Meet Geovante Preston | Founder and President of Glory in the Beat

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

Hi Geovante, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
At this stage in Glory in the Beat, I’m operating bi-vocationally. In case anyone isn’t sure what that means, it simply means that I work a full-time job besides running the business. So, figuring out my work-life balance has been crucial as I’m a husband and a father.

When I first took on getting GIB running, I didn’t have a good work-life balance. There were days when I would get off from my day job and immediately begin working on the business. Often times, I would be up far too late for the sake of getting things done. This, of course, was unsustainable. It didn’t take long for me to begin experiencing burnout and for my wife to point out that there wasn’t a balance; it was all work.

I had to remember that she and my children were my first ministry. That they were to get the best versions of me and everything else would need to come after. Through many conversations and prayer, I’ve been able to come up with a balance that allows me to be who they need me to be and still be able to keep things for GIB moving. I’m still not perfect at it. Sometimes I still focus too much on the business and not enough on home. I depend on my wife in those moments to remind me to refocus. I’ve found that a healthy balance leads to better results for my family and for the business.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Our business is very unique in the sense that there isn’t anyone else like us in Northeast Ohio. We’re trailblazing in many ways. There wasn’t a radio station for Christian Hip-Hop in the area. We’re excited about the fact that we have the task of cultivating a market here and establishing a foot-hold for this space of art in our city.

It wasn’t easy getting here. Starting, I knew nothing about non-profit work. I knew nothing about radio. I still have a lot to learn. It’s only through seeking and connecting with people who are in these worlds that I’ve been able to learn and absorb their knowledge and expertise.

I’ve learned to be patient. I’ve learned persistence. I’ve learned resiliency. I’ve learned that running a business is not as easy as people would have you think. It’s a 24-hour job. When you aren’t actively working on it, you’re thinking, sometimes even dreaming about it. There isn’t anything wrong with dreaming, I’ve learned. It’s how some of the greatest and most impactful things come to be. God gave us an imagination for a reason. Dreaming is part of the human existence and is something that we all do. Don’t be afraid of your dreams. Embrace them, and find the courage to chase them.

We want all to know that we’re here for them. We’re here to help them connect with music that will change their lives. We’re here to love them, and embrace them. We’re also here to pursue social change and unity. And finally we’re here to do our part to grow the space of Christian Hip-Hop and to give more outlet and opportunity for this art to be consumed.

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?
Can I give a shout-out to two people? I hope I can. Those two people would be my wife, Kellie and Pastor Ben White of Streetlight Community Church.

My wife has been the creative, detail-oriented mind behind our events and has helped guide and encourage me on our journey. She sacrifices so much to be there for me and the business.

Pastor Ben has become a dear friend of mine. He was the only pastor to respond to a cold email when we were starting up and has been crucial in lending his ear, expertise, relationships, and resources to help us be successful. He understands and supports our vision and mission. I can say with confidence that we would not be where we are today without him.

Website: https://www.gloryinthebeat.org

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