We were lucky to catch up with Cedric Ih recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cedric, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I used to work in advertising, where the money was good, but I didn’t feel like I was doing anything meaningful. I was basically selling burgers to kids, and it just didn’t sit right with me. So, it was no surprise that I eventually burned out.

I decided to switch gears and focus on more personal and meaningful projects, like writing and directing. A friend once shared some great advice with me: when you’re working on a project, you need to have at least two out of three things in place – a clear mission, good people to work with, and financial rewards. It’s tough to stick with something just for the money when you’re not passionate about the mission or don’t get along with your team. So, I made it a rule for myself that any project I take on has to fulfill at least two of those criteria.

When I started my language school, Speak Okay, the mission was crystal clear: help anyone speak a new language fluently in no time. I noticed that most language programs focused too much on grammar and not enough on actual conversation. So, I flipped the script, emphasized speaking, and within a year, my students could chat comfortably in French. Plus, the financial side was good, and I built great relationships with my students beyond the typical teacher-student dynamic.

I took a similar approach with my art. It’s all about being real and honest. That’s why I chose to use “alter egos” instead of my real name. My art draws from what I see and experience, especially the stuff that’s a bit weird or out of my comfort zone. Anything that feels strange or makes me uncomfortable becomes inspiration for my stand-up comedy and paintings.

I’ve created this whole world called “Sinsthesia,” inspired by the idea of “Synesthesia” where people mix their senses. In “Sinsthesia,” it’s about mixing our inner ‘sins’ and finding ways to express them. It’s about letting out the stuff we usually keep hidden. To explore this world, I’ve come up with different characters.

Ben Mao Yi is like my alter ego in this universe, sort of like my own personal superhero. He lets me say and do things that I might not normally do, like breaking my own limits.

Then there’s Natan Mayham, an artistic creation that helps me dig into the darker parts of humanity, including the stuff we usually keep secret.

I believe that meaningful projects are essential for breaking free from a world full of rules, and I’m just getting started on this journey of exploration.

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’m a mix of French and Chinese heritage, born in the USA but raised in the beautiful city of Paris. Back in 2012, I co-founded one of the major animation studios in Paris. But, as life has its twists and turns, I transitioned to directing and writing.

Then, in 2018, I decided to head back to sunny Los Angeles. Over there, I got busy shooting two short films, getting in front of the camera for some photo shoots, and even had a couple of cool art exhibitions.

In LA, I tried my hand at working in a French restaurant and then at a French school. But I quickly realized their teaching methods just weren’t my cup of tea. So, what did I do? I decided to create my own school, “Yes Oui Teach,” initially focused on teaching French. But more recently, I launched “Speak Okay,” a one-of-a-kind language school that’s all about speaking a language, not obsessing over grammar and writing.

You see, my belief is that most people just want to communicate in a foreign language. Whether it’s chatting with their partner’s family, exploring new destinations, or breaking the ice, fluency doesn’t always require perfect writing or grammar. That’s why, at “Speak Okay,” we encourage our students to start speaking right away. No pressure for immediate perfection. We offer 5-minute online classes and more, making it super convenient to have a quick language lesson with a real teacher, no books or grammar drills involved!

When it comes to my art, there are no boundaries. I’m a bit of a rebel, so working for someone else never quite fit my personality. That’s why I decided to start my own business. In my art, I’m the mastermind, and there’s no limit to what I can create, say, or do.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

There’s this profound quote by Myles Munroe, the famous motivational speaker:

“So, the wealthiest place in the world, it’s not some far-off land with gold mines or oil fields. Nope, it’s not the diamond-rich regions of South Africa or the bustling banks around the globe. Surprisingly, it’s closer than you think; it’s the cemetery. In those quiet grounds rest the dreams of countless people – businesses that never took off, inventions that never saw the light of day, bestselling books that were never written, and masterpieces that were never painted. The cemetery holds the untapped potential of countless souls.”

Now, speaking of dreams and ideas, since I was 15, I’ve been scribbling down my thoughts. At first, it was in little notebooks that I’d always carry around. Later, I switched to using my phone. See, I’ve always been that person who jots down every idea that pops into my head. I kept telling myself, “I need to bring all these ideas to life, make them real.” But you know, ideas alone are just that – ideas. The tricky part is turning them into reality. That’s where the doubts, the need for time and effort, the hard work, the fear of judgment, and the potential for disappointment come into play. These things, especially for someone like me, can really hold you back from taking action. I’ve started countless projects in my life, made some progress, but didn’t always stay consistent or follow through. I’m still a work in progress myself.

So, my personal mission is all about finding the inner strength and mental resilience to keep pushing forward until I see things through to the end. And as we wrap up, I want to leave you with this inspiring quote from Coach Vince Lombardi:

“I firmly believe that any man’s proudest moment, his greatest fulfillment, is when he’s given his all to a worthy cause and lies there, exhausted but victorious, on the battlefield of his efforts.”

— Vince Lombardi

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

You know, there’s this idea that’s been floating around forever: “If you work hard, you’ll make it.” But honestly, that’s just not the whole story. Working hard is one thing, but working smart? Now, that’s the real key.

I’ve always been one of those folks who puts in long hours, burns the midnight oil, and sacrifices pretty much everything in the name of hard work. But here’s the catch – I used to think I had to do everything myself, all at once. I believed that hard work alone would get me there.

But now, at 41, after all these years, I’ve come to realize that working smart is the way to go. Let me give you a prime example: TikTok. I come from a background in video production where everything had to be super polished, professional, following all those rules. I used to work with software that required years of experience, and my clients always expected top-notch quality.

So, when I struck out on my own and started creating videos, I was still stuck in that mindset of chasing perfection and not really thinking about the purpose behind what I was doing. But then I stumbled upon TikTok and saw how some folks were achieving amazing results with basic special effects, just by telling a great story. It blew my mind.

That’s when I learned a valuable lesson. Instead of obsessing over what you’re doing, start with why you’re doing it. Is top-notch special effects really necessary for your project to convey its message effectively? Because, let’s be honest, more quality often means more time, more effort, more work. Why spend 20 hours on a video when you could nail it in just 1 hour?

So, these days, no matter what I’m working on, I always start by asking myself why. Once I’ve got that figured out, the artistic direction naturally falls into place

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cedricih.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cedricih/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cedricih
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cedricih/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CedricIh
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdl8nVCfRyyHkEqEYIfUZpQ
• Other: my language school to learn to speak any language without grammar and writing: www.speakokay.com https://www.tiktok.com/@speakokay_french

Image Credits
Cedric Ih Natan Mayham