In this week’s Industry Spotlight I go International. That’s right chaps, the word is out and Mr. Luca is in public demand.

On the day that twitter turns five years old, it’s only fitting that this connection was built using the power of twitter.

Back in 2010 (that’s last year), I came across a lifestyle blogger based in Montreal, Canada. As we all now know, with twitter it is easier than ever before to seek, find and connect with people from all walks of life.

Now here is a tip. Although twitter makes it extremely easy to contact anyone and everyone, remember that everyone else also knows how easy it is to do so. Therefore if you are looking to make contact with someone who may have a large following, use your initiative, with some research, find their email address and send a personal email where you have a much better chance of getting the response you want.

So that’s what I did; I sent out an email to this Canadian blogger named Marcus Troy, explaining in brief, who I was and how I was impressed by the personal brand he had created for himself.

Marcus has a fantastic personal brand. A fashion enthusiast with an obvious passion for style and image (traits which are immensely important for online branding). His story is unique and inspirational to anyone wanting to build a brand and a business online and he is always willing to discuss further opportunities with anyone who shares a common interest.

Without further ado, Mr. Marcus Troy is this week’s Industry Spotlight:

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Marcus Troy and I am a lifestyle/fashion blogger and a cultural participant.

How did you get into this industry?

I’ve spent years in the fashion industry and blogging became an extension of who I was. I started off share passion and it turned into this amazing forum for engaging and connecting people. I enjoy sharing thoughts and ideas and engaging my audience.

Was this how you had planned things to go or are you capitalising on opportunities and simply rolling with it?

I did not plan this out it sort of just happened a few years ago when I co-founded an online magazine. Things just evolved into this multimedia platform.

We’re in a new era where anyone can create opportunities for themselves. Do you agree?

I believe we are all capable of creating new opportunities for ourselves. Some of the most influential people are just one click away. You can write a blog post that can change your life. You can create a video that goes viral and next thing you know you are sitting on Oprah’s couch. Technology has helped people connect in ways that would have taken forever to happen.

Would you rather have 100,000 twitter followers to market to or an extra £10,000?

I would rather have the money. With resources you can create opportunities, ideas that will get you the 100,000 followers eventually. I don’t think people have figured out how to turn their 100k followers into money. You might have 100k followers but it does not mean you are an influence to them. If you are able to activate your 100k followers and drive them to a product or a service you could probably monetize your twitter.

What one thing can you not live without?

My family.

If you wasn’t in this field, what would you be doing?

I would be in fashion retail.

With so many talkers and gamers out there claiming to be experts and influencers. Do you consider yourself a smooth talker, a real talker or a don’t talk to me i’m not a talker?

I would classify myself as a talker (meaning I like to talk) I don’t don’t like to talk for talking sake though. Some people talk because they have a hole in their mouth. I like to turn talk into action and into tangible things. I don’t like to consider myself an influencer…I believe I have the ability to influence but I rather other people call me influential than claiming it myself.

Name three people who have inspired you in your life.

My father

If you were a superhero, who would you be?

I’ve always been fascinated with Super heroes as I love the double identity aspects. I think I would want to be superman.

What does the future have in store for you?

I wish I knew.

Finally, if you could give one piece of advice to young creative minds, what would it be?

I would suggest to be patient, don’t be obsessed with growth. Allow things to develop organically and the journey will last a longer time.

Head over to Marcus Troy’s website where you can check out all the projects Marcus is working on right now. To stay up to date with Marcus and his quest for world domination, follow him on twitter.

The Marcus Troy iPhone app is available now. Click here to download for free.

Damn it’s good to finally have my server sorted and the site running smooth again. Felt paralysed lately, not being able to post at all. But fingers crossed; it’s all working now.

Anyway, enough jibba jabba, cut the waffle and it’s time for another inspirational spotlight interview.

If you are into your Urban music whether it be Hip Hop, R&B or Grime, then I expect you will spend a lot of time on music blogs getting your fix for the latest news and free downloads. In late 2008 when I first started my quest for internet domination, I created an Urban Music blog. (Yep it’s still alive, but very much dormant; like a volcano I guess, who knows if it will erupt again).

Urban Music bloggers; like other journalists, compete for exclusives, rush to post headlines and love a free pair of VIP concert tickets. There are plenty of music bloggers; yet few are able to capture the essence of blogging and create a reputation that spans worldwide. Enter www.teamsuprememusic.com, in my opinion the most authentic and dedicated of the independent UK Urban blogs.

Founded by Lee Partridge, a young lad from just outside London; Lee says:

Team Supreme is all about the music; sharing the latest news, reviews and downloads and nurturing the local talent to give them a platform to grow.

On that note, I’ll let Lee fill you in on how he got into blogging and where he hopes it will take him.

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Lee, 20 years old, and I co-own and run the UK urban blog music site www.teamsuprememusic.com alongside 3 other like-minded people.

How did you get into this industry?

Music has always been a big love of mine, but I never had any musical talent at all. With my friends from school, we always listened to indie music (which I still love to this day), but I always had that love for the more urban side. By starting the site along with Louis Gibzen, it was just a place for me to write about hip-hop, something I couldn’t do before. In all honestly the website started out as a hobby for me, and still is, but in the not too distant future I plan to expand and capitilize in it, bringing me more into the industry.

Was this how you had planned things to go or are you capitalising on opportunities and simply rolling with it?

A mixture really. Don’t be fooled into thinking blogging is easy, it takes a lot of time and hard work. With the way the internet moves these days, it’s like a 24 hour, 7 days a week job. So with that in mind, I’m impressed on how quickly we rised into being a pretty successful and well known blog. Things are at a bit of a standstill at the moment however due to many reasons. We have lots of plans to expand on our site, but lack the money/ability to do so right now.

