#HERstory2.0: She
believed that She could and so She did – Forward Progress, Faith Over Fear
From
a very young age, I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur. The thought of
being my own boss has always been exciting to me. At the age of 16, I remember making CDs for
my friends in High School with their favorite songs and charging five dollars
per CD. Fast forward a couple of years and I remember thinking of different
ways I could make money on the side while I was in college and eventually once
I graduated I created a secondary stream of revenue by starting the beginning
stages of my very own “marketing” company by using my relationships with people
I had met in my network to do small jobs for them.
Granted
at the time around 2010, I was inexperienced as a businesswoman but I was sure
to remain PROFESSIONAL. I made sure to stay in contact with people I’d
exchanged information with just to stay on their radar if they were ever in
need of my services. I’d always had a niche for “connecting people and things”
and I was intrigued by how marketing companies created campaigns to catch the
attention of their targeted audience. Not to mention that I graduated with a
degree in Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing. I started The 518 Group “unofficially” in 2012
after moving back to Charlotte and quitting my Corporate America job cold
turkey because I didn’t want to feel boxed in with my creativity and my heart
wasn’t in that particular field or area of interest anymore. I rounded up all
my business cards I had collected through networking and reached out to those
contacts to let them know about 518 and to spread the word as well if their
business associates were looking for some of the same services. Initially things did not go as smooth as I had
envisioned in my mind in 2013. I was working but barely making any money. I
would get tired, burnt out, felt uninspired and completely at the point of wanting
to give it all up. BUT THEN, 2014 was a year of rebirth. I learned more about
myself, how to run a business, more clients came through and I made sure to
reach out to those in my network and circle for inspiration and motivation.
Creating those great relationships throughout the beginning stages of 518
helped garner solid partnerships and business relationships that would aid in
the growth of my overall business. Some of my past and present clients &
partnerships include, Fantasia (Album Release Party at Label NC), DJ Skillz,
Big Dreamz, Inc., Wingzza, Designs by Danny (Fashion Jewelry Designer), Sip
& Shop CLT, Women Entrepreneur 2.0, The Garner Circle PR, brandUScriptPR
and more! The 518 Group, a boutique style marketing, branding, and brand
management company, seeks to be the essential piece to the evolution of your
business. We work closely with our
clients to create creative content to bring their vision to life.
Along
with The 518 Group, I founded a non-profit organization around 2010 titled
PROJECT F.I.R.S.T. (Future. Inspire.
Respect. Self-Esteem. Teach.) which focuses on education and empowerment for
our youth. I founded PROJECT F.I.R.S.T to assist students in gaining access to
educational resources and outlets in my hometown. Coming from a small area, I
know exactly how hard the journey was for me to pursue higher education whether
it was lack of income for tuition, minimal exposure to different institutions
because of limited resources, or just being unknowledgeable about the entire
college student process. My non-profit helps bridge a few of those gaps. We
provide scholarships for students pursuing higher education, fundraising
efforts, free school supplies for students, etc. This year we are working to
complete our 501c3 process.
Many
times throughout this journey as an entrepreneur, I’ve felt like I wanted to
give up but there was a deeper message that would play in the back of my mind,
“Find Your Passion, Live Your Purpose.” I’ve built relationships with so many
other women pursuing their passion it keeps me inspired to work so much harder.
The process is not easy but the journey creates that beautiful story that all
entrepreneurs will experience and seasoned ones can relate. BELIEVE IN YOU.
FAITH OVER FEAR.
Be
Sure to Connect With Me!
Twitter:
@The518Group
IG:
@The518Group
FB:
@The518Group
Personal
IG Page: @jay_meeSC
Non-Profit:
@PROJECTFIRST {Twitter, FB}
New
Website COMING SOON…
Best
Wishes in 2015! –Xo
Jamie
