An accomplished singer and songwriter, Carlos Ricketts Jr. has been on stage with some of world’s most famous artists. He has turned his passion into a profession and explains how he uses not only his talent but his connections, inner strength and mentors to achieve his dreams. We explore what it takes to be creative and embrace the artist side of ourselves including how to deal with the imposter syndrome and the importance of taking just one step a day!
Transcript
Unknown Speaker 0:03 ready whenever you are, Stephen Christopher 0:04 okay. Hey, how's it going? I hope you're having a great day Stephen Christopher here with today's awesome. Other guest awesome new guests, which as you know, every week we have the most amazing guests we've ever had in this week is no difference. Here with me is my awesome co host, Laura Sanchez. Laura, how's it going today? Unknown Speaker 0:34 Hey, everybody. Thanks for joining us today. Excited, excited for this one. Something different again? Stephen Christopher 0:40 Yeah, this is gonna be a good one. Yeah, it's a different. It's a guest that's in a whole different industry that I think a lot of us don't necessarily get the opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes a little bit in this industry, of like entertainment. But it's going to be really cool to talk to this guest today about like, what his mindset is, and things that he's gone through and things that he's overcome, and just all kinds of cool lessons like that. So let's get into it. So today's guest is a singer songwriter, is born in LA, began singing at the age of eight. And what we'll find is that until he was about 17, he just thought that everybody could sing. And Laura and I have already had conversations with him about how that's absolutely not the case. But it just goes to show how, you know, we have these preconceived notions and these things that we're programmed with, that we don't always necessarily know whether or not they're true. And so I will definitely talk a little bit about that today. But this person today has had the pleasure of performing and the opportunity to perform with some really, really cool people and some really big names, including but not limited to you to Willie Nelson, john mayer, Taj Mahal, Mary J. Blige, George Benson, Michael McDonald, the killers, Michael Buble, a, and a lot of others and has even co written songs for some artists that you know, like Anita Baker, Patti LaBelle, and a lot of others. Currently, he's working on some really cool solo stuff, a solo debut, which I'm excited about, is coming, and is just one of the most probably passionate people about what he does, that I've ever met. And so without further ado, my little Drumroll, please welcome Carlos Ricketts to the show today. Carlos, how's it going? Unknown Speaker 2:34 Good. How are you? Thank you for the introduction. Stephen Christopher 2:37 Right? Yeah, man. Absolutely. You've done, you've done, you've done a lot of cool stuff. And, you know, we've had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know each other. Geez, I don't know what time is flying with all the COVID stuff. But Wow, I guess it's been probably at least over a year, at this point. And, you know, I think it's cool because it kind of it's I'm starstruck right. Like, I've got to meet somebody like you. And we've got to hang out like multiple times together and learn about this whole crazy industry that so few people get to see behind the scenes. And I'm just excited to see where this goes today. And talk with somebody that's so passionate, but also so humble and so friendly. And see what kind of cool stuff we can pull out of this. So Unknown Speaker 3:27 it's going to be fine. Thank you. Thank you. I was I think we met in Salt Lake City. Yep. Yeah, we're mutual friend, Garrett. And I felt like when I met you and me that I had known you forever. So it's good to see you again. Stephen Christopher 3:48 Yeah, awesome, man. Likewise. And yeah, it was just one of those friendships that started that just felt very natural. So and you know, and Katie and I have had the opportunity to see you perform have some really cool experiences backstage at certain places. And that's been that was that was super cool. To see what it's like, like in your life. So take us back a little bit to down memory lane, like you started singing at a really young age. And in the pre show where you're talking about how like up until you were 17. I think you said, you basically just always were to the impression that everybody could sing. Unknown Speaker 4:28 I thought everybody could sing. And I didn't really realize it until I was around 17. But I kind of now know that not everyone can sing but I think we all have a voice. But yeah, I wasn't sure about that until I was just older a little bit. Stephen Christopher 4:54 In Do you think that was because I just because of like your upbringing. since you started singing at such a