304. Using the Creativity He Was Born With, After a Few Detours
David Taylor II
David Taylor II loved and admired his father, a successful African American small business owner, but knew his father’s dream was not his own. Then, at age 12 or so, his father succumbed to several strokes. A business he didn’t love fell squarely on David’s shoulders.
David M. Taylor II has been called a prophet. An internationally best-selling author, award winning playwright, Top Ten music producer and songwriter, he writes science fiction, fantasy and children’s literature. David is the founder of the musical groups Parkland Gospel Ensemble and Shades of the Cross. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Music, is a Certified Record Producer as well as being a Certified Music Business Instructor. He is currently pursuing his Masters in Theological Studies.
How Did You Start Using Your Talents?
“I have always been leaning toward the creative arts, and I was writing music since I was seven. I drew a lot of comic books—which I’m actually going to release a little bit later on—from way back in the day. So, my creative talents were there, but when I went to college and moved into my adult years, I wasn’t really pursuing them full time. It took me some time to come back around to realize where my strength and my desire really was, and what I was born to do.”
The Most Impactful Turning Point?
“A major turning point came when I was 12 or 13. My father got sick. He had a series of strokes. He had opened a retail beauty and barber supply business, so I ended up dedicating half of my junior high school years and all of my high school years to helping him. I didn’t really get to do a lot of what I wanted to do besides sing in the choir. Even when I first went to college it was with the idea of taking over his business. That wasn’t really my full desire in life. But I had to sacrifice quite a few years for that.”
The Most Powerful Lessons Learned?
“You are already YOU when you come out of the womb. The problem is never that you don’t know what you want to do. If you want to dance, you know that. If you want to be a gymnast, you know that at an early age, and if you want to sing, you KNOW that before you’ve been on this planet for 10 years. That’s not the problem. Parental and familial support is crucial so that you can get comfortable in your own skin. The problem is when you don’t have the support system to tell you that it’s OK to be what you want to be.”
Steps to Success from David Taylor II
1. Learn to listen to your inner voice. It can bring you divine guidance.
2. Acknowledge, accept and cultivate your gifts, even if no one else has recognized them yet.
3. Create something new, something uniquely your own, and share it with the world.
4. Nurture the gifts of the children in your life. Don’t be afraid to be the adult.
On His Bookshelf
Lucifer: Soldiers, Serpents, and Sin: Book 1: A Clash of Lightning & Thunder, by David Taylor II
Wayward Pines: Survival EDITION 2 (The Rebellion Series Book 1), by David Taylor II
Connecting With David Taylor II
Website: www.dt2author.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DT2Author
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DT2-Author-1585426131735558/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-taylor-2-03788491
