We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sunny St.James a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sunny , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve ever worked on isn’t a single event or campaign. A few years ago, I discovered that it’s the ongoing work of helping other people tap into their potential and believe in themselves again.

Whether it’s been through mentoring, managing artists, or creating programs that empower other creatives, the most rewarding part for me is witnessing someone’s transformation or seeing their dreams come closer to reality. It’s like igniting a flame in their soul that eventually becomes an enormous light in the world.

One example that stands out is working with Scotty Praise, an artist I manage whose journey is nothing short of powerful. He came from an extremely challenging background and was actually still incarcerated when he first reached out to me with a vision bigger than his circumstances. Watching him rise from prison to the stage, from brokenness to this radical boldness, reminded me just how far someone can go when they’re supported, believed in, and equipped.

Another turning point was “Creative Camp”, a summer program I started just last year to pour into exceptionally talented teenagers. What I didn’t expect was how deeply it would impact me. I was going through a very tough time in my own life, and helping others helped me heal. It gave me purpose, structure, and a renewed sense of joy.

So for me, the most meaningful “project” is people. It’s the process of pouring into others, watching them grow, and knowing I played a small part in their breakthrough. That’s what drives me. That’s what fills me up.

Sunny , 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?

I’m Sunny St. James. I wear many hats depending on the day, but if I had to sum it all up, I’d say I’m a Creative Entrepreneur. I create music, I explore, I solve problems, and I believe deeply in the Most High God. I’m also the first grandchild of my tribe, which means I got to make all the mistakes first. LOL.

Professionally or the way I pay the bills, I’ve been an entrepreneur (or a fool, depending on how you look at it) for the past 13 years. I’m a Celebrity Stylist/ Loctician, and the founder of The Dread Doc, which has been my main focus for years. While I’m transitioning out of that role and preparing to retire from behind the chair, I now co-own and operate SunRei Logistics, a woman- and minority-owned company offering facility maintenance, procurement, and concierge/ admin support for both public and private clients.

I joke about being a fool, but honestly, maybe it would’ve been easier to get a secure job with benefits and live a stress-free life. But I’m wired differently. I’m a visionary… I can look at a seed and already see the forest.

This mindset flows into everything I do. I’ll start something, explore it, and if it doesn’t align, I’ll set it aside and try something else. That’s the reality of living with ADHD, it’s both a gift and a challenge. I move fluidly across industries and ideas, often building things just to hand them off once they’re in motion. Sometimes it’s a superpower. Sometimes… not so much. But it’s authentically me.

Right now, I’m focused on building sustainable, successful businesses that give me the freedom to fly, literally. I’m a student pilot (I love flying so much), an artist, and a constant strategist. My goal? To create, to explore, and to live freely wherever my wings can take me.

Most of what I build comes from real-life lessons hitting walls, figuring it out, and then wanting to make the path smoother for someone else. So yeah,That’s my why, I guess. lol But I believe when we solve something, we owe it to the next generation to share that knowledge so they can rise faster.

What sets me apart is my instinct to move. If I see a need, I naturally act. I no longer wait on perfect timing. I try to build bridges, not just for me, but for anyone coming behind me.

What I’m most proud of is my heart space. There was a time, I sorta lost me, I let pain harden me. After experiencing homelessness and deep personal struggles, I learned something powerful: when you serve others with your gift , without expecting anything in return, you unlock a different kind of abundance. I stopped chasing recognition and started focusing on impact.

These days, I want people to know that my work is purpose-driven. I’m here to create space, offer strategy, and remind others of their greatness. I don’t have all the answers but with what I do know I’ll always try to be part of the solution.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Yes. One of the biggest things non-creatives often struggle to understand is that creativity isn’t just something we do it’s how we process life. It’s how we make sense of joy, pain, confusion, inspiration, and purpose. For many of us, it’s pure survival a beautiful coping mechanism for navigating life’s constant flow.

There’s this perception that being creative means we’re just out here having fun, playing with ideas all day. But in reality, there’s a constant inner dialogue happening. We’re always thinking, observing, imagining, solving, shifting — and often doing it all without structure or a clear roadmap. That can be both a gift and a heavy load.

As someone with ADHD, my mind is always going. It’s not that I want to juggle ten things at once it’s just how my brain is wired. So I try to channel that energy into creating things that solve problems or help others move forward. Yes, it can be exhausting. What might look like “doing the most” is often just me trying to keep up with all the ideas and responsibilities swirling in my head.

Another thing people underestimate is how vulnerable it is to create something from your soul and share it with the world. Whether it’s a song, a brand, a business, or a service, we’re exposing our hearts in some way. And when it doesn’t land or people don’t “get it,” it can be deeply discouraging. I’ve battled with self-doubt before, which is why I go so hard to affirm others.

So if you’re not a creative, here’s the best insight I can offer:
Don’t assume it’s ego.
And please don’t assume it’s just a hobby or side passion. For many of us, it’s a calling. It’s our way of contributing something meaningful to the world. And sometimes, all it takes is for someone to acknowledge and respect that and it makes all the difference.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Ironically, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne ended up having a huge impact on my life but not in the way you’d expect.

The first time I read it, I actually thought it was the dumbest book I’d ever read. Not because it didn’t have valid points, but because it told me something I wasn’t ready to hear at the time: to be open to other possibilities.

Back then, the only possibility I could see was music. It was my first love; my only plan. I didn’t want a Plan B, C, or D. I was all-in on Plan A, and I believed if I stuck to it with the right strategy, it would eventually work. So when the book started talking about being open to other paths that might lead to your ultimate goal, I was completely turned off. I finished it, but I put it down like, nah, that ain’t it.

Years later, I realized The Secret wasn’t wrong it was just ahead of where I was mentally.

In hindsight, hair was always a gift I had. I was passionate about it, but never saw it as a real career. It was just something I was good at. Eventually, I leaned into it, committed to the craft, and became great at it. In short, That led to me becoming a celebrity stylist, traveling, building a cool business, and gaining time freedom I never imagined.

What’s wild is… while I was doing hair, I unintentionally entered the very industry I loved most: music. I connected with artists, producers, and creatives on all levels within the industry. Music became something I did on the side for a while, but it never left me. And the doors that opened through hair eventually led me right back to music just not in the way I had originally planned.

Today, I’ve done soundtrack work for TV and film, I’m managing an incredible artist, and I’m creating again.

Looking back, I can say The Secret was right. And honestly, it’s also a biblical principle: Your gift will make room for you.

What once felt like a detour was actually the doorway. I just had to be willing to walk through it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://SunnyStJames.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1realsunny/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunnyStJames
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/NhyuQO9UAT4?si=UelGtnw498ZB4OGO
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sunnystjames

Image Credits

Image Credits: Willette Dupree & Anton Allison