Working Towards Our Purpose

Welcome to Working Towards Our Purpose, a podcast that

offers a different perspective on what a job can be. For everyone

out there that's heard that voice in the back of their head asking for something

more, it's time to listen to it. I'm your host, Gino,

and join me as I interview people who have decided to work in their own

purpose. Together, we will learn, become inspired,

and hopefully find our own path towards working in our purpose.

Joining me today is Darnell Pfeiffer, also known as the

artist Saint Pfeiffer. He is a unique abstract artist that transforms

simple concepts into meaningful saturated pieces that

spark the consciousness. I recently saw him speak and be a part of

Wabi Gallery here in New Haven. Saint Pfeiffer, welcome to the podcast. How are you

doing today? Oh, man. I'm well. How are you, Gino? And, thanks for the

introduction. Yeah. Yeah. Of course. I'm I'm doing well also. Glad to have you

here. So, So, yeah, why don't we just start by you telling me a little

bit about yourself and your own words, and tell me a little bit about your

art. So I grew up in, I was born in White Plains, New York, and

I was, moved to Norwalk, Connecticut when I was about 5 years

old. Yeah. I mean, grew up the only child.

My father passed away when I was 9 years old. My mother passed away when

I was 21 years old. I have a son who's 17 who actually goes to

Taber Academy, which is a boarding school in Massachusetts. He plays up for ball and

lacrosse. I grew up playing football and and sports like that, in team

sports, and I just kinda, like, somehow art

found me or this gift found me. So I've been painting since 2018

because of my battle of depression and not thinking about committing suicide.

And, you know, when you're, like, sleeping and up at the same time,

do that medium something told me to paint, and I've been painting ever since. So,

overall, I've just been kinda like an introvert to to myself and

things like that. So that's that's been my story, I guess.

Cool. Cool. So can you tell me a little bit about, like, the first time

you started painting? And you said it kinda just, like, inspiration

struck. Can you talk a little bit more about that? How did that how did

that first start? I mean yeah. So, like, my son

at the time, he was gonna go he was going into 6th grade, and, he

we were gonna enroll him at Fairfield Country Day, which is a private school. And

I had I had no idea how I was gonna pay for the tuition, so

I got a second job. Got the 2nd job. I was working, like, 20 hours

a day, getting, like, 4 hours of sleep. And like I was saying before,

like, I was extremely depressed thinking about suicide, but

I just one night, I just couldn't sleep. I was restless, and I was up.

And, something told me to paint. And I was always inspired

by, like, different artists, but I just didn't know how to do so. Like,

you you know, that's how whenever you say, like, I can do that too. I

can do that too. I can do this. I can do that. But then sometimes

you don't believe yourself. And for whatever reason, after I heard the word

paint, I just instantly believed that I could do something. And And I just started

off with my first piece was like a Martin Luther King piece because it was

coming up on his 50th anniversary of his passing on, April 4,

2018. So, like and I just started with stencils, and then I kinda,

like, started with paper. But then it just kinda, like my curiosity slowly

started to morph into different avenues.

And I wanted to incorporate my mother somehow. I

wanted to incorporate myself somehow. I wanted to create black

culture somehow. And just that curiosity of, like, how do

I infuse all these different things at one time? So

my first thought was like, well, my mother's favorite color is baby blue. How do

I incorporate that in my pieces? And then the second one was, like,

my mother, oldest of 10 kids, the day after she graduated high

school, she moved to New York. She didn't know anybody, and she kinda, like, just

built herself from the ground up. And I said to myself, a lot of black

stories go untold, so how can I do my service to the

to the world and, like, present these, like, African American figures that

are forgotten about, unfortunately? So how do I, like, become a visual artist and

kinda, like, showcase them in a in a light that people will find

either inspiration from or dive deeper, like, to figure out

other race that were before us would never got an opportunity

to speak their stories or share their stories. That's awesome. That's,

I I think, a really, like, thoughtful way to go about your art.

And it seems like you put a lot of the focus of your art into

your mother and and maybe other people's stories. I think that's that's really

interesting to to not maybe do it from a self centered

sort of area. It seems like your mother's an important force in your life. Is

is that true? Absolutely. She's, like, the best thing that it well,

aside from my son, the best thing that ever happened to me. Just the fact

that she never like, growing up, she never told me that I couldn't do anything.

You know? Like, she always told me, like, never say you don't know because of

the fact that that's gonna pass a great cloud over you. Right? The moment you

say you don't know, you the moment you stop thinking about what you can potentially

do. And then it's like so many because she wasn't a big talker. So, like,

in so many words now that I'm older, it's like because the world is already

gonna tell you what you can't do, so you can't have doubt within yourself.

