Be Good to Others, Make an Impact, and Everyone Benefits -  Terrence Thames

Terrence leans-in with expertise through his many years of experience in videography, production and creative services, as a founder of Cocoa Creative Agency (Des Moines, IA)—a creative and production strategy agency that connects brands with their target audience through visual storytelling in video, graphic design and targeted advertising campaigns to brands, businesses, and government agencies. Prior campaigns include large brands, such as Papa John’s, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, State Farm, Allstate Insurance, etc.

Take a closer look at this candid and insightful interview as we lean-in to learn more. 

Tell us your Name and a little about Yourself

Terrence Thames: I'm a father, entrepreneur, husband, and man of faith.  I'm very interested in minority entrepreneurship and wealth building. I have also been a College Sports producer and director for many years.

What Exactly Does Your Company Do? 

Cocoa Creative Agency is a creative agency that specializes in storytelling, advertising and marketing for brands, businesses and for the government.

What Were the Biggest Challenges You Have Faced and How did you Overcome Them?

I think some of my biggest challenges have come from dealing with growing pains as an entrepreneur, especially as I have grown as a husband, father and as a black man. Learning to work through your problems, while addressing clients' needs can be tough. Keeping a positive mindset and learning how to execute through it all has proven key to getting over the humps. Also, lots of prayer!

What Piece of Advice Do you wish Someone had given you at the start of your Career? 

I wish someone would have broken down how to use business credit to my advantage to gain the capital needed to sustain my business. It's something I'm still learning about, but many minority-owned businesses have no idea about how this process can help us grow, create jobs and create wealth in our communities.

Who are your Biggest Influences and People you Admire and Why? 

Anyone black doing great things in business inspires me right now. I love what Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings are doing with the platform and podcast Earn Your Leisure. I also love my friends Durecia Moore (ABCD Company), Moya Bailey (BLK Street) and Courtney McKenzie Newell (Crowned Marketing) doing well in business. All of these kings and queens are doing great things and I love it.

Is there a Particular Person Who You are Grateful Towards who Helped Get You to Where you are?

There are quite a few.  I was raised by my cousin, who took me in at the age of 18 and raised me as her own.  Without her, I would not be the person I am today. My wife has played a huge part in my success. I got married at 21, and my wife was 18, so we have grown up together. I have many supporters, but she has been my biggest supporter. 

What Do you See as your Greatest Success in Life? 

I would say my greatest success in life has been being a father, husband and man of faith. This is not my greatest success per-se, but it has been the greatest part of my life that God has allowed me to have success in, and I can not take the credit for that. I would not be who I am without God and the experiences He has allowed me to have – the good and the bad. Through it all, I am able to be there for my children, learn to appreciate my beautiful wife for the beautiful queen that she is, and live my life knowing who I am as a child of God. I think these things are symptoms of success.

How Can People Follow Your Journey? 

@CreativeThames on Facebook and Instagram.