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

Richardo , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

Over the last 21 years, I’ve worked for other companies building and growing their organizations, and I was really satisfied with just doing. A few people would say Richardo – you are really great at this, you should really go into business for yourself. For some reason I just kept saying I love what I do. I love helping companies to develop, implement, training and evaluate programs and staff.

I had a boss who did not appreciate the value of what I brought to the table, even though there wasn’t anyone in the organization who brought what I had set a table. And I remember when I first started working there, there was no programs or at least any that was defined as a program and I remember building programs and growing certain sectors of the organization and developing it in overtime. It just got super big and then my boss forgot and started acting funny and before long it got really stressful trying to work and bill programs and it just felt like there was a tug-of-war between us. And then it was some internal changes with staff with program with realignment, and it just became so constant that it was like every month. There was like a re-organizing or like shifted. Your priorities is in. This isn’t sustainable anymore for me. this isn’t the best use of my skill set.

So, in 2021 I decided that I was going to launch an organization called Campbell Health Solutions. It is named after my mom who is passed away a year prior to that and I wanted to honor her because she was the kind of person who helped people when they’re in need she would bring people home. She would pick people up help them literally off the street to give them safety and a space in our home, when others wouldn’t, and when I was closing out, her accounts, and her businesses, and all of that, I recognize that she still has her own business and I remember saying wow, mommy died being a business owner, and at that moment, I said to myself, why don’t you have your own business and then I start reflecting, because so many people told me over the years that I should’ve started my own business, and then I had no reason, or I could not find an answer why I didn’t start one.

So I said, I am on the journey to find myself to jump into whatever path God had for me. And as soon as I started doing that thing that I was meant to do, it was the zip all the stars aligned, and the path that I needed to take became clear anything and I’m not started going through all the tension at work and the back-and-forth and the stress and all of that ice. Probably still wouldn’t of been on my path right now because sometimes we get comfortable being where we are even though we are called to do more.

There are going to be challenges, no matter where you are in life, so if you were going to start a business, make sure you do your research, make sure you complete all the right paperwork. Make sure you talk to a professional or someone else who have establish, and is running a successful business And you can’t always tell everybody your dream because they’re not going to get it so when you are talking to people make sure those are people who you trust people who support you and will be able to push you forward and sometimes because we love, and we’re passionate about what we do we want everyone to love it and be passionate about it And support us and you have to realize that this passion and love that you have that’s for you to have so you can do what you need to do in your path and sometimes the people who support you will not necessarily have that same love and passion but I’ll support you, so don’t get in your way and beat up your supporters because they don’t love it, and then as passionate about it as you are so definitely find people who’ve gone before you who established businesses people who you can reach out and talk to people who you can say. Hey let me sit down with you and and pick your brain. Let me take you out to lunch and ask you a couple of questions and you’ll get really good solid advice . I did that when I was getting ready to launch even though I had the information that I needed. I still took people to lunch and ask them those questions. I went to peoples offices and ask them for a few moments of their time and I asked him questions about what do I do this what do I do with that? How do I do this? How do I do that and their advice have been invaluable it has helped me to get into the space where I am right now.

Richardo , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Richardo Jackson and I am a husband and a father of two. I’ve worked in the HIV prevention, care, treatment, and education for over 21 years. Culturally, identifies Jamaican American. I was born in Jamaica and lived in New York City for over 20 years and relocated about eight years ago to Florida with my husband Matthew and our two kids (Michael, 14 and Rylan, 4).

Over the years I have attained a bachelors of science in community health and human services, bachelors of science in organizational management, and a masters in business administration. I have aspirations to complete a doctorate program.

Campbell Health Solutions is a for impact nonprofit organization based in Palm Beach Florida. We provide education to individuals who are newly diagnosed with HIV to help them. Adjust to the new status, but also we work with families of those individuals to provide education and other learning opportunities to reduce stigma in discrimination within families. These services can be accessed virtually from anywhere in the state of Florida anywhere in the United States in around the world.

We offer a host of other services such as HIV testing, STD screening, treatment services care services all of which can be found on our website at WW.chs.health or by calling us at 561-208-6595. We would also love for folks to follow us at Campbell Health Solutions on all social media platforms.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

What I have learned over the years is that you have to be consistent. You have to be present. You have to be focused. You have to have a mission and vision that support the path that you are on in order for you to be successful. You also have to surround yourself with the right people.

It took me a while to figure out what I needed to do because I’ve spent so many years growing and working for someone and building their organization and putting profits in their pockets, and I never really saw the true benefit of what I was doing financially, coming back to me because even though I was helping other organizations to make money, I still had to negotiate and fight just to have my salary.

So you have to know your worth. You have to know your limits and you have to always do some self evaluation to make sure that you are on the right path that was meant for. You don’t get comfortable working or doing something that you’re not passionate about just because it’s your safety net for if you’re safe space.

Sometimes, you have to step out on faith and step out with nothing in order to find the path that you were meant to be on and in order to find your dreams

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had the first stop doubting myself and doubting my capabilities and doubting my abilities to do the things. I knew I know how to do.

I had to unlearn that in order for me to be able to move forward, towards my dreams, towards my success, towards the path that I was meant to be on.

Sometimes people they say, why do you want to do that or are you sure you want to do that? Or are you sure it’s going to be successful?

Don’t let anyone put doubts in your mind about your abilities or capabilities. Don’t let anyone stop you from achieving your dreams and your aspirations you have to push every day and fight for your dreams as if is it.

Having an idea is not enough, having a passion for some thing is not enough you have to work hard. You have to build relationships. You have to net work and collaborate with community partners,

Additionally, find mentors who can help to mentor and guide you towards achieving your goals. Your mentors do not have to be people. You can reach out and touch. It could be listening to Motivational Speaker is on YouTube, listening to podcasts, reading books you can find motivation in the unlikely places, so don’t discount that.

Most important thing is if you have a desire and a passion deep down inside you that is burning for you to just share that with the world, don’t put it out. Don’t hide it. Don’t cover it up share it with the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.CHS.health
• Instagram: Campbell Health Solutions
• Facebook: Campbell Health Solutions
• Linkedin: Richardo Jackson
• Youtube: Campbell Health Solutions
• Other: Podcast – Campbell Health Solutions or Campbell Talk

Image Credits
Matthew Graham-Jackson Synethia Coaxum