family and generations to come, NEVER! There is always a cap and once you reach that ceiling, that's it. You can float there or fly out the door.

I am challenging myself to develop and foster my own creativity and translate it into wealth, in spite of the abundance that I am blessed to enjoy.

What about you?