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

Hi Kevin, how do you think about risk?

Risk taking is essential to progress and success. The bigger the risk, the longer it takes to see it pay off!

In 2015, I took one of the biggest risks of my life and dropped out of school for a job the cannabis industry. It was a wild choice – the job lasted a short six months, but I knew the industry would only be growing. I was left with a massive hunger to work with an impactful, disruptive startup.

Between 2016 and 2023, this fueled me to I take a string of similar risks. I continued to work for volatile start-ups in cannabis as well as other industries. I moved halfway across the country three different times in search of not only personal happiness, but professional opportunity. I worked in the evenings as a valet driver and bellman at hotels and did other manual labor jobs to pay the bills.

One year after moving to Florida and working odd jobs, I found a cannabis lab on google maps and emailed them. To my surprise, they needed a graphic designer! After some persistence and a few interviews, I finally landed my dream job! I’m finally doing the work that I dropped out of school for. It’s been a wild full circle journey and risk was the catalyst!

 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I am a graphic designer turned web and motion designer. I learned Graphic Design first and have had to learn how to use those skills everywhere else – from print to digital and now web applications. A commercial digital creative career has been the the most challenging thing I’ve ever faced. It really takes a certain type of fortitude that can only be learned through doing the work and can only be sustained through the passion for the work. On the flip side, I get to have fun all day doing work I love. There are so many ups and downs beyond the actual work as well – just defining what type of work I specialize in took many years.

The most exciting part is learning through the whole process – as a creative, I gain inspiration from new experiences and learning new things. I get to learn all about the business I’m working on and how it operates. If I’m doing my job right, I’m learning a lot through every project.

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?
The Miami area has soo many awesome places to see! First for me – nature – an Airboat in the everglades and take a few mornings to grab a smoothie and visit beaches around Fort Lauderdale. A drive through some older neighborhoods is absolutely necessary just to see the beautiful houses and plants/trees. And I’d visit all the amazing vegan places we have here! SoBe Vegan on Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd is my absolute favorite.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So many people!! First of all, my family. They’ve faced the consequences of my wild decisions with nothing but support. Secondly, my good friend, financial coach and mentor over the past few years – Greg Von Williams. I recommend a mentor for anyone. So many other influences have helped me in different ways, Jay Shetty, Gary Vee, Aubrey Marcus and Joe Dispenza, there are lots of others who have indirectly influenced me in so many great ways. Thank you all!

Website: https://www.kevinkimmell.design/

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.kimmell

Image Credits
Work done while working with multiple freelance clients, PSP Compass Solutions – www.pspcompass.com and Mellow Fellow – www.mellowfellow.fun.

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