We recently connected with Patrick Jones and have shared our conversation below.

Patrick, appreciate you joining 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.

A big risk I’ve taken was moving back to Houston, Texas from Greenville, South Carolina with no hearing aids…moved back to South Carolina after the passing of my grandfather and then eventually moved back to HTX late summer 2019.

I first moved to Houston, Texas June 2017 while only knowing 3-4 ppl from the city. My cochlear implant processor (An advanced hearing-aid for the deaf) broke few months before the Hurricane Harvey happened. While looking for a job, I also had to find a new audiologist, insurance, and a solid hearing-aid provider which proved to be difficult. Getting a new hearing-aid isn’t as easy as ABC and 123 and going to the doctor for a sickness. Had to face obstacles such as daily job rejections over their concerns of me being able to hear and perform simple job duties. It was even harder to communicate when the covid pandemic happened. It’s not that I didn’t know how to…it was just hearing people made things harder than what things already were and most hearing people didn’t want to try other various ways to better communicate like sign language for one (Even tried showing people they could write things down or text it out). I hate that I always have to make the effort first and even go above just to meet people’s standards but over time I’ve learned to stopped doing so and only give the same energy to what is given to me. I’ve learned to simply stay away from people not willing to meet my wants and needs when it comes to the hearing-loss both personal and creative/business.

Without the hearing aids, the right people and things around you, it makes everything harder and slower. It also makes you wonder and realize who your friends/people are.

While it took me 5 years to get both hearing aids back and better, the journey overall matured me into a wiser person and widen my perspective of the struggles the deaf and hoh (Hard of hearing) deeply. A lot of times, it feels like I don’t belong in the hearing world no matter what I do and don’t do. Currently working on myself and studying the interactions of myself and other deaf + hearing people continually. Hope to continue raising awareness for deaf people and pushing deaf education for the hearing world.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I got into photography and photojournalism fully after tearing my ACL during a soccer game which caused me to miss track season that same school-year. While healing and training to make a comeback on the athletic field.

One of the biggest things I am working on is raising awareness among the non-hearing when it comes to communication, creative and business ideas that shedding light on the talents among the deaf and hard of hearing in the creative + entertainment industry. I hope to be an example for both sides to show that anything is possible regardless of your circumstances and the odds being against you. I enjoy assisting entrepreneurs and creative artists and their business brands. I enjoy sharing their backstory as every individual we meet is unique in some way. It’s a matter of realizing it and taking action when you realize your uniqueness and gifts as well as someone else’s, I am all about my clients’ image. How they see themselves is what they get. Not only should the light be shown but I also believe some darkness should be shared as well. To show as great as you are, you’re still human and going to have some struggles. It’s all about breaking down the problems and how whether you’re going to react or respond to it. It’s also about being okay with not knowing all the answers to the problems.

One of the biggest things I am working on is raising awareness between the hearing and non-hearing and shedding light on the talents among the deaf and hard of hearing in the creative + entertainment industry. I hope to be an example for both sides to show that anything is possible regardless of your circumstances and the odds being against you.

Any advice for managing a team?

Know your strengths and weaknesses as well as your team’s. Find ways to communicate verbally and non-verbally. Find projects whether short-term or long-term that help improve you and your team. Have empathy for one another as those on your team is fighting a battle you know nothing about.

There will be giant waves you’ve never seen or heard of before coming at you but you must never allow the waves to do you in. Even if you and others get knocked down which is ok and happens, as long as you guys get back up and keep pushing, things will always be ok and get better. When you yourself get better, the right people and things around you and your team get better too.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The ability to express yourself and connect with other individuals through art and helping other people around you to do the same. Sometimes there are words, feelings, and actions that can be difficult to explain. I enjoy working with others at times but there are also times where it’s difficult being around and working with hearing-people and when that happens I can isolate back to myself and focus on myself and my craft continually.

Another rewarding aspect of being a creative artist is you are able to deeply learn more about yourself. The things you love, don’t love, what drives you, what works for you and what doesn’t, etc.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://patthevisionaryvisuals.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patthevisionary/
• Youtube: Coming Soon