First take time to process the entire situation at hand. Too often we are rushing in hopes for the situation to eliminate itself instead of analyzing what is really necessary to provide correction and solution. The next step is to understand your emotions in a situation. In order to know where you can go, it should truly be understood what mental space you are in at the time to correct for triumph. Thirdly, taking action is what is needed. After knowing the course of correction that has to be taken, what better action than to move. Getting the ball rolling is a greater action than thinking of it happening. The fourth involves emotion and attitude. The goal within this objective is to remain positive and optimistic. I believe that emotions outside of these two will only negate the entire outcome. The final step is to repeat. The cycle is never-ending in my opinion as the challenges continue to appear before us. It is our mission to remain steadfast in the whole process and focus on how we overcome what challenged us in the first place. These are my five steps in being resilient more and more.
Resilience has been described as the ability to withstand adversity and bounce back from difficult life events. Times are not easy now. How do we develop greater resilience to withstand the challenges that keep being thrown at us? In this interview series, we are talking to mental health experts, authors, resilience experts, coaches, and business leaders who can talk about how we can develop greater resilience to improve our lives.
As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Orville Wright.
Orville is a musician, mechanic, and happily married husband who applies positivity to his life and others. He believes that uplifting others is a priority in order to be lifted up by the ones around. He exudes confidence and pride in many of his actions and interactions.
Thank you so much for joining us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your backstory?
Thank you for having me. I have always been a person who likes to solve problems. I am often heavy in thought and figuring out what it takes to solve a problem. My wife often tells me how she admires my will to find solutions with issues that we find. With that being said, I look at how I can complete any task instead of whether or not I can get the job done, period. Understanding the goals to be accomplished, I became an optimistic person in multiple areas. Some may say that I don’t see the glass even remotely close to “half empty”. I have this perspective in my life and others, though I respect them and refrain from asserting my thoughts on matters outside of my own. Fast-forward to having a company now and I see how I can respectfully solve others’ problems and conduct business that results in returning clients.
Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘take aways’ you learned from that?
The most interesting story from my career is that I once had to fill a two-day “full music composition” order that included lyrics. This was peculiar because typically my return guarantees a two-week delivery. I disclose this time period to make the client aware that detail and quality require a good amount of time in the process. On top of receiving top quality music instrumentation, I am devoting time and effort into writing original lyrics and recording them as well. In the final process, I mix and master the whole song into a final product for my clients. Overall, it is an extensive service that requires attention to the client’s request and attention to the detail that I provide. Occasionally my business will drive customers to me with high demands but I do love the challenge. With that being said, I learned that from this client I am not limited in my abilities to make satisfactory delivery under pressure. This is again because I focus on the end result and the goal of being accomplished with making my clients happy. I don’t believe that any of us are limited how we prefer to think. That’s the reason that some are more successful than others that instead dwell on inabilities.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
What makes my company stand out is the originality and personalization. With each client, I am personal with providing service molded to their exact preferences. As a music production company but unlike others, I compose all sounds without templates or samples. This method is an anomaly in this era as many look for the quickest approach to delivering a complete composition. From the day that I began in the music industry, I too was using loops and samples but how can you give yourself in work with work from another? I began to understand how to compose my own melodies that expressed my perception to a mood or tone and energy. I then adapted to understand how I can apply my personalization to every composition. Besides, the last thing I would want to take place is run into a copyright infringement with someone else’s loops or samples (that require clearing before publishing). I have heard so many songs that contain the exact same sample of another song and it becomes unoriginal and “impersonal”. From the moment that I realized with my company and brand I can offer all original content, I promised myself I would every time that I begin work. I enjoy the challenges.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
Today I would like to give big gratitude to the women in my life. I first want to thank my mother, Dr Wright, for being a mother like no other. She has my back and best interest with all of my endeavers. She birthed me and without her and her mom, Janie (RIP), I would not be present on this planet. I next want to acknowledge Margie Williams for teaching all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren the arts in music. Her genetics run deep in our blood. I then contribute my success to my little sister, Dr Patrice Wright. My twin and I (not really twins) have seen the best and worst in each other growing up. “PAW”, I love you and will always be your big brother. I look up to her because she is always persistent in her drive to succeed. I also contribute my success to my cousin Marcie. Her and I share the same birthday and often she has great insight to share with me to lead me out of some dark tunnels. Saving the best for last, I would like to contribute my success to my wife. She has always been my fan and supporter. I remember writing in an earlier song how I was looking for a woman who will tell me the hard things that I don’t want to hear, even when I wouldn’t tell myself these things. She is exactly that and I will always be appreciative for the success we both achieve.
Ok thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of this interview. We would like to explore and flesh out the trait of resilience. How would you define resilience? What do you believe are the characteristics or traits of resilient people?
Resilience in my perspective is a combination of traits in an individual and company. The two possess the trait of persistence and dedication. A resilient person and brand drive in a focused manner towards the set goals. Often, discouragement is combatted by positive outlook in the many aspects of a party. Though acknowledgment of the negative results should have a part in the perspective, the focus will remain on overcoming the obstacles. The party will apply repitition and strong will to achieve success with a “By Any Means Necessary” approach. Resilience means having the true mindset to desire succeeding and perservering through any struggles.
Courage is often likened to resilience. In your opinion how is courage both similar and different to resilience?