young age, were you just kind of always around other people that could sing and that was kind of your, your, your life and your passion and what everything was focused on? Or did you have other friends that are outside of that industry that you just assume they could sing and had that same talent? Unknown Speaker 5:20 I just thought everybody could think I really did. And so just growing up, I started singing when I was around eight. And my mom and dad took me to go see Annie, back in the day, and they bought me the vinyl to it. And so I used to just sing to that. And I remember asking my mom to like, she was in the kitchen. I was like, Hey, you know, listen to me saying or whatever. And she did. And it just, I don't know, I felt that felt special to me. And I still thought everybody could do it, you know? Yeah. Stephen Christopher 5:57 So when you're okay, so you were young, and your mom was kind of helping lead the way? Show, you know, showing and encourage you encouraging you? Did she do that? Like, pretty much from then on? Or? Did you ever hit a part in your childhood to where it was like, okay, you have this hobby that singing? And now it's time to like, go get a real job or go into the real world? Or, or did you not have that like, Did she always encourage you to follow that passion. Unknown Speaker 6:31 My mom always encouraged me and always encouraged as being led to this very day. So in terms of making a transition from Hobby to profession, I, we lived in Boston, time. And I think I was maybe 25 ish or something like that. And I was working at a long distance company as a provisioning manager, which I kind of didn't know what I was doing. But anyway, but I was doing pretty well, you know, and, and getting paid pretty well. And I really didn't. Yeah, so long story short, I went, I saw an ad for an audition for this playing. And so I went during my lunch break, and I they told me that I got the job. So I was going back to work. And I called my mom from the payphone, which, that's how long ago was from the patient. So I called my mom and I was like, Mom, I know, I got this thing like, what am I? What am I gonna do about my job? And without hesitation, she she said, quit. And I did. And so like, I really, I was thinking about it. I haven't worked outside of music, since like, maybe 2001 or 2002. So it's been full time for for a while. And she's always encouraging. always encouraged. Stephen Christopher 8:09 When that happened. Carlos, were you you know, that's kind of what we sometimes refer to is like, burning all the ships, right? You just quit walked out of your job and said, okay, it's it's all gonna take care of itself. Um, did you ever second guessed that? Did you ever say what the heck am I doing? Unknown Speaker 8:28 Yes. Especially when. So we, it was this touring show. And I had no idea about plays or singing in plays or anything like that. And so we ended up it was like, sort of being like a caravan of people going from town to town, performing this, this playing, and like, the pay was like $300 a week, which was crazy. And just all of those things and I'm like, What am I doing cuz I I left a pretty good paying scenario, which was, you know, every week, you know, you're gonna get paid that kind of thing. So it was not ideal at times. But it also showed me that you can actually make a living using what you have like your gifts. And I just that that was invaluable to see up close and be a part of, and I also made some of the greatest friends that have gone on great things since then. So it was all worth it. In the moment. It was kind of sketchy in terms of just like what but but I learned a lot so that that was invaluable. Stephen Christopher 9:57 Yeah, I mean, it's such a great It's such an important point, I think, that we, that I can pull out of this that we can make a living following our passions. And I mean, what what better industry right then then like music and things like that to prove to people because you always hear about starving artists and stuff like that. But just the fact that you can make it and that you were willing to do whatever it took, because you were so passionate about it. So like, in those moments that were sketchy, and what like what was going through your mind in those moments like rethinking, oh my gosh, this is insane. I've got to quit and go back and get a job like, was it money sketchy? Or was it just what am I doing with my life? Like, what was those? Those things that were going through your mind? Unknown Speaker 10:50 Sure. So them it was sketchy money wise? Yeah. Like what the hell, you know, if I can, you know, but at the same time, I got to learn a few things that are that are really, really important that I think, are far reaching outside of music. And just in general, like you, I learned that no matter how much talent you have, or what your connections are things of that nature, you're basically when you're touring with