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

Alright, Malana thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Taking a risk has defined my entire life journey, but it took me years to realize it is only half of the equation.

I used to think if I just took the risk and made the jump that automatically all of my life problems would disappear and I would be “successful”. Gosh, was I humbled quickly.

Growing up, I was always the girl willing to take the jump. I loved the adrenaline rush of starting something new, of pioneering a new project or beginning a new job. I started working at the age of 13. It was never a question “if” I could find a job- but when. I was a smooth talker and was really good at promoting myself, even from a young age. But talk is cheap compared to developing character that creates actual change and impact.

By the age of 18, I had a resume three pages long of places I had worked and volunteer gigs I was a part of. I was proud of my (what I thought) was accomplished work history. What I didn’t realize was that my resume was communicating one thing to potential contacts: I was good at starting stuff, but not good at sustaining commitments.

I grew up in a lot of instability and poverty in the streets of Oklahoma City. My parents worked to make ends-meet and invested all they had into their children and whatever could help them cope with our stressful life. It is expensive to be poor- financially, mentally, and physically. We were forced to move around a lot in the different lower-income areas of the city which meant I didn’t stay at one school for more than a year or two. I went to nine different schools in three different school districts before graduating high school. The constant change never taught me how to commit to one place, to one friendship, to one job for more than a year or two. I was really good at being the “new kid” to try to start out on the right foot and I knew how to acclimate to my new environments quickly, but I never learned how to weather adversity long-term because I knew if I was unhappy, I didn’t have to try to make it work because we would just be moving again anyway.

This poured over into my callings as well. I have always been a writer, but I couldn’t finish a writing project unless it was short until a couple of years ago. I have always loved working in the community in nonprofit, but I never stayed at one place longer than a year. I did not know how to commit and steward my risks once I took them!

Growing up poor, I knew other kids like me who were given chances through school programs for at-risk kids to try to get them ahead. Many didn’t believe in themselves enough to take the risks given to them, but some of us did. Those that did say yes were confronted with the fact that we struggled to sustain the commitment after being bold enough to say yes! We had to develop grit and learn to commit no matter how we felt. I am so grateful for student support services at local colleges and church communities helping students who were like me who needed help sustaining their “yes” to these amazing opportunities such as college scholarships, internship programs, and job placement opportunities.

But as I mentioned- taking the risk is only half of the journey.

Oh how I wish there would have been classes that taught character skills like “what to do when a boss/coworker doesn’t like you” or “how to go to work even when you don’t feel like it”! I totally understand the Mr. Miyagi method from The Karate Kid of teaching his karate students to wash and wax cars before allowing them to practice the art of Karate in a dojo! They had to learn grit, determination, and sustainability no matter what their minds, emotions, and physical bodies told them. Just like you need more than infatuation to make a long, successful marriage- inspiration and zeal is not enough to sustain the life of your dreams. You must learn to not only take the risk, but learn to stay in the decision thick and thin for at least 3-4 years before moving on to what seems like “greener pastures”. In fact, wise counsel will tell you that it takes 8-10 years of being in one workplace, one school, one community in order to make true change and that is a motto I now live by if I can help it!

Always remember this: risk plus stewardship equals success!

Malana, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I, Malana Bracht, am first and foremost a child of the Most High God- Jesus! I have the privilege of being married to the love of my life of eight years, Travis, and mother to our four children- Gracia, Holten, Lincoln, and Stephen. If I don’t do those first three roles well, everything else I ever do will have been for nothing.

It hasn’t been a smooth journey to who I am today. It took a lot of time, healing, and coming to terms with my inability to do everything well.

I am creative and love to lead. That doesn’t always mix well! As a multi-passionate individual, it was always difficult to figure out where I belonged and where I needed to focus. In high school, I could relate to most social groups. As an adult, I held many interests that caused me to be in many circles like business, government, ministry, and community. I am passionate about writing professionally as a blogger and author (you can find my latest book, Momma Don’t Worry on Amazon or malanabracht.com), public speaking, being a service provider in photography & media services through my business (Life Photo & Design located in Oklahoma City,) as well as a servant leader in my community in our local church and nonprofit.

I believe my interest in many different things and experiences in life gives me the dynamic to help people from all walks of life gain clarity, vision, and develop in their life journeys. This can be in their business through my media skills, in their hearts as a minister and writer, or in their character and knowledge as a mentor. My passion is to help people get to where they are meant to be in their life- in full maturity, prosperity, and in their goals. My three main objective are clear- in every thing I do, post, write, or say- it needs to be encouraging, comforting, or strengthening. Sometimes the strengthening side of my work is like being a personal trainer who pushes you to do an exercise that challenges you- it doesn’t always feel good, but it’s necessary to get you to where you need to be.

