We caught up with the brilliant and insightful AC Winston a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
AC, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later?
I feel as if I started my business at the perfect time. I think I had to experience, learn, and grow within my craft before I could even consider starting my own business.
To give a little backstory, in May 2018, I graduated from Sam Houston University with a Masters in Mass Communication in Digital Media and finding a full-time job in my field was hard.
I worked part-time at different companies in their communication department, attempting to get my foot in the door, but it still wasn’t enough.
After a year or so of job searching, I finally decided to launch my own photography company, Winston’s Legacy Photos on December 6, 2019.
I was off to a great start in the first few months; however, that all changed in March 2020, when the world was at a standstill because of covid. During that time, I realized how essential online marketing was to businesses.
I started taking online marketing classes, learning how to make online marketing material and even got back to what I fell in love with in high school, which is building websites.
In June 2020, I decided that I would officially expand Winston’s Legacy Photos to Winston’s Legacy Media where we build websites, create marketing material, take photos, manage social media platforms, and SEO work.
I am so proud of everything my company has grown to be. I don’t think that I would change anything about my experience. These experiences have shaped me into the business owner I am today.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?
My name is AC Winston. I was born and raised in St.Louis, MO where my love for media started in high school. I was taking classes like web design & photography and I loved every minute of creating and learning about the different aspects of media.
I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication from Missouri Valley College and a Masters Degree in Mass Communication & Digital Media from Sam Houston State University.
After graduating with my Masters, I decided to launch my own company, Winston’s Legacy. We provide a variety of services, such as, website build up, photos, social media management, SEO, and online marketing material.
When first launching Winston’s Legacy, I only provided photography services; however, that soon changed because of the pandemic.
During that time, I realized that most small businesses struggled because of their online presence or lack thereof. I then expanded Winston’s Legacy to a full media company. I felt the need to help those small businesses because I am a small business owner and I knew what it felt like to struggle because the world was at a stand still.
I began to create online marketing material and build websites for small companies that were in need.
Winston’s Legacy was solely created on servicing people with ideas, goals, and purpose. We understand that each person or business is faced with their own challenges and journey which is why we are dedicated to helping them strive and reach their goals.
I think professionally, I am where I am today because I am constantly studying my craft. My will to improve is what I think sets me apart from others. I am always willing to learn and strive to get better. I never want to remain stagnant.
I’m proud of everything that I have accomplished thus far and am very excited for what is all to come. There is not a specific moment that I would say I am more proud of. Being an entrepreneur is hard and not everyone wants to do it.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My ultimate mission was to find my purpose; something that gave me joy in doing, and I found that. My biggest goal now is to be a full time entrepreneur. In other words, being able to create things that I love all day, everyday.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
The biggest thing that I had to unlearn is that you don’t necessarily need 1,000 dollars worth of equipment or software to be who you desire to be when starting off. Whatever you have at the moment is enough. I think it is just a natural thing to think that you need all this equipment or material to be successful and you don’t. You just need to have a plan and start.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://acwinston.pb.online/
- Instagram: @acwinstonn or @winstonslegacy
Image Credits
All pictures are edited and created by myself AC Winston