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

Hi Rasaq, what do you attribute your success to?
I believe that never giving up is a big key but more importantly, turning my passion/life’s calling into a career path has led me to be successful in my own right. I think that the wisdom of being able to do what you love so that you never work a day in your life has really resonated with me from the first time I heard it.. I believe it’s important that people do what they love and what is in their hearts as opposed to chasing money, success, or anything else. I believe that your success will come to you in whatever avenue you pursue with consistency and joy but you just have to choose what’s truly in your heart and not what the programming, society or parents tells you.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am the son of 2 nigerian entreperneurs. My dad who is a contractor who specializes in building residential and commercial homes and my mother is a true merchant who buys and sells fabrics internationally. However, as most Nigerian children can attest, I was pressured by my parents to become a doctor lawyer or engineer; none of which I aspired to be. I started my first business as a dance fitness business when I was 23 and failed miserably at it. I failed to do my taxes and didn’t pay much attention to my LLC yearly requirements or forming a bank account past the two first months that I had it. Fast forward 10 years later I’m blessed to have a couple thousand dollars in operating capital and building my business and brand every day while doing the continuous education that it takes for me to have mastery in my field. Building a business has definitely not been easy especially since it’s a dance business and so much of it is about branding and optics. I focused more on having videos and flyers on social media than i did about my customer demographics and accounting. I have learned that i am blessed to do what i love because i truly can only fail when i quit. I also learn to be patient with myself and have a mentor who can guide me and even more importantly, be coachable. If you knew how to do it… you would have done it. I truly believe that my lifes calling is to positively impact the world through mindfulness movement and culture, so with that kind of mindset a bad quarter or even 30 quarters doesn’t phase me because my calling is greater than any balance sheet

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would probably take them to the cherry street pier for a meal on the Mosholu and then take them to the Wissahickon for a hike over by forbidden valley drive and soak our feet at the base of the waterfall and then bring them down to South Philly on South Street for a daytime walk and maybe some thrifting. I definitely make a stop in north Philly for some Fairmount park and also some North Philly history and end in West Philly for Clark park, coffee shops and African restaurants in little Africa.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have so many shoutouts it’s hard to choose one. I definitely want to shout out my highest self, ancestors, and spirit guides. My wife for believing in me and seeing my greatness when I couldn’t. A big shout out to Tony Robbins, Landmark, and the self-development training that kept me believing in myself and the unbound greatness that is available to all of us. My books along the way are definitely 7 Habits of Highly effective people, The Secret, rich dad poor dad, and The Alchemist. And of course to Danni of Cardio vibes for this opportunity and for being a reminder to me that I am not alone in this dance healing journey for da culture.

Website: TBA

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rasaq-lawal-7ba599ba/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afrvbz/

Image Credits
Photosbyjen

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.