Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Courtney Green. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Courtney , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)
The best investment I made was the investment in myself. Along my entrepreneurial journey it (dawned) on me no one cares about my vision more then I do. No one is willing to give not only (their) hard earn money but (their) last dime to see my vision through like I would. I Invested my time, money, and resources into other artist as I built my production company to give me more time to work on my short film projects as well as designing apparel for my clothing brand. I soon realized that the individuals didn’t have the drive I had to be successful (and) I was often met with (excuses) on deadlines not being completed and funds being squandered for (leisure) activities. ( It was) even more disrespectful (when) I explained my vision for the brand and how I’d like the music to come across and one of the artist told me “I’m not you, if you want it that way you do it.” Could you believe that? Footing the bill for someone else’s dream and they basically tell you it’s (their) way or the highway. I responded (:) (“ you know what your right I should do it “) I purchased some studio equipment (,) spent 2 months learning how to record myself (,) mix and master music (,) and at the top of 2021 I released my first project Stayfed Vol.1 (,) going by the artist name Mr.2653. The stage name being a part of my adversity in life thinking if I made it from that address in my small hometown of Rains (,) South Carolina (,) I could make it anywhere. Adversity was so fitting that I decided to make it my lead single and shot a music video for it as well. The reception I got was good for a new artist and left my social media audience as well as hometown wanting to hear more. One thing I know about a buzz when you get one you gotta keep it going. As we were (slowly) coming out of a pandemic I thought to myself what do people really wanna hear as I stroll through my Ig page and inspiration hit me(…) (Well I’ll say it… I posted a long time friend I met in college name Ana Logan and posted: I just might pop out, with a picture of her heading out to party.) That caption was perfect. It captured post pandemic in a nut shell. I sat on my couch and went ( in) my note pad (on) my iPhone and typed “I just might Pop Out see that shit y’all talkin bout. All in your spot now no time to get ready no count down.” It was up from there my team and I promoted the song that year (and) with in a years time I was getting noticed by DJ’s and radio stations(.) I even did a radio interview with Foxy 103 Jamz in Augusta Ga. Promoters have been reaching out and I’ve been on a heavy show rotation from South Carolina to Atlanta. Needless to say I made the best decision taking matters into my own hands with my vision of how I thought StayFed Productions should have been represented. I would encourage anyone who has a plan or vision for (their) life to never live it out through someone else. They say self experience is the best experience and if your willing to give it your all it will in fact give it all back to you Y’all StayFed!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Courtney J. Green. I am the father of 2 young boys Courtney Green Jr. (,) 6 years old and Sir Cassius Jacob Green (,) 3 years old. I was born and raised in Marion County, South Carolina. In the small rural town of Rains. I always had a mixture of hard work and fashion as a foundation of my life. My dad (worked) in forestry and my mother (worked as) a seamstress for a local fabric manufacturer. I participated in art competitions in high school and received awards and prizes for my work. Growing into a socialite and always being complemented about my appearance (,) these affirmations followed me to college in which I attended South Carolina State University. Coming from a small high school I payed it all no mind standing out in a group of 500 (,) not a big deal but (then) standing out in a group of 15 to 20 thousand definitely made me pay attention to my gifts. I majored in Civil Engineering Technology, graduated in 4 years and moved on to the career field. Being a true believer in hard work I pushed myself to make 100k by 30 (.) (At) 24 years old I set my sights on Atlanta,Ga and plotted my career path. By 27 I reached my goal landing a job with Dekalb County as a Stormwater Engineer (.) (Within) 8 months (I was up for a promotion.) I was chosen as the number one candidate for the senior position (then) denied the position. I was (rejected and) felt as all my hard work was for someone else to validate me. That was my initiation to cooperate politics and they were not in my favor. I took a week off from work and wanted to start something of my own. Something that would give me back what I put into it. After I pulled myself back together (,) I (brainstormed) with my cousin Brandon Banks on starting a brand reflecting on how we always liked to buy track jackets for the fall (.) (We) came up with StayFed (.) (After) a couple of hours on the phone and shots of Crown Apple lol it’s was fitting. StayFed became a acronym for “Stay True And You’ll Fufill Every Dream”. Of course everyone sells apparel and designs but we came up with a option that would make your purchase from us one of one, personal, and unique. We put our (customer’s) names or custom designs they wanted in the tag of our jackets for no extra cost. The jackets took off from (clubs) to the everyday (wear) (.) (The) jackets really solidified our brand and made StayFed a name brand (,) filling orders from South Carolina (,) North Carolina (,) Florida (,) Georgia (,) Virginia Texas (,) New York (,) Pennsylvania (,) and more states across the United States. As the brand grew people wanted to know the back story and how the brand came about and from there StayFed productions was born (,) creating short films (,) clothing commercials (,) and music to illustrate what the brand stands for and comes from. (I’m) most proud of being able to find true happiness in what I’m doing and feeling accomplished in setting a goal and achieve success in it. I want people to know that you do nothing alone (.) (Faith) and the people (you) brought into your life to help with your vision makes you who you are (.) (Never) get too big (,) never get too small (,) stay conscious of who you are and what got you in position. (Value those things) and everything will work in your favor (,) it did for me. Thank you and Y’all StayFed, Special thanks to Brandon Banks Jarvie Robinson Treneishyia Phillips Boseri Harper Shawn Guess ,Radeeck at Foxy 103 Jamz, Rick at Authentiks of Augusta, Reggie at Came From Nothing Apparel in Augusta Ga, and my Marion County family. Rest In Peace Crystal “Gee” Grant StayFed we gone eat I got the recipe 
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
My social media run has been built on being authentic. People appear a way on social media and when met in person hardly give the same effect. I never wanted that to be the case for myself or my brand. Earning the peoples respect and your current position in life needs to be displayed. I focused on the growth (,) knowing the content and product will get better and better as the brand and the direction of the company grows. Presentation is key (.) (Go) to the extreme when you have a vision quality wise. All the short cuts add up in the end (.) (consistency) is key but above all (,) the product should speak for itself. People lately have been on this algorithm quest (.) (The) worst thing you can do is become viral or famous from a gimmick (.) I encourage people to be and display (themselves) good (,) bad (,) or indifferent mentally (,) you’ll emerge better. When your one of them ones they can’t duplicate or take that from you.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I really had to unlearn my pessimistic mindset (,) looking for the worst outcome in every situation or not in my favor. Being let down so many times in life by people I valued, but they didn’t value me the same. Repetition made me numb and (I) just expected the worst out of situations I encountered until I went to college (.) (I) met a kid (named) Dominique Brown from Newberry (,) South Carolina. Dominique loved his family (,) music and football. He was a South Carolina stand out Corner back attending the Shrine Bowl. He was so happy go lucky all the time for no reason at all. We became friends and he used to ask me all the time “ Man why you muggin?”and I ask him. (“) Why you smiling for (?”) He was king of breaking the ice and worked me through (loosening) up from (laughing) to partying in college (.) (He) got me to see the best in people. Unfortunately he passed away before (finishing) college but I always kept that with me (.) (His) optimism on life . Long love D Money gone but not forgotten.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stayfedapparel.com/
- Instagram: . https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=1lqps92314vp5&utm_content=oaqbh
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/courtney.j.green.2653
- Youtube: Welcome to Marion County part 2: Baby Mama Drama https://youtu.be/nzeiHh7Gaes
Image Credits
Tiesha Evans (Father Son Picture) Sashia Vaugh and Terrence Fuller (Decadence Cover) Jawan Washington Number one productions (StayFed Logo and Jacket Design)