Because a lot of times, the world is gonna tell you what you can't do.

You know what I mean? So it's like you have to love yourself enough

to to say give a little bit of pushback. Like, actually, I can't do this,

and I'm going to do this. So that's kinda like the thing. Like, there's

there's doubts, of course, but it's like, this is a lifestyle for me now, and

I and I love this thing. And I, like, I'm glad I got got this

presented with this gift, and I'm, like, cherishing every moment and, like, doing my

due diligence. You know what I mean? Like, studying who I need to study, research

searching who I need to research, becoming a forever student, basically, and a and a

knowledge seeker. So she provided that for me. Like and,

again, like, her, like, story of

the fact of, like, again, graduating high school, coming up here, being

an operator, then working her way up to, like, a VP level in a corporation,

so that was inspiring. And just like after my father passed away, she had

to retire early to take care of me. So it's like and then she after

my father passed away, I kinda, like, seen her, like, not will

to live, but the fact of, like, she was sad, like, because of the

fact that my my father passed away. And within that time frame, my

aunt passed away, who was who was her best friend, so my aunt Bougie.

So, I love them both dearly, so they're definitely a huge

inspiration into what I do now.

Yeah. That's that's awesome. I'm I'm glad that you can continue their

story even though they're no longer with us. It's cool that you can put them

into the things that you're creating and then putting out into the world. I really

think that's that's really cool. Thank you. So yeah. So you,

you, you hit on something earlier when you were speaking about curiosity and being

curiosity, I found that that's like, almost like my word of the

year, curious and and being curious. And I found that, like, if you could look

at things from a more curious standpoint, you can

maybe see it a different way or see something that maybe you didn't see before

or learn something you didn't know before. How do you use, like, curiosity? How

do you be more curious into, like, what you're doing in your art? I

think, like, for me, I I feel like I I think we

kinda, like, had a small conversation about it. Like, I stopped putting my adult brain

on when I'm looking at things. Because a lot of times, your adult brain

tells you again what you can't do. You got bigger fish to

fry. Right? You have these bills coming in. You have this coming in. You have

that coming in. Right? It's like and I just kinda, like,

taken a step back from that and kinda, like, relive my childhood.

And some parts of my childhood was, like, traumatic, but now I'm brave enough

to kinda go back there, that dark place, and bring whatever that is and

bring it to the light of, like, this curiosity. And then sometimes speaking to purpose.

Right? Like, you think your your world or your life is so bad,

but then you meet somebody, you're like, it's not so bad after all. You know

what I mean? So, like, what does that look like? And I and I love

stories. I've always loved stories. I love people's stories. Like, so when they share these

things, I try to see if it not matches up with mine, but

how do how do we connect in some kind of way? And then how can

I share your story and my story at the same time and put it on

Canvas? So it's just the curiosity of, like, not being a not

being a feather, but being a dart. Right? Like, when you throw darts, it's like

a straight line. It's when a land knows something. Right? Opposed to a feather, it

can kinda drift. Right? Mhmm. And land on something for a brief moment, and then

it kinda goes away. So I just try to, like, be a dart, I guess,

in terms of if I if I'm even answering the question correctly, but just being

a dart, like, having a link linear focus of, like, what the goal is and,

like, bringing everything with me along the path. Obviously, the path isn't

straight all the time, but I know where the target is. You know what I

mean? And, again, I think just loving people's stories and, like,

what they what it does for me, for my soul, and, like,

my story and, like, my mother's story and and my friends and family

and whomever, like, I come across and, like, if I can, like,

fuse that together. You know what I mean? Then curiosity is like

I was listening to an interview. I think it was I forget who was who

said it, but, basically, they said they're huge movie buff.

One, they watched the movie for being a fan, and the next one, they watched

it for scoring the the film, and the next being a director. So, like, that's

how I'm trying to break down things now. Like, how do I look at it,

like, from a different perspective? Right? Then everyone's saying this one thing, but if I'd

step to the side or to the left or to the right, it's like, here's

another angle I can go at this thing. And that's my unique

lens, and everyone has a unique lens. We just don't tap into it enough. You

know what I mean? So I just I'm not afraid to tap into, like, the

uniqueness or the the weird, so to speak, angle of, like, things

that I look at. So, yeah, just remain remaining a student, honestly, and, like,

I'm pretty sure who's your favorite artist, let's just say? Oh,

depends on the day for me, honestly. Today, I I

would maybe say I've been listening to a lot of the 19 70 fives, so

maybe them. So so boom. So then it's like, now you're gonna,

like, listen to that artist or that that generation of or the

era music. Who do they who are they influenced by now? You know what I

mean? Like, you're gonna do this deep dive of, like, where does The Root come

from? Like, who is? Why are they being inspired that way? So it's like whenever

you're researching things, it's many different levels. Right? So you gotta

put your hard hat on and kinda dive a little deeper, like, to these things

to, like, uncovering the the shit that you wanna uncover. I'm sorry if I curse.