people, you're living with them. So this is like your extended family. And you and I learned that no matter how much talent you have, it's more than your talent, it's your personality, it's your, the way you interact with people. It's your integrity, it's all of these different things that I learned. And I'm really grateful for. And I keep being reminded of that, as, as time goes on, because I've seen a lot of talented, really, really talented people that stand in their own way, for whatever reason. But I learned pretty early on that you you're spending almost 24 hours a day with these people, and you're on stage for maybe an hour or two. So it's the other 20 hours. That really count, as well as you know, the stage but you have to there's a lot that goes with it. And you have to and i think i think it's the same everywhere, like working in office or you have your own company for that nature. If you're just terrible to be around, Unknown Speaker 12:44 then it's gonna be harder, I would assume, right? Stephen Christopher 12:49 Yeah. Have you had? Have you ever had people that were terrible to work with? And what did you do? I mean, did you leave? Did you suck it up? Like, what was going through your mind? If you did have people like that? Unknown Speaker 13:08 Well, I totally sucked it up. Unknown Speaker 13:11 Because, you know, a lot of times you can, uh, you know, another good thing too, is my best friend and I Tiffany Palmer. We have had, we met in church, we sang in church we did, we were wired together. And she moved to usually from Los Angeles to go to school, Alabama, all of that. But as time went on, we ended up working together singing's up being songs for people and touring together. So we started touring with Mary J. Blige, like 2003 years, or something like that three or four for a while. And now we're touring with john mayer together. So the thing is, what I what I know, has helped me along that journey is to be to know that someone is there with you, that loves you, in spite of, or that has, we've had this this great friendship for a long time, like since we were kids. So I think that really makes a huge difference to so no matter what's going on it like I know that I know, I have someone there and she has someone there that just in spite of and, and because of we just love each other. So. So I think that to be able to travel the world with your best friend. It's like it's not work. It's just, it's it's a blessing. Yeah. Stephen Christopher 14:55 It's like It's like find a buddy, right? Like Yeah, buddy. Unknown Speaker 14:58 It's just you know, we have a great time. And so no matter what's going on, which I've been fortunate, fortunate enough to work with great artists that take really good care of us and, and especially with john, we, I, he somehow cures from the crude to ban, the management's everybody, just great people. So I really like I genuinely love everyone there. So it makes it really easy, Stephen Christopher 15:37 huh, that's awesome. So did you like, do you ever have times where? Okay, so this is what I think about. So getting up in front of stage and getting on stage in front of, I mean, I don't even know how many people go to concerts like, thousands and 10s of thousands, right? So a lot of people. Do you ever have, like, pre concert jitters? Or like, what goes through your mind? That's, that's not positive, like, like, do you? Do you have this self talk around Mike? Or do you ever not saying every time but like, have you ever had self talk? That's like, Who am I to be the one singing here on stage? Or who am I to be this or not even exist in your mind, and you have like some other routine that you're always thinking about? Like, I've seen you right before a concert, and like watched all the fans, but I'm sitting there like talking to you, and you're not worried at all? Like, I was uncomfortable. I was getting nervous. And I wasn't even gonna have to do anything. But like, I don't know, do you have self talk? Like, do you have self doubt ever? Or is it just something that you've programmed out? Unknown Speaker 16:47 No, absolutely. So. So this for one time, in rehearsal, I looked around, and I saw all of these, like legendary people like in the band. And I had to think to myself, like snap out of it, because I'm here because I can do the job. Right. And so I had to go in Word, which is what I'm learning a lot during this pandemic, is to I usually, I used to have the habit of reaching out like, oh, something was going wrong, like, ah, I need to call somebody or do something to get through it. But I'm learning that, that energy going out, I need to bring that in. Because I have everything that I need to, to persevere to thrive through whatever it is. So yes, I have doubts. Yes, I'll be nervous about, oh, man, I gotta hit this note on this song. You know, but having fun, and it's really, it's what I'm meant to. It's, it's what I'm meant to do. So, yeah. The