Aside from that, we need to expand more into the actual music industry. The labels are slowly starting to recognize us. A lot of things are kept in a tight circle with industry the folks/DJ’s/journalists. Even many of the UK bloggers (with no disrespect to them) started either in the industry or as a journalist, whereas someone like me started out with blogging. I’m not prepared for the UK industry to remain in this state of mind; simply rolling with it is not an option for me.

We’re in a new era where anyone can create opportunities for themselves. Do you agree?

Yes, all you have to do is look at the internet and us guys at TS for an example. One day we decided to start a blog, went on wordpress and the rest is history. I’d definitely say it’s created many opportunites for me, chances to meet people I wouldn’t of otherwise, see artists perform etc. It opened my eyes to a different world really. However, sometimes it doesn’t matter what you do, others need to help create these opporunities if you’ve put the ground work in.

Go to America and their panel would be nothing but bloggers. Although I agree that you should never give up, keep working hard constantly, make your own luck and all of that, sometimes you need that extra push from someone else. Another great example is Lil’ B. As an artist he is awful, but he utilizes the internet so well, he’s quickly becoming a huge artist, and the opportunities he creates for himself are incredible.

Would you rather have 100,000 twitter followers to market to or an extra £10,000?

I’d normally answer twitter followers, however at this current time I’d take the £10,000 so that I can bring all my plans for TeamSupreme to life. Part of the money would also be used to market, bringing the extra twitter followers anyway.

What one thing can you not live without?

West Ham United. I’ll say no more and await an editor’s note for this bit!

Author’s note: Slightly regretting doing this spotlight on Lee after that comment.

If you wasn’t in this field, what would you be doing?

Probably something to do with sports science and exercise, as that’s what I studied at college. Got bored of it though.

With so many talkers and gamers out there claiming to be experts and influencers. Do you consider yourself a smooth talker, a real talker or a don’t talk to me i’m not a talker?

I like to think I talk a lot of sense. Although I won’t randomly start critising someone or something for no reason, if something needs to be said, you damn right I’ll say it. I don’t expect to be at the top of the music game, but I won’t let anyone stand in my way of me or our site progressing. The answers above might show this a bit!

Name three people who have inspired you in your life.

Special mention: Luca! And not just because I’ve read the previous installements of this series lol. He’s always been very helpful since I first started talking to him whether it be plans for TS, plans for me personally or whatever.

If you were a superhero, who would you be?

Hancock? Is there anything he can’t do? To be honest I just wanted to say something other people are unlikely to, ha.

Author’s note: Good answer son!

What does the future have in store for you?

Hopefully a lot of success, and eventually a job more within the music industry rather than just blogging.

And finally, if you could give one piece of advice to young creative minds, what would it be?

Just be yourself, remain humble and don’t let anyone tell you what to do. And the most important thing; music is meant to be fun… SO HAVE SOME DAMN FUN!

Team Supreme are also on Twitter where you can get instant updates on the latest Urban Music and of course that link again to the Team Supreme blog.

Get to know Lee further by following him on Twitter (expect mood swings dependent on West Ham’s latest result) and you can check out his personal blog entitled ’9am in London’ also.

To be seen as a valuable asset to any leading company or industry, you have to show the world that regardless of any knock-backs, rejections or periods of doubt in your ability; you are still confident that you have the tools in the locker to make yourself a success.

In the digital age an individual must understand the power of self branding. Social Media has revolutionised the way in which people connect and there isn’t a more evident time to get yourself noticed.

To stand out from the millions of sheep that spend the majority of their time watching what everyone else is doing, you have to be confident that you can offer what others can’t, creative with ideas and have the vision to see the next big thing before the sheep take it with them to slaughter.

Now… Are You A Sheep or A Wolf?

It seems to be the sauna at my health club where the thinking process occurs; this time when a random chap begins talking (like hello, this isn’t the place to make chit chat pal, im nearly naked).

Anyway, we were talking about what fields we are in; this guy is apparently a semi-pro Rugby player, struggling to reach the next level and not sure if this is the life he actually wants.

He spoke of not being given opportunities by his coach and the feeling like he was being neglected. He said he never had the urge to go beyond what was asked of him because he wondered why he should seeing as no-one would notice.

This got me thinking (as always).

What is it that motivates us to go that little bit further? Beyond what is being asked of us or what is the necessary and strive to make things happen that are not in front of our faces.

Motivation is a funny thing; it acts as an ever lurking energy within the spirit, cropping up in every decision we make. It creates reason, and with reason we create actions.

Getting out of bed for example, especially when you know you could fall back to sleep on the touch of the snooze button. Is that a form of motivation we can consider a positive, or is it based primarily on fear? Fear from our employers, fear of letting people down or even fear of failure.

As humans we are very different and a persons motivation will no doubt vary from the events in our past, the thoughts in our present and by the aspirations in our future.

To reach that goal, to strive for that next level and to achieve beyond what is considered the norm, we have to dig deep; understand what our motivation is, and transform the thought in our brains to an action in our lives.

It is within our journey for self fulfilment (call me Socrates) that we find the key to our minds and unlock the truth (or Sigmund Freud) behind what truly motivates us to achieve.

Call To Action

It is incredibly easy to just coast and float along, but being labelled average is far worse than being labelled a failure, in my opinion anyway.

The call to action from this post… What is your motivation? What is your tipping point and at what stage do you get up out of bed with the mentality that today is going to be the day that you make things happen?

Don’t answer the above… Just do it!