I'm a big curse, sir. I apologize. You you're allowed to.

Just like the fact of, like, if I if it's art okay. So, like, who's

within this art of life? What's within encompasses life? Right?

So just uncovering different levels of different things. Right? So the things that I'm interested

in, I wanna uncover those things. That's pretty much where the curiosity

comes from. Mhmm. Yeah. No. I like that. I I do

like the analogy that you said about the dart and the feather. I actually

just came across this quote that's right here on my desk the other day, and

it's by Napoleon Hill who, who wrote that book, that really

famous book. I can't remember the name of it. Thinking Grow Rich? Yeah. Yeah. That's

it. Yep. Dick and Grow Rich. And it says successful people make decisions

quickly and firmly and change them slowly, if ever.

Unsuccessful people make decisions slowly and change them often and

quickly. And that, to me, that quote is exactly the dart versus the

feather. So I thought that that was an interesting correlation.

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, if you think about it, right, it's just like because a

lot of times, if we're not sure of who we are, we're

kinda, like, easily persuaded to go in a different direction. Right? The world

tells you, maybe not, you know, you might not yeah. You might be a little

crazy, But main one genius that isn't crazy, to to quote

Kanye. Right? So it's like you gotta do the things that are true to

you. Right? The world is gonna tell you whatever the you wanna they're gonna tell

you, but you gotta be an anchor in your own life. You gotta be a

pillar. You gotta be this, like, thing of strength. You know what I mean? So

it's like, do what's true to you at all times. As long as it's not

harming anybody, and it's making you a better individual for the entire

world. Mhmm. Yeah. Definitely. I think that's

definitely been a big thing that I've been thinking about in the past few years

and since I've left my corporate job because I think that I can definitely resonate

with that about being in certain situations and, you know, kind of

going and doing things because you're supposed to or people told you you're supposed to

do that or, you know, that sort of thing, and then getting there, and then

being, like, why isn't this making me happy anymore? And and I think that being,

like, your full self and being, like, what you really wanna be does

take some sort of, like, you know, being courageous and and being willing to

put yourself out there, even if you think it's maybe different or crazy. Is that

something that you've struggled with, you know, growing up and and even

now, like, being your true self, or is that something that, like,

maybe comes a little more naturally to you? I've always been a

different person. I've grown up the only child. You use your imagination. I know you

have a twin brother you were telling me, so it's like it's a little bit

different. Like, growing up the only child, you only have your imagination to kinda, like,

go off of anytime. So it's like and then it's like growing up, and then

it's like my mother putting me in team sports after my my dad passed away.

So playing baseball, playing lacrosse, playing football, playing

basketball. So having that team that team mindset and,

like, for the longest time, I thought I needed a team to kinda, like, fulfill

my dreams. Right? But I've always I've always

drifted away from the team if we're not playing a team sport. Like, if we're

not doing, like, practice or if we're not doing the actual game itself, I'm always

I always find myself by myself trying to figure things out. People used to call

it, like, fading to black, but I used to fade to black, like, just being

by myself, but not developing anything. I'll just be be by myself.

My goal was to always, like, to come back when you see me again being

better, possibly being more knowledgeable about something, but I still wasn't thinking

about art. I would just, like, I would just be, like, this, like, random person

that just ran those random facts about probably shit that doesn't need to be

talked about. You know what I mean? But somebody might spark something, and it's like,

oh, it's because of the whatever that thing was at the time that we're talking

about. They're like, where did you find? I'm like, I don't know. So I I

think I've always been a knowledge seeker, and I've always been, like, different in

terms of the way I dress, the way I talked because I was never cool

enough in school. Right? I was always like, oh, that's just DJ or

that's just Darnell. He's corny. You know what I mean? Like, that kind of thing.

Like, not cool enough. And then all of a sudden, I get to high school

and, like, start playing football and then, like, getting the girls and

all these different things. So it's like it was like this, like, confidence builder,

so to speak, always remaining myself throughout the whole process. You know what I

mean? Like, never always being into my own drum, being influenced

by people, but then when I take it from people, right, how

do I use it and and turn it into my own little thing? How do

I turn it into me? Right? Not mimicking them, but

then using it, like absorbing it, and then, like, recycling it back to the

world of something different. And that's how I I now that I'm

older, like, that's how I always try to do things. If I'm influenced by you,

I'm gonna be influenced by you, but in my way. And then I'm gonna bring

it back to the world in a different manner to make it cool. Right? Or

my my lens, what what coolness to me. Mhmm. Yeah.