talk is the self talk is Carlos. Get over it. You have something to do? Like, like, do what you do, do what you're gonna do. We rehearsed for, like, over a month, you know, the parts saying? Yeah, Stephen Christopher 18:16 that's awesome. I love. I love what you just said, which two things really stood out. Remember to have fun, Laura, and I talk about this all the time in business? Like, we've got to remember to make it fun, and do what I'm here to do? Or do you know, do what I'm meant to do? And I think we've, it's so easy, like, we get caught up in our own heads, right with negative self talk that Oh, my gosh, somebody is better than us, or who are we to be doing this part or growing this company like imposter syndrome. But I love that, like, I'm here to do what I'm meant to do. That's really quite clearly stealing that. Unknown Speaker 18:57 Awesome. Well, that that thing. So that Unknown Speaker 19:02 message comes up a lot, doesn't it just just outside of business or just in life? Sometimes, like what are you doing? Like, like some of the new ventures that I'm doing now? I the URL as as early as this morning? doing? But in spite of that, you have to do it? Right. Like you have to do it anyway. Because I think what separates people that do and don't exist, the people that do they just do, right. So, like I'm really learning this truth. This I you very, I'm a singer, I'm a songwriter. That's all I'm doing. Like and I felt I think I had to do that from originally because you mentioned going from Hobby to professional and I literally had I had to tell myself, you are not singing for free anymore. But I like I had to have these talks with myself, your you have to charge you. So there was a lot of internal dialogue in fear because your voice to me is that's you, that's an extension of you. So this industry is very can be very, it is something like art very subjective so people can love it, they can hate it, they can for whatever reason, I don't like your shoes. I don't want to hear your song, you know, that kind of a thing. But, but I just I'm, what I'm growing to know is that you just have to do it. Unknown Speaker 20:52 Hmm. Stephen Christopher 20:54 I love that. So you mentioned like that you're starting to do some new stuff. Is that in the same line? Is that like singing songwriting stuff? Or is that is this different? Is this kind of branching out into other Unknown Speaker 21:08 things? It's branching out. So Steven, Laura, what I so I started a company, which was totally like, in February, I made a like a goal be one of these gold beaded bracelets, right? And I just wanted it so I made it. Months later, a friend of mine text me was like, Carlos, I need that gold bracelet. And I was like, Hi, like my gold bracelet. What do you like, I forgot that I've made it. So I was like, sure. Yeah, I'll make it. So I did. And within that week, she might my friend, barrio text meals, like my friend is opening up a high end jewelry store. Can you send me some? I was like, Sure. So I so I did. And then within a week I was in their store. So it's, it's really sort of in me by surprise. And so this morning, I was like, What are you doing? There's a pandemic? Why do you have a high end jewelry, but I just have one. So and and and you know, I have customers really, it's still it's still a still an extension of creativity. And it's very subjective. And it's very, but I love it because I deliver the pieces to my clients and the way that they respond. It's sort of like performing, you know? Stephen Christopher 22:49 So, you Okay, so when you were really young, Mom always encouraged you to sing, and encourage you to follow that path. So now that you're doing something different, that you've never done before, with this high end, you know, jewelry line? Is anything different showing up for you, in the world of like, your mental game? Or is basically the way your mom raised you and encourage you like that just all carries over into this and you're like, I don't know, I'll figure it out. Unknown Speaker 23:25 Yes, it kind of it kind of is the same, wherein I believe, like, I know that I can do anything. And I thought that everybody else knew that they could do anything. But sometimes when I talk, which which I'm learning, this is all working progress, learning, self discovery, all of these different things. And I'm learning that a lot of people one. It's not their first instinct to say what they mean, right? Is what I've found. And then also, I'm learning that I've had, I have the power to do whatever it is that I want. And I'm tapping into that now. I never really thought about it. But I noticed that if there's something to do, I can do it. It and I just and it gets done. And things happen. And a lot of people people will tell me like, Oh, well, that's amazing. Well, how did that? It's like, Man, I'm not trying to figure it out. It just it's just going to happen, whatever it is. So I'm learning