Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jayden Aj. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jayden, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
This is funny. In September of 2023, I wasn’t on TikTok. I was hungry and really wanted a seafood boil but the place I wanted it from was almost 45 minutes away I didn’t feel like driving that far. Something in my heart told me to just go. So I went and drove almost 2 hours there and back. I would always see people filming food videos in their car; and since I was 11 years old and all I wanted to do something that allowed me to be myself on social media, but I was always nervous about failing or what people would think. Which is crazy because now I don’t care what people think and I realized if you don’t fail at something you will never learn. Someone I was with at the time had a selfie light so I turned it on and decided to film. I don’t know what told me to film but something in my heart did. I sometimes tell myself that it was God that gave me the idea. Long story short, I filmed the video and I worked at a restaurant at the time managing the kitchen, so I edited it during my shift and asked like 3 of my co workers if it was okay to post. They all said yes, and were very supportive. I posted it and woke up the next day and it was at like 100k. I could not believe it. A couple hours later it was at like 2 million. The next day it was at 10 million and I hit like 10k followers after having like 800. A few days later the video hit 30 million views and from then is when I started taking TikTok and social media seriously. It happened so overwhelmingly fast. I think a week later I was at 100k. I wake up everyday so thankful that I decided to take the risk and order from a place I didn’t know and film a video. I have this entire community of people that support me and watch my videos and I am so grateful and I love them all.
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 back background and context?
I’m Jayden,
I’m 21 years old, I’m an only child and ever since I was about 11 and I would watch YouTube videos I always wanted to do something on social media. It wasn’t until September 2023 that I filmed my first TikTok video and it literally blew up overnight. I make skincare, food and hygiene videos. I grew up watching influencers and certain celebrities and thinking that they were my super hero so my goal in life is to make other people feel that way and just to inspire kids and make them feel like they can do anything. I have kids that come up to me when they see me and tell me that they love my videos and ask me to say “wow” and that means everything to me. When people say they like watching my videos because it makes them happy or laugh, that’s why I do what I do. I just want to make people happy and show them how they can be the best versions of themselves.
How did you build your audience on social media?
I literally woke up one day and decided to film myself eating. My advice for anybody that wants to do social media and grow an audience is to literally just do it. Don’t think about it too much. I wanted to do social media for years before I actually started and I wish I started sooner. Just go for it. Shoot whatever you want. Don’t care what people think. Something will stick. If a video doesn’t do well, keep filming and posting and see what works and what doesn’t and focus heavily on what works. Of course make sure your quality is good and everything but just be super authentic and go for it.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
I actually watch a lot of business interviews. I watch and listen to a lot of Kris Jenner interviews. I think what she and her family built is incredible. They turned their fame into successful businesses. I listen to a lot of people who are in the position that I want to be in. If they have any interviews, or podcasts I am all over that. I also am really into meditation and manifestation. Your thoughts really impact your life and your decisions. So I meditate a lot.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@jaydenaj?lang=en
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaydenaj/
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCaDMmdYFxc5LPtoFbRx3Xlg
