Level Up! With Shay

I had the honor of talking with Frankee Razor a little while ago about his life on the Level Up! podcast. Hearing his story about going from the red carpet of American Idol to leaving and finding his car repossessed – which was also his home at the time – was so powerful. The fact that he is such a kind, free spirit after all of he has been through is THE MOST POWERFUL. He has stayed steady and grounded through many different practices and values and I want to share three with you right now.

Be Yourself

Frankee grew up listening to a lot of gospel music and not much else. He had one way of singing and he would describe it as “good and proper”. Singing instructors taught him how to use his mouth, his breathing, and all the technicalities that go along with being a good singer, but what he was never taught was how to be Frankee Razor. That is something that cannot be taught – only lived. While on stage as an opener for Kanye West at a poppin’ venue in Hollywood, Frankee’s voice started cracking. Of course, internally, he initially started freaking out, but as he went on he felt something inside that told him to to dig deeper and let those cracks shine! As he did, people were moved by his performance – crying and putting up their lighters. From then on, there was no going back.

We hear the phrase “be yourself” all the time and it sounds so beautiful, right? But being ourselves can be a very uncomfortable and scary experience! Sometimes being yourself is coming out as gay (like me!) and being commented on or judged. Sometimes being yourself is being a part of a group who is into country and rock music, but you have a passion for rap and R&B (like me!) and the love from that first group may not follow you when you drift away. Or maybe you like wearing skirts (not like me!), but you are friends with people who wear jeans all the time! There are a million examples I could give, but what is important is that you are your own anchor. Whatever group you are a part of, your values, your truth, and who you were meant to be remain strong and steady.

Trust In A Life Force

When Frankee left the red carpet of a huge celebrity-filled event, he found his car and his home – which were one and the same – were gone. Repossessed. He had a cell phone, which was dead, and the clothes on his back. He didn’t have anyone to lean on, so he looked inside himself. He asked God for help who then sent him on a path to where he is now. Frankee said the steps weren’t written out on a piece of paper that were handed to him, but one by one, as he took the steps, the staircase started appearing. He stayed in a woman’s house for a bit until her alcoholism caused him to get kicked out, and eventually found himself in school where he was able to get his feet under him.

When Frankee says God, he means life force and when he says life force, he means God. I have had hesitance over “God” as many people do, but I do trust in a life force, a higher power and energy that cares about me and the path I’m taking. Even if you are someone who does not believe in a higher power, do you believe that your actions and your thoughts create your reality? Then YOU are your life force. Use that power! And I will say it over and over again, meditation is the quickest way, in my opinion, to communicate with your higher self. Get silent, turn off all devices, better yet, leave them out of the room and give yourself 10-15 minutes to sit with yourself to watch your thoughts. It will be easier to distinguish if that is your human brain talking or your higher self – the one who loves you unconditionally, doesn’t hold your mistakes against you, only sees the future you, the best version of yourself.

Love What You Do

Frankee asked Mary Mary, a female gospel duo, for some advice as a singer. They shared with him that you gotta LOVE what you do. You gotta love the audience and the experience even if there’s 2 people in the room. Would you still take the stage if there’s only 2 people in the room – even if it’s your just cousin and your best friend? Would you do what you’re doing even if no one was watching? What do YOU get out of it?

One of my mentors, Ed Mylett, says all the time “You cannot pass on a feeling that you are not also feeling yourself”. So if you don’t LOVE the art you’re making, the content you’re creating, the lessons you’re teaching, the people who are receiving it will not feel it either. You have to feel it first. But seriously, think about it. What do you LOVE to do? Me, I really love writing. I love when I am in a flow with these posts or in my journal. The time passes like nothing. The fact that others like you may read it and take something from it to impact your life is a BONUS! So I challenge you to do something you LOVE…TODAY. Even if for 5 minutes, even if it has NOTHING to do with what you do for a living, or none of your friends do it, or it’s embarrassing, or you may not make money from it – JUST DO IT. I am right here with you ❤

I want to end by just saying this, you can use these as just a few ideas to think about or you can take ACTIONABLE STEPS to implementing them and leveling up your life. CHOOSE ACTION!

Check out the full Level Up! episode with Frankee Razor HERE. While you’re there, please rate and review! I want to hear how you all are liking it and what you think!

WATCH the full episode on my YouTube channel HERE

Follow me on Instagram @levelupwithshay

It’s time to #LevelUp!