the power of believing and doing what you got. You have to actually do work. But Stephen Christopher 24:57 can I ask a question about that? Because you know, there So much out there about creativity. And in the me maybe some of its old beliefs that you can't force it right? You know, I think of an artist, whether you're writing a song, or you're making a piece of jewelry, or you're writing a book that, you know, you can't sit down and just force it and say, Okay, I'm gonna make it happen today. That it just kind of it's inspiration, it comes to you when it comes to you. But it seems to me what I'm hearing is a little bit different from you that there is some aspect, which is, you have to do it, you have to make steps you have to even if it's a baby step is does that jive with what you're saying? Or am I missing something? Unknown Speaker 25:44 Yes, I saw an interview with Tiffany Haddish on like, The Breakfast Club with one of her first interviews maybe a year or two ago. And what she was saying was that if you have a dream you have to do? Well, you have to be recommended that you do at least one thing a day to get closer to it. And then over time, you will see that, oh, I actually arrived last nipsey hussle clip yesterday where he was saying that you get to a point where you'll be so close to to achieving what it is that you're doing. If you make these steps that you'll find that even when you paraphrase. And even when you're feeling like Oh, man, I got to turn around once you go to look back and see how far you've come. You're like, Man, I'm almost there. I got to keep going. But I think that you what my takeaway from those things is that you just have to do it. Now every day, am I I got to write this song or I know what you're saying in terms of ambition and creativity. Even just some time, I will lay in bed all day long, because I'll just feel the weight of the world like these past few weeks have been really tough. Just the reminders and the different energies and the all that's been happening. But I have to get up the next day. Like I'll give myself the time to feel how I'm feeling. But I you know, what else helps is there's a client that's waiting for for this piece. And I told him I would have it ready by next week. So get up, do it. Get it? Yeah, it sounds. Sometimes it sounds easier than it is. But you just my belief is you just have to do it. Stephen Christopher 27:53 Or that's such a great What a great person and Carlos to ask the question about consistency and creativity. Right? Like, you know, forcing it because I've heard even in business, right? People are like, Oh, you know, I just, I'm passionate about it, and I can't force it. But I think ultimately, I don't know, Carlos, what do you think like if I was an artist, and I wasn't gonna force it, and I was going to wait for it to magically come, I would be in bed a lot of days a week waiting for this creative inspiration, as opposed to getting up and like, you know, trying to get myself into some sort of a location or a state that might allow me to start working towards Unknown Speaker 28:36 that thing. Stephen Christopher 28:37 But I love that, like Do one thing, do one thing a day. That'll get you closer to your dream. Unknown Speaker 28:43 Yeah, but you are an artist, you are both everyone is an artist, like what you're doing with your business is from your heart. That's an extension of you. That's art, a, and that takes the same in my opinion, the same amount of energy to believe in something that hasn't shown up yet. Or that thing that's in your mind and you take the steps of you write it down, you think about the people that you may need to contact or you are sometimes you may not know I personally I don't know that how it's going to show up, but I know it's going to show up. And sometimes I'm surprised at Joza. But it always shows up whatever that vision is when I'm putting my energy towards something it happens is when I think about music and the different artists or touring you there's there are only so many number wise artists that are touring that are putting out records and there are a lot but there are only that there is a limit limited amount of people. So then to have the audacity to believe that I'm going to be a part of something. And it happens. I know that that is. I know that something special. And I also know that I had to believe it, even though I had to believe and I had to work. And I also had people that helped me. But first you have to make those steps. I noticed that when I make the steps, people come. But my apartment in New York City was Clive Davis going to knock on my door and asked me for a song, probably not so. But I had to write I had to, I had to do the thing. And then how it showed up was just a part of the mystery. But it happened. Stephen Christopher 30:53 Oh, well, I mean, Laura knows, I could talk about the woowoo side of this type of thing all day long, because I love it. But