Meet Marq Mervin | The Renaissance Man & The Creative Waymaker

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

Hi Marq, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
As cliché as it sounds, it’s all I ever wanted. As a kid, I wanted to make video games. But I also wanted to be a meteorologist, an astronomer, a chef,…you get the idea. I’ve always wanted to do many things, but I always found my way back to some form of creating. Whether it was drawing, music, dance, or poetry, I felt most at home when I was making. It wasn’t until these recent 2-3 years that I realized my “creative career” is Soul work. Or, more specifically, my Divine Assignment.

Interestingly, I’m reframing my perspective about a “creative career”. Part of that reframe is embracing the truth of things, especially these days. In essence, the reality of a squiggly career. I’m constantly reminding myself what I tell clients, students, colleagues, and friends: Just like I can get creative with my work, I can also get creative with my life and career.

What should our readers know about your business?
My pleasure! I’m Marq Mervin (he/him), founder of 23Thirty Coaching & Consulting. I help Creative Polymaths—from kids to pros to executives—step into their creative wholeness and expand into their Next Level.

To elaborate: I work with multi-gifted people who never fit neatly into one box and I guide them through different stages of their journey. For the Creative Kid, that means affirming their creative identity. For the Creative Pro, that means helping them expand their creative identity beyond their plateaus to become their Next Level Self. And for the C-Suite Closeted Creative, that means reawakening their creative identity that’s been buried or put on the back burner. At every stage, my mission is the same: to help them expand into the Next Level of their identity, work, and life.

My journey has been an interesting one, to say the least. And, like all things, there were easy moments and very challenging moments. Here’s the condensed journey of my squiggly career: I went to school, got the degree, and thought I’d get the job (much like many students are told). In my case, I studied animation and, outside of 2 classes, taught myself graphic design and how to freelance. I decided to go to grad school since I wanted to be a professor as well. So, I did it again: went to school, got the degree, and thought I’d get the job. This time, I was the starving artist waiting tables. I’d work at my mom’s restaurant (and other odd jobs) in the day while building my portfolio at night. Soon, my life turned into freelance gigs, designing for broadcast news, teaching for 8 years, and a few existential crises about my next steps in life. Thus, 23Thirty was born.

I share this because every one of these experiences inspired my decision to coach multi-gifted creatives and pursue entrepreneurship. Every twist, turn, upset, and bounce back were necessary for me to walk this path with conviction and spiritual fortitude. There are many lessons learned as I keep figuring things out. I often share these with my clients and students because they’re experiencing similar squiggly journeys. Here are my top three:

– Faith is Forged in the Fire: I’ve always been a spiritual man and a person of faith. But entrepreneurship takes things to an entirely different level. This is my Divine Assignment. So, it’s meant to be challenging but it’s all worthwhile. Which leads to…

– With the Vision Comes Provision: I heard Dr. Traci Lynn share this and it completely shifted my chemistry. Those words taught me about trust. When things weren’t working, even after a year of planning, I learned that my plan isn’t THE Plan. And that leads to…

– Release in Order to Receive: I tried to control every outcome and every facet of my business. But I was reminded of something I learned through my meditation/mindfulness practice: I’m only responsible for what’s within my control. Everything outside of my control is guided by the hands of the Divine. All I need to do is follow my internal God Positioning System (GPS) and all will happen as it’s supposed to.

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?
Disclaimer: I live in Jacksonville, FL and I’m a full-time nerd, so we’re doing things a little different!

My itinerary (depending on the weather) usually includes: something creative, something nourishing, something fun, and some good food to eat. So let’s rock and roll!

The Creative: First, we’re visiting some museums. The Cummer Museum & Gardens is one of our main art destinations. There are beautiful collections throughout the museum and, on Saturdays, it’s really exciting because of the Riverside Arts Market next door (literally a 5 minute walk). Gorgeous trees, beautiful gardens, and about 10-15 minutes from the endless murals in Downtown makes this one of my favorite places to visit.

The Nourishing: I love a good nature walk, so we’d go to the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens. It’s a hidden gem that has such a wonderful and relaxing vibe, especially when there’s less foot traffic. The arboretum is filled with plant life, gorgeous flowers, and is a great way to wander and disconnect from the screens.

The Fun: I can’t say I’m a full-time nerd and not follow through! We’d definitely check out Leaderboard Game Bar. Fun fact: I’m a former competitive fighting game player, so Leaderboard has a special place in my heart. There are arcade cabinets galore. If you remember the arcade days, you’ll enjoy seeing some classics like NBA Jam, Street Fighter 2, and a few pinball machines.

The Good Food: I’m a foodie, so if you’re down for an adventure, let’s do it! Mom & Pops will always have a special place in my heart, so here’s what I recommend: If you’re in the mood for Latin cuisine, my go-to spots are Mi Rancho (my favorite Mexican food in the city) or Havana Jax (my favorite Cuban food in the city). For something Asian inspired, I recommend either K-Bop Korean Kitchen (Asian fusion) or Mariana’s Grind for authentic Hawaiian food. Want a great Jamaican spot? Spices Caribbean Restaurant is my top pick, no debate. But you can’t visit the city without having brunch and my favorite is Uptown Kitchen. Try to go early though because they fill up fast! (My personal favorite: Salmon Croquettes w/ the Gouda Grits and a scrambled egg on the side. *chef’s kiss*)

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?
Hmm,…this is a good question! I want to shoutout every person who’s been a part of this journey: My family, who encouraged me to dream remarkably ever since I was a born. My late uncle, who introduced me to my 2 lifelines (art and fighting games). My partner, who I love immensely and anchors me. My friends, who I’m so honored and thankful to do life with. My students, who gave my heart new stretch marks and taught me so much over the years. My muses, who pour directly into the wells of my Soul. My therapist and coaches, who sharpened me into who I am.

And, above all else, shoutout to myself. For finding the fight left in me to keep going and to keep dreaming. For learning to love deeply, laugh loudly, live boldly, feel fully, and walk courageously.

Website: https://www.23thirty.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marqmervin/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marqmervin

Other: https://www.marqmervin.com/ https://marqmervin.substack.com/

Image Credits
Image 3 (me and the Normans) – Carla Jones All other images – Marq Mervin