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12/16/15

73: In-Q – How to Build a Career as a Poet

The more you stretch as an artist, the more space you have.

Have you ever heard a live spoken word performance? The kind that makes you nod your head and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up?

That’s how I felt when I first heard In-Q. This man is an uber talented spoken word poet, and he is incredibly skilled as both a writer and a performer; So skilled, in fact, that he has performed with Cirque du Soleil, on Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam, and even for the president. But he’s not just a poet. He’s also a talented songwriter who has written songs with Miley Cyrus, Aloe Blacc, Mike Posner, and Selena Gomez.

What I love about In-Q’s poetry is that he writes about the human experience, encouraging people to ask questions about themselves, their environment, and the world at large. Listen in to our conversation to hear us talk about not only art, commerce, and making a living as a spoken word poet, but also about In-Q’s writing process and why he encourages people to express themselves.

I want people to realize that they’re all poets and they’re all storytellers.

[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/in-q” title=”How to Build a Career as a Poet” artist=”In-Q” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/73_IN-Q_NIONradio_02.jpg” color=”#de4b9b” ]

Some things we learn in this podcast:

  • How he realized he was more of a poet than a rapper [3:05]
  • How he jumped into the music world [3:55]
  • The value of thinking outside the box [4:30]
  • How poetry became his outlet [7:20]
  • Why he loves the Matrix movies [9:20]
  • Why he encourages people to express themselves [11:50]
  • What his day to day life is like [17:10]
  • How you can experience time differently [18:10]
  • Why he wants to break poetry into popular culture [21:30]
  • Why you have to know your why [22:50]
  • Why he doesn’t seek validation from anything external [24:20]
  • How art and commerce should coexist [26:50]
  • Why we think growing up means we stop learning [36:10]
  • Why he wants to do stuff he’s not good at [37:20]
  • Why capitalism and the priorities of society need to shift [41:00]
  • Why it’s not just about growth, but about how you grow [45:00]
  • What his writing process is like [54:50]

Links mentioned:

Connect with In-Q Instagram | Twitter | Website

LET'S CONSPIRE & CREATE

CULTIVATING YOUR VISUAL UNIQUENESS AND STREAMLINING YOUR BRAND'S EVOLUTION

The more you stretch as an artist, the more space you have.

Have you ever heard a live spoken word performance? The kind that makes you nod your head and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up?

That’s how I felt when I first heard In-Q. This man is an uber talented spoken word poet, and he is incredibly skilled as both a writer and a performer; So skilled, in fact, that he has performed with Cirque du Soleil, on Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam, and even for the president. But he’s not just a poet. He’s also a talented songwriter who has written songs with Miley Cyrus, Aloe Blacc, Mike Posner, and Selena Gomez.

What I love about In-Q’s poetry is that he writes about the human experience, encouraging people to ask questions about themselves, their environment, and the world at large. Listen in to our conversation to hear us talk about not only art, commerce, and making a living as a spoken word poet, but also about In-Q’s writing process and why he encourages people to express themselves.

I want people to realize that they’re all poets and they’re all storytellers.

[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/in-q” title=”How to Build a Career as a Poet” artist=”In-Q” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/73_IN-Q_NIONradio_02.jpg” color=”#de4b9b” ]

Some things we learn in this podcast:

  • How he realized he was more of a poet than a rapper [3:05]
  • How he jumped into the music world [3:55]
  • The value of thinking outside the box [4:30]
  • How poetry became his outlet [7:20]
  • Why he loves the Matrix movies [9:20]
  • Why he encourages people to express themselves [11:50]
  • What his day to day life is like [17:10]
  • How you can experience time differently [18:10]
  • Why he wants to break poetry into popular culture [21:30]
  • Why you have to know your why [22:50]
  • Why he doesn’t seek validation from anything external [24:20]
  • How art and commerce should coexist [26:50]
  • Why we think growing up means we stop learning [36:10]
  • Why he wants to do stuff he’s not good at [37:20]
  • Why capitalism and the priorities of society need to shift [41:00]
  • Why it’s not just about growth, but about how you grow [45:00]
  • What his writing process is like [54:50]

Links mentioned:

Connect with In-Q Instagram | Twitter | Website

12/16/15

73: In-Q – How to Build a Career as a Poet

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The more you stretch as an artist, the more space you have.

