We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cederick Campbell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cederick below.
Cederick, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
Something my parents did right was keeping my brother and me in settings that allowed us to express ourselves creatively. Whether it was playing in our school’s orchestra or encouraging us to join the Architecture prep program, we were always pushed to express our creativity in a plethora of ways. I benefit from it as an adult because not only am I confident in my creative abilities, but I have/am familiar with the resources necessary to express my creativity.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I’ve always had a passion for fashion. As a child, I would draw triangles on stick figures in hopes that one day they would become dresses and other garments. At age fourteen, my twin brother, McKenzie, and I began designing and constructing clothes for our clothing brand MC2 (formerly known as Trill Billionaire.) As a junior in high school, I took part in the University of Michigan Architecture Prep program which availed me to the field of design and furthermore caused me to study Architecture in college. Studying architecture has enhanced my skillsets for design and propelled me into an advanced level of creative direction and fashion design + styling.
As a freelance wardrobe stylist, I work with clients to enhance their style in a way that best communicates who they’d like to be. Finding your style and how you’d like to appear to others can be extremely challenging, especially if it isn’t something you particularly prioritize. It’s my job to ensure that they feel like their best selves when getting dressed.
As a creative director, I take people’s ideas and bring them to life; in my own way of course. Sometimes, people have an idea in their head of what they want a set, event, photoshoot, etc. to look like but they struggle with articulating the idea or even adding a special touch to it. It’s my job to illustrate their idea in the best way possible. That includes, but is not limited to, 3D modeling/rendering, preparing sketches, etc.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
As a child, I was always taught that I had to look, talk, and act a certain way to be accepted. This became particularly important when I got my first job working in corporate America as a teenager; I was told that I could only excel in my career if I adhered to society’s idea of ‘masculinity’ and to corporate professionalism. It wasn’t until I began being my truest self and unlearning the taught mannerisms and ways of living that I began to excel in my career. My advice is to always be yourself, regardless of what society, your parents, your boss, etc. have to say. People won’t rock with a fake, overly-curated version of you. When you’re authentic, people will feel it and support you.
How did you build your audience on social media?
As a teenager, I remember seeing other influencers receiving opportunities and notoriety simply for being themselves and sharing the things they enjoy. I would often think to myself, “If they can do it, so can I,” So one day, I did.
I spent an ample amount of time researching content creators and how they make their content so well put together. I eventually bought my own camera, downloaded/purchased the necessary software, and began producing my own content. My innate talent, in addition to my well-curated content and favor from God, led people to me which resulted in me building a following of individuals who are interested in me + what I do.
My advice to others who are looking to build a following is, to begin with, research. Find out what you need to do to best present yourself on your social media platforms. Then, just start. Starting is really the hardest part. I know the thought of putting yourself in the forefront to be interpreted, judged, etc. can be very daunting, But once you start, everything else gets easier. My last piece of advice would be to be 100% yourself. Don’t try to mimic the next person. Don’t do what you think will be widely accepted. As previously stated, when you’re authentic, people will feel it and support you.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @cederickcampbell
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cederickcampbelljr/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnWqX-9matVCQ-bxWnakpqw