We were lucky to catch up with Ali Taylor recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ali thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

The legacy I’m building and hope to leave is one where people experience empowerment, courage, and freedom—freedom to be, live, act, build, create, and express without guilt, shame, or doubt. The world is too full of people eager to sit on the sidelines and point and laugh and criticize without ever taking a risk of their own. So while I hope to leave a lasting legacy, I’m more interested in being an example for those who desire to create their own lane and really go after creating the life they’re capable of.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

After studying graphic design at Brookdale Community College, my path has been anything but straightforward. Through launching and leading BelMarketing Design Studio, I discovered my true passion: helping small business owners and solopreneurs build and grow their business in a way that honors who they are and aligns with what truly matters to them.
To me, success is more than how good the P&L looks—it’s the things money can’t buy. This comes from deeply personal experience. After unexpectedly losing my father in May 2017 and then when my mother faced a series of serious health challenges, being self-employed gave me the flexibility to work with my sisters in providing her care until she passed in August 2021. This experience taught me several things. One, it’s pointless to work so hard to try to prove something to anyone. The people that love you will love you no matter how successful you appear to be. The people that don’t will never love and support you no matter how successful you are. And two, success is about how present and available you can be for the people you love when it matters the most.
Beyond entrepreneurship, I’ve been deeply involved with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as a Man of the Year candidate, Visionary of the Year All-Star, and leader on multiple committees. I didn’t have a personal connection to the cause but I admire the work they do along with the hope and support they provide to cancer patients and their families.
What I’m most proud of is seeing the ripple effect when business owners implement the right systems – they not only achieve greater financial success but regain control of their time and rediscover their passion. This impact extends to their families, employees, and communities.
For potential clients, I want them to know they don’t have to compromise their authenticity to achieve success. Whether through my TEDx talk(s), executive coaching, or strategic consulting, my goal is helping them build sustainable businesses that reflect their true strengths and values.
On a personal note, I’m a big fan of kind people, Superman, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and bourbon – but what really drives me is seeing business owners thrive while creating work-life presence and making a meaningful impact.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

It’s January 2020. I’m sitting in the hallway of the ER at Jersey Shore Medical Center. My mother is on a gurney beside me. It’s well after midnight. In a few hours, I have to present the latest round of designs for the biggest branding project of my career – a $30K brand identity redesign for a 40-year-old, top accounting firm in New York. We’re getting very close to the launch deadline.
Between doctors and tests, I work on my laptop. When nurses come to take blood, I set it aside, being fully present with them, making sure to communicate what medicines she’s on, notes from her primary and specialists. Then I return to work.
By 4am, we’re finally assigned a room. The presentation is due in a few hours. After making sure my mom is comfortable, I finish up the most critical pieces and take a two-hour nap in the most uncomfortable hospital chair I’ve unfortunately grown too familiar with.
When I wake up, I whip up a few extra ideas and polish some others that absolutely blew the client away.
I have my camera off during the presentation because I’m looking pretty rough. But midway through they hear the intercom system paging medical staff and realize where I am. They ask why I didn’t say anything or reschedule. My answer is simple: I gave my word. I promised to deliver today, and I intend to keep that promise.
When I look back at that night, it’s clear to me why I was able to handle it the way I did. It wasn’t about being tough or pushing through exhaustion—it was about knowing who I am and what I stand for. My choices weren’t dictated by the chaos around me; they flowed from what I gave my word to.
In moments like these, people often say you have to choose: family or work, personal or professional. But for me, it’s not about choosing one over the other—it’s putting aside the chaos of what I might be feeling at the moment and looking at how I can keep my word to both.
I’ve learned that clarity about who you are makes the hardest decisions simple—not easy, but simple. When I’m not able to fulfill a promise, I make sure to communicate and take responsibility. That’s how I navigate the tension between the inevitable demands of life and the commitments I make.
That night, as I sat in that hospital chair with my laptop on my knees, I wasn’t thinking about work-life balance or trying to prove something. I was simply being who I said I’d be.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Yes. “Up from Nothing: The Untold Story of How We (All) Succeed” by John Hope Bryant. What I loved about this book was the recognition I found in the author’s personal experiences and that drive to succeed in a way that your current environment or previous experiences would not predict.
Growing up, it was practically non-existent to see a wealthy or successful Black man that wasn’t an athlete or entertainer. I personally did not have that kind of athletic ability and I believed I was too shy/introverted to become that kind of celebrity. However, I’ve always had a drive and determination to be successful and create life-changing wealth. Reading this book reaffirmed that desire and provided a concrete example of someone doing it differently than what I learned from the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wisdomandwayfinder.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajtaylor317/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alijtaylor/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WisdomandWayfinder

Image Credits

Simon Khalil – SimonK Media
Gina Ziegler – Brookdale Community College
Matt Davis – MRD Visuals
Dru Sutton – Shore Point Productions