We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Knowbody. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Knowbody below.
Hi Knowbody, thanks for joining us today. How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?
I heavily prioritize vacationing for both mental and financial benefits. The same way that muscle needs rest days to grow, a person and a business also need some rest and some off time to reach the highest potential. As a business owner, it’s very easy to get blinded by the business because it can be all you see and all that you pay attention to. They say the closer you get to something, the tougher it is to see it and that is because it can be difficult to zoom out and see the bigger picture when you are deep in the trenches of building and maintaining your own empire.
It is essential to my life and my business to be vacationing regularly so that I can have a refreshed mind, body, and perspective. As a creative, it is advantageous to keep adding new scenery, new feels, and tastes to your palate so that you have more experiences to draw from when you are creating. Try not to think of vacationing as a break from life or from work but more of an extension of life and work that enhances both.
Knowbody, 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 Knowbody, the owner of Knowbody’s Business as well as Preston Waters. Knowbody’s Business is a full-scale production company that focuses on videography, photography, and content creation for businesses. We have a social media management package available so that businesses have the rare opportunity of receiving cinema-quality content as well as effective marketing through the various social media channels. Preston Waters is a consulting company that matches a business with another business that fulfills a need that helps both businesses thrive. Connecting the dots for business owners and leveraging my extensive network has been integral to my success.
What sets my work apart from many other creative directors is that my vision always has the end result in mind the whole way through. When artists come to me for a music video, they don’t just get a dope visual project. They get a product that is effective in every single way. It elicits the right response from the audience, it is released at the right time, and it exemplifies the brand and energy of the artist.
I named myself Knowbody because nobody can replicate the things I do and have done for many years through knowledge, persistance, and optimism. I’ve worked in magazine and publishing as an editor, I’ve published a few books, I have a few photos published, I’ve worked with record labels and promotions doing content creation. I’ve written for rappers and singers, I’ve lead campaigns around the country, I’ve done screenwriting and voice acting. I wrote my own game show. I’ve been around the block and back again and it has given me the tools to open any door. While everybody loses, Knowbody wins.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
The first book that comes to mind is The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris. I have always believed that our most valuable resource is our time and that book does a great job of showing how to build a business that is profitable yet time efficient so that you can both scale the business and actually have a full life. It is my ultimate goal to be the best brother, father, son, partner, and person that I can be. If I am inefficient with my time, I’ll just be making money that I don’t get to use in ways that enrich my life the way I would like it to. What good is having all of the money in the world if I have no time to spend it with the people that I care the most about. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy is another book that has helped me in my quest for success. The mind is a very powerful tool and that book helps to break down some theory on just how effective your thoughts and concerted action can be when put together.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
One of the most interesting things I’ve learned about myself in the past few years is that I am quite gifted at managing people. I’ve always been known to be easy to get along with and I think it is because of one of the qualities that also makes me a great manager. I listen to people and I make sure that everyone feels seen and heard and gets what they are looking for out of working with me. It is much harder to manage morale when you’re seeing your employees and partners as workers instead of people. Treating your coworkers like people that you care about is a simple but effective tool in maintaining a high morale. People are also very motivated by incentives, so I try to keep some incentives in the pocket for people who work with me for an extra push when and if needed.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.prestonwaters.com
- Instagram: @knowbodyshoots
- Twitter: @knowbodystweets
Image Credits
Knowbody Shoots