We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Frankie Fabre. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Frankie below.

Alright, Frankie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I want to take a moment to share some thoughts on what I believe truly fuels success.

In my experience, two of the most powerful forces behind achievement are self-discipline and resilience. Self-discipline isn’t just about setting goals—it’s about committing to them, even when motivation fades, even when distractions tempt you, and even when the work feels exhausting or unrewarding in the moment. It’s the ability to delay short-term comfort for long-term fulfillment, knowing that true progress is built in the quiet moments of consistency.

Resilience, on the other hand, is the fire that keeps you moving when life throws obstacles in your path. Challenges aren’t roadblocks; they are tests—measuring your will, your patience, and your belief in yourself. Setbacks aren’t signs to quit; they are invitations to rise stronger. Success is rarely handed to anyone—it’s earned through persistence, through the decision to keep going when others might give up.

And let’s be honest—success comes at a cost. It demands sacrifice, and more often than not, that sacrifice is your time, your comfort, and sometimes even relationships that no longer align with your growth. Before a breakthrough, there’s usually a breaking point—a moment where life will push you to see just how badly you want it. Expect this. Prepare for it. Choose to push through anyway.

Even now, as I continue to grow and evolve, I face new battles. There are days when showing up feels overwhelming, when doubt creeps in, when the weight of the journey feels heavy. But in those moments, I remind myself of one unshakable truth: anything is possible. If you keep showing up, keep believing, and keep working, you will create the success you dream of.

Whatever you’re striving for, don’t wait for the perfect moment. The perfect moment is now—right here, in the effort, in the process, in the refusal to quit.

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.

My name is Frankie Fabre, a proud Chicago native with a deep-rooted passion for media, storytelling, and creative innovation. My journey began when I was just 15 years old, teaching myself computer and web development—building computers from scratch and designing websites. By 16, I discovered photography, and it changed everything. The ability to capture a moment and tell a story that could last forever became an obsession, and I haven’t put a camera down since.

During this time, I joined a group that focused on social media as a tool for building brand awareness—right when platforms like Twitter and Facebook were reshaping how people connected. As I continued honing my photography skills, I naturally expanded into video production, purchasing my first camera with filming capabilities at 19. From that moment on, filmmaking became an integral part of my everyday life.

Now, with nearly 15 years of experience in media production, I’ve built a career that revolves around helping brands, businesses, and creatives bring their visions to life. What started as a personal passion evolved into my first production company at 21—though, at the time, I had no roadmap for success. I had no mentors to guide me, no blueprint to follow. I relied on books, YouTube, and online courses—anything I could afford—to teach myself the ins and outs of business. It was a process of trial and error, learning through experience, and constantly pushing forward.

But success isn’t just about the wins—it’s about resilience.

I faced hard lessons, financial struggles, and the painful reality of losing everything I had built. I lacked financial literacy and the structural foundation needed to sustain a business long-term. At one point, I had what looked like success on the outside, yet only $12 in my bank account. I lost relationships, opportunities, and stability, but what I didn’t lose was my will to keep going.

I often tell people that everything I lost was the tuition I paid to become who I am today.

Through failure, I refined my purpose, rebuilt from the ground up, and came back stronger. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the biggest brands in business, helping them with branding, media production, and creative strategy—from conceptualizing ideas to executing and managing them at the highest level.

Today, Fabre Media has grown into a powerhouse for media and branding, and it has expanded into Fabre Studios, a one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art film studio in downtown Chicago. We’ve welcomed some of the most notable names through our doors, and we are committed to creating a space that empowers creatives, storytellers, and brands to bring their visions to life.

What sets us apart is not just the work we do—but why we do it. This is more than a business. It’s about impact, legacy, and providing opportunities for others to grow. We are on a mission to continue expanding, evolving, and becoming a dominant force in the industry—all while staying true to the core of what started it all: a deep love for storytelling, creativity, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

To anyone reading this—keep building, keep pushing, and never stop believing in what’s possible.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I believe what truly helped me build my reputation in my market is the heart I put into seeing others win—not just treating everything as a monetary exchange. From the beginning, I have done countless free projects simply to show people that I believe in their vision. Some of my biggest clients today started that way; even when I knew they had the budget, I focused on establishing my value first. By offering my time and skills upfront, I showed them that I was someone they could trust and genuinely wanted to do business with.

Many creatives adopt the mindset of “knowing their worth,” which is important, but it’s equally crucial to ask, What can I give? instead of What can I take? When you establish what you can give, you don’t have to chase opportunities—they come to you naturally because people recognize your value.

That said, this approach isn’t for everyone. It’s essential to work with people who operate with integrity and mutual respect to avoid being taken advantage of. I always say, I’d rather do no business than bad business. By leading with service and positioning myself as a resource, I’ve built strong, healthy relationships that have fueled both my reputation and business growth. You won’t always win, and you can’t please everyone, but if you consistently strive to be your best, success will follow.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best and most reliable source of new clients for me has been my current network. When you focus on doing good business and serve people with an attitude of generosity, your network naturally grows, and the byproduct of a healthy network is an increase in clients. Before ever launching an advertising campaign, I generated my first six figures purely through word of mouth.

Additionally, I prioritize my internal systems—from onboarding to delivery—ensuring a seamless and efficient process. This allows me to provide the fastest delivery and the best customer experience, which in turn leads to more referrals and returning clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fabrefilmstudios.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/fabrestudios_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabrestudios1/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankiefabre/

Image Credits

Frankie Fabre
Fabre Media