We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tarik Sparks. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tarik below.
Hi Tarik, thanks for 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.
Growing up, my parents didn’t let me get a regular job like at McDonald’s. They said there would always be time for that later. Instead, they wanted me to hustle and learn. So, I started Teenage Chores, knocking on doors, offering landscaping services, and it worked for about two years.
In college, I didn’t need to work, but I loved taking pictures. It turned into a passion for food photography. In 2020, I took a big step, leaving restaurant work to start my own food photography business.
Around 2015, right after Japan and a stint in Alaska in 2012, my girlfriend (now wife) and I started The Hidden Creation. It’s been a long journey, and now we have a recipe book, combining our experiences as chefs.
The risk? Figuring out how to balance all these creative things. It’s a constant challenge, but we’re finding our way.
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’m Tarik Sparks, and my journey has been a mix of entrepreneurial ventures. It all began when my parents encouraged me to hustle rather than take up typical jobs like at McDonald’s. This led to Teenage Chores, a landscaping business, born out of the necessity to learn and hustle.
Transitioning to college, my love for Food and photography while always having my camera around. My friends telling me that I should really looking into making this a “thing” turned into a passion for food photography. In 2020, I took a leap, (not knowing Covid was going to happen ) and left the restaurant job to establish my own food photography business. Now, at the same time,
The Hidden Creation, our cannabis education initiative co-founded with my wife, has been evolving since 2015, resulting in a recipe book capturing our experiences as chefs. Our goal with this is it teach people that there’s a different and better tasting way to have an infused lifestyle.
In the realm of food photography, I offer creative visuals for restaurants, chefs, and culinary enthusiasts. Through The Hidden Creation, we aim to shift perceptions around cannabis use, providing educational resources. What sets me apart is the ability to seamlessly blend diverse creative pursuits, from photography to cannabis education, my 15 years of hospitality industry service and my passion for food.
I take pride in the journey’s resilience, navigating challenges, and the ongoing evolution of my brand. What I want people to know is that I bring a unique perspective, balancing creativity and entrepreneurship. Whether capturing culinary moments or advocating for cannabis education, I strive to create meaningful content that resonates with my audience.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I find the satisfaction of people eager to see your work to be incredibly fulfilling. Seeing my work or trying my food. Provide feedback as I am always seeking input from those who are interested, whether positive or negative, as I believe it can be constructive. I believe that as an artist, reflecting on where you began and where you aspire to be enables you to broaden your mind and envision greater possibilities. Considering the significant achievements of many artists, there is a great deal of rewarding potential in what you can accomplish as well.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
My favorite book will always be The Alchemist. After that, it’s Shoe Dog, the story of the creation of Nike. Then there’s Kevin Hart’s book, The Decision. I’ve also found The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale to be really helpful, especially more recently. A lot of books by Grant Cardone and Alex Hormozi have been extremely helpful in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and what I can achieve while doing what I love at a high level. Finally, “Thinking, Grow Rich: A Black Choice” by Denis Kimbro offers amazing insights into a different perspective on the original “Think and Grow Rich.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tariksparksstudios.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tariksparks__studios?igsh=MTZhajRkbGNhdmVkbA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarik-sparks-0851ba170?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Other: Cooking with Cannabis Website – https://www.thehiddencreation.com/