We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alesha Guyden a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Alesha, thanks for joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?
My first dollar ever made as a creative was when I was in Kindergarten. I had created a card company and I would draw and write a poem for every occasion and sell them. I was so committed and passionate about what I was doing that I drew little barcodes on the back and put random numbers for the bar code. We would often have craft fairs at my school and I was always creating something to sell from friendship bracelets, candy jars, greeting cards, etc. As I got older and I learned to use a computer I went digital and then the internet happened and so I was able to add translations to them. To be creative so young and in the 90’s was often met with hearing people say things like you need to plan for a “real” job, you don’t want to be a starving artist. I have always been an all around creative, meaning if it sparked creativity I was going to do it. So you could say I was a “Jill” of all trades. I was into singing, dancing, writing, acting, playing instruments, painting, drawing, dancing, graffiti drawings, later I would tap in to culinary.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Being a creative has allowed me to walk many paths. I spent years in the culinary industry as a chef, teaching cooking classes, private chef, baking, pretty much the only thing I didn’t do was open my own restaurant. I played the saxophone, did some performances as a poetry artist, I was first published around 11/12 years old with a poem and then later in my adult years I would publish a book. I have done work with social media and helping a fellow artist with content creation and management. Most recently I gave myself permission with photography. It is something I have always loved and did, but never really just put myself out there. It’s been a new fun and creative journey and I love working with fellow artists. I am also interested in birth photography and looking forward to pursuing it further and getting certified. I am a chunky knit blanket, soap making, tea curating, food creating, drawing, saxophone playing, writing, diy, thespian.
I have a few entrepreneurial businesses in the works and look forward to everyone getting to experience what is soon to come. I’m currently in program to be a certified professional birth photographer.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that I could only do one thing. We are multifaceted beings and I have been committed to living a full life and dying empty. Meaning every gift, talent that I possessed I want to exhaust. Our gift to the world is when we show up as our authentic selves and live out what we were created to do. Everything has a season and so it doesn’t mean that if you have multiple gifts all those things will be done in one season. Each component can be used in different seasons of life and will often open the door and lead you down the path of your purpose. I have a generational legacy of creativity, entrepreneurship, serving others, and communicators in my family. All of these things show up in my life and have played a role in different seasons of my life.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding part of being a creative to me is having the opportunity to touch peoples lives. My creativity is the tool that opens doors and opportunities to pour into people and speak into their lives to help them find their own path, faith, hope, and encouragement.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: I_am_anicole
Image Credits
Alesha Guyden AG Digital Media