Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chase Jackson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Chase, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love for you to start by sharing your thoughts about the pros and cons of family businesses

Our family business, Jackson GEN Group, was started during the pandemic in 2021. I’ve always been a creative person even when I was younger. I started off writing short stories and poetry while in elementary school and I received my first publishing deal while I was in college. Also, during my collegiate career at the University of West Georgia, I began studying film and I started bringing my writings to life through film. After years of having paid and unpaid filming gigs, I knew I needed something sustainable to support my family. I began studying business, marketing and reaching out to mentors who were doing what I wanted to accomplish. My sons are authors now and I’m teaching them the business of content creation. Having a family business might not be easy, but the reward is just as great as the challenge.

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 journey of being a creative started with my Mom. She tells me that when she was pregnant with me, she would lie down and write words and stories using her finger in the air. To this day, I believe this was God’s way of preparing me for my gift and purpose. Growing up, that was our “thing”- she was my first content creative partner, helping with my school art projects, dioramas and listening to my short stories and poems.

While attending the University of West Georgia, where I graduated with a degree in English and Mass Communications, I signed to a book publishing company and released my first book, Whispers in the Dark. This opened opportunities for speaking engagements, book signings, and networking locally and abroad.

Eventually, I wanted to put visuals with the words that seemed to jump off the page to me. I bought a camera for my wife Jessica, for her birthday and started asking to borrow it. She played a pivotal role in encouraging me to pursue my passion for film full-time. I would come up with ideas and she would help me create content for Youtube.

I also began filming weddings, birthdays, and family gatherings. I received an opportunity to intern for a television show in Atlanta. Even though this was an exciting time for me, I was not receiving enough money from my book’s royalty checks, I wasn’t getting paid from the television show, and I was working full-time at a job I did not enjoy. The uncle of an Atlanta basketball player I was traveling with to film sat me down and said, “I know you’re enjoying filming these events with him, but it’s time for you to get your business in place”. I knew then, that I needed to change my mindset on how I was doing business.

In 2021, 15 years after first picking up a camera, I started our family media company, Jackson GEN Media Group, LLC. Our mission is to help businesses with their advertisements through film, photography and publishing. I also joined a business mentorship group called Recession Proof to help me with my business strategies. I encompassed all of my previous experiences in building this company and even better, I get to share it with my sons who have also taken an interest in creating.

What’s in store for Jackson GEN Media Group, LLC? We have had the pleasure of filming with Recession Proof for their anniversary event, working with Keris Kares, a nonprofit organization that brings awareness to pediatric cancer, the City of Palmetto for their recent fall festival, the Horse Riders of Atlanta, among several other projects that are currently in the works. We are also publishing my book, The Family Curse and my sons Cj and Kaiden have a book- The Adventures of Cool Kid CJ and King Kaiden, both releasing in 2023.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson that I had to unlearn was oppurtunities will happen if you’re patient. In business you cannot be passive if you want to achieve at the highest level. Do not wait for opportunities, but instead create them for yourselves. When I was signed to my first publishing company, they didn’t do any marketing for my book. I couldn’t understand why after I paid thousands of dollars to get it published. Instead of waiting for them to promote my book, I began calling local bookstores, speaking with the public relation managers, and scheduling book signings for myself. I created my own book trailers, flyers, and reached out to various venues for speaking engagements.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source for gaining new clients has been going out to events and speaking to potential clients face to face. I have social media accounts where I post often and sending email campaigns for my subscribers has helped as well, but getting from behind my phone and computer has paid off tremendously. Sometimes, I’ll go to an event, film it, then give the edited version to the coordinator of the event. I call that, giving my gift away strategy, which has led to more clients and projects.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jacksongengroup.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jacksongengroup
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jacksongengroup