We recently connected with David Anyanwu and have shared our conversation below.
David, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you have any key partners or vendors – if so, how’d you find them and start working with them?
Finding key partners or the people that will help you get you to the next level is key in your journey. What I have learned from this process is that you don’t find them but vice versa. It seems they find you at the exact moment you need them. There are certain people that demonstrate this very fact. 4 years ago, I was ready to start my life over back after I experienced what I thought was the most painful moment in my life. I got a high-paying job in Norway, and at the same time, Ismael Martinez (owner of Zebra cleaning) approached me to take a sales job in Seattle. He pitched me so well that I said yes. Fast forward 2 years later he convinced me again to move to Arizona and pursue videography. He was instrumental in me getting my first clients and getting me going here in AZ.
After rolling solo for one year, I could finally say that I was a full-time videographer, but I could only make and do so much myself. I realized that and was wondering how I could possibly scale. At that moment I was again going through a mental breakdown due to the people I had around me. It was so bad that I packed my bags and drove to L.A and stayed there for 2 weeks without notice. I was working alone, no one could relate to my vision or crazy ideas that I had, and I was stuck in a loop of no growth. I got home and my friend Tristan mentioned a guy Braxton Kilgo that needed a videographer. I thought “another client”, how wrong I was. I met with Braxton, and he had a social media company and a bunch of clients that he needed that he had that needed videos. I was intrigued and something that I thought would be a 30 min conversation became a 3-4h conversation. Finally, I had found someone that matched my energy but more importantly, I found a partner. I and Braxton have worked for a year and are trying to grow pass our current situation. Alone we can go fast but together you can go further. We have endeavored and partnered in more other business opportunities together outside media.
That same year as I grew mentally stronger, hit new highs that I didn’t think were possible. Life was good nevertheless, I was pulled away from my prior surrounding, or in other words, pushed away. I was thrown out from where I lived without any reason due to that they didn’t think my way of living and thinking was matching their ways. At the same time, I was going through some unforeseen health issues as well and was admitted to the hospital. 2 weeks later I was in a freak accident, I shattered my kneecap, broke my jaw in 2 places, broke 2 ribs and sprained my wrist. Hospitalized for 4 days and could barely move.
The month of December was the month I played with death and if you survive its game, he leaves you a gift which is the truth. The truth was that I had played small and had put my energy in places where it didn’t belong. Why? Well, I was in places where I couldn’t thrive. The only time was when I was with Braxton or Ismael. I had to change my environment 100%, be selective with the people I talk and be around. The question is how, how could I become my greatest self?
I heard that Jesse Ray had a growth house concept, he owns 2 homes where he only has entrepreneurs that want to grow and achieve greater things. He was looking for a videographer and I reached out, 4 days later I was there every day. The growth house has Real estate, crypto, and a lot of networking events to elevate your game. Moving into the growth house and getting to know Jesse Ray became the beginning of my ascension, I have more retainer clients and Joshawn Patterson that works with me and plans to expand the team. I have been introduced to people through these events that have helped my vision become a reality and even bigger. Every day is a step towards a brighter day, a day with more opportunities.
Finding the partners and key people to one’s ascension is an ongoing one. As long as you have the desire and work towards your goal consciously, they will be manifested into your life. Just like anything, don’t chase but attract. Before they were introduced into my life, I had to experience mental breakdowns, accidents,s and other experiences which were just me getting ready to get to the next level with these people.
David, 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?
Anytime someone asks me how I started with this; I tell them it all started in a town called Himeji on an island we know as Japan. When I was in Japan serving as a missionary for 2 years, I had a district leader that was the kindest human being I ever met who left a remarkable impact on my life. After my mission, I realized that he was a photographer (@daryk.h.c). His work spoke to me and after a lifetime of surprising my artist side, I asked him a lot of questions and finally asked him what camera I should buy. I bought a Canon rebel t5i and did photos for fun until someone asked me “how much do you charge?”. After selling with Ismael in Seattle he encouraged me to buy a video camera after playing around with a video. I then bought a Sony A7rii and made a music video a week later, the rest is history. I was fortunate enough to work for Edge pest control and work with my film mentor John Bills who taught me everything about filming and editing.
I started with music videos and weddings, but I really wanted to make that same impact Daryk had on me. I wanted to touch people emotionally and move them to action with what I created. Because a better feeling than have experience it is to allow others to do so. Soon I realized I could move people not only with my videos skills but use it as a tool to help even more which became my goal.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Even though I’m a talented videographer and my next step should be going to L.A and get into movie production and trust me I have thought about it. I quickly realized that I wanted more. Even though it is talent doesn’t mean it is my destiny but a tool. The core is to impact others and I decided to do so by buying acres of land in Africa 2 years ago and building a farm to give people job opportunities and build homes for them. Knowing that the farm is growing and will impact a lot more people and finding more ways to invest to expand my portfolio is what keeps me going. After my accident, shattered kneecap, 2 broken ribs, broken jaw, and sprained wrist I was filming 3-4 weeks later with a wired jaw and leg cast. My goal is to build schools and eventually a city where farming is a domestic source of operation and income and not outsourced but put back into the country. A city won’t be built without sacrifice and hard work. I was blessed with the best performance facility for my rehab with Dr. Sean Drake who helped me to get me on my feet again.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Not bashing on any religion or my upbringing but the being LDS and growing up in a very conservative home led me to have a lot of as John Madsen would put it “limiting beliefs”. John Madsen is my oldest client, and he helps top executives excel in all aspects of their lives not only financially but in fitness and familial as well. His business is based on results and truth, he has built a 7-figure business from it and is on his way to making it an 8-figure in an unprecedented time. As I edit his podcast (The show), I don’t only edit them, but they have had a huge impact on my life explaining why I am where I am. I quickly I realized that the LDS belief and the people I surrounded myself with limited my thinking and even worse made it pre-determined. Meaning that I have been trying to meet expectations that aren’t even mine. As soon as John helped me realize that I could set my expectation and limits (which were none). That’s when I could really move forward, and my business followed. He’s definitely a mentor from afar and the most important lesson he has taught me is that “David you can have everything” and it’s actually possible. I had to unlearn everything, that a certain level of success if evil but it’s actually the opposite. He taught me to embrace that desire and most importantly never be ashamed of it because it’s who you are at the core. I could finally learn how to be myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://digicastmarketing.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ani_shoots/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-anyanwu/