We were lucky to catch up with Shynieka Taylor recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Shynieka, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
I have taken many risk over my career span. You can now call me a professional risk taker due to the fact that I fear no task nor the impossible.
It took me some time to get to this point of risk taking. The more risk you take the better you get at taking risk.
I know it sounds simple but its truly a skill to be able to put it all on the line despite your circumstances.
The biggest risk I took that had the greatest impact was moving across the country to Los Angeles with no place, no family, or job. I was coming off of a terrible 10 year breakup that for sure would’ve crumbled many. The only thing I will never risk is my time because a 10 year girlfriend with nothing to show for is not a flex. Anyway, I had spent most of my days chasing my dream in ATL before I decided to move to LA. I had sacrificed so much to pour into me, others, and build my brand from the ground up. When my relationship collapsed it significantly impacted my finances and livelihood. I couldn’t eat, sleep, work, and I didn’t even know who I was. I had to make a choice to continue to pursue my dreams in LA and basically start all over or chase this man around ATL and end up behind bars. I couldn’t be cute in jail so it was obvious that moving to LA was the risk I was willing to take although I believed I had nothing including myself.
I decided to press on and fight anyhow. I cried as I got on that plane because my mind was saying “you can do it” but my body was saying you don’t have the stability or the power left to make it.
It is true when they say make up your mind and your body would follow. I was physically done but mentally I still had some fight left in me.
As soon as I got to LA …I got to work. Living out of my car and staying on the couch of an associate, living off a 2,000 credit card, and some encouragement is what I had but I knew I didn’t have much time.
I remember being here for 2 weeks and I was down to my last $75.00. I paid my last $75.00 to go to a Dame Dash event to pitch myself for a job. I was hoping to create an opportunity. I knew if this pitch didn’t work, that was it. I would have to go home and surrender because I didn’t land a job and I ran out of money to sustain myself. I got to that event super early and I was prepared. When I arrived Van Lathan from TMZ just so happened to be there and because I had a planned pitch, I pitched to Dame Dash and Van Lathan. I showed Van my work and we exchanged emails. 2 days later I was interviewing to be a Tourguide for TMZ.
I will ve celebrating 4 years in Los Angeles this upcoming June and I’m super grateful I relied on my faith in God to take the biggest risk if my life. If I would’ve never got on that plane I wouldn’t be Shy who was able to speak at E! I want to be clear the accomplishments are not in the trophies or accolades, it was in that risk to go anyhow. What I learned through that risk was make decisions that reflect our destiny not our circumstances.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I got into the Entertainment Industry by buying a camera, a microphone, and a website. I would go out in the streets and report the news. I later would upload my content to the website. I created a lane for myself.
I am most proud of my resilience throughout this process. I sacrificed finances and housing just to get to where I am at now. I know how easy it would’ve been to give up, but I always chose to do the hardwork anyhow.
When you look at my brand, just now it was built the right way with Integrity. I was not handed anything. I earned my position.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
Yes I should’ve applied to more organizations within my respective Industry and asked for more internship opportunities at the places I saw myself working at. I made my path more difficult due to lacking knowledge. Expierence is you best teacher.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Yes, not only will I win an Emmy. I want to be able to give to impoverished youth who lack resources.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Www.instagram.com/shysaidso
- Twitter: Www.twitter.com/shysaidso
Image Credits
Getty Images