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

Hi Sharda, thanks for joining us today. Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?

As a creative, it’s important not to put limits on what you can do. Early on in my creative projects, I would put myself in a box. For example, I would say I’m a portrait artist. I only do portraits or I’m a YA author. I only write young adult stories. I’ve grown as a person and creative by doing things that I was once uncomfortable with doing. After meeting another artist, they introduced me to art exhibitions and events to showcase my art. Once I surpassed my goal of 12 events to display my art in one year, I decided to have my very first solo art show. At my solo art show, I displayed my paintings and my books. If I didn’t go outside the box, I would not have reached the goals that I did. Today, I am happy to say that I’ve done amazing work, met really amazing people, and gone to really amazing places all because I was fearless.

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 remember being a little girl and drawing. I remember drawing my dad in his work uniform, and I remember whenever we had to draw in elementary school, my classmates wanted me to draw for them. I believe art just came natural to me. The one gift that I didn’t know I had was writing. I loved reading and the library was my favorite place as a kid. I started with writing poetry and short stories. After a few attempts of reaching out to editors with my manuscript, I decided to self-publish after graduating from college. What helped me pursue painting and writing was one of my biggest supporters, my mom. And I can’t forget about my little sisters. They were my first audience. My family and friends are so supportive.

For those that don’t know, I’m the founder and creator of CharactersHere. It is the umbrella or the creative house of all that I do from painting and writing to podcasting and YouTube. On my website CharactersHere.com, you can find out more information. It’s been a great journey, and I hope it continues. Now that I have a relationship with Yahweh, the God of the Bible, I have found an even bigger reason to continue creating, because His love is that immense. I hope to share His word with others through my creativity of art, books, interviews, podcasts, and videos. I’ve always been a smiley person, but now I have a real reason to smile.

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

The people! It’s amazing how as an artist and author, I have a picture or a story in my head of what my art or book is about. Then, I meet a stranger and they give me their perspective, and it’s different from mine. I love that! Only listen with caution, because some people will try to influence you to add their ideas to your work. Feedback is always needed, because if anything, it opens my mind. I was once afraid of public opinion, but I’m glad I got out of that bubble. Hearing from different people helps me grow and find things I wouldn’t have noticed before. That’s why felowship is so important. No two minds think alike even if you agree on most things. No matter what our field of expertise is, where we’re from, or who we are, we can really learn a lot from one another.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Yes! I never really had a sense of direction when it came to what I wanted to do with my life. I graduated from high school, and I got my bachelors degree. After graduating from college when life didn’t happen as planned, I didn’t know what to do. So, I listened to others, hoping for a change. Instead, I wore myself thin trying to please people.

During the pandemic, I had a lot to think about from my personal life to my career. Even before quarantine, I knew I was changing as a person. Everyone is different, but in my late twenties, I got this boost of confidence that may sound like it came from out of nowhere. Honestly, it came from God.

When I picked up the Bible, I decided I was going to unlearn what I’d been taught from the world and get what I needed to succeed in life from God’s Word. It worked! He worked and still is working in my life. Now, I have a path to follow without the push-and-pull of others. I’m satisfied, and I work on being a better person daily with God’s help. It’s not easy, but I’m not alone. My encouragement to anyone who is going through any hardships, humbly go to God, and He will rescue you.

This is how CharactersHere pivoted from no target; no bow and arrow to having a plan and a straight path to a successful life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.charactershere.com/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/loveformy4c
• Email: createcharactershere@gmail.com
• Other:
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