We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tymm Hoffman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tymm below.

Hi Tymm, thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I think the better question is “am I torn?” That answer would be 100% yes. Some days I am super happy as a creative where I get to make something, dream up something, write something, produce something and watch it come to life. Other days I just want to be stocking shelves in some warehouse for a paycheck doing mindless work.

I have found myself lucky to not have to wonder what a “regular job” would be like as I have had so many of them in my life… I KNOW what they are like. And at times – it’s that exact knowledge that keeps me pushing in my creative endeavors.

Tymm, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was born in a small town outside of Pittsburgh – the same year that Hip Hop was born. I mention that because I believe – without a doubt – that nothing has shaped me, built me, directed me, molded me or inspired me more than Hip Hop has.

Growing up in a small town – you learned to lean on your creativity early on to imagine life outside the parameters of what your world allowed in. The stories painted in my head by hip hop quickly merged with my imagination and my creativity was starting to be rooted.

Fast forward to now – adult me – and creativity is my outlet, my savior, my counselor and my saving grace. Whether it’s writing poetry, rhymes, short stories or creating visual stories through digital graphic production or working with a creative group of peers in the filmmaking space – creativity is what brings me life.

I don’t consider the people I work with “clients” as much as I do “partners” – partners in telling whatever story they are trying to share. From the logo request I just received today to the multiple scripts I need to finish reading this evening – the creativity flows from one project to the next – oftentimes influencing each other both ways.

Some of the things I am most proud of would be teaming up to produce a feature film set and filmed in my small hometown and then premiering it in London and multiple film festivals across the country. Right up there with that would be the creative work I get to do with the school my family started in Ethiopia – where 900+ kids are currently getting two meals a day and a stellar education. Being able to leverage our skills, talents and creativity for the good of the world is a privilege we can’t ignore.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

If there’s a lesson in my world of creativity that I had to unlearn – it would be that old adage of “know the rules before you break them.”

When I first started in film school – my focus was on screenwriting. And all of my professors really emphasized knowing all of the proper structure, form, way to use dialogue, don’t do this, ya better do that, etc. It was driven in so hard to my mind that I feel like it stifled me – almost froze me into a space of not even being able to think creatively for fear of breaking a rule.

I’ve since broken free of that constraint – and while I definitely CHOOSE to respect the rules and play within them when it works – living, thinking, breathing and creating OUTSIDE of the rules has been a much more satisfying space to be.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

While I do not have some multi-million follower status on social media – I do believe I am part of a faithful network… a loyal network… and a super supportive network. And truthfully – in my personal opinion and experience – success on social media comes down to one thing – AUTHENTICITY.

Are you really who you are on social media? Too many people try to build this image, this persona of who they wish they were – and people see through that kind of stuff really quickly.

I have always tried to stay honestly, truthfully, transparently and authentically ME. I often say – if you only know me digitally and online…. you know me in person too. And if you only know me in person… you know me online too.

I share a lot – the good, the bad, the indifferent…. and in it all I just try to remain true to me… and that has allowed me to garner connections and build relations online in ways I may otherwise not have been able to.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://medium.com/@tymmh
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tymmh/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TymmHoffman
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tymmhoffman/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tymmh