An Inspired Chat with Trey Benham of Cartersville

We recently had the chance to connect with Trey Benham and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Trey, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me is being very intentional about how I spend every minute. I make sure I dedicate time to my full time job, Black Bartow, and most importantly, myself and loved ones. My days are proactive. When I have down time on my job, I’m working on future objectives. Outside of work I make sure I have time to connect with my family and friends while still setting aside enough me time on a daily basis. Having time to myself where I can simply rest, listen to music, or enjoy a good show is very important to me.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Trey Benham and I am one of three co-founders of Black Bartow Events in Cartersville, Georgia. The mission of Black Bartow Events is to provide Bartow County with quality entertainment that educates the community as a whole while celebrating diversity and Black culture. We have events that do more than just entertain you. Our events uplift, empower and unite.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My father taught me the most about work. My dad didn’t do a lot of talking or giving out lectures. My dad set expectations through his own actions. As a child, I picked up on the importance of being a man of action, being on time, and helping others who are in need. His work ethic and service to others was something that I always admired.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
It is worth it! My whole life I’ve never wanted to do things just to fit in. Being true to myself by not following a crowd or trend for popularity can cause feelings of isolation or a lack of deep connections at times. But being true to yourself is worth it and the genuine relationships you build mean more than anything. People can see the authenticity and it will take you place you never imagined.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
For better or worse I’m not afraid to be me. Often times people feel the need to not let people see certain sides of them. My thoughts are if I’m that ashamed to let people see it, then I need to seriously work on ending that habit or personality trait. Whether I’m sitting at a board meeting, at a club with friends, or with my family, you’re going to get the same me. While I always want to be respectful of others and their feelings, how people perceive me or misinterpret something is not a great concern to me.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
How much perception creates your reality but that reality still might not be factual. What’s real to you might not be real to the rest of us and vice versa. When trying to get a point across or listening to someone else, we really need to take the time to try and also understand their perspective. What is causing them to see things this way? We also must understand that it sometimes takes a long time for our perception to catch up to the current times.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbartowevents
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trey-benham-0b67a280
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackBartowEvents
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@blackbartowevents

Image Credits
Anne Say Photography (only for the first photo of me)