Definitely. Put put your own spin on it. I like that. So

you you did mention earlier too when you were talking about how you got into

art, struggling with mental health, and and that being a piece of of

what brought you to being an artist. Do you wanna talk a little bit more

about the struggles that you've had with mental health or, like, what you do now

to, you know, get through those struggles? I think as somebody who also

struggles with mental health, it's also really nice to be able to, like, hear

somebody be vulnerable and, like, mention that they've had struggles with it

because it, I think, helps everybody when you when you talk about it because I

think everybody's always going through something, and, I think the vulnerability is what

helps heal. Thank you. I think for

me, May 27, 2022, I lost

my job, and and I kinda, like, did this

part full time. But let me rewind a little bit. Like, I always knew that

I wasn't a good employee, if that makes sense. Like, I I just knew, like,

the fact that, like, you I love the process of everything, like, obviously,

getting courted or you know what I mean? Like, going through the interviewing process and

then going through the, like, orientation process, and then it's like, you get into the

corporate world, then it's like, this is not what I kinda, like, imagine in my

mind. Right? So it's like and then it's like a sales job at that. So

it's like you're only as good as your last day. So yesterday has to be

today has to be better than yesterday's numbers and so on and so forth. So

it was this always this constant hustle and constantly, like, pushed you out of your

comfort zone, but in a manner of, like, where it was too fast for me.

Right? Being uncomfortable, which is a great thing to be uncomfortable and, like, that's how

you grow, but how they did it, I I feel like you were just a

number. Like, you're not a you're not Darnell Pfeiffer. You're not DJ

Pfeiffer. You're just you're employee I was employee

3788383. Right? That's how the higher ups see me. But

it's like I'm working for someone else's dream. Right? And then, like, prior to me

getting so I used to work at People's Bank, the last job I had. And

last job, I pray that is the last job I'll ever have. Right?

And, like, being an employee, they they were just recently got purchased by M and

T Bank. And then it's like, I can't speak to the I

can't speak to anybody. Right? I can't speak to anyone higher than who's in my

local branch. Right? If I have, like, an issue or something, I can't

talk to anyone directly but my manager, and it doesn't go past there. And I

don't know where I'm going with this story, but it's like, I was just never

a a good employee. And then once I got fired from

my job, it felt like shackles were

released. Like, mental clarity was a little

bit more there because of the fact that, like, you I I'm going to a

job that I hated. I shouldn't be dreading going back to work on a

Friday evening or about to enjoy the weekend. Right? Having

anxiety that Sunday morning of, like, leading into Monday morning, I should not call out

today because I I just don't wanna be there. Right? So they did me a

favor, and they fired me. And this is the first time, like, I I've

I wasn't nervous. I wasn't scared. I wasn't in any of those things

because I knew now because back then when I got fired from a job, I

didn't know what I was gonna do next. I got this, this, this I gotta

pay for. These things racing to my mind. But now that I have clarity and

I have a focus and that dart like mindset, I have a goal, I have

a passion, Being released was the best thing for me. The shackles were released.

Any, like, metaphor that is, like, being tied down. The the anchor was lifted.

Like, rocks were lifted off my shoulder. Like, all these different things, and,

like, now it's like, what's next? What's next is, like, going full

steam ahead with this art thing. But how do I be a better artist?

How do I be a better artist? So now I'm looking up YouTube. Like, how

do you be become a better artist? Or how do you work on mental your

mental approach? Well, I look at I listen to Tim Grover

who who trained Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant and also d Wade. I listen to

David Groggins. I listen to the best of the best, the 1% in their

in their respective fields. Right? What do they do? How do they how do they

overcome these mental battles? Then I listen to God. Right?

