Inspiration Doesn’t Get Creative Theory Agency’s Tamon George Out of Bed — It’s Commitment

It’s past time we remixed the entrepreneur archetype. The tried-and-true definition of an emerging or aspiring business owner feels tired. The modern entrepreneur is a mover, shaker and doer who’s not content with simply breaking all the rules. Our 52 trailblazers featured in the October issue are rewriting the rules, tearing them up and doing it all over again. It’s creation at its purest, because the fruits of one’s hustle are not actualized overnight or by following one jet-lagged recipe. It’s no longer adequate to measure entrepreneurs by the brick-and-mortar spaces they manifest or the jobs they create. Those are all important elements but fall short of what it truly means to build something — often with blood, sweat and tears. Whether you’re revamping the vintage clothing industry, introducing a fresh dining concept, cultivating an advocacy-focused creative agency or advancing the cause of equality for the LGBTQ+ community, the only thing that matters is freedom — the freedom to march to the beat of your own badass drum. Read our full rundown of trailblazers here.

Tamon George is a creative theorist. He’s also the co-founder and CEO of Creative Theory Agency, an organization that works in consultation and production of various artistic mediums. Creative Theory Agency is pushing the envelope on D.C.’s marketing culture, and George is dedicating the time and commitment towards making it a successful establishment.

Advice that keeps your hungry
The quote that has been the background on my cell phone for over a year now is, “The humble don’t stumble,” and I think, “Wow, so that’s the actual answer.” [It’s about] reminding ourselves how important it is for us to take our community with us wherever we’re going. That’s the key to the mission.

What your day is incomplete without
Starting off in the gym. That’s my safe zone, my relaxation time, my quiet time, my personal time.

Your power outfit remix
In our world, you don’t really have to remix it. We stick with the tried and true all-black when we’re going into pretty big meetings. In a creative space, in an intellectual space, we like to keep it as minimal as possible so that our work shines through. 

What every entrepreneur needs
I think commitment is the part that sets people on the path to success or not. I think a lot of people get stuck on inspiration, and inspiration really doesn’t get you very far but out of bed. The rest of the work is, can you commit to this idea, day in and day out — when you don’t want to be here, when you don’t want to do it, when there’s more exciting things to do in the day. 

Early bird, night owl or in-between
Unfortunately, I have to be both. My best hours typically come in the morning, before my email and my Slack start blowing up. And then, when I need to, I can get a pretty solid couple of hours in the evening. 

Burning question for an iconic trailblazer
I want to have a conversation with Tony Dungy — who was the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts for a very long time — not about business, but about leadership. He was one of the first head coaches in the NFL to be a very, very successful Black man, and also not be the yell-in-your-face type of coach. I would love to have a conversation with him about what he keyed in on as a leader. 

The current soundtrack to your life
I’ve been listening to a lot of Tracy Chapman. I feel like she is an under-appreciated rebel of her time, and that has been the message that I’ve been taking from her music. Her music is really committed to what it is, and it doesn’t waver. It’s really been letting me focus on the work that I’m doing, and how impactful it can be. 

@tamon_ // creativetheory.agency 

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