Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Colen Jackson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Colen, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Staying in Baltimore too long, that’s the risk. My City is a beautiful City, My City just infested with envy and hatred and it’s at an all time high right now. People dont want to see you level up like crabs in a bucket. They’ll pull you back down the minute it seems like you are aspiring to become anything better than them. It’s not everyone in My City but a great portion of this timing. Growing up in Baltimore whether it’s poverty, violence or so many other things it will either make you go harder to make a way or you’ll lay down and play the victim card. It’s one of those things where you can’t choose what circumstances you are born into but you can change your outcome. Personally, I can’t stand the victim type of person. I remind myself everyday ” I’ve already been through alot of pain, I can quit and complain. Whether I keep pushing or quit I’ll feel the weight on my shoulders so I might as well get a reward for all my struggles I have made so far”. I gotta wake up and do this Everyday for myself and my Real people. I’m doing better for myself now than before. I had to leave some people behind so I could upgrade my level. At times in order to prevail in your life you gotta remove those who are in a fixed mindset and surround yourself around other go-getters. And in My City they’ll say “oh you switched up”, “you fake”, dont listen to that. Can’t let someone else’s vision of you keep you locked in, your old friends will talk down on you in hopes you go back to sitting on your ass with them again. I didn’t feed into that, I don’t work this hard too stay in the same circumstances. I come from a city where they said “I changed up” when in reality I just expanded my brain further than the person who was talking down on me ever could and they dont like that. If their mad makes them mad, give them a reason to keep your name in their mouth.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
My name is Colen Jackson. I’m 19 and I’m from Baltimore City. Alameda baby ramblewood road. Things that set me apart from others is my hustle and my mindset. I have been getting called O.G./Oldhead since 10th grade which I still laugh every time someone calls me that. It’s just the way I move for 19. I’ve always moved as I knew I’d be a Boss even as a young kid. Like me and my team for example “G.S.G. ” or “Gorilla Sanctuary Grounds” started from me and my brothers always being deep as far as numbers. And growing up our coaches, peers, and parents always said we look like a squad of gorillas because there are 9 of us and we all are athletes and for the most part when people saw us whether it be in public or school we always moved with like 6 brothers deep at all times usually. And I have a saying “even when my apes ain’t around.” In other words there is always an ape around never too far away. My hustle is different, that’s another thing that sets me apart. I’ve slept in a car before just to get a couple extra hundred dollars before I go home and call it a night. If I could be graded on my hustle It’ll come back a Grade A+. I say “I can sell water to a fish and I can turn nothing into a check.” When it comes down to my money I dont see too many around my age getting it like me. The number one thing I’m most proud of is knowing myself, I’m not into pleasing everyone. When I was younger I tried to be what other people put on me. It wasn’t until freshman year of high school when my mentality changed, I got tired of trying to please people or change something about me. Growing up I was always very blunt when I talked like I didn’t care how a person took it as long as I kept it real with you. You know take it or break it but no one can ever say I aint keep it real. It’s who I am. Honestly that’s what’s wrong with this generation. Too many try to beat around the bush and kiss the ass of another person. I can’t relate, everyone can’t handle me, that’s why my family is small. All my people know if you come to me for anything I’ll give you a real answer. A Lot of times people have yes men in their circle. Telling a person what they want to hear, not what they need too. I’m going to continue giving it to whoever I give it to. I said what I said I don’t toe around nobody.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
The number 1 rule with managing a team is “if I eat we all eat I’m going to see my partners shine”. I remind my team of that all the time, if I’m up my team can’t be stingy when you are winning. I surrounded myself with stand up youngins, G.S.G. I grew up with those guys so we’ve struggled together and seen each other at our worst. I truly believe you need that connection in order to win together. We struggled together so we won together. You have to stand on strong morals. I’d never sabotage anybody on my team in order to propel yourself forward. Even on bad terms loyalty has too outward love. Love is a feeling, you can love me but still end up doing me wrong because we bumped heads or dont see eye to eye. Whereas with loyalty even if me and my brother fight and dont see eye to eye I still want to see him win even if the disagreement is so bad we dont talk for a week. If that’s really your partner you put them in position to elevate, it’s a must that your team has loyalty before love. A Lot of times when doing business people put their emotions into it, don’t ever mix emotions with business. Sometimes in order to put your team on you take a paycut, take a step back so your brothers can step up and hold it down. And just because you step back does not mean you stepped down, you can still be a star without holding the star position, remember that and spread the wealth around.
Have you ever had to pivot?
A time I had to pivot, going from football into powerlifting. It was sophomore year and I was getting ready too transfer schools and I didnt plan on playing for any school besides my first high school Loch Raven High. During that time I was getting heavy into the powerlifting game so I had made the decision too pursue that instead of the ball. When that news came out you would’ve thought I was leaving the state, coaches, my own family, and peers told me I wouldnt go as far with that as I would if I kept with football. I did not hear that nonsense did not care I bet on myself everytime. I invested majority of my time into the weight room and a year after I hung my cleats up for football I went on too win the “2021 USA PL Maryland Bench Press Championships.” I was 18 years old going against guys who been in the game since I was in elementary school and still walked away with Gold. I placed number 24 in the entire state in my first competition. Then this year 2022 I won silver and I’m now ranked 7,425 in the USPA and ranked 28,098 in all federations around the world. Theirs millions of lifters by the way and in just 2 competitions I brought trophies home. Last year after my first competition in December my world ranking was 122,000 now I’m 28,098 in the world at 19. Not bad for a guy who was only going too make it playing football.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: bigcgsg
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
Moses K. Musa