God is is giving me this gift, so I'm, like, paying it back to him

now. Like, I give him all the glory because of the fact that what he's

given me. And, like, he's given me these wings to soar now, and I'm not

afraid. But then it's like meditation. I've been I started meditation

about a year ago in August, and meditation at least at least 5 minutes a

day. That's probably given me the most

benefit in believing in myself because I'm pretty sure, as you know, as a

creative, as a an individual, right, as a business owner, you have all these

different thoughts that going in your head at rapid pace. How do I, like, connect

these things and connect these words and connect this situation to this one to that

one? Meditation helped me with that. Meditation helped me with the fact of,

like, zoning in and, like, narrowing the things that need to be narrowed,

and everything else is, like, filtered out, if that makes sense. So meditation,

prayer, and just being in solitude sometimes. And I like I

love driving. I love driving. Driving clears my head. It's been a thing that

I've done since being an artist or being a creative, like, or finding out that

I'm an artist or a creative. Just driving too, man. Long

drives, maybe music blasting or audiobook

blasting or podcasts or just yourself or listening

to jazz because jazz has no words. So now you have a little bit more

clarity with that too. So all these different things, man, I'm I'm I'm learning in

the process, and, also, time blocking and time scheduling helps me

too. So I locked myself some time for, like, self care. Right?

I just have to get better at, like, working out, but that's something that I'm

adding next to to the list of, like, mental clarity and and

also physical clarity. Mhmm. Yeah. I definitely

agree with you there as far as, like, quieting the noise, then you could figure

out what yourself is trying to tell you or or listen to your own thoughts

or intuition. I think a lot of times I find myself,

you know, especially even when it comes to, like, business, like, you know, somebody's coming

to you and saying, hey, do you do this thing? And it's, like, well, I

don't really do that thing, but I guess if you're gonna pay me, I guess

maybe I'll do that thing if it makes sense. But now specifically, I'm

realizing that, like, I I think I almost have to learn to say no

to some things just so that I can go and do the things that I'm

believing in. And just like you said, the dart, and and that's why I keep

coming back to the dart and the feather thing because it's like, yeah, I could

float to this thing. They'll pay me, then I'll float to this other different thing,

and they'll pay me. But I don't have any, like, clarity on what I'm doing

because I'm confusing myself along the way, and that's been, like, a huge learning

process for me. And I think not saying that you do,

like, everything you know what I mean? Like, oh, I do everything that relates to

podcasting. That that doesn't really help me because it's not focused. Right? And if

you're focused, you can then figure out how to do that one thing or

how to get there. Whereas, if you're trying to do 10 different things at once,

it's, like, harder to do that. So I don't know. I think,

quieting your mind and then figuring out what it is that you want to do

is certainly, like, a helpful thing. I've always I've tried to meditate for a long

time, and I I don't know. Maybe I don't prioritize it or I don't

maybe do it the right way. I don't know. Like, what what would you say

to somebody who, like, doesn't meditate or or they don't know how to meditate? Like

like, what what is meditation to you? Is it just sitting by yourself and

and being quiet, or do you listen to, like, a guided meditation? How do you

do it? I use guided meditation myself. But, I mean,

honestly, like, maybe getting home or first thing in the morning,

right, instead of grabbing your phone to check what's the latest email or the latest

text message or the latest notification through social media, don't pick me your phone for,

like, the first half hour, hour of your day. Like, get yourself started.

Maybe take a shower, cup of coffee. Whatever that whatever that morning looks

like, just don't pick up your phone. Right? Also, like, I've read this book, The

Time of Habit by James Clear. It's just adding one thing

one thing to to the to do list. Right? Like, even if it's for a

minute, even if it's for 5 minutes, if you're working out, right, you go to

the gym, you get there, you walk back out. That's that's something that you're

creating. Right? That's a seed that you're playing in that situation. So I

would say maybe when you get in your car after work or

after, a long business meeting, right, you get breathe

a little bit. Inhale, exhale a couple of times. If you wanna close your eyes,

you could do that too. Just remain still. Don't, again, don't pick up your phone.

Just kinda, like, be present. And that's what meditation helped me again with this,

like, being present and being, like, yeah, just being

just being there. Like, being centered, if that makes sense.

But no phone, I would say, when you first wake up if you can help

it. It's a process. Like, I'm still learning. I still have my flaws where I

still pick up my phone before I do anything else, but I think it's just

the habit of, like, doing something that you normally don't do to create

this selfness or oneness of of

yourself. Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. I I think that's

definitely true. And and also not being hard on yourself

if if you fall back into the habits. I think that's something I struggle with

too. Like, wanting to do something, thinking about it, and then not doing doing it,

and then being like, oh, man. I did it again and being hard on yourself.

