Robert Timmons shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Robert, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I like to ease into the day with movement, so I start every weekday in the gym for about an hour. It wakes my body up before the world asks anything of me. When I get back home, I blend a protein shake — my little reward — and open Wordle. Something about solving a puzzle before emails and deadlines feels like sharpening my mind before the noise rushes in. Those 90 minutes are my reset, my rhythm, the quiet space where the day begins on my terms.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Robert Timmons, better known as Sleight the Poet — an author, poet, and spoken word artist born and raised in Houston, Texas. I’ve spent the last 14 years writing and performing poetry, using words as both a mirror and a compass. In 2018, I released my first book “Behind the Smile”, a collection born from the parts of myself I used to hide. It’s a look behind the curtain — into insecurities, love, faith, and all the emotions we don’t always speak out loud. In 2023, I followed it with my debut spoken word album “eight twenty eight”, a project that captured my story in sound — raw, rhythmic, imperfect, and alive.
I run Sleightly Poetic, LLC, a brand built on the belief that every one of us is a work in progress — unfinished, evolving, beautifully imperfect. I say we’re “Sleightly Poetic” because our stories, like poems, are always unfolding. Through my writing, performances, apparel, and canvas prints, I do my best to remind people that growth is ongoing and their story is still worth telling.
If you want to step into my world, you can read Behind the Smile, listen to eight twenty eight, or wear my poetry through my apparel and canvas line — each piece created to carry encouragement into real life. My poetry is my story, and my hope is that it inspires others to keep writing theirs.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed I had to earn my worth — that being “enough” meant proving myself, producing, performing. I thought my value depended on what I could bring to the table. Over time, life reshaped that belief. College, Corporate America, the sting of getting fired, and the long climb of rebuilding my career all became teachers. Through it all, God showed me something simple but life-changing: I am enough. Not because of my achievements, not because of what I produce, but because I exist. Yes, I’m growing, yes, I have skills — but my worth isn’t measured by what I do. It’s rooted in who I am and who God created me to be.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You are enough, exactly as you are. Don’t rush the journey. Keep walking, keep growing — your story is unfolding beautifully.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
I think smart people get it wrong if they believe intelligence is the finish line — when they assume knowing a lot means knowing enough. The truth is, no matter how smart you are, there is always more to learn. I try to stay open, curious, and willing to be taught by anyone around me. Growth never ends, and I don’t ever want to believe I’m done growing into who I’m meant to be. My goal is to keep evolving — and to help others rise with me.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m watching a good movie. There’s something sacred to me about stepping into new worlds, meeting new characters, and living a life that isn’t mine for a couple of hours. It’s not about escaping — it’s about learning. Stories are mirrors and maps. They shine light on things I haven’t lived yet, and sometimes they help me make sense of what I am living.
There’s a quote I love — Neil Gaiman paraphrasing G.K. Chesterton — that says, “Fairy tales aren’t meant to convince you that dragons are real, but to show you that dragons can be defeated.” That line explains exactly why stories move me. A good movie fills my heart. It reminds me that struggle can be overcome, that heroes rise, and that even in the dark, victory is possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sleightthepoet.com/
- Instagram: @sleightlypoetc
- Twitter: @sleightlypoetic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sleightlypoetic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa3iEVO4gtswjSfV3fbwBcw
- Other: Tik Tok: @sleightlypoetic
