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

Tori, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with 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.

Throughout my life I was conditioned and was always told what life was supposed to look like — that you were doing well if you went to college, you graduated, you got a job, you got married, you had kids, and you work until you’re able to retire.

While this suits many, I always went against the grain. Most people call me a “rebel”. Since a kid, I was always drawn to my creative side and had a different view of what I was taught. At 17 I created a plan and at 19 that plan was in full action. At the time I was in college, attending Howard University, majoring in the Tv/Film Department, and minoring in Electronic Studio Art.

I was doing well for myself to be so young, I was responsible and wanted to make money to invest in my brand. At 20, I worked for Apple as a technical specialist, I did freelance videography and photography, and I sold clothes and other products for my brand FADE (Focus Art Dream Elevate).

At 21, I decided I didn’t want to work for anyone anymore and after graduating in 2018 I took the risk, moved back to Atlanta, and focused solely on pushing the freelance photography/videography side of my brand/business, continued selling clothes, but also began to show the world my creative abilities in music, writing, and content creation.

It’s been a long ride, but now that I’m 26, I can say the risk has paid off. I would never trade the experience — I’ve learned so much about life but also so much about myself that I didn’t know and never comprehended.

This journey truly has brought the best out of me — I’ve gained a higher perspective, I’ve healed along the way, I turned all of the pain I’ve experienced into my personal power, learned to channel it through my creativity, and I learned to embrace my gifts and abilities fully: writing, speaking, creating, visualizing, leading with my intuition, sharing compassion and love, and becoming a leader.

Taking a leap of faith and taking the risk to not do what was “normal” and what most people do has been worth it!

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 background and context?

As a kid and even young adult, I had such a childlike innocence. I loved deeply and lived from my heart. From my childhood experience I made it up in my mind at 17 that I wanted to help people and the world. I wanted to help those that were dealing with any sadness, loneliness, brokenness, or just a lack of confidence. I was always the person to give a listening ear, or a shoulder to cry on.

With this vision, I created FADE — Focus, Art, Dream, Elevate. A brand that encourges becoming self-made through focus, art, and following your vision but also encourages healing and transformation which leads to ELEVATION.

I created the slogan “DEDICATE TO ELEVATE” as I trusted that becoming self-made will force you to elevate. FADE started as a creative content brand that sells clothing products, but has now expanded in many other areas.

FADE offers photography & videography services, clothing and merchandise, music, intuitive coaching, intuitive and tarot readings, and my first book LIGHTWORK: DEDICATE TO ELEVATE — a guide that can assist anyone pursuing their self-made journey and supports the healing and transformation of the mind, which helps you achieve your wildest desires!

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I have been heavily inspired by the movie “Field of Dreams”. In the movie the main character has several supernatural interactions and follows what he’s hearing until, it made sense. The character hears the saying “Build it and they will come” he then gets the nudge to build a baseball stadium but still doesn’t know why, but he trusts his process, and builds the stadium.

Along the way, there’s heavy opposition — he was told he was crazy, a fool, that it won’t work, and that he should stop. Even though it took time, he relied on his faith, he eventually built it, and every step of the way he received confirmation and further steps to assist him to keep going until “they came”…

This is the exact journey and approach I’ve adopted along the way within my own entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy. Of course, what I’ve built is different than the main character, but I had to stay resilient, faithful, and trust my visions and dreams even when things didn’t go as planned, and while I was experiencing many setbacks and disappointments along the way.

During this process, I was told to stop trying to pursue the entrepreneur side, I was told that I couldn’t write a book because I didn’t have enough experience and wasn’t intelligent enough, I was told that my abilities weren’t real and what I was seeing was not happening.

It was hard but in the end it was all just a test of faith and devotion to achieving and obtaining something greater,

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

The most rewarding aspect of being creative is the self-expression and truth you get to put out into the world. So many people have opinions about the way you should act, do things, or even express your emotions but channeling your energy into your creativity is the most free space without the outside worlds opinions or views.

To me, it’s all about the relationship and connection within yourself that matters most when you’re creating. Your creations and art become your safe space to release and be yourself with no restrictions.

Whatever your craft/art is, there’s no limitations unless you allow them into your vortex.

Contact Info:

• Website: fadethemovement.com
• Instagram: @notlikenix
• Facebook: Tori Nix
• Twitter: @notlikenix
• Youtube: Search ‘Tori Nix’

Image Credits
@notlikenix @jlaviiphotography