Have you ever heard a live spoken word performance? The kind that makes you nod your head and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up?

That’s how I felt when I first heard In-Q. This man is an uber talented spoken word poet, and he is incredibly skilled as both a writer and a performer; So skilled, in fact, that he has performed with Cirque du Soleil, on Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam, and even for the president. But he’s not just a poet. He’s also a talented songwriter who has written songs with Miley Cyrus, Aloe Blacc, Mike Posner, and Selena Gomez.

What I love about In-Q’s poetry is that he writes about the human experience, encouraging people to ask questions about themselves, their environment, and the world at large. Listen in to our conversation to hear us talk about not only art, commerce, and making a living as a spoken word poet, but also about In-Q’s writing process and why he encourages people to express themselves.

I want people to realize that they’re all poets and they’re all storytellers.

[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/in-q” title=”How to Build a Career as a Poet” artist=”In-Q” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/73_IN-Q_NIONradio_02.jpg” color=”#de4b9b” ]

Some things we learn in this podcast:

  • How he realized he was more of a poet than a rapper [3:05]
  • How he jumped into the music world [3:55]
  • The value of thinking outside the box [4:30]
  • How poetry became his outlet [7:20]
  • Why he loves the Matrix movies [9:20]
  • Why he encourages people to express themselves [11:50]
  • What his day to day life is like [17:10]
  • How you can experience time differently [18:10]
  • Why he wants to break poetry into popular culture [21:30]
  • Why you have to know your why [22:50]
  • Why he doesn’t seek validation from anything external [24:20]
  • How art and commerce should coexist [26:50]
  • Why we think growing up means we stop learning [36:10]
  • Why he wants to do stuff he’s not good at [37:20]
  • Why capitalism and the priorities of society need to shift [41:00]
  • Why it’s not just about growth, but about how you grow [45:00]
  • What his writing process is like [54:50]

Links mentioned:

Connect with In-Q Instagram | Twitter | Website

12/16/15

73: In-Q – How to Build a Career as a Poet

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Personal brand client photographed by Nick Onken demonstrating complete brand coherence where styling, environment, and presence are intentionally aligned

Your personal brand feels off but you can’t explain why. It’s not your logo or colors. It’s a coherence problem, a structural gap between who you are and how you’re seen. Here’s what to do.

Three levels of authority showing progression from visible to credible to recognized

Authority isn’t binary. You’re not either an authority or not an authority. Authority exists in levels, stages, and progressions. Each level has distinct characteristics, distinct positioning, distinct challenges, and distinct requirements for advancement. Most people get stuck at Level One. They’re visible, active, creating content, showing up regularly. But they’re not building actual authority. They’re […]

Embodied authority showing installation through repetition and practice not insight or understanding

You had the insight. The breakthrough moment, the realization, the epiphany, the profound understanding. Deep knowing about who you are, what you offer, and how you’re different. Life-changing clarity about your positioning, your value, and your authority. Then what changed? Actually changed? Behaviorally, practically, visibly? In how you show up, how you speak, how you […]

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You are established. Actually established. Years in business, real results created, genuine expertise developed, actual clients served, tangible transformations delivered, proven value demonstrated. You’ve built real authority through real work over real time with real outcomes. But you don’t look established. Your brand doesn’t show it, your presence doesn’t reflect it, your positioning doesn’t communicate […]

Connor Beaton brand photography showing shadow work concept with half face illuminated half in darkness

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About the Blogger

I was born in a low middle class conservative religious family in the suburbs of Seattle. Art was and always has been my passion, and more than that a way of life. Starting as a graphic designer, I taught myself photography, built a commercial/editorial business shooting for the worlds biggest brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Adidas and more. I've also had the opportunity to photograph the world's biggest celebrities like Justin Bieber, Usher, Jessica Alba and more. I've curated a lifestyle around creativity and have learned a lot along the way which I get to share here. 

I was born in a low middle class conservative religious family in the suburbs of Seattle. Art was and always has been my passion, and more than that a way of life. Starting as a graphic designer, I taught myself photography, built a commercial/editorial business shooting for the worlds biggest brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Adidas and more. I've also had the opportunity to photograph the world's biggest celebrities like Justin Bieber, Usher, Jessica Alba and more. I've curated a lifestyle around creativity and have learned a lot along the way which I get to share here. 

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