Often, those who tread off the beaten path are misunderstood or mischaracterized and so we asked folks from the community to reflect and tell us about the times they’ve been misunderstood or mischaracterized.

Marso Maytorena

A Lot Of People Always Want To Put Me In A Box. I remember meeting a guy that had my food and he told me “I seen you do Comedy, What Happened With That?” I Told Him I still do comedy and I also do music! He said “You Should try sticking to one thing and focus on that!” I Told Him Why Would I stop? He Said “I’ve never seen someone become successful off multiple things at once “ I responded with “YET” Pioneers Don’t wonder how things are done, They just do them and get better as they go!! I am a creative I don’t thrive off restriction and the past!! Read more>>

Petra Baral

Absolutely. Throughout my career, there have been several instances where my work has been misunderstood or mischaracterized. One notable example is my painting “The Visions” from 2007, which was actually inspired by this very topic. The piece explores how each viewer perceives something different in a work of art, often taking what they see at face value without delving into the deeper meaning or message that the artist intended to convey. While I don’t mind this—after all, art is a highly personal experience for both the artist and the viewer—it has led to some interesting misinterpretations. Read more>>

Alexandra Tebay

I like to say my “day job” is merchandise planning in the corporate fashion industry, while my “bonus job” is a digital creator. Interestingly, both roles are often misunderstood. Take my corporate fashion job, for instance. Many people imagine the fashion industry as glamorous, cutthroat, and easy to break into if you’re attractive, creative, and skilled at swiping a credit card. Why wouldn’t they? That’s how it’s often portrayed in mainstream media. Although the fashion industry can be glamorous and competitive, it is also incredibly challenging and demands a high level of intelligence. Some of the smartest people I know work in this field. Success requires determination, tenacity, and a tremendous amount of business acumen. Read more>>

S0nny

Absolutely, I’ve encountered moments where my work and even I as a person have been misunderstood or mischaracterized. I think it comes with the territory when you’re someone who wears multiple hats and ventures into different fields. One particular instance that stands out is when I first transitioned from being solely recognized as a music producer to becoming an entrepreneur and philanthropist. Some people couldn’t quite reconcile these different aspects of my life. They saw me as just a “music guy” and assumed that my ventures into business or charity were side projects or distractions, not serious pursuits. Read more>>