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 If you were to ask Carey Sherrell to think back to his childhood and remember what he wanted to be when he grew up, he will tell you, without the slightest bit of hesitation, the president of the United States. But is America ready for a leader willing to wear a tight pink bathing suit for Donald Trump during The Apprentice: Los Angeles?
Not every kid growing up in the projects of Atlanta has dreams of leading the country. But Carey wasn’t your average kid. Even at a young age, he showed signs of the successful businessman he would eventually become. He ran a sandwich shop out of his family’s house, a car detailing company in his neighborhood and in high school created his first online business.
“I grew up in the ghetto, in the projects, on welfare. I saw the food stamps; I saw the government box of cheese,” he says. “It’s not the fire that drives me, but is a distinct reminder.
“If you’re the trash man, if you work at McDonald’s, whatever you do, you should be the best at it. That’s how things happen for you. That’s how doors open. People will notice when you take pride in your job. It shows,” Carey says. “I hate when people are lazy and disconnected from their jobs. It’s sad. When you have nothing and you work so hard for everything, and then you see people that don’t care to work hard, it really disappoints you.”
His inspiration as a child was his father, who led by example, teaching his son to never limit his dreams or goals. “When I was growing up, my father wanted to become a stockbroker. He had these gargantuan three-ring binders with all the information to take the stockbroker test,” he remembers. “I didn’t understand any of the language, but he was trying to do something, trying to be someone. Even as a child I felt that."
Carey’s success did not happen overnight. After high school, he tried out many different career paths: acting, modeling and sports, hoping for a quick road to success. During college he worked for Abercrombie & Fitch in the retail hell that so many of us have had to endure. He was on the fast track to retail management when, during his 30-mile commute to work, he had a career epiphany.
“I think they brainwash you into believing that becoming a manager is the best thing ever. The thought hit me: What am I doing? So I quit,” Carey says. “And on a wing and a prayer, I started what would become my company. I had no idea what I was going to do for money or income. I went online and did research about how to get a company off the ground.”
Capitalizing on experiences in college, he decided to start a marketing firm. He laughs remembering the setup: “I had a company, a phone, and no clients.”
Fortunately, as an undergraduate, he interned at numerous marketing firms in Atlanta making valuable contacts. He contacted the first firm he interned for, hoping for a lead or, at least, some advice. Much to his surprise, they had a project starting in two weeks with Cartoon Network and hired Carey’s company.
“It was the first client we ever had.” He smiles. “I haven’t looked back since then.”
Carey now owns and operates The Onyx Marketing Firm in Atlanta. He prides himself on having created a business that is grounded.
“It’s a big city office with a small-town feel. Somebody is going to answer and talk to you when you call. We return all e-mails ourselves. It’s an environment where you want to come to work. We have a playroom with a PlayStation,” he says. “I want my employees to have the ability to chill for two hours if you need to, in order to get back in the creative process. We’ve created an environment where you can be yourself."
His company may have been founded on small-town values, but the creative scope at Onyx is anything but small. Operating under the company motto of, “No sandcastle too big, no slide too high,” Carey is constantly challenging his staff and himself to never limit their scope.
“There’s nothing we can’t do and there’s nothing you can’t think of. It’s how we approach everything,” he says. “Think of the craziest thing you can, and then give that to me. I don’t want anything traditional. I want it to be unique, creative and innovative, to give our clients something different."
With the odds stacked against small businesses in our corporation-dominated world, Carey is very aware of the failure rates of businesses like his. He speaks with great respect about peers who have attempted new business ventures that failed. Despite the daunting statistics, he has not lost the spark that drove him to initially start his own company.
“Big risks yield big results. The bigger the risk, the bigger the return,” he says proudly. “Be as innovative as possible with whatever you are doing, because that is what is going to attract people.”
In case you haven’t been tuning into this season of The Apprentice (and with two openly gay applicants, why aren’t you watching?), Carey was the second contestant to hear the dreaded catchphrase, “You’re fired!” During an episode where the task was to design a line of swimsuits for both men and women, Carey stepped up to the plate, doing double duty as both clothing designer and swimsuit model.
