We caught up with the brilliant and insightful McKenzie Kellar Williams | The Disco Chick a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
McKenzie Kellar Williams | The Disco Chick, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?
“Your career- and therefore, your happiness- is no one else’s responsibility but your own.”
I have thought about this ever-so-important strand of words A LOT since I first heard them on March 30, 2023. This is absolutely the most important lesson I have learned from a previous job, which in return has helped me as a small business artist (The Disco Chick). Let me give you some of the backstory…
In 2020, I graduated from The University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) with a degree in business after studying Management Information Systems. Years and years of hard work and determination led me to a path that was pretty much laid out for me: I was on my way to start my big-girl-real-world job at one of the Big 4 accounting firms as an IT Audit Associate (wow! very official, right?!). Fast forward to March 30, 2023- I was 3 years, 2 firms, and 2 promotions into my big corporate career and I was telling my manager I was leaving… I couldn’t do it anymore (“It” being: this job. This job that was not life or death. This job that caused such an impact on me and, overall, my mental health).
When I finally got the words out (through some blubbering tears), I was met with the understanding, yet ever-empowering sentiment from my manager: Your career- and therefore, your happiness- is no one else’s responsibility but your own. My perspective on my situation immediately changed. I wasn’t quitting- I was putting myself and my happiness first – and no one could take that away!
It is now late 2024 and, as The Disco Chick, I have never looked back. I can honestly say I am the happiest I have ever been- sure, the grind it takes to make “it” work looks different, but there is nothing I would change in the journey it took to get here. I definitely learned a lot, in general, and A LOT about hard work from my “past life” that has helped make me into the person I am today. However, there is no amount of ____ (i.e. money, benefits, titles, etc.) that can replace: real happiness; chasing after your dreams, living out your passions, or following that ~one idea you’ve had in the back of your head.
There’s one life to live and it’s YOURS to live it.
McKenzie Kellar Williams | The Disco Chick, 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?
Well, hey y’all – my name is McKenzie Kellar Williams and I am The Disco Chick! I am a small business commission artist and I create disco tile art. My flagship product is my multi-functional Disco Chick Head (can be used as a planter, makeup brush holder, accessory display, candy dish, etc. – the opportunities are endless!), but I have made over 175 disco creations in the past 16 months, a lot of which were custom pieces. Currently, there are The Disco Chick pieces in 10 states and 2 countries.
I launched The Disco Chick in June 2023 because I was an unhappy 25 year old who knew there was more out there that the world could offer her. I left my stable job and took a leap of faith (with the help of my incredible support system- my family and my husband- that can’t go unrecognized)! I am most proud of how far I have come and how much I have grown throughout this journey. My customers who trust me with their visions and challenge me to create new things attribute a lot to where I am today, too. My attention to detail and sheer love that I put into every piece is what sets me apart from others.
At the end of the day, I am a commission artist adding some funk to the world, one disco tile at a time. If you have a vision, I want to bring it to disco life! And if you aren’t sure what you want to disco-fy? I always have fun pieces created for purchase, as well as, The Disco Chick Heads! After all, we all could use a little more peace, love and disco…
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
1. Be willing to do the extra digging to find the local artist that makes the piece you are looking to buy before buying from the big box retailers (i.e. the disco mushroom, disco holiday decor, etc.).
2. And this one is more is important than #1…BE WILLING TO PAY MORE and UNDERSTAND WHY you are paying more: the time and labor of love that was put in to make the piece come to life (the big box stores don’t specialize in products made with love!!) !!!!!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Seeing the creativity spark in the most unassuming of people when they come to my booth or send me a DM! When I say “If you have a vision, I want to bring it to disco life” the wheels immediately start turning in people’s brains and the realization that their own dreams could become a reality is the coolest thing to witness. And the cherry on top? I get to be the one to execute this mission of bringing dreams to reality and the chain of creativity continues to grow within the world…THAT is a groovy feeling!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.etsy.com/shop/thediscochicks
- Instagram: @thediscochicks (www.instagram.com/thediscochicks)
- Facebook: The Disco Chick (www.facebook.com/share/bKHYneghRKTYwQVm/)
- Other: Tiktok: @thedisc0chick (www.tiktok.com/@thedisc0chick)
