Meet Bryan Smith | Writer

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

Hi Bryan, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I love this question and for several reasons. When you think about all the success stories you’ve ever heard about, there is so much that has gone into their journeys. Sometimes you hear about the hardships of their upbringing, you hear about the struggles they endured financially or physically. We are often wow’d with how they were able to overcome. But there are also times where you won’t hear about this struggles and those individuals make it seem like it was an easy road to stardom and there are times where that may be the case. In my journey it has not. Being a husband and a father of 3 (3,6,12) you can imagine the hurdles that are thrown my way. Trying to manage everyone’s particular needs while not forgetting what you intended to do for yourself. What about your goals? What about your dreams and aspirations? How do you balance both worlds with out resentment for seemingly not being able to fully commit to your ideas and what goes into making them a reality. It has absolutely been tough in my case, but within the industry that I am partaking in there are times when you have to step away and be secluded in order to really create something meaningfully and that you can be proud of. I’m a writer so ideas are constantly flowing from mind and I need to get them written down. More times than not though my family understands the importance of allowing me to create uninterrupted. For me I am able to find my peace of mind and space to do so at night. I’m a night person so I have no issues being up all times of night to get it done.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
So I’ve been gifted in so many different aspects of art. Whether it be music, acting, speaking, or writing. Music has always played a major part in my life for many reasons. I love the aspect of music where it allows one to create and tell their stories through melody, through rhyme, through writing, through sound. What I love most about art is you own that. You are the ultimate creator because this is your vision and your idea of how things are or to be and no one can tell you differently. You express it the way you want the world to receive it. You be in control. That was the mantra or the motivation behind my writing and or my musical creations. BtheWriter was a brand I created with the focus geared around controlling the narrative. You be the writer and you tell your story because no one knows you better than you and God. I’ve always felt that we sometimes get put into categories and boxes that the world believes we need to be in. They feel based on past situations that when something seems similar we have the right to group them into the same. My world started in sports and as a black man in America, judging by where we come from, it is often placed upon us about who we are and who we are good enough to be. My art gears around letting you know that this isn’t the case and I can surprise you in so many ways and different aspects. I deem myself to be multicultural and have a place in every aspect of life and demographic. I’m someone for everyone and I pride myself on being able to adapt to any and everything within my creations.

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.
This is the south and down here they pride themselves on good food. Within the Raleigh/Durham areas there are lot of what I like to call “mom and pop” shops around. North Carolina is a very creative state especially certain areas such as Carborro and several areas in the downtown Raleigh and Durham areas. Outside eateries, coffee shops even some of the pubs have a lot of character. The settings here are designed in a very intimate and creative way that is sure to spark good conversation and an all around good vibe. I come from New York City so I was foreign to the peace and quiet of the outdoors and nature. I’ve grown to love it because it has been some the most influential and and beneficial assists to my creative rebirth.

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?
There are some things that I have experienced over the last couple of years. Especially when I decided to make a decision that would not only affect me, but also my family in a major way. I made a decision to really bet on myself for a lot of the things that I’ve wanted to do but also felt I was destined to do and be. Even as we speak now it hasn’t succeeded to the levels that I have envisioned it to be at this stage but I’m still on that path in creating that successful level that I see. A lot goes into making certain decisions in life because you always have to worry about the backlash of it not working out or what it can do to those around you. In my case my biggest shout out has to go to my family. My wife of 9 years, Tiara and my beautiful children Jayden, Leyah and Imani. They have kept me from falling off of what I’ve started by constantly reminding me I’m better than what I’ve thought of myself at times. They remind of all the things I have accomplished and remind me to celebrate those small victories, then utilize those small victories and put them together to create the bigger picture.

Website: rtjthebrand.godaddysites.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/blegendary1

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-smith-a7a969b3/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf90M7xmA1-SPXZBEQX4QRA

Other: https://a.co/d/e8rbaIf this linked to my latest project just released entitled Nondisclosure