I think what's really important that you're that you keep hitting on is like having a vision, or having a belief, holding to it without knowing how it's actually going to show up. And that's really I mean, that's a huge part of where the exciting unknown, like title came from, is that we and I love that use the word audacity because I use that we, we think that we, we have the audacity to think that our little brain can construct the best possible way to get us to a goal, when there's this whole infinite list of potential out in the world that we have no idea about, like, there's so many people we've never met that we've never heard their name, we have no clue who they even are. And if we're too narrow in our focus, and we don't trust in this really cool, unknown, and let it unfold, we miss all of the amazing opportunities. But I love it that you'd like to keep hounding on, like it shows up in this really cool way. And it really does, like it happens like that consistently. And all the time. As long as you're taking action, and you're moving, you're doing something towards it. Unknown Speaker 32:15 Right. Right. And the key that I see that's on your shirt is gratitude, gratefulness being, you know, um, I think that that is a huge key. Because there are going to be, the reality is there's going to be disappointments, there's going to be things that probably you made, I will I can speak for myself. And I feel like oh, this, this should be this way, or why why isn't. But I give myself a little bit of time to do that. And then I have to change my point of view, or else I can find myself in a rabbit hole of looking for reasons for things that may not even have anything to do with me or what I've done. It's not what's not what I'm supposed to be doing. So I just think that's a great key to gratitude being grateful. Stephen Christopher 33:16 Yeah. Yeah, I, I could not agree more with all of these things that you're saying. I, it took me a lot of years to figure them out. But yeah, I completely agree with them. Unknown Speaker 33:30 figuring it out. Stephen Christopher 33:32 Yeah. I think we're always going to be figuring out right, like I always say there is no finish line. There's just milestones like, right, we're never going to get somewhere there's nowhere to get this whole life is just about experiences and expression and choosing what those experiences and that type of expression that we want to have is and then going after it. There are no there's no wrong answers. I and there's no there's no perfect right answers. It's just a bunch of choices that we get to make over and over again. Unknown Speaker 34:07 How is your experience? Let me ask the question. How is your experience with putting yourself out there in terms of asking for what you want or what you need? What? What's the self talk there? Is it easier over time? Stephen Christopher 34:25 Yeah, I mean, so I grew up. You know, I grew up in a very, in a good family that supported me, but they supported me in the way that they thought they knew best which was, you go to college, you get a job, you work there, you retire. And that safety. Well, it took me a lot of years to break that pattern. And actually start believing in myself. So, you know, on the ride, if you can, if you compared us, I'm like 20 years behind you that I had to learn how to do self talk. That I was actually capable of doing these things. And that like, following a passion was actually okay. So, you know, it took me a lot of years of reading books, and then testing. So reading a book about manifestation or creation or moving towards a goal. And then I would test it, you know, I'd write it on, write it on a big note, put it on my wall. I mean, I used to have things on my ceiling, like, I had blank checks on my ceiling. So I'd wake up every day and be like, okay, you know, moving towards this. And then I would read books on manifestation, and how to listen to the things that are showing up like in the form of intuition, and then taking action on those little things. So it's, it was challenging in the beginning, but then it became exciting, like a kind of like a scientist, I was like, Oh, well, this, these 15 bucks say that this is going to work. So let's try it. And then when the exciting thing would show up, Laura and I talked about this a lot, like when the unknown exciting thing shows up, like when you ask for something, and then randomly, some new person comes into your life and is like, Oh, yeah, I was just looking for that exact thing that you're about to offer, that then just starts to solidify that it works. And then we have proof. So that's kind of how it shows up for me. Like, it's just practice. And then as I get better at it, I catch myself when I start thinking, How am I ever going to do this? I'm like, wait, wait, that's not the right thing to think about. It's how could I possibly do this? Or who could possibly help me? Or what's the potential