Adrian is the co-founder and president of Rockstaws Incorporated (RSI), a black-owned media agency based in Philadelphia. RSI’s mission is to share their stories as successful black men and women to inspire and empower other young black men and women. They believe in the power of creativity, sharing and giving back to their communities.
Adrian Sullivan Jr. is also a driven mental health advocate, focusing on mental wellness, nourishment and growth. He has a passion for helping young professionals and business leaders unlearn negative habits and mindsets so that they can create a more positive, abundant life for themselves and those around them. He is also currently writing a book on self-development to jumpstart young professionals on their journey towards empowerment.
Adrian was a D1 football player at Temple University and graduated from the Klein College of Media and Communication in 2016. He received his B.A. in Communication and Media Studies.
Please tell us a little bit about your company – what is Rockstaws Incorporated all about?
Rockstaws Incorporated (RSI) is a full-service media agency based in Philadelphia promoting black talent. RSI’s mission is to share their stories as successful black men and women to inspire and empower other young black men and women. RSI provides high-impact marketing for athletes, artists, business professionals, and entertainers. Aside from their service offerings, giving back to the community is a vital part of their work. The RSI team is making positive philanthropic strides by offering educational workshops, connecting with local youth, and donating their time and resources.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company?
I am an entrepreneur originally from Long Island, NY who is currently based in Philadelphia. From a young age, sports and media played an instrumental part of my life. That led me to attend Temple University as a student-athlete—I studied media production and was on the D1 football team. I was also a starter on the 2016 American Athletic Conference Championship team. After graduation, I knew that my two greatest callings were to help people and to work in media. I initially struggled to find the intersection between those two callings. I worked in education and took on corporate jobs but did not feel that I was working towards my vision. For that reason, I took the leap of faith this past year to become the co-founder and president of my own media agency. Today, I’m is gearing up to officially launch Rockstaws Incorporated, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
I am also passionate about uplifting those in my community. I create and share resources in many different ways through many different platforms. Specifically, I have made waves in advocating for mental health awareness and nourishment within the black community. I hope that my advocacy work will empower those in my community to positively move the needle towards nourishing their mental health.
What would you say are the top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur, and why?
The top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur is Networking, Time Management and Resiliency. If you can meet, connect and work with the right people, be efficient and well thought out, and know how to overcome adversity and pivot/adapt in any situation, you will be successful.
What are your plans for the future, how do you plan to grow this company?
My goal for the future is to create more brand visibility and generating more revenue activities for my team and our clients. Helping our clients’ platform grow as we grow internally as a team is a challenge, as well as using our time in the most efficient and profitable way.
How do you separate yourself from your competitors?
The best way to separate yourself from competitors is to have an intense focus on what you do and your process. Running our own race is the key to separation.
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
My biggest challenge has been finding the right resources to make my business work in the most optimized way. Whether that is financially, materialistically or in regards to people, resources are not always easy to gather. I’ve overcome that challenge by thinking about what I want and then making a plan to get it. I try to make it simple, even if it is not easy.
A book I recommend to entrepreneurs is The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy. It is a book that helps you break down processes into smaller steps. It can feel overwhelming at times to be an entrepreneur and business owner — this book definitely helps ease some of that anxiety and shifts your perspective to take it one step at a time.
If you had the chance to start your career over again what would you do differently?
If I had the chance to start my career over again, I would’ve asked more people in my line of work what they did wrong and what advice they would give someone who is aspiring to do what they do. Seeking advice is an impactful way to shorten the learning curve.
If you only had $1000 dollars to start a new business, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
If I had only $1,000 dollars, I would use it to buy an asset. In my line of work, it would most likely be a camera. After 5-10 shoots, you recoup the money and should have a little left over. I would reinvest that money into getting another camera. Before you know it, you have a scalable business. It would take time, but that’s what I would do.
What is your favorite quote?
My favorite quote is “Strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet.” I think this is an inspiring quote to show the power of relationships and networking. Everyone is a person you don’t know or even a client you don’t have yet at some point.
What’s your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
My advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs is to plan to end with your vision. Once you are in the implementation phase, fail forward. Two mistakes I see with businesses are lack of planning and the presence of fear. In order to avoid those, prepare for all possible outcomes and try not to make the same mistakes repeatedly.
Who should we interview next and why?
An entrepreneur and artist in every sense of the word that goes by the moniker Jokestar. He is a true visionary. In the Philadelphia area outside of people in my organization, I see him being extremely successful in the world of art and fashion.
How can we get in touch with you?
You can reach me on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. I am also on Clubhouse @AdrianSullivan. For more information on Rockstaws Incorporated, visit our website Rockstaws Incorporated or email us at info@rockstawsinc.com.
Random Interview: Michael Kaplan CEO of Fashion to Figure: Plus Size Clothing for Women