Unfortunately, it was his choice of a pink, square-cut men’s swimsuit that landed him in the dreaded boardroom. Regardless of the well-known and heavily coveted gay dollar (estimated at $640 billion), Trump deemed Carey’s choices too limited to a specific audience. In hindsight, Carey, says, he absolutely does not regret the pink bathing suit choice. In fact, he has found the positive side of being fired early in the season: ratings and audience awareness peak at the beginning and end of most reality shows.
Ever the savvy businessman, Carey turned his early departure into maximum exposure. He speaks at events across the country, has taken on many new high profile clients, and, in a moment of ultimate poetic justice, is launching a swimwear line, Blue Motion Squared (Bm2), which is exclusively marketed to the gay community.
When life gave a young Carey government cheese, the enterprising kid made sandwiches to sell. When Trump canned him for rocking a skimpy pink swimsuit, the even smarter businessman launched a company allowing every gay man to rock what their mamas (and hours in the gym) gave them.
Carey’s career success has not come without sacrifice.
“I don’t have a life at all. People will go to bed at ten o’clock; I go to bed at two in the morning,” he says. “I want to be proud of my company, so I will sacrifice a lot to let people know that we really care about them.”
Juggling professional and personal success isn’t easy for anyone, even someone as driven as Carey.
“You’re forced to sacrifice a lot, both good and bad. Sometimes I have to cut some meetings short, stop working and put off things until tomorrow, in order to spend time with my boyfriend and work on our relationship,” he says. “It’s difficult having to neglect home for so long. It’s something you have to constantly work on.”
Carey is proud to be out in his professional life, and wishes the same for everyone.
“There is no one size fits all when it comes to business. I want people to know they can be gay, and they can be out, and they can be a businessperson,” he says. “They can work on Rodeo Drive, on Wall Street or anywhere and still be who they are.”
Despite his strong convictions about being out in the work place, he understands the flip side to revealing your sexuality at work. Early in his career, he felt pressure to remain closeted.
“Somewhere along the way, I thought that I was losing myself, I couldn’t be who I was,” he says. “I decided that I wouldn’t work in a place where I couldn’t go and be comfortable with who I am.”
Carey’s business advice for success for up-and-coming gay professionals is not the easy magic answer you’re hoping for. He stresses a rock-solid work ethic, never giving up and taking that big risk you’re afraid of.
“If you’re smart and work hard,” Carey says, “you can get something out of life.”
His passion extends beyond the business world. During college he interned for Al Gore’s presidential election campaign, which fueled his drive to make positive changes in the gay community.
“Image is always something we should be looking at: giving a better image to America about what gay is really about,” he says. “There’s this need for us to educate and enlighten America, with a new image, a new face, a new presentation about what it means to be gay.
“Don’t get me wrong—like the next man, I love a great drag show, but being gay isn’t all about that! It’s not all about a parade. We have the same issues that straight couples face. Who does the dishes? What are we gonna eat tonight? How are we gonna balance the budget at home? If people could realize that we’re all the same, that we face the same issues and same problems, they’d realize that there’s no difference,” he says. “I am going to focus on putting a better face and a better image about who we are and what we do, out there for America to see. I don’t think I’ll ever be the poster child for gay rights, but I will always be working behind the scenes to do what I can.”
A successful company, a clothing line about to debut, a passionate plan for improving Gay America’s image and let’s not forget coming across as a genuine and intelligent individual on a reality show…what is next for Carey Sherrell?
“I never let the dream of being the President die,” he laughs, “and even to this day, I think I can still be the president.”
Visit careylive.com
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Carey: I’m Away From My Desk Right Now
To relax, I: Work out.
On a Friday night, I: Have a little cocktail soirée at the house.
The meal I cook for my man on a romantic night: Chicken Parmesan with a glass of white wine and garlic bread.
The song I crank up in the car: “Girl from the Gutter” by Kina.
My impulse weekend vacation spot: South Beach.
My shopping weakness: Belts and shoes.
Favorite show to curl up on the couch and watch: Anything on The History Channel, Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency and I Love New York.
The movie that always cracks me up: Mean Girls.
The movie that always makes me cry like a baby: Crash.
My usual Sunday morning: Brunch for mimosas and French toast.
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Instinct Online 
written by ethan on April 04, 2007
Oh, what a tease! Where can I pick up a copy?at Borders?
written by Kash Monsefi on April 05, 2007
Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Gay Bookstores nationwide!
written by Kurt Smith on April 19, 2007
My Hero!