next step? So replacing those inner critic judgments with a more curious question? Unknown Speaker 36:57 Thank you. Thank you. How about you, Laura? Unknown Speaker 37:01 You know, I think that the Stephen Christopher 37:05 I had a career before, as a as a practicing attorney for 20 some years. And it was a passion. I mean, I knew from a small of when I was, you know, probably 10 or 11, that I wanted to be an attorney. And so the I had kind of like what you did, I had that, like, Oh, I can do anything. Of course I can do this. There was never a doubt in my mind. And through my career, then you get reinforcement that Oh, yeah, you are good, right. So that, that reinforces Yes, I can do this. When then I decided to leave that field and do something different. I have struggled with the imposter syndrome, though. Well, wait a minute. I might have been good at this. But am I really good at this? Does anybody really care what I have to say? And I think that it has been more for me, of just doing it and putting steps out there. Steven, and I recently did 100 day video challenge. So we both posted a video online every day for 100 days. And yeah, wow. That's what I did. I mean, it was it was awesome. Some days were silly. Some days were good. Some days were a struggle. But one of the things that has struck me after that is the number of people who've said to me, I never heard a word from them the entire hundred days. But when I posted the last one, I got these notes saying, you know what, I'm going to miss this. It was really good for me. I liked hearing it even when I was down. I knew whatever you said would cheer me up or would refocus me or whatever. And so that reinforcement you talked about the external I'm very much an external and probably need to focus more on getting it internally. But that has helped me start to say Okay, wait a minute, maybe I do have value and it is okay if I keep playing in this space and continue to create Unknown Speaker 39:06 Steven shaking his head going Yep, that's her. Stephen Christopher 39:08 Good lessons. Lessons. Unknown Speaker 39:12 Awesome. Stephen Christopher 39:15 Yeah, Carlos, great questions. By the way. I love that. I love how I kind of flipped over that's really cool. So as we kind of wind up one this has been absolutely amazing. Thank you for the time. Laura, be thinking if you have any last questions for Carlos and So Carlos, if you can share if people want to like find out more about you or just follow you and like get to see all the cool stuff you're up to. Where would they go to find you or where should they best go to find you? Unknown Speaker 39:49 Sure, there are a few places one good old Instagram so my handle there is made the number four good and then Then my website which is Carlos Ricketts, Ric k e TTS Jr. calm. And soon you'll be able to see my my jewelry company Ace mckell ac e m e ke l jewelry.com. I have both Ace mackell combi, but I think I'm going to go with jewelry. So let's still you know, I'll have the website up soon, which what is so encouraging is that in spite of not having a website or anything, like client people, they are coming out of the woodwork like, I'll make something, then they'll tell their friend, or I'll be at a party. Well, a socially distance party, I was at a dinner party of eight. And, and people they're like, Oh, you know, we're just inquiring and I'm like, Oh, I make it and they're like, what? So? I don't know. I'm, I'm just really encouraged and really grateful for you having having me and. Unknown Speaker 41:13 And Unknown Speaker 41:15 I enjoy, I have enjoyed myself, and learned a lot to Stephen Christopher 41:21 awesome and Well, I know you've taught a lot as well today. And I'll mention it again. You're extremely humble. And you're extremely giving. And so I know for a fact that there's a lot of people that you help along the way that you may or may not even know about that you're helping, but you do. And I'm super grateful for that. And I know they're grateful for that. And so always give yourself credit for just how you show up in the world because the world needs a lot more people like you. And yeah, absolutely, man, I really appreciate you and is there anything that comes to mind as kind of like a parting I don't know, parting words or just a thought like advice that you would give to people going through life that maybe you've learned and then we'll have Laura kind of do a little bit of a cool recap or any other questions that she has. Unknown Speaker 42:16 Cool. Um, one I want to just say thank you. I've learned from the best in terms of my mentors that are now friends to one is Lisa Fisher. She's an amazing vocalist saying, with Luther Vandross, the Rolling Stones, everybody. I noticed when when I met her and then got to know her over time. That's something to me one time, which was that every gig that she's on, or every scenario, she's coming into learn something and I thought, wow, like