We recently connected with Soleil Cole and have shared our conversation below.
Soleil, thanks for taking the time to share your stories 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.
One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was deciding to build a creative brand while working full-time in IT support.
For a long time, creativity was something I treated as a hobby. I enjoyed creating content, photography, modeling, and storytelling, but I didn’t know if it was something I could take seriously. Like many people, I had the safer option of focusing only on my traditional career path. Instead, I decided to invest time, energy, and resources into building a personal brand from the ground up.
The risk wasn’t just financial. It was putting my work in front of people, accepting criticism, starting over when ideas didn’t work, and continuing to create even when growth felt slow. I’ve rebranded, experimented with different styles, and learned that building something meaningful often requires being willing to evolve.
What made it especially challenging was balancing creativity with a full-time career in technology. There were many nights spent learning, creating content, planning projects, and developing new ideas after work. It would have been easier to stay comfortable and keep my creative goals on the back burner.
Looking back, I’m grateful I took that risk. It taught me confidence, resilience, and the value of trusting my instincts. It also opened doors to collaborations, opportunities, and connections that never would have happened if I had waited until I felt completely ready. The experience showed me that growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone, and sometimes the biggest risk is never giving yourself the chance to try.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Soleil Cole, and I’m a content creator, creative director, and storyteller with a passion for creating work that feels honest, visually compelling, and emotionally memorable.
My journey into content creation started long before I ever considered it a career. I’ve always been drawn to creative expression, whether through photography, video, writing, modeling, or visual storytelling. Over time, what began as a personal outlet evolved into a brand and creative platform where I could connect with people through shared experiences, aesthetics, and authentic storytelling.
What I create varies from lifestyle content and visual campaigns to creative direction, branding concepts, and digital storytelling projects. At the core of everything I do is a desire to make people feel something. In a world filled with endless content, I believe the most impactful work is the kind that resonates on a human level and leaves a lasting impression.
One thing that sets me apart is that I approach creativity from both an artistic and technical perspective. While building my creative brand, I’ve also worked in information technology, which has taught me problem-solving, adaptability, and the importance of understanding people. Combining those skills allows me to balance creativity with strategy and execution.
I’m especially proud of my willingness to evolve. I’ve rebranded, experimented, taken risks, and continuously challenged myself to grow both personally and creatively. Every project, success, setback, and lesson has contributed to the person and creator I am today.
The main thing I want people to know about my brand is that authenticity will always come first. Trends come and go, but genuine stories, meaningful connections, and intentional creativity have lasting value. Whether someone discovers my work through a piece of content, a collaboration, or a creative project, I want them to leave feeling inspired, understood, or encouraged to embrace their own creative journey.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that everything has to be perfect before you share it with the world.
When I first started creating content, I spent a lot of time overthinking every detail. I would compare my work to creators who had years of experience, convince myself something wasn’t ready yet, and delay projects because I felt they needed to be better before anyone could see them.
The backstory is simple: I cared deeply about what I was creating and wanted it to be taken seriously. But that mindset slowly became a form of self-sabotage. I realized I was learning more from the projects I actually released than from the ones sitting unfinished on my computer.
Over time, I began to understand that growth comes from action, not perfection. Some of my favorite opportunities, connections, and lessons came from work that I almost never posted because I thought it wasn’t good enough.
Today, I still care about quality, but I’ve learned that perfection isn’t the goal. Progress is. Every creator starts somewhere, and the willingness to put your work out there, learn, improve, and keep going is far more valuable than waiting for the perfect moment that may never come.
Unlearning perfectionism gave me the freedom to experiment, evolve, and trust my creative instincts. Looking back, I think that’s one of the most important shifts I’ve made, both as a creator and as a person.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that everything has to be perfect before you share it with the world.
When I first started creating content, I spent a lot of time overthinking every detail. I would compare my work to creators who had years of experience, convince myself something wasn’t ready yet, and delay projects because I felt they needed to be better before anyone could see them.
The backstory is simple: I cared deeply about what I was creating and wanted it to be taken seriously. But that mindset slowly became a form of self-sabotage. I realized I was learning more from the projects I actually released than from the ones sitting unfinished on my computer.
Over time, I began to understand that growth comes from action, not perfection. Some of my favorite opportunities, connections, and lessons came from work that I almost never posted because I thought it wasn’t good enough.
Today, I still care about quality, but I’ve learned that perfection isn’t the goal. Progress is. Every creator starts somewhere, and the willingness to put your work out there, learn, improve, and keep going is far more valuable than waiting for the perfect moment that may never come.
Unlearning perfectionism gave me the freedom to experiment, evolve, and trust my creative instincts. Looking back, I think that’s one of the most important shifts I’ve made, both as a creator and as a person.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/7xvii.noir/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyIFg2rJ2tWVgvMWY8nQbPw
- Other: Tiktok – https://www.tiktok.com/@7xvii.noir
