Meet Joseph McNichols | Social Media Manager

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

Hi Joseph, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk-taking: how do you think about risk? What role has taking risks played in your life/career?

Jon,
Thanks for having me!

Innovation and Growth: By taking risks, you push the boundaries of what is known and comfortable, allowing for innovation and growth. This is crucial in the fast-paced content creation and leadership world, where stagnancy can lead to obsolescence. Taking risks helps you explore new ideas, experiment with different approaches, and discover fresh perspectives that can set you apart. Taking risks enables you to adapt to changing circumstances, emerging trends, and evolving audience preferences. It helps you stay ahead of the curve, embrace new technologies or platforms, and remain relevant in a dynamic environment. Risks often involve stepping out of your comfort zone and challenging the status quo. Doing so lets you discover a unique voice and style that distinguishes you from others. Taking risks allows you to be authentic, express your individuality, and create content or lead in a way that resonates with your audience. Risks inherently involve the possibility of failure or setbacks. However, these experiences provide valuable lessons and opportunities for growth. When you take risks, you learn from successes and failures, gaining insights that help you refine your strategies and decision-making processes. This builds resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace challenges rather than shy away from them.
Every day is risk-taking for me! Putting myself out there as a creator where opinions run wild, ideas get shut down, and so much more sometimes makes me question, “Why am I doing this?” But that is where my faith comes in. I have been called to creativity and leadership. I have been called to be set apart. I was literally made in the image of the Creator. With life ever-evolving, opinions constantly changing, platforms changing, and the trends and craft continually changing as well, I lean not on my own understanding but on trust that the Lord is with me and that my identity will never be in what I do but who I do it for.
My entire career journey has been defined by embracing risks. From high school to college, I consistently pushed myself to accomplish what others deemed impossible. I undertook various challenges, such as spearheading groundbreaking projects, seeking mentorship, collaborating with artists, producing music videos, and juggling early morning shifts at another job. I willingly embraced tasks that were uncharted territory and unappealing to others, all in the pursuit of learning, adapting, and comprehending the intricacies of each endeavor.
Every time I picked up a camera to capture moments, whether during my high school years or throughout college, I faced uncertainty about the outcome. Fortunately, most of my projects turned out remarkably well, while those that fell short provided valuable lessons. I encountered countless rejections and discouragements like “no,” “it’s impossible,” or “that’s too risky” regarding my ideas and projects. However, my unwavering response has always been a resounding “YES!” I thrive on the unknown, the possibilities, and beyond. Ideas and execution inherently carry many risks, and I wholeheartedly believe that taking risks is the fundamental first step toward success.
How would I ever gauge the extent of a project’s impact if I never dared to take the plunge? Playing it safe is no longer an option in this era dominated by social media and rapid advancements. If you remain stagnant, the world will continue to evolve around you. To those who doubt the viability of their ideas or the worthiness of exploring new ventures, I say unequivocally, YES! Yes, it matters because it will inevitably foster personal growth and more profound understanding, irrespective of the outcome.

These daring ventures have allowed me to forge relationships at an unprecedented level, surpassing my own expectations. These connections have proven instrumental in my endeavors’ success, fueling my personal growth and brand. Moreover, they have served as the gateway to the opportunities that have shaped my circumstances.

So say yes and take a risk! You’ll be rewarded and rejected, but build relationships, character, and even gain knowledge about your own craft.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am the social media manager for the GMA Dove Awards and Social Media Coordinator and a Broadcast Video Engineer at a church in Scottsdale. In one, I lead a dedicated team and oversee the capturing of services during the weekend and the weekend prep so volunteers can come in and have an easy involvement in serving with us. I also help teach them live video switching, camera composition, and more to help lend a hand in contributing to the seamless delivery of impactful content to our congregation. It is a privilege. On the other, my daily responsibilities encompass executing marketing strategies, curating compelling content and content calendars, engaging with fans, collaborating closely with artists and labels to make a lasting impact on the music industry, and exposing, promoting, and celebrating the Gospel through music.
My driving force lies in my unwavering commitment to the Kingdom. I am impassioned to bring forth excellence, meticulous planning, and intentional actions in all that I do. My ultimate aspiration is to lead others toward establishing a personal relationship with Jesus, empowering them to embark on their spiritual journeys. Everything I undertake is dedicated to Him; I firmly believe it is all for His glory.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have a growing love toward coffee shops and working remotely so Mythical in Scottsdale, Press Coffee, Spencers Place, and the classical Starbucks. Also, if you love the outdoors, definitely visit Havasupai Falls!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shout out to everybody who has helped me! From my high school teachers, college professors, and industry mentors they all have had a significant impact.

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

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

Image Credits
@joemcnicholsofficial @gomediakc @tonyaacrandell