Daily Inspiration: Meet Maurice Tillmon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maurice Tillmon.

Hi Maurice, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
I was born and raised on the west side of Chicago, IL. I attended a private school directly down the street from my house. The 1st to 5th grade, I competed in yearly poetry contest. This originally sparked my interest for the creative arts. I discovered I had a wonderful singing voice by the 5th grade. I began writing R&B/ inspirational songs. In the 6th grade, I transferred to a new private school where I thrived as an early artist. During this time, I would sing all my songs to classmates at recess. I auditioned with Showtime at the Apollo at Navy Pier in Chicago, IL; I made it to the semi-finals. Unfortunately, I changed my performance from an original R&B song to a poetry piece. Shortly after that, I joined the Little League baseball team. The nickname “Showtime” followed me all 3 years. The name Showtime resonated with me so much. I expressed an interest in learning the piano so I could compose my own music. After only 1 year of piano lessons, my dream was put on hold to attend military boarding school. In high school, I was in concert/ marching band for 4 years. I was involved in speech and debate, musical theater, and I was even the manager and athletic trainer for basketball, football, and wrestling. Despite all my efforts to continue in the arts, I decided to go to nursing school. After 10 long years in Columbus, OH, I began travel nursing for 3.5 years. My ultimate goal was to land in Los Angeles, CA, and pursue my very first passion, the creative arts! 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The path I am on now has not been an easy one. Juggling a full-time job and pursuing an acting career is not ideal. I broadly stated “creative arts” because I do not like to put limitations on myself. This type of career truly requires full-time availability. Having to choose what to focus on in the creative arts is difficult too. The battle lies between what I should give most of my attention to. Should I sing or learn the piano again? Should I enroll in vocal training or a dialect class? Should I spend 3 days a week training for acting or focus on other skills such as sign language or speaking languages like Spanish or Portuguese? The demands for being a pristine artist are high. There are financial barriers involved as well. I am still navigating this path to be as well-rounded and successful as possible! 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At this current moment, I am required to work two 12-hour shifts every two weeks as a Registered Nurse. This has given me ample time to focus on my craft. I am more readily pursuing film and television. I have a wonderful niche for comedy. In the near future, I plan to attend improv school to enhance my comedic skills. I am proud of all the work I’ve done thus far in the acting industry, big or small. Every single IMDb credit is proof that I’m on the right path to success. I have a track record of never giving up until I reach my goal. This type of drive truly sets me apart from others and the simple fact that there’s only one me! I’m in competition with the man in the mirror! 

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The most important lesson I have learned due to the COVID-19 crisis is to act upon your heart’s desires with no hesitation. “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14 KJV). I also learned the importance of self-care. The way you treat yourself is how you will treat your neighbor. Take care of yourself, and your reality will blossom and bloom into something beautiful. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tictoc07?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maurice.tillmon?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Image Credits
Cameron Radicé