Dezi Cartier shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Dezi, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
There’s many things and they often bleed over. My work brings me a lot of joy but outside of it is reflection. The past 2 years of my life have been the best ever. Lots of hard parts in there too don’t get me wrong. On a self level I think what has always been my joy outside of anything has been the feeling of hope. Most of my life I’ve relied on hope very much and maybe even heavy handed optimism in that I would get what I wanted for myself. That has changed a lot over the years. So I think as simple as it is that is why I find peace and joy in reflection.
I’m a cornball at heart but it is true, for me I feel like I’ve showed up for the work and there is still so much more to go. However there’s so much more to what the end product of purpose is. Thankfully truly I enjoy my purpose and am grateful for where it has landed my priorities in life. Which have of course changed and now I have peace in what they have solidified to. To answer the question in full, joy to me is who, what, where, why, when, and how something feels right in life. Growth truly is the what I have enjoyed most and that comes in all forms of decision making, actions, and all of the above. Even the grocery store I used to hate but now I love something as simple as finding the perfect clean ingredient meal to cook.
It’s truly the little things in life and the details that you miss and notice the most at the same time. So I do my best to savor and enjoy the little things.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dezi and I’ve been all over the place in life from modeling to merchandising, acting, Toojay’s waiter, and plenty more. I think now my brain categorizes my trajectory as a bunch of different projects and moments. Bu yeah I started of as theatre kid and grew up modeling and acting trying to rip that. Which I did for a minute like I went to college once for a music business degree at Belmont University then left to UCF for a pre business finance trajectory. I backed out of both to pursue modeling and acting and trying to put pressure on that. It was just was what all I knew as a possible career that I would want for a while. So with that comes working many different character building jobs but a lot of fun in those jobs too. There’s something really special about those years and that time where your hunger is just never satisfied. Those figuring it out years. It was around my early 20’s when I got into merchandising working from the ground up in that world. I always loved fashion and music especially that crossover. So merchandising introduced me to a really unlocked world of business and opportunities in terms of who you work with. Which has now lead me to new roles and perspectives. Even before anything I was always somewhat a creative person I think in the terms of finding solutions. I think just in general like if something is wrong I want to fix it.
The real fun stuff is I love even making clothes. I am not a graphic designer by any means so I wanted to start making clothes but in a way where I was directly involved. It was just for fun at first and I got really into sewing by hand which not saying I did anything crazy – but how therapeutic. I don’t know what it is you think it would be grinding your gears trying to get a thread through a tiny metal loop but… It was something so unexpected that I found myself enjoying. So that is I think a hobby which is in the forefront. It’s the fun the stuff though work, life, hard parts, there should always be something to take from it all as they go up and down. I think somehow those moments all balance each other out.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
For me that moment was probably when I left college for the first time. I was really scared of student debt and honestly I didn’t feel like I was a school person. I did well in high school but my home life was always a lil messy growing up so I think the freedom and weight of whatever happens is on me. For me and my situation I felt like it didn’t make sense. I was like I want to model and act like so I just felt a little misaligned. I thought if I had the time and focus I could really pursue this as hard as I wanted to. However I wanted to give what my heart wanted my all but as scary as that decision felt at that time it was also really liberating like I said. I was like well it is on you and I always tried to believe in myself and I still give myself that talk. We never stop learning and I’ve definitely loved my journey and I’m grateful for it.
The good and the bad.
Which I look at now and I’m really happy with how that as a catalyst has totally changed what I want. So it is a very powerful moment in my trajectory. It has lead me to appreciate and prioritize different things like time. Those things that you can’t get back. To me those things are the really important these days. It’s those things you are missing as a kid. There’s the fun stuff in all different tangible ways but the real good stuff is completely intangible.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Fundamentally I think something we can all relate to and struggle with at times is comparison. It’s hard not to compare ourselves to others from the way we start off in life. School can be so and so got xyz grade on a test and specifically for me before I ever got into modeling or acting I was compared to other kids by my parents for theatre. By nature growing up is very competitive and of course life is too. But my point is we are subconsciously conditioned to compare ourselves to one another it feels like.
Comparison for me is such a detriment to the light we shine from ourselves into the world. I remember as a kid auditioning for school plays and community theatre and getting or not getting a certain roles and that would affect my life at home. How we treat ourselves is very connected to our foundation.
I think something interesting about comparison I’ve learned and that has really helped me outgrow that train of thought is perspective. Nobody is perfect but there have been many I’ve looked up to and realized nobody has it all figured out. Myself included. The moment we think we do, we stop all opportunity and reaching the next level on any scale. Perspective is so key. Something that perspective has taught me is love and be proud of who you are no matter what or who you are up against. Sometimes all we need is a dose of perspective.
We all go through so much in life and I say that because we will experience the highest of highs and lowest of lows. But something important is that we were not meant to be the same as somebody else. Being yourself will take you places you never saw coming. I know it can be a journey to figure that out sometimes.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
Hmm that is a good one. There’s a lot of stuff we can say is true and yet no explanation. I think love is a good example of that in all aspects of life. We love what we do there’s happiness beyond other counterparts and vice versa in other directions. That looks different for everybody. But we all need love and some of the craziest lessons come from that too. Not everybody got love as a kid so like I think that stuff is like to a degree provable but it’s also the unexplainable in life. So it’s mad important to give that love to your neighbor, your partner, friends, strangers and even what you do.
When I’m at a crossroads mentally with something I think about the most most loving way to go about it. With that logic too because it’s a powerful emotion but that can override common sense. And it should a lot of the times. I know sounds crazy but how we treat others is something we should all have to call for. Trying to lead with love opens a lot of perspective for me when it’s challenging. it also I think helps you understand your own perspectives. I’m human and I’m trying my best just like everybody else is. I think it’s an important thing to remember.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What resonates with me most is that the easy isn’t always better. In any sense I can think of relating towards what has transpired in my life I would not be here or experienced what I have it was easy. That is what I wish I could say most towards people or any advice I give is that you won’t remember what was easy even in the times life is good you will lok back fondly to the things that were the challenge. Because things can be a challenge and have easy components but do not dismiss what isn’t easy in life. In a full spectrum sense I can say that is the most fulfilling lens. and what life is about.
So I don’t think that necessarily people don’t understand this but it is rather anti advice almost it seems at first glance. Looking back had my childhood been a walk in the park or the many random jobs had made my life easy I wouldn’t have the tools or appreciation for the evolution. I like this question because there have been many times where had I asked for advice I would have missed out on so much from things being easier one way or the other – you might regret the easy choice. That’s me though and I really don’t do well with what ifs. The only consolation is that you may not know the pain of your regret but it is better in my books to live without the curiosity than to find out for yourself.
For all the times I felt grievance or friction from what was not easy I look back and smile with gratitude. I remember someone really important to me telling me this one time I was tripping, “Dezi, you will look back and this will be a really happy story for you one day.” and at the situation at hand I could only hope. She was right though. To engage in challenge is something we take for granted. Not in a salesy self help way but in a way that I am happy for having those times and thankful for what they show me. So don’t settle for easy. I might miss the exit and end up on the long way home but I’m gonna try and enjoy it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/dezicartier
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/dezicartier
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dezicartier?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@dezicartier?si=-sj_wMsUzrQoQ67l
Image Credits
Raphael Loquellano
Herb Maximo
Josue Xavier Herrera
