The Pursuit of Excellence

Daily, I am inspired by many of the creators and business owners that I see the on my Instagram timeline. Most of whom I know in real life and some are actually relatives. All of them are manifesting their dreams and their passions into reality.

Under normal circumstances this would be a feat in itself, let alone starting and/or maintaining businesses and brands during a pandemic and what has proven to be an economically challenging time due to the obstacles that come with conducting business while adhering to social distancing regulations. Fortunately we are children of the computer age and these innovative individuals have all continuously pursued excellence in their respective fields. This article is my attempt at singing their praises and shining some much deserved light on their hard work and dedication.

I’ve done my best to try to group them into “similiar categories” which works better in some places then others, but is a list of the creators who inspire me daily (in no particular order):

@dreanailedit — My niece, a nail technician, and an overall strong, driven young woman with a good head on her shoulders. I’ve known her whole life and she has always been about her business. So it comes as no surprise to see her putting her all into her newest venture Drea Nailed It!

@fromthecoil — Honestly, one of the few that I don’t know outside of social media, however, from what I’ve seen, she is a very talented hair stylist who specializes in braids, twists, and coils. She also is a herbal practitioner with a focus on intimate and holistic wellness.

@essenceofmelaninllc — Someone who I attended high school with that I really only knew of, nonetheless, she is the creator of velvety, high quality, natural body butters and matching roll on scented oils.

@makeyourowntime — My beloved sister, @iambrittanygayle. She is a mother of three who also has her Masters degree in Psychology. She is also a life coach, the creator of the Conscious Connections Meetup group, and she has recently begun recording guided meditation with Insight Timer as well as a the Make Your Own Time Podcast.

@convoswithsasha — An inspirational fellow lover of words, a published poet (“Healing the Soul” and “Seasons”), a doula, and the creator of the Convos With Sasha Podcast.

@royalshometeam — My cousins and a husband and wife real estate and home renovation team who convert nightmarish houses into custom dream homes.

@reignforestco — My old loc stylist and the creator of handcrafted teas, tisanes, and spice blends that are all made in small batches and are eco friendly and organic.

@twodoughgirls — Another one that I do not know personally, however, they are an Atlanta-based virtual bake shop.

@dxx7y_ — A man that I’ve known since we were boys. The curator of the DXX7Y brand and one of the most consistent, calculated, and unique collection of apparel.

@lovaboyclothing — Another man I’ve known since we were young men, who has created a brand of handmade, high-fashion apparel that is all available as preorders.

@peace_daglue — Another man I’ve known of since we were young men, who has created a brand of clothes that have a hometown spirit with an undertone of community.

@mrgunnaaita — Another man I’ve known of since we were young men, who is a very talented artist who has translated his abilities from paper, to digital, to skin, to apparel.

@iam_floss — A woman I’ve known since high school, who is a musician and a the creator a brand new style of headwear that has taken the industry by storm know as #halosbyfloss.

@sungod757 — Another man I’ve known of since we were young men, who is another very talented artist, the creator of the Volt brand, and also a musician.

@jody_ryan_ — Another man I’ve known since high school, the first musician that I featured on my blog and the self proclaimed “Chesapeake King”, who released his most recent project by the same name in 2020.

@govboyregime — Another man I’ve known since we were young men, who has always been a man of principle and one who always handled business. He has been making music for over a decade and he continues build his fan base but consistently putting out great content.

@yungworldjuan — Another man who I’ve known of since high school, who is a signed to @legalhussleent and has been recognized for his musical talents by the likes of Styles P, Charlamagne the God, Yandy Smith, and DJ Envy.

@tigobmusic — Another man who I’ve known of for years, who has not only had some radio spins with his hit “CNN”, but he has also made headlines with his vegan food truck “Romeo’s Vegan Burgers” that he started with his manager, Lamont Heath.

In totality, it is beautiful to see young people chasing their dreams in the pursuit of excellence. But don’t take my word for it, check out all of their Instagram pages and see for yourself.

Willfully, you’ll find some inspiration to pursue your own idea of excellence, but at the very least you will find some great products, services, and content to like, share and support.

Thank you,

Cameron Marquis—@pourwriteousteachings