If you were to read one of my books, hire me as a photographer, or work with me as an educator, you would find that I will listen carefully to your story, help you identify key areas that need to be worked on to get you to where you want to be, and then help you create a strategy to help you get there. I can only take you as far as I have gone and as far as you want to go. I have had to learn the hard way that I can only help others in the areas that I, myself, have experienced victory. Yes, I have the trainings and degrees and the knowledge, but only experience and the Spirit of God can give me true wisdom and discernment to get to the heart of the issues holding people back from their breakthroughs!

I have learned the secret to everything- no matter what I go through, no matter how much money or comfort I have, no matter if people know my name or not- I am seen by the One (Jesus) who matters and I can do all things because he is with me and strengthens me! If he will do that for me who is very imperfect, he will do it for anyone who asks. That is my life story, my motivation, my mission- i’ve seen what he can do and I want to be his hands and feet to do the same for others on this earth with my passions and giftings.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I have always had a big heart and cared for people. No matter my interaction, I always could see areas where people were struggling and I wanted to help them. It could be one of the reasons why I am in Christian ministry alongside my entrepreneurial ventures of photography and writing books. In my early years of being in the workforce, I noticed a common pattern: money mattered more than people.

I have always been entrepreneurial, though I never imagined being a business owner. Which, for me, really meant I wasn’t great at consistency and showing up at the mundane 9-5 so it was easier to just be accountable to myself verses a boss. Ive grown since then, but as a teenager I wasn’t good at fast food because I wasn’t fast enough. In fact, I was fired after 7 months of my first job at a local ice cream and burger chain because I miscounted my till and was too slow. I was 15, but still.

When I was in high school, I was fortunate to have access to free education through the local vocational school and studied cosmetology. When I graduated, I started out making $15 an hour at a local franchise hair salon. Though it was more than my parents ever made an hour in my entire life, I quickly realized this wasn’t what I wanted. Plus- I was awful! Working as an employee at a franchise hair salon was like working a fast food job…but for hair. The pressure of getting each client in and out within a certain time and charging astronomical amounts for hair services only while getting paid a fourth of it was disheartening. I knew there had to be a better way. And sadly, I was let go from that job as well after four months because I, again, was too slow. I spent too much time being friendly with the clients and building relationships with them that it hurt my numbers and I didn’t fall in line with their factory output of getting clients in and out in a very short time.

Time is money in the chain world.

There seemed to be a theme here.

To be honest, I was burned after getting fired from my salon job. I didn’t feel appreciated for my work, I felt like there was something wrong with me. I knew I was good at cutting hair and I knew I had good customer service. It was just the impersonal parts of having to rush to get them in and out that frustrated me. I wanted clients to feel like they were heard and cared for as I helped them feel and look good on the outside with a new haircut. Fast-food cosmetology couldn’t afford that. So by choosing to connect and ensure my clients had a warm and inviting experience, I chose to take a little extra time which, in-turn, cost me my job.

I took a break from hair and pursued another passion of mine- photography. I knew nothing of starting a business so I just worked seasonally throughout the years at a local (franchise) photography studio making $8.50 an hour. I never learned my lesson apparently. Again, the same feedback was given by my managers- I was too slow, spent too much time with each client, and (even though I was putting out great work) time was money. People were numbers. We don’t actually need to take time to connect or care- just put on a front that you do while selfishly watching your watch to make sure you get them in and out while selling them the highest photo package you can.

After a couple of years of that, I began to realize:

All of these corporations I worked for cared about one thing: time and money. They pretended to care and connect with the people, but really they wouldn’t allow enough time for interactions to actually connect and build rapport. On top of that, the cost of their services were three times what they were paying me and I was doing all of the work.

Something didn’t add up.
There had to be a better way.

And that’s when I realized that if I was every going to be satisfied, I would need to figure out how to do this on my own.

Growing up, I never knew anyone who had their own business. And service providing is different than selling a product. I tried doing MLM’s (multi-level marketing opportunities like Amway, Doterra ect.) but it was aways the same gambit- you couldn’t develop genuine relationships and connect with people without adding them to your “potential client” list. And that just made me feel icky. I felt like every relationship had an agenda attached. There had to be a better way. There had to be a way I could make good money while not sacrificing genuine, authentic relationships with my clients.

In 2014, I began working a booth-rent gig in hair. It was the first time I was completely responsible for my own income. I had to learn “the hustle”. And it was hard! Some days, I would just sit by the phone and wait for a client to call from a Facebook ad. My family were so sweet to support me, but im sure they thought I was a little crazy. As I finally began building my clientele, I began to reap the rewards of what I always had a heart to do- to connect with my clients as I provided them excellent service. And people responded and became faithful! I earned more money that first month doing hair on my own than I had over multiple months working hourly at a fast-food hair joint.

This also translated over to photography as well. I took all that I learned in the corporate photography world and applied it o my small business and people responded! My clients were so faithful, year after year inviting me to take their family’s photos. People hungered to interact with business professionals who really show they support and care for them as people, not just as dollar signs.

I had to learn the idea that all because I was “rejected” and did not do well in one form of a business model, such as a franchise or corporation, doesn’t mean I would not do well in another model like small business. I kept hitting the same wall of wanting to choose people over production and, though that hurt me in the franchise world, it benefited and blessed me (and others) in the small business world.