I think if you're constantly hard on yourself, it makes it even that much harder

to change and to do it next time because you keep beating yourself up over

it. I think a lot of times, we don't give again, we don't give ourself

enough grace. It's something new that you're trying out. Right? It's you're not gonna

like, sometimes we have, like, this perfection where we think everything's gonna be,

like, done right away. And that's not how it works. Like, you're gonna

fall. You're gonna fail. You're gonna be still maybe months in. You still might have

a relapse. You might take a step backwards, but you're still further ahead than where

you were before you started. Right? So it's like a lot of times, it's like,

if we don't do it that day, it's like, man, I'm the worst on this

side. If you can't first, the negative talk has to stop. Like, that shit has

to stop, number 1. Right? But it's like, give yourself

grace in the process. Even if it's like closing your eyes, a deep breath in

and out, that's a win. I meditated. You may not say that

verbally to everybody else, but that's the one for you. Now that's a gold star

on your on your board, right, of, like, whatever, like, your

appreciation post to yourself. Like, that's a gold star. Right? Like, that's what it

is. It's not it's not meditation isn't, like, 5, 10, 15 minutes an hour.

You you go through those steps. But the first step is, like, just close your

eyes and take a deep breath in and out. And then now that turns into

2 breaths. That turns into 3 breaths. That so on and so forth. Right? Like,

it's just the practice of actually doing it. You don't have to be the greatest

of all time. Right? Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time because

of the fact that he just showed up. There's work that he did. There's

days that he said, man, f this. I don't wanna do this anymore. I'm tired

today. I don't wanna do this today. I got this obligation. I have this

obligation. It's just setting aside some time for yourself selfishly

and prioritizing what you need because the world needs you a whole you

to you know what I mean? To, like, move the world forward, if that makes

sense, or move the people that are in your world forward. So it's like take

time for yourself to, like, be diligent in that process.

Mhmm. Yeah. Definitely. And and I think part of that too for me,

anyways, that's been able to almost allow myself to to

be almost selfish in that way is to it's it's

kinda almost like a backwards thing. It's like you're being selfish, but you're being selfish

so that, like you said, you could show up for the people around you because

you were in a better head space, and you were in a better place to

where you can positively impact their life instead of negatively impact it. So for

me, it's almost been, like, if I can think of it in a way of

being selfish so that you can help the people around you more, I think that

that's been, like, helpful for me as far as, like, putting that time to

yourself or, like, taking up that time to whether it's read or learn

something yourself or go for a walk or, you know, tell a client, like, hey.

I'm not gonna have this till tomorrow. Sorry. Like, it was supposed to be the

other day, but not gonna finish this day. I can get it done tomorrow. But

kudos to you because, like, what are we doing now? You're you're having you're having

a podcast, pleasant podcast. Right? It's like you're curious. Right?

You're you're asking these questions because, one, you wanna get you wanna know someone's story,

then how do you how can you get better? What are the what are the

tools that this person is using so I could apply it to myself to be

a better version of myself? It's that's how it should be. But the fact that,

like, some like, if we walked past each other in in a public

we probably won't talk to each other, but something brought us together. Right?

Mhmm. Right? Something brought you together, like, that curiosity. Maybe I have

time to, like, ask this person a question. They're right here in front of me.

That was the opportunity to do so. Then it turns into a conversation that's, like,

a pleasant conversation. Right? Pleasant it's pleasant. And now you asked me to come on

Pleasant Podcast. Right? And then it's like that's how that's how it should

be. Right? It's like, what are you working on today, or what do you what

have you been working on? How did you get to this point? What do you

see yourself doing? That's how the conversations should go

if you're curious enough patient enough to do so. Exactly. And back to that

word curious, I think being curious about other people is, like,

the, you know, the best thing you could do because that's how you learn and

that's how you kinda open up doors and break down walls is just being curious

about what people are doing. So, yeah, I I totally agree with all that. So,

yeah, I guess, let's maybe transition a little bit and talk a little bit more

about your art, and I wanna talk to you about, like, you know because

I'm sure there's other artists out there that are listening. There's tons of artists in

New Haven, and and Kim, who is part of Wabi Gallery, is a

very big part of the artist community in New Haven. Do you wanna talk to

me a little bit about, like, how you got hooked up with her and that

that community that she's created? Yeah. So shout out to Kim, actually.

I think how I how I met Kim is through, Greg Emmett, who's another great

artist. And, like, through my like, he's a huge part of, like, who

I am today in terms of, like, the artistry because he was an artist,

and we happened to, like, move in together at our boys. Shout out to Jason

Price, my one of my best friends. He, he

had a like, 2 rooms available, and we just, like, moved in there, made, like,

becoming this. Again, like, within this process of developing who I

am or as an artist, like, Greg was there for a lot of the way.