someone would that gargantuan amount of talent like, way through the roof talent is so is forever a student really stuck with me. So I learned from the best her, Janice Pendarvis, who's saying with See, spaying and all everyone you can think of also just very human humble. And so I learned from the best. And in terms of advice, Unknown Speaker 43:41 I think, really Unknown Speaker 43:45 getting to know who you are, helps you to show up in a way that is unlike anyone else because we all we all have our own pattern, we you know, fingerprints, and you hear all this stuff, comparison to where snowflakes, there's no one, but it's very true. like nobody is like you nobody has that thing that you were given so and it's worth sharing whatever it is and whatever venue and just knowing that you mean how to and how to accept myself as I am. And then it's I'm finding that it's helping me like oh, well, to not edit myself to fit into whatever is happening, but just be myself and where I'm supposed to be is where I'll end up. So I'm still learning that and I'm grateful for this. This time where everything like you From one week, there are all these different things that I was scheduled to do. And, and within the next week, all of that was gone. Right? So, I heard a friend of I think Lisa Fisher said, I was watching her on a on a podcast or zoom or something. And she was transparent enough to say like, Well, okay, so you're not singing. So who are you kind of a thing I'm paraphrasing. And so it's sort of a reminder that you are not what you do, who you are is not what you do in terms of like, your, your, your vocation, or you're not that Who are you outside of that? Like, what is your character who, so I'm, I'm still learning that and I want to encourage me to just know and embrace far, and just know that when you show up and take those steps that people will come, they will come to help or to I but you have to take that chance on yourself. See that happen? Stephen Christopher 46:17 Well, that's amazing. You just dropped you dropped so much knowledge and so many perfect little nuggets of advice in a super short amount of time. That was like a speed round. Thank you. That was Unknown Speaker 46:30 a blessing. Thank you. Stephen Christopher 46:33 All right. I'm Laura. Any questions? Otherwise, I think, take it away. Okay, I will take it away with a couple of key points. I almost just want to repeat what Carlos said in the last, you know, three minutes, that kind of sums it all up. Um, but kind of working. I actually, I think, for me, what hit me the most in terms of like, in my gut was when Carlos said, You are an artist. And that being an artist means I mean, it's, it's giving something of yourself to someone else, it whatever you do, it's an extension of you, whether that's business, or it's more in the traditional creative fields. But think so many of us don't see ourselves that way. So that really stuck with me. And then I think the other real big thing that was consistent throughout Carlos sharing many of his his stories and his struggles, both started out and then moving into something different now, was the concept of, yes, have a dream, have a vision, but take action. And even if it's one little thing a day, or maybe you don't do a thing for a day, but the next day you do to make sure that you're continuing to move, because that really differentiates those who get close to achieving their dreams or achieve their dreams and those that don't. And I think the last one, is the importance of learning from the best that the mentors that he has had, it's just a reminder to all of us, right, that, number one, we often have so much to share to others, and that we should do that. But the reverse is true as well, which is the importance of having people in your life that whether they know that they are your mentor, or they don't. Even just that learning attitude of every opportunity is a chance to learn whether it's a chance conversation in an elevator with someone, or it's an official mentorship program, there's always that opportunity to learn and how you can improve from what others have already learned. So thank you, Carlos. Very, very much. This was an amazing, Unknown Speaker 48:54 thank you. Thank you both. I had a really great time and you made this easy for me. So thank you. Awesome, man. Stephen Christopher 49:03 Well, I hope you have I hope you're having an absolutely amazing day and thank you for hanging out with us today. with Laura and with Carlos Ricketts today for the show. Really, really great episode make sure to stay tuned for the connect the dots where Laura and I are going to pull out some of the lessons that we learned some of the things that we tried and, and and how though how we're implementing and using those things in our life. You definitely don't want to miss it. And until next time, embrace the deciding unknown.
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