Conversations with Brittany “Lenny” Gilbert

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany “Lenny” Gilbert.

Hi Brittany, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur since age sixteen. Not having a lot of money and mild cerebral palsy meant that I had to be creative. Thankfully, being creative was something that I liked doing. I gave it some thought. I loved creating stories. That’s when I then thought about books, films, and television shows. I brought a pack of pens and a notebook and began my journey. I quickly learned that writing a book or script differed from writing a school paper. To hone my writing skills, I took classes in storytelling and screenwriting. That was alongside working on my degree in Business and Administration. It took some time, but I finally completed my first actual book.

“Rudy & Me,” It is a story about a young girl and her Grandmother who has Alzheimer’s. My inspiration for the story came from my Paternal Grandmother, who had Alzheimer’s. While working on my book, I knew I wanted to turn it into a business. On March 13, 2017, I launched Fireball Unlimited. This would be the entity for my books and other projects I created. My book was the first project to be released. I turned that self-publish book into my first short film four years later. Having book a book and a movie under my belt has allowed me to prove to myself that I can build a business and show others that anything is possible.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth and entrepreneurship do not go together. (at least not to me) My first hurdle was the fact that I have mild cerebral palsy. Having a disability is no small task. More than simple tasks that people do without thinking, like tying your shoes or walking up stairs, are impossible or take lots of energy. My second hurdle was money. I did not come from parents who had money to support “a dream,” so it was up to me to make it happen. And I did!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I tell stories. Some are in book form. Some are in visual form. One of my niches is turning some of my fiction books into films. Being a writer and entrepreneur with mild cerebral palsy is what sets me apart.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Easy. No risk, no reward. I took a risk when I decided to produce (Pay) for my film to be made. I am a cautious risk-taker. I think about what I want, what I am willing to do/risk, and whether it would be worth it. I also take risks because I think if I don’t, I will regret it, and I don’t want to regret not trying my best!

Contact Info:

• Website: fireballunltd.com
• Instagram: @fireballunltd