You should that's definitely a person that you wanna have on this podcast. So,

basically, fast forwarding, Greg, we there was a show in New Haven. I forget where

it was. Me and Greg happened to be there. Kim happened to be there. And

Kim, like, automatically knew Greg off the bat because of his artwork because his

artwork's fantastic, phenomenal, dope, but however you wanna use it to,

like, in a good way. And, like, he initially signed on to

the gallery, and then, she was having a show upcoming in a couple of months

or couple of weeks at that at the time when we met her. She wanted

Greg to be a part of it. So then we went to the Eli where

Greg had a show in April. But, yeah, there then me helping Greg

bring his artwork there, he introduced me to Kim, and then we started to chop

it up, chat it up a little bit. Then we went out to lunch, and

then she asked me to show me show me the artwork. And she was like,

oh, this is yeah. I could definitely see you being a part of Wabi Gallery.

And it was just all from there. And then we just recently had a show

that you came to, and that's how we met. And the rest were about to

make history. Nice. That's awesome. Yeah. I think

the community aspect of it is certainly important for me. I think for a

while, I've been kind of alone and doing, like, the solopreneur thing and

thinking, like, oh, I'll just I'll do all this on my own. But I think

that story just goes to show you, like, having good people around you and

people that are doing the same thing and are passionate about the same thing

can lift you up to new places. Do you do anything to to,

like, network yourself or to be part of a community like that?

I'm doing more of it now because I was such, like, an introvert

and, like, really, like not a well, I would say a private passion. So I

was always, like, nervous to talk to purpose. And I and I didn't like the

way the word networking sounded. I feel like you you have to put yourself in

a box to be this thing and present a different way, right, when I think

of networking. Like, with art, I don't I don't know if it's I don't consider

it networking. Right? You're a fan of someone else's work. You know, you're you're asking

them a question. Right? Now you're building conversations. So I like I

like having conversations. If that's considered networking, then yeah. I like

networking. I just I'm just interested in going back to, like, stories

and, like, man, how did you do this? What what were you thinking here? Like

and then I I nerd out, basically. And that's that's what it

it comes from, just nerding out and being a fan of, like, whosever artwork is

there at the time, and they're willing to, like, take a couple minutes with me

to ask, like, as I ask questions and they answer those for me. And

that's where it is. If we have a little bit more than that, then it's

like, that's perfect. That's networking to me. It's just through conversation and just being

naturally yourself. In those other settings, I felt like I had to portray this other

thing. Right? If it was, like, being working in the bank, like, you go into

a networking event, you're there for someone else's agenda and not yours. So

I felt like I wasn't fully authentic to them. Right? Something that now that I'm

comfortable with is, like, I'm being totally myself. Oh, man. And there's, like, other,

like, minded individuals here. Oh, this is cool. Who can I, like,

conjure up a conversation with today? Mhmm. If that makes sense. Yeah.

No. It definitely makes sense, especially for me coming from, like, a corporate world

too. I think I went to, you know, I've been to, like, corporate networking events,

and they just seem pointless to me because it was like, I didn't wanna be

here. Like, I don't know why I'm here. So So I think I I also

had kind of the struggle with with the word networking. But then once you figure

out it's to me, it's more, like, I'll kind of assimilate it more to, like,

going to a concert. I remember the first time I went to a concert, I

was, like, I've never been to one before, like, I didn't know what to expect.

I get there and, like, everybody we all like the same artist because, like, we

were there for that artist. Right? So it it was, like, immediately everybody's friends because

it's, like, we have all the stuff in common. So now so, like, when I

go to, like, local, like, New Haven Entrepreneur Networking

events, it's, like, oh, we're all doing the same thing, like, we all have similar

experiences and, like, struggling with similar stuff. So, yeah, I think the

word networking is a little harsh. Maybe maybe we gotta come up with a new

word for that. Exactly. Exactly. But yeah.

But yeah. And then going back to, like, something you're saying too, as far as,

like, being curious about people when you meet them and, like, supporting

them, really. I've I've a friend, Josh, who, he

does a really good job at, like, supporting all of his friends, and no matter

what it is, like, he's always, like, shouting somebody out or, like, talking about somebody

or he has a friend who builds guitars, like, you know, friends that do all

kinds of different things, filmmaker. And then when

he goes to put something on, the amount of people that show up for him

is, like, enormous, and it's because he's been showing up for everybody

around him the whole time before that. So I've I learned that from

him that, like, if you can, like, honestly support people,

then when it's your time to be supported, they'll all show up. And I think

that that's a really a really good trait just as a as a person.

So, yeah, I think, networking is not all bad. That's it's not

all bad. I just like you said, you just we gotta change the word networking.

Because I feel like in a corporate structure that works, but then, like, in this

structure that we're doing now is just community. Right? It's just community

building. You know what I mean? That could be a thing. Yeah.