Serving the needs of our clients and genuinely caring for them as people instead as dollar signs truly gives purpose to the production. Yes, we need money. Yes, we must provide for our families and be excellent in our skillset. But if you honor people and truly show that you care (and give excellent service), you can never go wrong. Your business will be blessed because of it!

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

For readers who may be curious about why creatives are the way they are, everyone has someone in their life who has (what I like to call) an “entrepreneurial spirit”. Maybe they have a ton of ideas all of the time, always with their head in the clouds, creative, and loves starting new projects. Their fire is bright and burns hot, but sometimes it fades fast. These individuals are the problem solvers, the visionaries, the people who may be big “feelers” (though not always).

For those that do not have the entreprenuriel spirit, it can be challenging to understand these individuals’ inner-workings. It may be hard not to judge them. They may be passionate, energetic, and have big dreams, but maybe their community struggles to get excited with them if the entrepreneur has not grown to learn how to learn to commit, finish, and carry out all of the plans they have talked about over the years. Many creative business owners are on a journey of learning to follow through with everything they talk about. These entrepreneurs see the vision before they carry it out and sometimes, they may not know how to go from point A to point Z. It can feel dishearnening to many in a creative’s life on the outside looking in. They want to support them and cheer them on, but they also want security that if they get excited with them and support them, it won’t be for nothing.

As someone who is entrepreneurial, I have had to walk that journey. Earlier in the interview, I mentioned how being able to take the risk is only half the battle- it’s learning to steward the decision after you’ve made it and seeing it through thick or thin where success is truly found. That isn’t just a fortune cookie proverb- that is my personal experience and maturing journey that I have had to walk through.

It was so difficult for many years as my friends and family were skeptical of every new idea I presented. I talked about businesses, new book ideas, social media content, career shifts, degree shifts, and new creative projects around the house. I started so many different things, but they wouldn’t last long. After a while, my family would just kind of roll their eyes or tune me out as I presented my new “flavor of the week” project. They didn’t realize that I was externally processing these ideas and didn’t really have intentions to carry all of them out. I was brainstorming, but they were committing.

My husband expressed to me on one occasion that I talked so much about all of these ideas that he felt like his heart was getting “whiplash”. He told me his heart was to support my dreams and visions, but he couldn’t tell which ones were solid and which weren’t. He said he had found himself listening, but in the back of his head believing that he should only invest his heart and attention into it if it lasted more than two weeks.

Ouch!

I was thankful he told me and that his heart was to support me, but I didn’t know that I needed to identify verbally to him when I was brainstorming and when I was seriously pitching an idea and asking for his support. Once I learned this, I would give a heads up to whoever I was talking to that I was just “thinking/brainstorming” outloud vs. inviting them to run with me on a project.

One other thing I realized was that all of my ideas weren’t always for me to carry out but to give to someone else who needed inspiration. I am REALLY good at starting things and “paving the way” in places, but I am growing in my ability to maintain them all. The truth is- sometimes I’m not the one to maintain it- I may be only the person who is meant to pioneer it and hand it to someone good at the daily stewardship!

I felt inner shame for so long because I thought something was wrong with me. I hated the fact that I struggled with completing things. I hated the fact that I lost interest easily in projects and that I was so led by my emotions. I needed help because I knew I couldn’t accomplish these dreams alone. I just didn’t know how to fix it.

A revelation helped me get through this: I learned that I was just one piece of the puzzle and that I needed a team to help fill the areas where I was weak. The idea of “team” and essentialism really set me free. If I struggled with consistency, I needed someone in my life that would hold me accountable or whom I can delegate maintenance. Our society tries to convince us that we have to “hustle” and do everything and be everything on our own, but that is false! We are only one piece of the puzzle with our unique talents and we are created to be dependent on one another serving the greater good. Nothing worth doing is worth doing alone. Anything that is meant to have great impact MUST require a team.

So my non-creatives, my non-entrepreneurs: don’t think our lack of having every gift is a lack of character. Being creative is a gift, but so is being consistent. I can grow in consistency, but it still be unnatural for me. I need people- probably people like you – to combine our giftings and work together in our strengths to begin and follow-through with. project. Pull on creative’s strengths, give them trust in the areas of where you have seen fruit in their life, but be weary to judge and condemn because they are not built the same as you. Each of us have a specific design and all are valuable and needed to do the good works needed to be the problem solvers to the brokenness in this world. Creative and non-creatives are needed to make this world a better place.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.malanabracht.com
• Instagram: @malanabracht
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormalanabracht
• Other: @okielifephotodesign – Business Instagram @malanabrachtwrites – TikTok www.lifephotodesign.com – Business URL Business Facebook: Life Photo & Design https://www.facebook.com/oklahomalifephotographydesign

Image Credits
Jeremiah Drummond Wendy Carey Photography Crystal Keefer Inspired