We had the good fortune of connecting with David George and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
I’m definitely a strong believer that your level of success (whatever that means to you) is highly determined by your habits and what you do every day to work towards your goals.

First and foremost, I invest a lot of time in my personal development by reading self-help books. In my opinion, books are the best way to grow your mindset and learn ‘what works’ from people you probably would never meet. Second, I would say developing systems. Of course, I fall off from time to time, but systems help me stay organized and consistent around my habits. I’m someone who struggles with trying to get too much out of one day, and systems allow me to be productive and not just busy. Last but not least, I regularly ask for help. I believe that It truly doesn’t make sense to try and solve a problem with the same brain that caused it (most of the time). So, whenever I feel stuck or unmotivated, I seek perspective from people who I know have grown through what I’m experiencing at that moment.

What should our readers know about your business?
My company David George & Co. started as a consulting agency that helped creative entrepreneurs build personal brands. However, now I focus on speaking and building workshops that help BIPOC strengthen their content creation skills; through the lens of entrepreneurship.

Throughout my journey, I’ve met and collaborated with some very innovative people who have built businesses around the things that they love. Today, you can make a lot happen with a cell phone, strong wi-fi connection, and willingness to tell stories through photo, video, or written content. Therefore, I am always excited for new opportunities to share my expertise with a group of people who typically have less access to this type of knowledge.

When I think about where I am today, a lot of it is a result of putting myself out there and taking calculated risks. When I was 25 years old, I read a book called ‘The School of Greatness’ that introduced me to the concept of starting with the end goal in mind. It basically said that when you know where you want to go, find the path with the most proven results and lock in on that. So my first answer to the how is work ethic (doing enough for long enough). Two, evolving with my industry. Third, relationships.

My path has not been easy…at all, but I welcome adversity at this point. Choosing to practice self-awareness has helped me overcome some of my biggest challenges. This means being honest with yourself about where you are, how you got there, and what you NEED to do to change your situation. Taking accountability for the things I could control made it easier for me to take action.

I want the world to know that everything I pursue is built on helping others see possibility. I want to inspire communities of collaboration and sharing knowledge.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Monday we would visit Griffith Park, there is something breathtaking about the view at the top and I think it would be the perfect way to set the tone for the week.

Next up would be shopping on Melrose. When people come to LA they love to shop and we might even stop by Hollywood Blvd and visit the stars before the night ends.

Wednesday is a good chill day, so I probably would plan a picnic at Echo Park Lake where we can just relax and chat by the water with some friends.

Thursday through the weekend we would most likely jump around to a few bars/restaurants like Catch, STK Steakhouse, The Abbey to name a few. I would also squeeze in wine tasting in Malibu. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I actually want to take a different approach with this question and shout out a woman who negatively motivated me. We’ll call her Jill in this story

About five years ago, I had the opportunity to meet with an Art Director at a major fashion brand (insert Jill). This was very early in my marketing career. I had just experienced a major win and was discovering my potential as a digital storyteller. As anyone else would be, I was very excited about this meeting, but when I got there, it didn’t go the way I expected.

Jill made me feel as though she was forced to be there and that the meeting was an inconvenience for her. All I wanted was an opportunity to learn and she used the very little time we did have to tell me how unqualified I was. She didn’t get to know me or give me a fair shot at earning her time. Fortunately, that wasn’t enough to deter me. Instead, I chose to look at all of the things she said I “didn’t know” and use that as a guide for acquiring new skills.

Since then, I’ve led marketing campaigns for many Fortune 500 companies and even produced influencer content for the brand she works at now. So in the end, I say thank you, Jill.

Instagram: instagram.com/idavidgeorge

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