Let’s Change Some Things…Again.

Over the last 36 hours, I have been done and spent. I don’t want to use Social Media as the developer intended anymore. I’m tired of captions, hashtags, setting appointments and posting at “the right time of day” to build a following and get engagement. It’s just no longer something that is a concern for me and “my brand”. At this point, people follow, like and share or they don’t and to be real, I don’t want to pay for attention right now. It’s not going to stop the work I’m putting in no matter what. The work is what makes me happy. Not the stats the work produces.

Speaking of “My Brand”; I’m over trying to build one. At least consciously. There’s an episode of Camp From The Port coming up that speaks on authenticity and the value, strength and comfort of being yourself. Taking a step away from this world of social media, being with family in my hometown and having conversations for the show have really helped me mentally in so many ways. I’m embarking on another change. The change has me excited about interaction. The change will keep me on social media but also give my core clarity.

I’m done creating new pages and accounts every time I have an idea. One man came up with these ideas. My problem is structuring. I create so much and am not sure where all of it can and should go. What’s certain is that the only thing that should define me is my name. That name breeds the products and those products can be promoted. I’m my own hub. I’m not here to build several followings. I’m here to give my gift of creation to the world. It’s should be a one way street for that.

I’ll make it all make sense soon.

A Quick thought on Popping Brands

No brand is building progressively, consistently without a budget. I’m not saying the budget is thousands or millions, but we all reach a point where we grow stagnant because our visibility dwindles. Yes, the price of creation is free. But the presenting of your creation isn’t. Your visibility is represented by your marketing and that won’t always be effective for Free99.

Yes, you can do it independently. Yes, you can achieve success without the big corporate machine. But, what always must be understood is, we all want our ads to be front page and top priority. And that type of exposure won’t happen without a budget.

Thinking About Branding

Watched the YG and Gary Vee sit down and I felt that familiar inspired but frustrated feeling. I like it cause it keeps my wheels turning and trying to figure out what’s next. I can’t stand the feeling because I instantly think I haven’t done anything or I feel I don’t know how to capitalize off of what I have built.

Got to keep the hunger but stay in the race. First thing I need to do is develop a tighter schedule and plan of action. I been slacking on my brand building due to one word; Consistency. It never fails. In fact the only thing I do consistently is be inconsistent with Brand Building. Got to figure it out no matter what. Cause once I do figure it out a team will want to assemble to help. That’s when the real fun and grind begins.

Final Hours Before The Social Return

It’s Halloween night. I’m less than 2 hours away from returning to Social Media. The October discipline challenge is about to be complete and I honestly feel I have grown because of the time away. To recap, I challenged myself to stay off of every social media platform, except YouTube and LinkedIn for the entire month of October. I’m happy to say that I have completed it and have some great takeaways from the experience.

First thing was finishing a very special project. I am thrilled to announce a great milestone for me and I can’t wait to get into phase two and three of this project.

Second is seeing this site grow and truly be defined. I’ve changed the name so many times. I went through so many brand and personal changes that I wasn’t sure what this was going to be. It’s the first time in the long time I didn’t lean on “asking social media” what they want or being upset about answers or lack their of.

Third is getting a chance to create in the purest form. I was inspired by my thoughts and life. I tapped deeper into my emotions and feelings. The results were organic follows and likes to my blog and it’s pieces. No coaching and coaxing anyone to check anything out. The people found the content and the content found it’s audience. I’ve reached more writers by just cranking out content than I ever did asking FB or Twitter. That and the freedom I felt as I was creating. Great doesn’t began to describe that feeling.

Fourth is I got away from group thinking. I had to search for information, form a thought and evaluate it. I also didn’t have a timeline full of people trying to influence how I should feel about anything. I didn’t feel the need to attack opinions that I didn’t like either.

Fifth is understanding that I was using social media wrong. It became life instead of a tool. Too much emotion was wrapped into it. The time away gave me clarity on real life. The people that I would really talk to every day. The things I truly care about. The growth of me mentally and artistically. All that became clear once I left social media. I look forward to the return because I’m going to really turn a corner in how it’s all handled by me from here on out.

What do I plan to do when I return to social media?

• Use Instagram as my PR rep and Agent
• Follow better people
• Turn my pages to quality content hubs
• Start delivering and stop asking
• Consistent FB Live [Pending]
• Be Patient

The marathon continues. I’m going to solidify my lane in writing and media. I will take the time, make the moves and make myself happy. The time away was needed. I’m not sure if I want to get back on twitter outside of spitting out links. Got some ideas for Snapchat, but I got to get busy first. It’s time to document and create. Let my mind go and see who reacts. I have a plan. Now it’s time to execute.

Living As CamQuotes

Hello and Good Morning!

