I know what you’re thinking. Trinidad James? Is she serious?

Well, yes, yes I am. Whether you like his music or not, Trinidad James has exploded into the stratosphere with a look and appeal all his own. With his catchy hooks and unique style, the world has definitely taken notice. So how has he managed to do this?

I’ll explore my top 5 lessons in branding that you can learn from being more like Trindad James. Don’t believe me? .

1. Be true to yourself. There’s no doubt about it. Trinidad James is an individual. Even though he has been accused of stealing his “look” from Jerome (of the TV show Martin) because of his signature gold teeth and unkempt hair. Building a successful business online requires you to wear many hats. With so much to juggle it’s easy to lose sight of who the REAL you is. Take time to remind yourself of why you starting along this journey. 
2. Create your own path to success. Trindad James, born Nicholas Williams, relocated many times as a youth and at one point called Canada, New York and Florida home, before settling in North Carolina. As Catholic school student, there are dozens of paths he could have chosen, but he decided to rap. He began rapping in November 2011 and within a year, his debut single, “All Gold Everything” landed on the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B/Hip-Hop charts.
3. Make a commitment. As much as people seem to find humor Trinidad James’s look, he’s continued to “ride with it“, despite what anyone thinks. This holds true with being an entrepreneur or blogger. Don’t be swayed by what others think. The consequence of putting yourself out there is that you leave yourself open for judgement. Some people will love you and some won’t – stay focused and continue to move toward your goal.
4. Ignore the naysayers. Negative people will always be the loudest and their comments sting the worst. It’s inevitable. Trinidad James gets entire blog posts mocking his sense of style. But he hasn’t let that stop him and it shouldn’t stop you. No matter where you are in life, there will be someone who doesn’t approve of what you are doing. Don’t worry about them. Let them waste energy worrying about you, while you plan your next big move. It’s their loss, not yours.
5. Surround yourself with people who like you just the way you are. Trinidad James surrounds himself with people who accept him just as he is. How else can you explain how he manages to flourish in a career path where many have bombed and failed. He stepped out of his box 2011 and commanded that the world take notice – and we did. This entrepreneur/blogging life can be a lonely one. Hours spent sitting behind a computer monitor, researching new posts, composing emails, scheduling tweets and organizing Facebook posts can be draining. Make sure you have good friends around you who can tell you when to step back, take a breath and who genuinely care about you.

So while you may continue cringe at the sound of his music (or secretly love it like I do), there’s one thing you can’t deny – there’s only one Trinidad James.

 

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