Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jonathan Diggs. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jonathan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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?

Growing up my father always pushed me to be an entrepreneur, and looking back I definitely appreciate the drive he has given me. As a creative, working a 9 to 5 feels restrictive, but because of my endeavors I know eventually I can work for myself. My journey as an entrepreneur started in high school at a time when I could not drive nor was I allowed to work. I had no vehicle of my own in a family of 5 with siblings who are my age or around it (I am a fraternal twin!). Because money was always tight, my dad pushed me to use my artistic abilities to generate income. Things did not click for me until my senior year, where I began customizing shoes. It began with a tradition that my school had where students would sign clothing items of the seniors on one of the special dress up days. A friend of mine signed his signature on my shoe, but unfortunately he did not have great handwriting. So I took a sharpie and began drawing on my shoe to “fix” it, but I kept decorating my shoe. By the end of the day I had received so many compliments I knew I had an idea that would be worth while. Fascinated by the idea of having other people wear something that I designed, I went home and researched what it would take to start customizing shoes. I watched several youtube videos and scraped together what funds I had to make the purchase of supplies that were needed. Since I had no experience, I customized old shoes that I had and promoted them on my socials. Fortunately, it did not take long to secure a customer because I was already known for my artistry in my school. A dear friend on my track team bought some white vans and asked me to customize them. She told me to do whatever I wanted, which was nerve wracking and freeing at the same time. When I sat and thought about who she was as a person, someone who was a joy and brought light into every room, I made shoes that reflected that. There were an assortment of smiley faces in various colors painted in the mid section of the shoe. Whenever I gave them to her, her face lit up with so much excitement. Being paid for work I was proud of was an elating feeling, it felt satisfying. For me it’s not about the money, but the money allowed me the freedom to do more of what I love. This was a big way I was able to support myself through college during covid.

Jonathan, 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?

My name is Jonathan, but I go by Jon, which is how most of my audiences know me. Growing up I was captivated by comic books and superheroes. Comics like Calvin and Hobbes, Garfield, or Spider-Man littered my floor. The art style and medium was captivating for me, I read them so much that my library limited how many I could check out while in school. As I got older, my interests never really changed, but they found new avenues. I would say that I am the epitome of a creative because I enjoy all forms of art and expression. From fashion, to content creation, to music, to poetry etc… I really have dabbled in all forms art and creativity. This has led me to be a jack of all trades and a master of none, so as I continue to grow, I am looking to hone in on a singular craft to refine. I went to school for graphic design knowing that it would allow me to be a swiss army knife in my career. For my 9-5 I work as a multi-media coordinator, managing a social media platform for a non prophet, helping with their podcast and creating social media graphics for the organization. Outside of work I am a Christian lifestyle creator, amassing a platform of over 141 thousand on Tiktok and 11.5k on instagram. On Tiktok for Christian content and on Instagram for my fashion content and lifestyle content. I am also the head of marketing and branding for the christian night club called The Cove. I made the website, I assist in creating flier graphics, merchandise and am the set list curator for all of our club events. Also I own a clothing brand called Sinner to Saint (Sinner2Saint on instagram) that I am developing that has around 750 followers at the moment. I am very proud of the night club and the direction my brand is going. As great as social media is, those two platforms lead to a more tangible impact. Seeing people attend our events in merchandise I have created is such a cool feeling. With my content I strive to be an example within the Christian niche of not fitting the western mold that people have for what they believe a Christian looks likes or acts like. The Cove is all about giving people a space to build community, especially amongst young adults who have have struggled with loneliness in person since covid. And my brand is a street wear brand that allows people to show their faith in creative ways. What sets me apart from others is my capacity to create a lot of different things with excellence, and my personality. I am an effective communicator that has a sense of humor, and I take pride in my ability to craft a story and relay it digitally.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I would love to be fully employed with what I do, but I have constantly struggled with knowing my worth as a creative because other people did not understand. This journey has been one of finding my own value and self confidence. A lot of non-creatives often fail to see the value that creatives like myself place on our work, especially monetarily. I think this is because they feel a disconnect to the creative, and often times don’t understand the work and effort that goes on behind the scenes as a finished product. As a Christian I believe that we do “non-creatives” a big disservice by limiting the idea of what it means to be a creative. Traditionally, we view creatives as someone who creates something in the artistic space, however I believe that all people are creative because God is creative. The Bible says we (humans) are made in the image of God, and the first chapter of the Bible is about God creating. Someone who creates a cure for cancer, creates a new mathematic formula, or crafts a compelling defense in court is just as creative if not more creative than a painter or a musician. I want to remove the stigma from creating because it allows for others to relate to me as a creative. The medium may be different, but the principles are similar when it comes to how we create. Being able to research and take inspiration from those in the same field, replicating what you’ve seen with your own voice to find your style, and refining your craft is a transferable skillset. When this broader lens is applied, people can start seeing the effort that goes behind a product.

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

When I first started building my audience on social media, I had one goal in mind; make content for people that were like me. People who had the same values and interests as I did, not only with faith, but humor and fashion. I wanted to be a life style creator, so I made content that reflected my life and people followed. So I would encourage new creatives, know your target audience and your niche. Understanding who you are creating for helps you know how to craft the video so that you are more effective at reaching that demographic. The algorithms now care less about following and more about good content that is niched down. If you are just starting, don’t be afraid to experiment with video styles and content. Test things out, and once you find what is comfortable to you, stick to your lane and run in it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Thecovenash.com
• Instagram: Svint.Jon
• Youtube: TheSaintShow
• Other: Tiktok is Svint.Jon as well!

Image Credits

@creerproductions for my clothing brand shoot (the images with the red background)
@thecovenash for the picture with my pink jacket