I like that a lot better, community building. So can you talk to me

a little bit about, like, what success means to you? Because I think everybody kinda

has a different definition of success, and in in the corporate mindset,

I think there's, like, one definition of success, and it's just, like,

to climb the ladder to make the most money or whatever. But what does success

mean to you nowadays? Being the best version of myself at

all times, being present, and also being there for my son whenever he needs

me. So it's like that's what success is to me, just continue to do what

I'm doing, doing art every day. Like, being of the best version of myself

possible. Mhmm. Right? Not being a the afraid person, not being the timid

person, not being the person that's, like, intimidated, afraid to

speak up. Like, my voice needs to be heard, and I and I and I

have a voice to and I have a platform to do that now. So it's,

like, just being heard and just being the best version of myself and just, like,

meeting good people, right, that support you and that wanna see the

best for you and using resources together to

get to the next level. Right? So that's what success is to me. I never

did it for money. I don't do it for money. I do it to get

my artwork out there, and it's mainly for me. But if someone else likes it,

that's that's a plus. That's a win. But it's just therapy for me. So I'll

do this for the rest of my life, but this is art is success to

me. What I'm doing now is success. I love that.

I I think there's definitely something to be said about when you're doing something

for yourself, and then other people, like, catch on and they

like it versus doing something just for, like, an end goal. And I

think that's something that I struggle with, especially for, like, being in business. Right?

Because it needs to be profitable to some extent. Right? You need to make some

money, But if you're doing the thing that you wanna be

doing just for the money, then you get skewed, and I've been constantly, like,

pivoting and shifting because I figured out that I was doing that. I'm, like, wait

a minute. I don't I don't even wanna be doing this. Why am I doing

this? Just chasing the paycheck, the same thing as being in a corporate job. So

I think that that's something something to always

be thinking about. And and just like you said, having having the time to, like,

spend with your son and and to spend with the people that you care about,

I I value that way more than, you know, making money.

And and I think that that's not a lot of times in American

culture. I think that's really a thing that's valued. Yeah.

That that that time thing, that that's been zapped

away from us for a very long time now, unfortunately. So that's why

one of the pieces of time is the only luxury. Right? Like, it's

valuable. It's precious. Like, when you have kids or you have

a a father that was your superhero, your mother that was a superhero

at one point, then they get older. You know what I mean? Then they, like,

start to slow down a little bit. Those kind of things. It's like, damn. Where

did time go? You know? Like, you know what I mean? Like, an old friend

that you might have caught up in high school, but sometimes they they see the

old you and not the new version of yourself because time has

passed. Right? There's, like, so many different levels of, like, this thing

of time that we need. And it's like you have to be

cautious of who you give your time to. Mhmm. Because it could be time wasted

or time added or a value time. Right? So it's like you gotta be

you gotta be, like, understanding of that too. And going back to what you said

earlier, learning to say no. If it doesn't build you or grow

you, you gotta tryna say no to that. And standing firm in that and not

feeling guilty once you say no, and then like, damn. I shoulda I shoulda no.

It's it's no for a reason because you have bigger fish to fry.

Mhmm. You know what I mean? So you have a next level to go to.

It's like, this might hinder that because then I might like fulfillment in this for

you know what I mean? Like, no. I'm I'm sick to my buddies.

This is what it is. Mhmm. Yeah. You only have so much energy, and if

you're putting it into something you don't really wanna be doing, then you're taking it

away from somewhere else that you want you actually want it to be. So, yeah,

I 100% agree with that. So, as we're coming to the, you know, the end

of our time here, I did wanna ask you, what's next for you, and

how can people support you and check out your art and, you know, find out

more about you? What's next is still creating dope

shit. That's pretty much the main thing that I create that every

day. What's next, though? I don't have any art shows

planned up or lined up right now. We're trying to work on a group show.

Me and a couple of fellow fellow artists, we're trying to do that possibly in

the in the in the sum around the summertime. And then I'm mainly

on Instagram, really. It's, Saint Phifer, s a

I n t t h I f e r. And that's

it, man. I'm just doing dope shit and hanging out with my son. Awesome.

Awesome. Well, I'll link the Instagram in the, show notes so people can find you

and check out your art. And, thank you so much for coming on today. I

appreciate your time. And I just wanna say thank you to you, Gino, man. Fantastic

job with this podcast. I mean, we would just kinda, like, had this, like,

dope conversation. I just wanna say thank you very much for bringing me

on here or wanting to have me on here, man. It's been an

enjoyable conversation, man, and hopefully we can do more of these. And see you in

a couple of our shows in the future. And however I can support you, I'm

I'm here, man. Thank you. I appreciate that. No doubt,

man. Thanks for tuning in and listening to Working Towards Our

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