This is a post to recognize what will be the final name change to the site. If you’ve been around since the summer when this was the “Pen Pimps” site, you know that the site name has had quite a few changes. Long story story short rebranding and self doubt don’t mix. I also realized how much work I would be “throwing away” if I abandoned my bread and butter brand known as “CamQuotes”. I can give you the transparency with any name. The content doesn’t have to change. I can give you real depth and layers as one entity. So I am going to do that. I’m going to give you my life at all angles. I created CamQuotes in this life. So now you can get more insight on me Living As CamQuotes.

I’m excited! This is going to be pretty cool. You’re still going to get the self reflection moments. You’re still going to get the poetry and other compositions. I’m still going to talk about how I feel about certain national societal topics. With all that you’re also going to get some media from me. I’ve added a podcast category so you can check out “First Black Champ”. It’s a wrestling podcast I do with my family, J.R Bang. I may add a feed to the Absolutely Dope Podcast that I was doing a couple years back as well.

I’m also going to be adding past moments that I think are great pieces from me. I believe a couple are already up and there are definitely more on the way.

I did it! I solved my rebrand issue 48 hours before my official return to social media! Since I’m changing the site again, I will let this go out on my social platforms just to make sure those who don’t follow this blog can see it. Well ladies and gentlemen, thank you. It’s been a jam-packed 3 months mentally and I am finally in a great space. Welcome to the life of CamQuotes.

Self Doubt and A Question At The Apple Store

Last week, I attempted to get another power cord from the Apple Store because my current replacement cord was starting to peel badly. I guess I waiting too long and it was now deemed “damaged” and they wanted me to buy another one. I didn’t have the money for that, so I ended up leaving with what I came with.

More important than that was what happened in the apple store. I gave my CamQuotes email to officially “get in line” for assistance and the service rep asked me, “Do you write?”

My response, “Yes. In fact, *news that I don’t want to tell you right now*”. The feeling was liberating! It was the first time the CamQuotes moniker was acknowledged as being a writer just off the name. I was so happy to have that moment happen that not getting a new or better cord didn’t phase me as much.

That made me think back to when I was on the phone with my guy, JG and he said, “What’s your last name? Cause I know it’s not “Quotes”, but that’s all I can remember.” Then about 2 weeks ago, I ran into my guy Illinois Jones for what I believe is the first time in real life and he said “OHHH ISH We got the legend CamQuotes in the building!” It cracked me up and it really made me say to myself, “This is the wrong time to tell him I don’t plan on going by CamQuotes anymore.”

Within that time, I reached out to some friends to brainstorm. Kicked some names and go interesting feedback. Narrowed it down to 2-3 names for at least the site and possibly for my social media. Then, I stopped myself dead in my tracks. All of a sudden, it felt like I was trying to sell myself on the changes. It didn’t feel good or like something I could do permanently.

Then I talked with the Misses, hoping she would help me brainstorm and figure it out. Instead I got somewhat of a lecture on how “I change names so many times” and then the names I threw out she didn’t like or just said they sounded random. The conversation was, well lets just say we ended at maybe I was thinking about it too much and maybe it’s best I don’t think anymore so the “great idea” could come.

Now I’m sitting here thinking about all this time I’ve spent trying to come up with pen names, monikers and “something to go by” when maybe once again, my impatience is crafting a big mistake. A mistake that can cost me time and lose an audience that I didn’t realize I had.

Maybe the “CamQuotes Brand” is a couple strikes away from the diamonds. Maybe it truly was sticking even though the results aren’t and weren’t desired. Maybe I am truly tripping trying to start from a new square one when I have a foundation that is ready for a skyscraper to be built on it.

I’ve sat on sharing this story for days. I’m glad I did. I’m telling it today because this thing called “Self Doubt” is real. When you put so much time, effort and energy towards something and it doesn’t bring the desired results, it’s hard to keep pushing. That result wasn’t money first for me. It definitely wasn’t fame either. It was always about respect and appreciation for my work and my creative mind. I never wanted to be Michael Jackson level famous, but I always wanted a Quincy Jones level respect. Luckily, I haven’t done much as “Life Writer Cam” or “Camp”. At least not socially. However, the years spent writing and doing podcast and videos as CamQuotes is still a real thing to the people that know. Sometimes trying to see so much of the big picture, can have you totally blind to all of the little things that should keep you going.

All that thinking and trying to change. All that done away with one question at the Apple Store. I’m insane, haha! Bare with me, people. Please. CamQuotes is officially back and the rebrand is still real. I write about my life instead of only music and hip-hop culture now. The CamQuotes brand is set to expand and be bigger and better than ever. No time is lost and so much more success is set to gain. I’ve put a lot into this. No way can I not reap the benefits. Let’s do this, again.