We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Royster and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
I have two. Nobody can believe in you more than you can believe in yourself. And, nobody can make you do what you don’t want to do. The latter is important because many say out loud how badly they want to accomplish something, but then when they realize how hard it will be, their actions show they were never going to do anything to make it happen. As far as self belief, many people rely on others to believe in them without have personal belief in themselves so at a certain point, even if they have talent, they quit before anything happens. 

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business is based on the concept that everybody deserves a chance to pursue their talents, and start as a professional. I use my secular work history and experience to merge with elements of the entertainment industry. My concentration is specific to individuals that are just getting started, but also those that have started, but maybe haven’t progressed like they think they should per their talent. What sets me apart is that I actually care about people. I want to see people succeed, whatever that success ends up being. I’m currently most proud of the Okan Twins out of London. What they have done over a short period of time is amazing, and the future is bright for them. Staying around in this type of business has not been an easy task. Mostly because everybody does not want to be pushed, encouraged or managed, even though they know it’s for their benefit. That is why I began concentrating on talent development only. There is never an excuse to not be prepared to present yourself professionally for an opportunity. Persistence and being willing to change helped overcome challenges. A few lessons learned? There are a few that I try to convey to others. Nothing is guaranteed. Most people are ready to quit after the first “no”. Another would be progress is progress. Anything that you accomplished today that you didn’t the day before means something. It means the effort you put in amounted to something. One more, it could take 10 years or more to get to where you want to be. If you’re not willing to put in that kind of time, it’s probably not worth the time. It may not take that long, but you have to be ready in case it does. Someone else is willing to put in the work and sacrifice and not half as talented as you and that’s why they succeed.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’ll use Atlanta for this. I am not one to go out to clubs so can’t help you there. But I’ve been to Suite Lounge before and it’s still a spot to go to on a weekend. There are thousands of restaurants, so depending on your taste, you won’t be lacking. Lure is one of the best food and overall experiences I’ve ever had. 9 Mile Station is a wonderful rooftop vibe. Both are in Midtown. My favorite pizza spot is Fellini’s. If you’re a sports fan, pre-pandemic I would say take in a Braves, Falcons or Hawks game depending on the time of year. Atlanta being a music capital there are always concerts in the city. There is always something to do.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Well first definitely a shoutout to Shoutout for giving me this opportunity. Also to business owner Majeedah Giddens for making you aware of me. And last but not least The Okan Twins, who are my longest standing talents and have proved that dedication and hard work truly pays off. They are the main reason I’ve kept pushing the last few years. Special shoutout to Cloe Greco, my second international talent!

Website: www.imtmworldwide.com, www.imtmworldwideimages
Instagram: @imtmworldwide
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-royster-b3b87b23/
Twitter: @imtmradio
Facebook: Innovative Model & Talent Management

Image Credits
Kareem Wynter (the profile photo)

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