Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Mills.
Hi Tyler, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
It all started when I was fed up of hiding who I was. Growing up we are subjected to so many people hounding us about the same matter, “the way of life”. I was simply living outside of the box and on my own terms. I wore plastic crowns from party city everywhere because I knew I was going to be someone someday. In high school, I always wore a bow tie and a button-up (very fashionable, well for those times) and always demanded my “market share”. You know I was teased because I not only looked different, acted differently spoke with sense, but no one could tell me who I was because I knew, or at least had a thought. People hate that, they hate unshakeable people, and that I was. I tried the violin, karate, piano, joined clubs, painted, and so many other crafty hobbies just to fully express myself, I learned early the average millionaire has seven sources of income.
Upon completing high school with an amazing GPA, full college scholarships, and being the “celebrity” I was with my vivacious personality, it only skyrocketed from there. I started hosting parties, inviting people out, and working under a major promoter which happens to be my aunt; all I saw was the dollars and the fame. College? Pshhh, I’m making money honey! Once I started to see the hustle and flow of the nightlife, school became a back seat rider. My family pushed me to be great, but only great on their terms for that moment. I mean I get it, we pass high school, go to college, earn a degree, then accept an entry-level position that is almost insulting to your educational background and the years you’ve just spent making it by and trying to not have an emotional breakdown, get married, have a kid or three, work tirelessly, in hopes that your 401k & SSI saves you in the end? NEGATIVE cowboy. Now, don’t get me wrong for some that is the American dream, just not mine – so I went off to create my own.
Learning the game and eventually branching off from my aunt, I started doing my own thing, curating events in my city and surrounding areas for different age groups. I started with teens, went to adults on some occasions, hosted brunches, workshops, spoke on panels, judged and hosted competitions, you name it- I did it, life was GREAT! I was getting paid to be myself. People were paying to come and see ME? Pshhh, let’s go! Then one day, my fast-living hit a bump. My family started to question why wasn’t I in school, what were my future plans etc. (the normal) and the answer was simple, it’ll always be there. The excuse that comforts so many of us at certain points of our lives. But then I started to question my why. Why was I even doing all of this? That started to make my home life a little rocky but still, I knew what my objective and end goal was, so what did I do? Turn up the heat!!! Events galore, one month I pushed out 8, WOWZERS. Events like Mother’s Day Brunches, club nights, workshops, hosting, etc. I was running so fast to prove myself to them that I can still be successful in the route I’m taking. But as the money and “celebrity status came” so did the arrogance.
My head was so big to the point any wrong turn it would burst, and one day it did. Reality hit, like one day this could all be taken away with one incident/accident, clubs phasing out, people starting to take other avenues, etc. The nightlife is a forever changing market, you can never put all of your eggs into one skillet and I had to make decisions Quickly for my future. They say at 22 you don’t have your life figured out, you’re still a kid, blah blah blah. But that wasn’t the case for Tyler- I had no choice but to be great, I owed it to myself but also my grandma. Who spoke life into me at such an early age and instilled morals and values. So, What did I do? Get a job and Enroll back in school of course, and shortly after dropped out again and quit. I am not one to be confined to something at the expense of someone else, Bosses make their own rules and since that’s who I knew I was, I governed myself as such. Now don’t get me wrong, every job I had, I was the top earner, always receiving awards and recognition, employee of the month, now one this I am is committed, hard-working, and everything else but when it makes me happy or serves a great purpose, as everyone should be. Why was I lining your pockets from my work? I can put this same effort into me and be unstoppable. I’ve never been afraid to be an employee because indeed you must learn to walk before you run, but when you’re someone like me so eager to prove a point, so eager to win, so DETERMINED, someone who sees the Forbes billionaire list and knows he’s going to be a member? that comes to an end QUICKLY.
