Last week, our Media Trust group had the opportunity to pick the brain of the incredibly inspiring Kanya King, founder and CEO of the MOBO Awards. Before anything, I’d really like to thank Kanya again for her time as a lot of what was discussed deeply resonated with me. She started by telling us how COVID-19 has affected prep for the MOBOs comeback scheduled for this November. Soft spoken, with a huge smile and energy so warm and humble it radiated through the screen, Kanya emphasised how the safety of everyone involved is a top priority for the MOBOs.
Whilst this was all very interesting and I love hearing about a successful entrepreneur’s ventures, what I love even more (at least at this early stage of my own life) is studying their mind-set, absorbing their wisdom and formulating a ‘blueprint’. How does a successful and fulfilled mind think? What underlines a winner’s mentality? What are their biggest mental challenges? How do you overcome these? All this is super important for me to understand as I think the correct mind-set is the foundation for building the life of your dreams.
Kanya King grew up in North West London, pretty much around the corner from me. It hits you harder when you know someone started out just like you, with a dream and overwhelming desire to make an impact. Nothing less and nothing more. So for anyone who relates, and for myself whenever I need a reminder, here is an insight into the mentality of this uber amazing woman.
You need to be a problem solver in every aspect.
This is a trait every entrepreneur and go-getter, whether you are just starting out or a long- time CEO, will always have. “We’re used to problems, be creative in solutions and what you do” says Kanya.
Have a strong sense of purpose and believe in yourself, because people will try to get rid of you and write you off.
This is something that anyone who has ever had an idea will experience. I feel it multiplies in intensity the “wilder” the idea seems. Kanya mentioned a careers advisor to whom she once explained her vision and plans, for this career advisor to tell her to be more realistic. That given her circumstances, she should get a job at Sainsbury’s and if she worked hard enough, she could potentially become a manager. “That gave me the drive and ambition to realise who I was destined to become, was who I decided to be. That gave me ammunition. The drive and motivation to succeed”. Kanya isn’t the first person to share that hearing ‘No’ fuelled her drive. I heard the same from Henrie Kwushue in a previous Zoom call, and from multiple individuals who I have encountered at different points of my life.
For Kanya, this didn’t stop even after putting on a successful MOBO’s show. “People started to compare us to conglomerates out there. I thought we’d get the love and support but actually, there were a lot of people trying to get rid of us. That really surprised me. In the end, you get to a state where you don’t ask for permission anymore, you just do what you do, be proud and go forth”. Kanya’s experience is unique in the sense that she was creating a space for black culture, and pioneering the diversity movement in music and entertainment at a time when the conversations were nowhere near as prevalent as they are today. However, the take away message remains. Have a powerful sense of purpose and believe in it. It then becomes very difficult for anyone to challenge you.
Get yourself a team of mastermind friends.
I’d be lying if I said this one hasn’t become increasingly obvious to me on my own journey. I still feel like I am searching for my tribe, so at times life can feel pretty lonely which is also something Kanya touched upon by saying the entrepreneur lifestyle can be “a very isolating existence”. However, when I do find and interact with people I admire and respect, the more my mind seems to expand whether that’s with confidence, ideas and inspiration, new concepts and questions, or often all of these things at once. Not only that, but I find that certain struggles are best understood by people who are or have been in similar shoes, and naturally they’ll advise you based on their experience. It’s a whole process of osmosis, so I was not surprised to hear Kanya frequently circle back to this point.
“You have to find your own mastermind circle of people that you can pick up the phone and get advice, or that you’re just inspired by. Having friends out there who are championing and trailblazing inspires me to up my game and helps me”. There’s a reason social scientists say that you reflect the people you surround yourself with – and that’s because it is true. I’m a product of my environment. Mastermind friends hold you to a higher standard for yourself. “Often when you vocalise [a dream] to someone, people will hold you accountable. Being accountable is really important.”
Another important role that mastermind friends play is that of a trusted impartial counsel. “If you have a buddy, meet up and share. A problem shared is a problem halved. No matter what it looks like out there, no entrepreneur business person gets there alone, it’s all about the team. Have a team around you that are willing to give you honest advice”. Kanya was very open about the realities of being an entrepreneur. “A lot of entrepreneurs might talk about the wins and the successes but there are so many lows. It’s important to realise that. That mastermind network is so important to have otherwise the first challenge you get, you’re tempted to give up.”
Find mentors everywhere.
Kanya didn’t have a mentor when she first started out. She stated that this led her to doing everything you shouldn’t do and making all the mistakes because she had no one advising her. “I didn’t have any track record, I didn’t have any mentors or advisors, I didn’t have any money and I didn’t have connections”. So what did Kanya have? That’s easy. “I had this overwhelming desire to succeed and I didn’t have a plan B, that allowed me to overcome so many obstacles”.
However, if you do have people willing to be your mentors or you can learn from someone, it’s highly advisable. “Mentors come in many guises. You don’t need to have the official title of a mentor to be a mentor”, says Kanya. “Your mentor may be someone you admire and whose journey you can follow”. Mentors can even be someone who you isolate a specific character trait from and embed that into your life. Kanya spoke about her own mother who although advised her to not start her own business (it came from that place of love where they just want you to be safe and secure in life), what Kanya did admire was how hard her mother worked and the resilience with which she navigated her challenges in life. This offered Kanya lots of perspective when faced with her own set of challenges.
There are no shortcuts. It’s hard work so the drive and motivation come from within.
You have to get out there and start. “It’s better to do something than to do nothing. You are far more likely to learn from doing than you are watching”. I felt this one. You can watch every motivational video on YouTube, you can listen to every interview, at some point you will have to DO things too, or all you’ve done is accumulate enormous amounts of theory in your head. I’m guilty of this myself, of failing to move past the research stage. At some point you have to take the leap and become the guinea pig in your own real life experiment. “There are no shortcuts, there are no get rich quick schemes. You need to put in the time and the determination. It helps to do something that you’re passionate about. You’ve got to be 100% motivated in your aims and objectives otherwise you’ll give up”. That’s the non sugar-coated truth from Kanya King.
Also, if you overthink it, you may just think yourself out of it entirely. “I didn’t anticipate half of the challenges I would go on to face and it’s probably a good thing. Had I known all the things I know now, that might have put me off! What I did know is I’ve always had the stamina, always had the energy and always thought hard for what I believe in”. I’m a massive over thinker, so for me it’s best to jump and just trust that I will be able to cross bridges as they come.
A quick summary of the way Kanya’s mind works: believe in yourself even if others don’t, believe in your ability to be a problem solver, surround yourself with similar minds so you can support and push each other forward, anticipate the hard work and commit to making your vision happen. Don’t ask for permission, make it happen.
And on that note – I recently discovered a love for video production and editing alongside photography and music, so anyone wanting to create behind the scenes/tour content when things get back to normal, shout me!
Also, do check out the MOBO Awards IG Live Show, #LowdownInLockdown. Every Friday they have two awesome guests on it.
You can follow Kanya on her twitter (@KanyaKing) and instagram (@kanyakingCBE).
While you are here, feel free to check out the rest of the site or hit me up and let me know of other minds I should be studying :)
Take care and stay safe!
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