Marcus Troy is a man of many titles, that wears many hats. He can be described as a creator, curator, influencer, marketing expert, traveler, cultural explorer, trendsetter, plus many more. But, what he’s great at is attracting brands to collaborate with him and getting paid to simply be himself. Last year, Forbes.com interviewed Marcus Troy and since we listed him as one of the top seven creators we want to work with in 2017 we figured we share his background via Forbes. Read an excerpt below and find the full article by clicking here.

Every great brand has a message and a movement – how do you define the Marcus Troy brand and what audience does it speak to?

The Marcus Troy brand is defined by integrity, work, taste, style and ideas. We truly aspire to inspire. We speak to the people who strive to be creators, people who want to live out their dreams, and want to live the best life possible. We consider ourselves to be cultural participants, and we speak for those who consider themselves the same. People who care about brand experiences and their relationship to the brands they love.Below we have listed 10 principles Marcus Tory states has allowed him to create the businesses that he has.

You could be described as many things — a creator, curator, brand marketer, entrepreneur — how would you describe the work that you do?

Simply put, I try to do cool things with cool people. There really isn’t any other way to describe it. I really only want to work with people and brands that I like. That way it doesn’t seem like work.

What inspired the creation of MarcusTroy.com and what were some of the challenges you faced early on?

I was inspired to start a website that would share my interests in the world of fashion, technology, travel and more. No one was really doing that at the time. Early on I was labeled as a “blogger” but really I just wanted to share and create experiences. I ran with it for a while, but when you’re given a particular label it sort of limits you creatively. That’s when I decided that my name mattered more than the label.

You’re from Montreal, a vibrant place celebrated for its blend of cultures, lifestyle, fashion, and design – how did the city shape your approach to building a platform?

I always saw myself as a global citizen, but Canada will always be home to me, and the country, as a melting pot, certainly shaped my viewpoint on the rest of the world. It allowed me to navigate cities like New York and Los Angeles successfully. At the same time, I knew that being a visitor meant that I should always make the best of my time in these cities.

We’re in an era where talented young people with diverse skill sets are building personal empires rooted in their unique outlook — How would you explain the role of curators in crafting culture and shaping society?

As a microcosm, the influence is there, but within a different window of society. These curators have the platform to reveal a lifestyle that people can actively watch unfold and take inspiration in on how they would like to live their own lives. In respect to shaping society as a whole, I believe there are bigger powers at work doing that.

Below are 10 principles Marcus Troy states allows him to navigate the world and create the businesses that he has. #COSIGNLife

1. Have integrity
2. Build great relationships
3. Be Punctual
4. Know your value and your worth
5. Don’t be obsessed with growth
6. Learn as much as you can daily
7. Don’t be afraid to jump into the water with sharks, it builds character
8. Always look to add value.
9. Be as honorable as you can.
10. Connect good people with other good people.

Website: www.marcustroy.com
Instagram: @MarcusTroy