A Career Built in Cycles, Not Ladders

The lens I built by switching seats in the creator economy!

On paper, it might look like I couldn’t sit still. Even though I graduated with a degree in Hospitality & Tourism from Miami's first and only public research university, I’d always been drawn to marketing; ever since Gina and Pam won the Calvin Kani campaign alongside Mr. Whitaker on Martin (IYKYK).

I went from agency to brand, to founder. Then back to agency. Then brand. Then founder again. For a while, I thought I was still searching. Over time, I realized I was building fluency.

For a long time, I thought I was doing something wrong. My career didn’t follow a straight line like it was supposed to. I wasn’t steadily climbing upward in the way we’re taught to measure progress. Instead, I kept moving in what felt like circles. I changed jobs. I switched industries. I went out on my own, then went back in. And while some of those shifts were exciting, others came with real frustration and doubt. It felt like I was starting over again and again, even though I knew I was growing.

Eventually, I realized my path wasn’t chaotic, it was cyclical. I wasn’t stuck, I was evolving in loops. Each return to something familiar came with new insight. Every time I moved through the cycle again, I carried more clarity, more confidence, and a deeper understanding of how I think, how I lead, and how I build.

At my first agency, I learned how to execute. I was working across five to ten film and TV campaigns each month, so staying organized and getting things done wasn’t optional. That environment taught me how to be adaptable and effective in rooms that moved quickly and expected results.

At my first brand, I started to understand identity. I had more creative freedom, but I also had to navigate real boundaries. I learned how to work within those boundaries while still expressing something original, and I picked up new skill sets that showed me how to align vision with execution.

When I stepped out on my own, I was operating from instinct and clarity with my best friend and business partner. It was tough and unpredictable, but it was also exciting. There were days when the work felt incredibly rewarding, even if I was still learning some of the basics, (like remembering to pay taxes on the money we brought in). That season stretched me, but it also helped me trust myself more.

When I returned to agency life, I stepped in with more authority. I officially began working in influencer marketing, even though I had been doing that kind of work for over five years. I brought past experience into new rooms and sharpened my strategy with new tools and techniques.

When I went back to building solo, I wasn’t starting from scratch. I had a clearer offer, a stronger voice, and a roster of creators who were ready to grow with me. Together, we built over five years and brought in close to half a million dollars in brand partnerships.

Then came the global brand role. This was the first time I was responsible for work that impacted culture on a wide scale. I led cross-functional teams, produced campaigns with real reach, and gained a new understanding of how business works globally. I had always been curious about that kind of impact, and now I had the opportunity to see it from the inside.

Now I’m back in my own seat again. This time, it feels more grounded. I am building as a studio founder, executive producer, and strategist. I know how to look at the full picture, and I help translate influence in rooms where people do not always speak the same language.

DJ Sidney Perry and Brandon Anthony filming SOUNDCHECK podcast.

Each season has shaped how I think.

• Agencies taught me how to move across disciplines with speed and intention.

• Brands taught me how to scale vision with structure and integrity.

• Entrepreneurship taught me how to trust what I carry and lead from a place of clarity rather than obligation.

There were moments when I worried that I had not followed the right path. I questioned whether I should have moved faster or stuck to the traditional route. Over time, I have come to see things differently.

What I have built is not a ladder. It is a lens that allows me to move across industries, speak to different needs, and stay grounded in who I am and what I bring.

Fluency, for me, is the work. It is not just about building a skill set but also about being able to hold every version of myself that brought me here. It is about honoring the turns it took to arrive.

---

If your own path has moved in cycles instead of a straight line, and you’re starting to realize that was never a mistake, you’re not alone. That kind of journey requires fluency. And that’s exactly what we build around here.

Now Influencing is a studio for layered thinkers, visionary builders, and people who carry influence in ways that don’t always fit the mold.

If you’re working on something soulful, strategic, or out of the box and want support that sees the full picture, reach out.

We’d love to connect.