The difference between the two is that courage is lacking a few elements. Courage is a temporary or momentary state of mind, enabling individuals to become or do something that is out of their typical character. Resilience identifies individuals as transformed and influential. They differ by the length of the effects of action that follow however, I do see courage as the gateway to resilience. It is the door and portal that opens to a path of transformation. I don not believe that a person or brand can be resilient without having courage first. People and companies use courage to take chances on challenges and execute strategic maneuvers in order to succeed and spread the success further. This is what makes them resilient. Another aspect to distinguish the two is by the level of intention. Courage is a conjured emotion with taking a leap of faith. Resilience is calculated with planned steps to achieve the goals in the views of the individual in pursuit, as one will learn what is really required and apply the necessary actions. That is true he difference between courage and resilience.
When you think of resilience, which person comes to mind? Can you explain why you chose that person?
With resilience in mind, one person that comes to mind is Hamzah Saman, CSA. He is a casting director, actor, and film writer. He has explained his journey into the film and television industry. Through the journey (particularly in the beginning), he dealt with racism and prejudice entering the industry and he never allowed it to stop his pursuit in film making. He has played roles that I am sure were out of his character but accepted the little offers that made him become a huge mogul today in the industry. He also continues to spread the wealth in the aspect of employment and even created an entire database of actors for future job opportunities. Now as a successful Casting Director, Hamzah is able to turn down offers and job opportunities for himself. I see his entire spirit and character as resilient as he converted his struggles into success. I think that many should follow his continued journey and take notes in how his resilience can shine through their life experiences as well.
Has there ever been a time that someone told you something was impossible, but you did it anyway? Can you share the story with us?
I feel that constantly I am being told that I cannot do something because the outcome is impossible. That is so far from the truth and reality because I learn to constantly apply myself when I am devoted and ambitious towards goals when I set them. One time in particular I was told that I couldn’t be a successful songwriter while being successful producing the music as well. I decided to pursue this goal because I hear music a certain way that I don’t believe other music producers can capture. Already being established as a songwriter, I know that the task is not difficult with my structure building methods. The process does add time to the already busy objective but I have a passion to create music in the most articulated manner in how I envision the entire project. As I look back now, I see that I have exceeded my own visions of how I would write and produce music. Now it is a part of my business that I can offer to others in service and it makes me quite successful.
Did you have a time in your life where you had one of your greatest setbacks, but you bounced back from it stronger than ever? Can you share that story with us?
I most certainly had a huge setback when I got out of a relationship prior to being married. I thought that I wouldn’t bounce back for a while. I was living with someone that I trusted more than I knew as far as the character of the individual and her intentions. The end result was devastating because I was living out of my car for some time while also having to still report to work and tend to family matters. I had allowed the situation to affect the way that I was processing everything else in my life. It made my production at work poor and my attention to detail minimal. I had very low hope for any change in life in the aspect of improvement. I did speak to many people who were close to me to vent and seek help (mentally). The time that it took to heal was extensive. I almost carried into trying to date in the future. I needed more time to heal and took that time building myself up again. I worked harder on the job and spent much time around bright individuals who helped me. This was my rebound and I built my confidence back up. I learned about perfecting communication, which may have contributed to the devastation. Now I am happily married and more confident than ever. I project positivity along with peace to everyone. This is an event that changed my life.
How have you cultivated resilience throughout your life? Did you have any experiences growing up that have contributed to building your resiliency? Can you share a story?
Resilience has been cultivated through my life from the rejection I have experienced. I remember dealing with rejection in dating and even with being selected to join basketball teams or dodgeball. As a kid, you don’t think about “saving the best for last”, and you certainly do not like someone if you are acting as if you don’t like the person. Though I did find and have people I can relate to in my close circle, I remember telling so many girls that I liked them but the feeling was seldom mutual. This was difficult for me because I was never someone who exercised prejudice or bias. I felt that acceptance was going to be the area that I would always struggle. That wasn’t the case however because I learned to navigate and align more with those who liked me unconditionally. The same applied to the dating aspect (even when the boyfriend/ girlfriend thing was superficial for a kid). The entire process didn’t seem as difficult as I first thought because I adapted to every new environment and scenario. This was the only way for me to succeed and I took this with me into adulthood and entrepreneurship to work harder than ever. With the help of this knowledge, I achieve more success and help others to learn it as well.
Resilience is like a muscle that can be strengthened. In your opinion, what are 5 steps that someone can take to become more resilient? Please share a story or an example for each.
First take time to process the entire situation at hand. Too often we are rushing in hopes for the situation to eliminate itself instead of analyzing what is really necessary to provide correction and solution. The next step is to understand your emotions in a situation. In order to know where you can go, it should truly be understood what mental space you are in at the time to correct for triumph. Thirdly, taking action is what is needed. After knowing the course of correction that has to be taken, what better action than to move. Getting the ball rolling is a greater action than thinking of it happening. The fourth involves emotion and attitude. The goal within this objective is to remain positive and optimistic. I believe that emotions outside of these two will only negate the entire outcome. The final step is to repeat. The cycle is never-ending in my opinion as the challenges continue to appear before us. It is our mission to remain steadfast in the whole process and focus on how we overcome what challenged us in the first place. These are my five steps in being resilient more and more.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I believe in helping others to shine before myself. The mindset is what I derived from a saying “Each One Teach One”, which enforces a lifestyle of empowering those around me. As others become inspired and empowered, they give me a return on my investment. With this method, we all will become greater in our professions and purposes. When I educate others on the things that I know and that they may not, I recite back the phrase, “Each One Teach One”. I live with this movement in my heart, mind, and soul.
We are blessed that some very prominent leaders read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them 🙂
I would truly love to have breakfast or coffee with Taraji P. Henson. I think she is so elegant and just awesome. She is also still doing so many amazing things that I would love to hear more personal and in-depth explanations of her triumph.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
My work can be found on social media with the handle “ohyeahbeats” and also on ohyeahbeats (dot) com. I would love to connect with as many as I can!
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
Thank you so much!