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

Hi Kanithea, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Wow, what a big question. I think being successful means something different to every person that finds the courage to answer the call of an idea or a dream and where that person sets their intention at the beginning of that process. Are they seeking profit, fame, or happiness? For me, being successful is layered. It requires a variety of things at different moments of the journey. At first, there is a call, which usually comes to you like an easy breeze that gently brushes across your cheek when you are quiet and open to feel and receive it. At that moment, success is being brave enough to answer that call.

Write the vision and make it plain. There is an old saying that goes “those who fail to plan, plan to fail”. I’m not a believer in failure, but I do believe that planning is an essential part of the journey to experiencing success. When you write down your vision it’s like planting a seed. When you feed that seed with discipline and follow through, you give that seed the fertile ground required for it to grow. Setting up a beautiful foundation for success to be built upon.

Just keep going. We are living in a time where instant gratification is expected. Nothing comes to you without focus and consistency. Building new things and ideas take time, dedication and commitment. You won’t always see the progress you are making, but you must be confident in your ability to bring that new thing/idea forward. We all start with one subscriber, one follower, one sale. Just keep moving forward and respond to the data that your efforts are showing you, eventually you will reach that place we call success. I don’t know about others but the process of bringing ideas to life can filled with doubt and uncertainty. I have to remind myself that it’s not about the destination, it’s about who I’m becoming through the process. There is no need to doubt our abilities. Make the sacrifices you make for success worth it. Celebrate those small wins. The universe knows where it put us, it knows what it put in us and it knows what it desires to create through us. Have faith in that, trust yourself, be optimistic and keep going.

Kanithea, 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?

I am a country girl from the historic black town of Eatonville, Florida. I am a storyteller, I make stuff up, It’s one of my favorite things to do. I am an award winning screenwriter and filmmaker. I am an Author, with a book in over 23 countries (Butch: Never Judge a Butch By Her Cover). I am also and the Founder/CEO of QFN TV, a streaming platform dedicated to independent filmmakers.

My grandmother would always say, operate within your ministry. Find what you are good at and do that. Be focused and stay in your pocket of genius. That is what sets me apart from others. I don’t exist in a world of limitations. I am forward thinking. Nothing is beyond me. I believe that everything around me came from pure thought. Someone took the time to write their idea down and manifested the right people to help them accomplish that idea. Therefore, If I can think, I can create. We are all given the opportunity to manifest something beautiful if we are willing commit and get out of the way of the idea and allow it to get to its final destination.

Creating and becoming more of who you are is never an easy journey. We have been conditioned to be everything but our authentic selves. As a creator, everyone isn’t going to see or understand your vision. That’s okay. The gift/vision came to you. As long as you see it and you’re committed to allowing it to manifest, that’s all that matters. It’s not always going to be easy, especially if you are entering into a field that’s new to you. You have to become the learner. Take the time to build your network and gain knowledge and experience in your field. The more you do, the better you will become. It doesn’t matter where you start. Do what you can where you are with what you have. It’s like sowing a seed; you don’t put it in the ground on Monday and expect to see fruit on Tuesday. You have to nurture it, water it and give it time to grow. When its ready, it will bring forth fruit.

I left my comfortable job and moved to Los Angeles in the middle of the pandemic, but I tell you, it was the best decision I have ever made. It has not been an easy journey, but as the old folks say, I wouldn’t take nothing from my journey now. I believe that every person and perceived failure has been a golden link in the chain for my good. I’ve learned that there will be peaks and valleys. Both are important. When you are on that peak, appreciate it. It’s a gift. When you are in the valley, appreciate it. It’s a gift, because now you get the opportunity to grow and learn something deeper about yourself. Hopefully, people will be inspired to step more into their authentic selves and find the courage to speak those things that aren’t as though they were. And to keep speaking until there is evidence of what they desire all around them. We all have a purpose. Don’t be afraid to walk in yours.

I desire for people to know that Qwest Films is a company that creates art that allows its audience to see themselves through a lens of authentic truth and perfect self-expression.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Growing up had its challenges. I forget who said, “life is a beautiful opera except it hurts”. Well, that pretty much sums up my life. Having to deal with childhood traumas, homelessness, and depression, life at times, has felt like an uphill battle and if I’m being honest, some of those experiences really broke me down. I think it was Hemingway who said “life breaks everyone, and afterward, many of us are stronger in the places that broke”. After everything I have been through I have learned a few things. I have learned the value of standing in my truth. I have learned to trust myself and my ability to create. I have learned to be gentle and forgiving with myself and appreciate my perceived failures as much as my successes. I have learned to leave ego behind and be flexible. Things don’t always show up how you dreamed them, just stand in the space of allowing and be ready when the moment comes. I have learned to let things go. I don’t know about most people but I know that I have spent way too much time revisiting moments that I can’t revise. You were who you were in that moment, we just have to accept it, learn from it, release it and be willing to continue to move forward on our journey.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I look at the world around me with wonder. The most rewarding aspect of being a creative, for me, is getting the opportunity to be filled with the freedom of just being and creating. Allowing Source to pour its idea of beauty and perfection into my consciousness and me being willing to accept it and play along. We get to be like Gods. We get to dig our hands in the mud and bring forth beauty. I love that ideas choose me. I love that ideas trust me to bring them to life in the way that I do. I love that it gives me the right questions to ask in order to get to the right solutions to what ever perceived obstacle I am facing in the process of creation. It’s a lovely gift that I get to share with the world and that is more than any creator can ask for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://qfntv.lightcast.com/
• Instagram: @qwestfilms @qfntv
• Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kanithea-powell-she-her-79a0341b?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3B99RMnEawSguPSm3qzArZ0Q%3D%3D