Today we’d like to introduce you to Ken West.
Hi Ken, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in a single-parent household in Little Rock, Arkansas. Long story short, I appeared on a police officer’s page (@tnorman23), and his followers wanted to support my journey through college. That’s where my social media start came from. It inspired me to want to do something good for not only my community but anyone I come in contact with. Now here I am (However, I still have ways to go.)
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. Some of the challenges I have faced along the way have been death, the feeling of failure, and losing friends. I have lost so many people along the way. I look at it in a way that God blessed me to live another day for a chance to make a difference, but the positive memories of the ones I lost are near and dear to my heart. Secondly, the feeling of failure sometimes had me discouraged.
In the past, I would try to compare my situation and/or accomplishments to others. I quickly learned that would hinder me from a lot of my blessings. Instead, Gaining the knowledge that when something doesn’t work out the way I want it to go, I can’t sit in my misery about it; I have to come up with an alternative. Also, be open to hearing suggestions. Even when I might not like the delivery, it can most likely help me in the long run.
Lastly, losing friends was a big struggle for me. I’ve had friends since high school that wasn’t career driven, nor did they have a plan. Even when I tried to offer help (as a friend) to create a plan, and they declined — That was my silent signal from God that had outgrown them. I understood that I was in a season where I couldn’t handle distractions. My old friends didn’t understand my vision, nor did they motivate me — and that’s okay. It’s all love, but I’m too busy trying to build my table.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an Instagram Influencer/Social Media coach. I love learning about the movements of social media. I specialize in advising individuals (who want to do the work) to monetize on social media. I am most proud of how far I’ve come. I used to be off to the side, in some corner. When I could be connected with people who could’ve helped me get further.
Now, I’m more fearless. Closed mouths don’t get fed. So I’m taking what’s mine. No one owes me anything…I’M HERE TO EARN IT! What sets me apart from others is, I don’t let what was supposed to defeat me, take me over. If anything, I will find a way to take what was supposed to be a struggle and monetize it.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.
One of the quotes I have lived by states, “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” – Muhammad Ali. I cannot be confined to one spot or in a limited amount of space. I’ve also learned scared money WILL NOT make any money! A common risk I take every day is working on my hourly job and fulling the steps it takes to get to my dream.
Many people see it as me wasting my life making someone else money. I think of the company I work for as my investor because the money I’m making is an investment in my dream. If you’re reading this… please take that risk you’ve been thinking about over and over. Your next move might be your best move!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/kenwest16
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenwest16/?hl=en
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kenwest16
Image Credits
@mj.dudley and @vonharrisproductions
