We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Justin Murchison a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Justin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Often the greatest growth and the biggest wins come right after a defeat. Other times the failure serves as a lesson that’s helpful later in your journey. We’d appreciate if you could open up about a time you’ve failed

I think my biggest failure in life in allowing the opportunity to learn from my father before he died, pass me by. One of the biggest things I feel we take for granted is the wisdom that is readily available to be passed down from our spitting image. Maybe I blame maturity, or the need to satisfy a culture that doesn’t satisfy my soul. My consequence for this failure echos into eternity, lessons that must now be learned the hard way when there was someone right next to me with open arms, readily available to give me all the knowledge they obtained in their own life. I failed, I failed myself, & in a way I failed him. Every parent dreams of the day that their child will obtain greater accomplishments than them through discipline & the blueprint presented before them. How can we be sure that we successfully achieve those endeavors if we never took the time to actually learn their accomplishments in the first place. Life doesn’t have to be a guessing game, listen to the people that come before you, you don’t know everything, why starve yourself when a full plate of food sits right in front of you.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

It all starts with me obtaining my Bachelors degree in Management Information Systems, with a minor in Cyber Security & Forensics. After graduating in 2015, I simultaneously started my professional career at the Federal Reserve Bank, as well as my entrepreneurial career as a freelance photographer, Diamond Light Images. Working at the Fed as a System Administrator, I also furthered my first business by getting published in 2017. In 2018 I moved to Denver, CO, converting into a fully remote employee at the Federal Reserve. In June of 2018 my second business, Diamond Light Marketing, was created & I began utilizing my ability to convert my interpersonal relationship skills into marketing & sales for start up companies. After consulting different companies, I then patterned with an event production company GNC Productions, throwing events in the Denver Metro area for 1500 patrons, Munchies & Mimosas. In 2020 I then became Cheif Sales Officer for an IT Consulting company entitled Kenyatta Computing Services, providing IT support to a dynamic range of businesses. Finally my current journey ends with self publishing my first book based around the importance of mental health, entitled “Love is Love”.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In 2019 I went into $40,000 worth of credit card debt, trying to start my marketing company. I blame myself, a business without a plan is a business that plans to fail. My debt matched my income & I could no longer afford to pay rent, let alone live on my own in a different state. So I put all my belongings in storage, gave a friend of mine the keys. Left my car with another friend, packed two suitcases and went on the road, still working remotely for the Fed. The next four months consisted of me couch surfing at relatives & close friends homes, essentially, I was homeless.. I spent April in Virginia, I spent May in Atlanta, I spent June in Dallas. The month of July I spent two weeks in New York, and backpacked Europe for two weeks. After months of strategy, a friend of mine in Denver helped me land a part time job at a print shop, as well as a VIP host for a local club. The two gigs helped me manage, but I still couldn’t afford to live on my own. I stayed on a friends couch for two months, then the universe finally aligned, I got a phone call inquiring if I wanted to be a third roommate to a three bedroom apartment with some friends, I agreed. As of 2021, I am debt free, purchased my first home in November. From bankruptcy to homeownership, what a time to be alive.

How did you build your audience on social media?

My advice for anyone who is trying to create and built a brand on social media is always remain genuine. Its so easy to get caught up in trends or things that excite consumers for the moment, but if you do that, you’ll attract the wrong audience. Remain trendy, yet always remain yourself. Take pride in media, photoshoots, reels, interactive posts. I think what most beginners do is ignore the importance of effective marketing. Your brand matters, your morals, overall branding strategy, & presence online matters to people who you desire to attract. You might have a lot of friends, but as you’ll learn along the way, lotta friends won’t support you the way a complete stranger will.

Contact Info:

• Website: justinmurchison.com
• Instagram: Jmurkk
• Facebook: JUSTIN MURCHISON
• Linkedin: JUSTIN MURCHISON

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