We recently had the chance to connect with Otis McClure and have shared our conversation below.
Otis, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I’m very happy to be here,thank you for having me! What a great question- I would say I am wandering a walking path. It means I am moving along the trajectory meant for me, but I refuse to ignore the beauty of the detours. In gamer terms, I view life as an open-world RPG: while there is always a ‘main quest’ to follow, the true growth happens in the side missions. Those unexpected objectives—regardless of their variety—provide the specific experience points and skills you’ll inevitably need for the boss battles further down the road. Paths change, and sometimes you have to wander into a new map to truly start the next chapter of your journey.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Otis aka Bigg O, a graphic artist and an emerging photographer with a passion for visual storytelling. As the founder of Custom Corner 314, I’ve created a St. Louis-based retail brand that serves as a canvas for creativity, design, and a unique local flair.
My current focus is on a new collection of merchandise specifically tailored to highlight the spirit of St. Louis. Through my artistic vision, I want to give our city a fresh perspective that people can wear and share.
Photography has become a powerful new extension of my creative world. Whether I am capturing the quiet beauty of a natural landscape or the iconic architecture of our local landmarks, I aim to document the world from my unique point of view. For me, Custom Corner 314 is about more than just products—it’s about capturing the essence of the 314 through art, one frame and one design at a time.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I believe it’s a paradox: communication often breaks the bonds between people, but communication—when paired with perspective—is exactly what restores them. I’m a firm believer that everyone is doing their best, even if the ‘standard’ of what that looks like varies from person to person. When we communicate with good intentions, it refreshes our perspective on someone’s truth. It might sound cliché, but a single, honest conversation can save a relationship. Communication is a skill that requires constant work and intentionality; I strive to improve at it every day because, while it can be challenging, restoration is never impossible.”
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
The best advice I could give my younger self is to prioritize grace and patience. Looking back, I see them as the two essential tools for getting through life. Granting grace requires a level of humility that keeps you grounded, while practicing patience allows for a type of growth you just can’t rush. We’re taught that ‘good things come to those who wait,’ but I’ve learned that great clarity comes to those who can be still and kind to themselves and others along the way.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of myself is me all the way through 100%. I’m secure as well as aware of who I am and what I do, as well as where I fall short at. I’ll be the first to admit that I am very self-conscious about me, but in spite of that I’m never afraid nor ashamed to show that. It may be shown, but I don’t live in that. I am a person that has his good days, his bad days and the moments in between. Even when I’m doing bad, I’m still good. In today’s society, being yourself is obsolete because of the pressures of social media. It’s such a lost concept, and so many people in the world are so unhappy because of it. They believe that to have a certain kind of worth in the world that they have to have a certain amount of followers, or be viral, or just have some sort of value in the world. You absolutely don’t. What you believe yourself to be worth is unparalleled and unmatched over any sort of social media. Being yourself unapologetically has more sustenance than anything a like or a follow could provide.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
This is something I work hard at every single day, regardless of being thanked or appreciated for it. My best looks different everyday. Sometimes it’s in the sky, other times it’s in the mud, but on both sides I give because it’s who I am at my core. The praise is great to receive, but not necessary in my book. I don’t give my best to praised, I give my best where it’s needed in hopes of improvement for wherever or to whomever needs it. “Grow where you are planted, and plant seeds where you grow.”
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biggo_stl?igsh=djhpeG1hNGI4MTFo&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/otis-mcclure-cc314
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/otis.mcclure/