I then, went on to do a few photoshoots (now I hope you didn’t think people were just coming to hear me in the mic, I’m Handsome!) So with more photoshoots came hosting more events, met some amazing people who are now my family, networked and most importantly, surrounded myself with people who had like minds. Here’s a little secret- I was always the youngest in every arena I entered because, I had thought of who I was, but knew who I wanted to be, so that alone boosted my maturity level. As time passed, I felt as though something was missing. I’m making money living on my own terms. But I knew there were others needing an outlet, needing help, needing guidance, hell needing ME. So alongside my cousin. We built a group called Celebrity Citizens, which was a group that helped young girls pay for their homecoming and prom necessities and treated them like a queen each step of the way. From chauffeuring them around in a luxury Mercedes to hair/makeup apts, fittings, nail salons and more! I later founded my own 501c3 The Celebrity Academy, where you will not only have mentorship, we aided in tutoring, sponsorships, scholarships, food drives, clothing drives, you name it! I forgot to tell you. I come from humble beginnings, so I tie everything back to moments I felt at certain points of my life, and solve problems. My parents couldn’t always pay for the things I wanted. They worked hard as it was to provide and make sure my sister & I were well taken care of, which we were life wasn’t terrible at all, I’m grateful for every sacrifice they have made for me. But there’s nothing like making your own money, so I started going to my aunts to help out babysitting, cleaning errands. I made it happen for myself and never returned.
I’m doing live interviews, radio, the news called to do a piece with my cousin, photoshoots, and so much more. But now, I have a purpose. A purpose of allowing people to always live in their truth, always be them, always aim for the moon and if in the RARE case, again RARE case you miss your target, you will land amongst the stars. Never allow people to project their fears onto you. They will if you let them. ( Taraji P. Heson)… now at 23, I secretly enrolled back in college, graduated Cum Laude from The University Of South Florida, invested in a preschool, “The Sandbox Scholars”, doing shoots for amazing companies, investing in major startups, and devoting my time to not only my charity, or dynamic growing real estate portfolio, but most importantly to MYSELF. We tend to spread ourselves thin trying to help others and chase this dream to prove our “why” that we most times forget the main ingredient, ourselves. To whoever is reading, I need you to please know:
1. It won’t always be rainy and muddy, the sun will Shine and a sunflower patch will bloom and one of those sunflowers will be you.
2. Let no one tell you who you are.
3. Live your dreams, no matter who they upset.
4. Always believe in YOU.
5. Hold your head high, even when you’re breaking down inside.
6. Put your best foot forward.
7. Your dreams don’t work unless you do.
8. If they kill your dreams, you must KILL YOUR DREAMS. (As in full force bring them into fruition)
9. Remember the dirt under your nails as you climb as a memory of where you’ve come.
10. The only person you owe something to, is YOU.
They say Atlanta is the city of dreams for people like myself, so Georgia- make room, see you this fall.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
If anyone ever tells you it was a smooth road, pack your things and leave. Before I answer, ask yourself- how much are you willing to sacrifice to be successful? Struggles happen daily, more times than once throughout the day. As you grow the ladder of entrepreneurship there will be things thrown at you from every angel. You just have to KNOW it will be hard. Nights will be long, you WILL be tired, you will want to quit, you will want to just say forget it all. But then, you are not only doing a disservice to yourself but also the ones looking at you as their savior and also, the ones looking up to you. I have struggled daily about things so small as the wallpaper company running out of the patterns, to a deal falling through at the table, to someone getting too drunk at an event, or decorators not being in place for an event. Stress is stress, but remember the glass is always half full and the only. Person in the way of your destiny is you.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What is it I do? How about what I don’t do. From operating and managing a major event hall, building a dynamic real estate portfolio, being an event promoter to assisting with a new family-owned club, paving my way into an influencer lifestyle, while simultaneously trying to have a social life? One word, Superman. I am known for being the Jack of many trades and a problem solver.
Currently, I am most proud of saying NO. I’ve been used, abused, mistreated, belittled, backstabbed and heartbroken, but that all comes with life. So, allowing myself to detach from the strings latching onto me is a major shift in my becoming. Joel 2:25. The Lord will repay for the years the swarming locusts have eaten. Meaning, I will repay you for all of the times they took advantage of you. What sets me apart is that I am wise beyond my years. At an early age, I knew what it is I wanted and I’ve been on that same journey since the thought came into my head. I would say the ultimate factor that sets me apart is that I am not only determined, I’m also resilient. Anything that comes my way, I face it with the armor of GOD. So, I’m me: a creative, a mogul, a man with a plan to execute by any means necessary. I’m blessed.
Contact Info:
- Email: Tylerdevonn@yahoo.com : tyler@executivecompound.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylerthecelebrity/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/tyler.mills.397
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/tylertheceleb
Image Credits
Photos: Sheepishnarco Club: Celebrities Day & NightClub
