Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rodney Iler. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rodney, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I am happy as an artist and creative. Over the past few years, I’ve learned a few things about adjusting to the lifestyle of being a full-time creative. One of the most vital things was the reason why I decided to choose this path. I believe that understanding your “why” will help you maneuver through the up and down motions that come with being a full-time creative. I’ll be the first to tell you that this journey is a very rocky road until you’ve built yourself and/or your bring to a certain level. You’ll have slow business days, an empty calendar, no clients interested in what you have to offer, etc. but standing firm on the promise God made to you through the creation of your creative idea is what will keep you going, just as it’s done for me. Another lesson I’ve recently learned is that preparation is the key to success. It doesn’t matter what form of a creative you are, you will always execute in a much more effective context with proper prepation. I am I worship leader and national recording artist. There are days I have to be up and at church at 7am for a 9am service soundcheck. This requires me to wake up around 5am to give my voice the space and to get up. On the days I don’t do that, I can hear the difference, and quality of my voice change. This is because I didn’t properly prepare myself in a timely manner. So, my encouragement to all of the creatives out there is to give you dreams and visions your absolute best and water the seeds you sow because that’s where real growth takes place!

Rodney, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Rodney Iler and I am Stellar Nominated National Gospel Recording Artist based in Atlanta, GA! Along with my personal ministry as an artist, I am a part of Excel Church Worldwide where I serve as one of the worship leaders. Over the past 3 years, I have been working extremely hard to build a legacy for myself and do the work God has called me to. Though the beginning of the road was very difficult and it still has some hiccup moments I am so extremely proud of how God has used me to touch millions of lives from different tv show networks, engagements all around the country, etc. One thing that I am so proud of is the excellence from which I operate. I’ve always been one to want the best of the best. So, everything that I release or create is just that but it’s not been easy. Because I know what I want and how I want, I oftentimes work alone which can be a blessing and curse. A blessing because there’s nobody who can execute my vision better than me. But a curse because 1 person carrying the weight of a thing all by themselves can become tiresome. So I am currently shifting myself in a season of multiplication. Now that I’ve laid the foundation and set a standard, style, and system for the way I operate, I can begin teaching others how to help me continue doing all that God has called me to do!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Coming into the gospel music industry I realized that there were a lot of false realities being presented to the world via social media. It’s so easy to think because of the way people present themselves and their work, that support is the easiest thing in the world to receive. Coming into this industry, I have found that to be true but only once your name has reached a certain level of fame. I can remember putting out a “Save the Date” graphic for my very first live recording and asking people to sow into the sound that God had given me. Going into it, I was so confident that people were going to support and give. But after months and months of advertisement, there were very few who supported the movement. This showed me that the method for support was what I thought it was. In order to get people to support what you do, there are a few things you have to do. The first thing is, to give them a reason why they should support. The second thing is, to give them an incentive for their support, Unfortunately, we live in a time where support comes with a price. The last thing is, to be up close and personable with the people you are looking for support from. My Pastor, K Francis Smith tells me all the time that people don’t support what they can’t understand and things they don’t help create. As a creative, you have to create opportunities for your supporters to be a part of the work you’re creating.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Being an artist/creative, the most rewarding part of this lifestyle is the freedom it grants me. The freedom to simply create, the freedom to manage my schedule the way I want, and the freedom to always find space for growth and expansion.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rodneyilerministries.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rodneyiler__/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rodney.iler.562
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1bO17MM0NV2-kWBeEieeRg
• Other: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rodneyilergivingcampaign

Image Credits
DeCoide Brewer/Koide B Productions