Mikelah

Mikelah Rose – Curator of Things Fly, Caribbean & Chic

Introduction

Mikelah Rose is the founder and Fly Caribbean Editor in Chic (sheek) behind Style & Vibes, a Caribbean-American lifestyle blog. With very few outlets catering to the sophisticated audience in the Caribbean and its Diaspora, Style & Vibes covers, fashion, beauty and culture. Highlighting the best and keeping readers current.

Tell us more about What you do

By day, I’m a digital content manager for a consumer package goods company, managing their product content online with retailers for US and Canada. By night I’m a Caribbean American lifestyle blogger. I also do freelance marketing and design projects like the layout for Triple The Focus magazine.

 

Who influenced you the most to choose this career?

I used to work at my college radio station as the Caribbean Music Director; and on air host with a Caribbean music format program. My friend Shawn Bacot told me I should start a blog because he said it would be a great place to house my radio interviews and writing samples. It really just evolved from there, my love for digital and content was without me really knowing it. “Digital” and “Content” weren’t buzz words or even considered “must know” marketing terms then. I was just writing and sharing my voice with people like me.

MikelahRose

What’s the best part about your career? and What’s been the most challenging part?

The best part is getting to do what I love. I truly appreciate the digital journey and not just the sexy parts like latest Instagram fashion show. I enjoy learning about new technological developments even if has nothing to do with my direct line of work because new innovations and developments are exciting.

What tips do you have for anyone who is trying find their passion? Or someone who wants to start a business or find a career that aligns with their passion.

Your passion and skill-set are two different things. What you’re good or great at “doing” are your skills. Something that ignites emotion is what you’re passionate about. Figuring out where those two converge is the key to finding the right business to start.

You don’t have to be good at everything. You can have multiple passions, but [ask yourself] which do you feel are your priorities day in and day out. I would say write both down then ask a few trusted people “What do you think I’m good at? What do you I’m passionate about?” An external view will help you hone in on both.

[Tweet “Your passion & skill-set are two different things. Figuring out where the two converge is key “]

office home work life balanceWhat is your biggest challenge when it comes to work & life?

Balancing both! Wanting to have a career and a family is very challenging. Sometimes you spend more time with one or the other. I also feel like there’s never enough time in the day.

What tips or rules do you have that help you to carve out time for family life and personal time?

I’ve learned (and I’m still working at), becoming more focused on what I’m doing in the moment. If I’m spending time with friends and family, then I just do that. If I’m working on a project, then I just do that. I’ve thrown out the idea of multi-tasking. Multi-tasking results in half-assed attempts to complete whatever it is that you’re doing. I eat then check my Facebook feed. I watch TV then work on whatever it is I need to work on. I play games with my daughter and then read.

What is one technology tool or app you can’t do without?

Definitely my iPhone, it’s my connection to everything in life!

How do you manage technology distractions?

It’s a work in progress, because so much of what I do and how my daily life operates is connected to my phone. But I do make an effort to put it away. Putting it away, when I’m at my desk has been a great tactic, because I noticed myself reaching for it even when I didn’t need to. I also don’t sleep next to it.

unwind escape in a hammock an open book or a house on a cliff overlooking the beach

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work? Or what do you do for fun?

Spending time with family and friends on a warm sunny day is as good as it gets for me. You can’t go wrong with great friends and good food! I love that my circle of family and friends is pretty extensive. They understand my busy lifestyle and it’s always love when we do get together.

I’m very outgoing and I LOVE music, nothing beats a wicked dancehall party for me! In recent years I’ve taken up doing more outdoor activities such as running, hiking, zip-lining and paintball. I’ll try anything at least once. I also like to have quiet moments to myself, I’ll wake up early just to read and sip my coffee on a Saturday morning.

What’s the most recent book you read? What is your favorite book or tv show, movie, vacation spot?

I just finished #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso. It was an awesome, easy read and very empowering. My favorite book is and always has been Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston who is my favorite author. I’m watching Walking Dead, Scandal, Empire, Being Mary Jane and House of Cards. I think I need to travel more to figure out my favorite, but my trip to Brazil is my favorite to date.

How do you define success?

I’ve started looking at success on a smaller scale. Success to me now is enjoying the moments that I’m in. For so long, I focused on building a future and working so much that it was impossible to enjoy the process and as a result made myself miserable. If I’m a better version of me today than I was yesterday, that’s success. 

[Tweet “If I’m a better version of me today than I was yesterday, that’s success. @styleandvibes”]

Share one of your personal habits that contributes to your success?

I wake up at 5:30 am every morning to exercise, pray and read Monday-Friday. On the weekends I allow myself to “sleep in” until about 8. But starting my day on a positive note has really helped me throughout the day. It’s my “me” time before the daily grind starts. I also limit myself to 5 items on my “to-do” list on any give day. I do have 2 separate lists for personal and work related. Anymore than that overwhelms me.

mountains with Failure quote by Mikelah Rose of Style & Vibes

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned about success and failure?

It’s ok to walk away from something that doesn’t work out. As long as I’ve given something my best effort, I try not to be too hard on myself. Failure is inevitable, but what you do after you’ve failed is really the most important because that’s where the lessons are. 

 

Update

Mikelah was a guest on The Carry On Friends Podcast. Listen to episode COF 009: Vibing with Mikelah Rose of Style & Vibes. 

Connect with Mikelah and Style & Vibes on Instagram or on Twitter.

Kerry-Ann

Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown is Founder & host of Carry On Friends one of the first podcasts dedicated to the Caribbean American Experience. She is leading the way for Caribbean Podcast as the founder of Breadfruit Media, the first Caribbean podcast production company; and founder of the Caribbean Podcast Directory a place to discover podcasts by people of Caribbean Heritage.