Creative Block is a newsletter that gives you a glimpse into my life, creativity, design, and music. It's like a little pick-me-up that you get delivered straight to your inbox.
I met a guy named Pablo at a coffee shop this morning. We’d been nodding at each other for months. I finally walked up.
Hi, I’m Temi. What’s your name?
He said Pablo. Then asked… so what do you do?
I froze for half a second. Then said something like “I design posters and do some ad work for brands. I also have a small clothing line I’m growing.”
He nodded. Said cool. We kept talking.
Later I thought about what I didn’t say. I didn’t say Nike. The Oscars. Apple. Adobe. Google. Peloton. Walmart. I didn’t say any of that. And it wasn’t accidental.
I do this all the time. I shrink the answer. Give people the small version first. Let them discover the rest on their own, if they ever do. I told myself it was humility. But standing there watching Pablo head back to his table, I realized it wasn’t humility at all.
It was that I don’t fully believe my own résumé sometimes.
I have the receipts. The work. The emails, the credits, the campaigns. And somehow none of it has convinced me yet. Like the résumé is real but the person holding it still feels borrowed. Part of me is always waiting for someone to tap me on the shoulder and say - - actually, we meant someone else. So I don’t lead with it.
And the cost is real. People can’t refer you for what they don’t know you’ve done. They can’t open doors you’ve hidden from them. Every time I hand someone the small version, I’m making a decision for them. But really, I’m making it for me as well. Because the full picture still makes me a little uncomfortable to look at.
The work isn’t learning how to talk about what I do.
The work is learning to actually believe it happened.
I was there. I made that. It has my name on it because it was supposed to. God gave me this gift and who am I to hide it?
Pablo, if you ever read this… I wasn’t being honest.
You asked what I do. Here’s the full picture….
I’m a Nigerian-born, Dallas-based multidisciplinary artist, husband to my wife (Afritina), father to 2 amazing kids who’s working at the intersection of photography, design, and storytelling. I’ve design work for Nike, the Oscars, Apple, Adobe, Google, Peloton, Walmart etc. I founded Coker Studio.. my idea factory where I get to create wearable art & things I want to see in the world. People have caught on to this movement and we’re on track to do over 2,000+ orders this year. I write a newsletter called Creative Block where I share my highs and lows of my creative journey to hopefully inspire others and help them find their creative voice.. And I’m still learning to say all of that out loud without flinching.
That’s what I do. That’s the whole answer.
Do you give people the small version of yourself too? Reply and tell me what you’re actually afraid of them knowing.
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