We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Byron K. Williams a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Byron K., thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think it takes to be successful?

I truly believe that success is non-binary and everyone has a shot. Words hold different meanings for different people so it’s important to define what success is for you. Regardless, I would say in the modern, mobile, age we live in, a key differentiator between the “haves and have-nots” is the ability to adapt. It sounds simple but you would be surprised at the percentage of us who shudder at the thought of change. We love our comfort zones, even if they aren’t up to par, because at least things are predictable and in place. To take a risk or embrace change would mean giving up what’s familiar. That stops most people in their tracks.

When I used to work in marketing as a regional Cultural Ambassador, I had the opportunity to work with some of the most iconic brands in the world and the primary focus was always to “break culture”. Remember that chicken sandwich that had everybody rushing to Popeyes a couple years back? And remember when those big red boots dropped about a year ago and instantly became a high fashion social media meme? Spoiler alert: neither of those things happened in a comfort zone.

A smart man by the name of Brandon Rochon uses this concept of being ‘left of center’” and it’s the ability to see and engage with what’s happening at the epicenter, while still maintaining a unique path and identity. It’s about being confidently just outside the box. This principle has stayed with me through everything I’ve done since.

Byron K., love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve done this a few times so I would definitely encourage readers to check out some of my earlier interviews as my mission is pretty much the same haha.

But I’m currently an adventurous spirit that just so happens to be based in the heart of Hollywood. My lifestyle consists of building different types of communities, both within the city I inhabit, but also on a more global scale, utilizing social media and other forms of technology.

I have a few brands, my main and most personal brand is HeroFromThe90s which at its core is a freedom brand. It’s a 12 year old brand that has served as a tagline but also as somewhat of an alter ego for me. Beyoncé has Sasha Fierce and I guess I have HeroFromThe90s lol.

I also have MAE, which is named after my mother as well as the month I was born. This brand is quite literally the “mother” brand, meaning I do business and housekeeping through MAE so that HeroFromThe90s can remain light and fun without the politics of business.

The MAE brand also houses all other brands under the same umbrella.

Then there’s 90s GOLD. This is the production brand. It creates everything from content to clothing. It’s a small but mighty brand that gets a lot of love when it shows up. Half of the clothes I wear are 90s GOLD.

Finally, my new baby, The Sway. This is a media channel I’m starting with the primary focus of highlighting some of the most unique talents in the world. It’s an attitude brand and it’s very unapologetic in nature. It’s always moving, always evolving, always exciting. The goal is to have it fully launched by 2025.

The synergy yet diversity between my brands allow me to work and collaborate with any person, brand, or company seamlessly. I would say that’s what I’m the most proud of.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

It seems like Social Media will forever be a hot topic. But to be real, I never changed who I was or what I did. Not for clicks, views or likes. I got into social media back when it was only nerds and content creators so there was 0 pressure back then. Now everybody and they mama online with an opinion, and the result is a very judgmental and highlight based environment.

The people who are winning online are simply the ones that don’t care about that stuff. As for me, my following came in waves. First through networking, then through viral dance clips, comedy skits, and skating. I have friends who have built way bigger followings.

I’ve learned that it’s just a confidence thing. The ones who have it, you can see it clearly through their content, and it’s consistent. To grow anywhere in life, one must be good, consistently, and consistently good.

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

I recently got to audition to perform at the Superbowl for a certain megastar. I ended up failed so terribly that I got eliminated after the first round and was questioning if I was even meant to be a skater. The lesson I eventually learned is that the reason I failed had nothing to do with my skating and everything to do with my priorities. Instead of letting loose, having fun, allowing myself to mess up, being ok with it… I was hard on myself, irritated with the slippery floor, wondering what everyone thought, and trying to show my best side at all times.

Ironically the lesson I had to unlearn was caring so much. It’s ok to care-less. Not about the process, but about the pressure.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.herofromthe90s.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/herofromthe90s
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/herofromthe90s
• Other: www.twitch.tv/herofromthe90s