The Dare Dreamer Movement by Julene Fleurmond

Syndrome Studio, made up of three artists, Micah Hancock, James Larese, and Mars Sandoval, is one of the design studios whose work really inspires me. Syndrome specializes in motion design for multiple mediums, and their work is amazing to view, raging from directing music videos for Estelle, Danity Kane, Day26, Black Eye Peas, Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco, Wyclef, Jo Jo, Mickey Avalon and many more. They also did motion graphics for the movie ATL, and for networks like Disney, HGTV, and MTV.

Here’s an interview I found with them at Convey Magazine where they described their struggle “to get to the point where we were considered ‘directors’ as opposed to, ‘those graphic guys that also direct.’ Their portfolio shows that you can find a way to create a niche within the entertainment industry, or any industry doing what you love and do best, while working hard to make your way to the top. Their success was only achieved with “tenacity, passion, having a precise game plan and believing 1000000% in ourselves… if you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.”

I love how they merge motion and 3D work with video production and directing, and how they work in so many mediums to make a finished product. You can click here to view their website with samples of their incredible work. One of my favorites was Keke Palmer’s “Keep It Movin'” music video, below, which they animated and directed.

“Don’t lose your passion. The second you are chasing a check instead of a vision could be the beginning of the end.” – Syndrome Studio in an April 2008 interview with Convey Magazine

I came across “Faithful Sister Magazine,” which seems like a positive alternative to all negative entertainment that young black girls are watching everyday. I’ve been doing research to find positive magazines out there for young African American teenagers, because it seems to be a demographic that is lacking positive resources, and this magazine is a gem. “Faithful Sister” was created by 23-year-old Pamela Holley-Bright who I read about in this article. It’s really inspiring for me to read about young people about my age who are starting their own creative ventures. Holley-Bright created the magazine because as she said “I didn’t see anything for my body type, makeup tips for my color skin, hair tips for my kind of hair…It just wasn’t working for me.”

The topics in the magazine look very relatable for young teenagers of color, and the layouts are fun and bright. Check out the website here or a preview of the current issue here. Maybe you can get a subscription for a young person in your life who needs inspiration.

I love this video, and all things Disney:

On Thursday I was able to take part in a telephone seminar hosted by Dr. Fran Harris, who is a megapreneur, WNBA champion and business coach. Dr. Harris is featured in the current issues of Essence and Black Enterprise magazines, and her advice and counsel continually inspires me. I currently subscribe to her magazine Collegepreneur, which I would recommend to any student who wants to or currently runs their own business!

During the seminar Dr. Harris spoke about shifting your paradigm in order to move to the next level of success in all areas of your life. She challenged us who were on the call to identify harmful paradigms that are stunting our growth, regarding our relationships, health and financially, and to start living differently starting today.

As I listened to her words while eating my lunch, I began mentally going over areas of my own life that needed an overhaul. It’s funny how just changing the way you look at a situation can drastically transform the outcome and can free you from ideas you had that were really inaccurate.

Rather than me try to explain how much her words affected me, why don’t you go over to her blog to hear the recording of the call. Click here to be inspired by her wise words of how we can change our view of the world in order to move closer to our dreams.

I’ve been seeing so much about Ms. Raven-Symoné lately, and she is certainly doing her thing, living out her dreams and pursuing her creative passions. I posted a few days ago about her interview on Donny Deutsch, and I just read about her online on The Los Angeles Times (CEO Raven-Symoné, chief entertainment officer) and Black Enterprise (Raven-Symoné Gets Real About Fame, Flops, And The Pressures Of Young Hollywood).

She also appeared on Oprah a few weeks ago with the rest of the Cosby Show cast (click here to read about the show on the Oprah website) , and that’s when I found out about her new website, Raven Symoné Presents. In the she has videos showing how to make crafts, recipes, and all types of fun and practical things. Check it out!