Meet Ressie G | Author, Producer & Advocate

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

Hi Ressie, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Being a native of Atlanta, Georgia aka The Hollywood of the South, I have to say that my success most definitely is attributed to 2 major factors. The first would have to be measuring my level of success for myself. Being a celebrity fashion stylist in Atlanta was not my goal. However, it is the goal of many. To reach that level of success for many fashion stylist is their goal…which I understand. Who wouldn’t want to have a list of clients that have millions of dollars and fame that is vast and far beyond the reach of most “common folk”. Needless to say my sights have and were always set on something else. As I navigated myself through that career as a celebrity stylist I wanted to simply be in control of where I lived and my mobility. Growing up through the foster care system and being from the “ghetto” I was not afforded the same luxuries that most people were or even still are. So, I had to make my own way and created my own lane for myself. While creating that lane I never compare myself to other stylist. Why? Simply, I didn’t care about other stylist. I took my notes from people that were further than I was and not those that were “on my level” aspiring to be where I was going. While others wanted the notoriety, the posts on Instagram and twitter, and to travel around the world. All I wanted was a roof over my head that no one could throw me out of and a car that could get me from point “A” to point “B”. The moment I securely was able to do that I felt fulfilled in my career as a stylist. Through the ups and downs, lost clients, trying to run with the wrong crowds it took longer than I thought it would, but I was able to accomplish my personal measure of success and not anyone else’s for me. My second was networking. In college my econ professor would say “Your network is your net worth” and I surly believed it. I always say being successful is easy, it’s the work that’s hard. The hardest part of the work is building relationships, properly fostering those relationships and staying consistent when you are in a setting where those things are needed as a skill and not as a second thought. After 11 years as a celebrity fashion stylist I left Atlanta and moved to Dallas to start a career in advocacy where I can use my platforms to advocate for people through the knowledge I have acquired over the years. By doing this I can indirectly build others up in a way that most people don’t. How? Well, by giving myself in a different way to help those that don’t know how to speak for themselves get the whit to do so. In my book “NetWERKIN Hunnie, A Millennial’s 7 Step Guide To Effectively Networking” I give my knowledge of the industry and my success to help other business owner gain a voice of their own. When you are striving for success you have to be able to adapt to every situation which I had to do time and time again. Being a black, intelligent, gay man has been as much of an anomaly as it is an oxymoron in some cases. As far-fetched as that sounds it became the driving force for me to continue to push for people that look like me to reach their greatest potential. Being a great networker is always the easiest way to get to that next level of success. Dallas is full of money and people that want to use it in the most profitable way possible. As I go through the 7 steps in my book, I create an easy blueprint for any person to set of their career for success and measure that success on their own terms.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Being an individual is easy to do, but being set apart is another thing. I have always believed that my southern charm coupled with my personality sets me apart from everyone else. Professionally at this point in my life it took nothing but persistence helped me overcome the challenges that I constantly faced. Being a product of a non-conventional upbringing will always help give a person a extra level of strength personally. However, it does take a particular type of person to take those typical dis advantages and turn them into rays of sunshine for your professional like. Looking at every experience as a cup half full one will always be the best way to meet your greatest potential professionally. Growth is never paired with ease, it is and always will be situational. By bottling up all your short coming and treating them as life lessons it will help you overcome challenges in your professional life. People ask me quite often what do I want the world to know about me and my brand. The answer is simple, some one that looks like you, sounds like you, acts like you can beat adversity and be successful in your own way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When I have visitors that come in town I always like to take particular places. I love brunch at Streets Fine Chicken, Lunch at The Southern Classic Daiquiri Factory, Dinner has to be at Xoxo Dinning Room. For fun a walk through bishop arts its always great. Most of all shopping, shopping, shopping at local boutiques like Gypsy Sanctuary is always great.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shoutout the book NetWERKIN Hunnie, A Millennial 7 Step Guide To Effectively Networking. Available at www.NetERKINGHunnie.com

Website: www.ressieg.com
Instagram: @RessieG
Twitter: RessieGTweet
Facebook: Ressie Gamble and Ressie Gtwo
Youtube: www.youtube.com/chasingreality

Image Credits
Photo Shot By: Aries Jones Photography