Today we’d like to introduce you to Jada Fuller.
Hi Jada, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In the midst of my matriculation at Spelman College (2015-2019), entrepreneurship quite literally fell into my lap. I didn’t have any plans to become an entrepreneur at all as I was a psychology major and had dreams to pursue a career in that field. The organic nature of the start of my journey let me know that a calling was placed upon my life. After seeing a YouTube intro that I did for my cousin, one of her friends asked me to do one for her couple’s channel. I initially thought: “Wow, someone really wants me to do their intro? And they want to pay me for it?”. I had always loved to edit since I was a little girl; I used to edit my own silly YouTube videos in 2009 as well as my brother’s music videos for fun. I never thought that my passion would go much further than that up until this point.
Shortly after I made the intro for my cousin’s friend, I created an Instagram account shortly afterwards and began showcasing my work. I was granted the opportunity to create an intro for Kennedy Cymone, who is a popular YouTuber and influencer with over two million subscribers. My Instagram gained a lot of traction from her promoting what I created for her and the demand for my services rapidly skyrocketed. I saw that “99+ requests” in my direct messages and stared in shock. Although overwhelmed and uncertain, I made the most out of that moment and my business truly scaled from there. I quickly had to transition out of the mindset of “side hustle” to “business owner”. I always tell people that you really only need that one moment. Don’t waste it. Don’t be afraid of it. Make the most out of it!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t believe that there is such a thing as a smooth road in true entrepreneurship. I have had moments where I felt on top of the world as well as moments where I questioned if this was truly the right journey for me. Because entrepreneurship kind of found me and not the other way around, I was unprepared for a lot of things that came with it. I was not business savvy and did not understand how to run and scale a business at all. I was figuring everything out along the way.
I was excited to be getting clients, but because I was new to the game, I did not have the best systems in place to make interactions smooth. I operated mostly via Instagram DMs and PayPal until I invested in having an actual website for people to learn about and book my services. Something as simple as this truly changed the game for me. Seeing those notifications pop up for people booking without having those lengthy dialogues about what it is that I do and how payment works made everything so simple.
Prior to this system, I would be explaining the same thing to each person who messaged me, assist them in sending their deposits to the correct PayPal account, negotiating prices, and more. It could be such a hassle on both ends!
Potential clients can also book calls with me now if they need any further clarification about my services. It is so much better to speak with people over the phone and develop that connection. I had to invest in courses and coaches to educate myself on the do’s and don’ts of running a business. Because video editing is such time-consuming work, I felt as though I couldn’t scale my business since I had to be so hands-on with every single thing. This was a very low moment for me because I’d spend the greater part of my day editing with no time for anything else.
To help combat this, I now offer video editing courses and will soon be offering downloadable tutorials on video editing. I learned to understand the importance of listening to your audience. I would get a lot of questions on how to do different things almost every single day. Any time that you have the same questions being asked by multiple people, it’s time to create a service for that demand. The courses also help those who want to start their own editing business, so it always feels good when people book them and feel like they can start their side hustle or business.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a video editor and I always tell my clients that I specialize in saving them time! As a content creator/business owner, you can spend a lot of time setting up, getting the camera ready, and filming. After all of that, you have to edit your content, and if it is not something that you like to do, it is extremely tedious. As your business grows, you have to start delegating certain tasks to other people so that you have time to focus on other of your business. This is honestly the place that most people are at when they come to me. They don’t have the time or don’t have a desire to make the time for it, and that’s where I come in!
I’m most proud of my transition from a side hustle mindset to a business owner mindset. I stopped thinking small and my reality began to reflect that. Ironically, we can shy away from success because it comes with a lot of pressure and unfamiliar struggles. It’s easy to be complacent. It’s easy to be normal. What’s hard is wholeheartedly believing in yourself and pushing past those discouraging moments and trust in your talent/skill and faith. Those moments are fleeting anyway. You will have way more reward than anything in the long run when you put the work in. Even if you aren’t exactly where you want to be, you have to feel as though it is already your reality every single day.
I guess what sets me apart from others is that I don’t set myself apart from others. Just as I want my brand to continue to improve and grow, I want that for my clients as well. I edit their content like I’d edit mine. I want to help them push out the best content that they possibly can. I find myself asking some clients if it is okay if I give some advice as I don’t want to give anyone any unsolicited pointers. I really love seeing people with strong brands that are true to them and resonate with their followers.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
One of my favorite resources that help me succeed daily is my calendar. Having an actual calendar up on the wall that maps out your month is life-changing. Having it on my phone was okay, but now that I get to see it every single time I walk past it, it reinforces me to keep going. I also invested in a whiteboard that helps me jot down fleeting thoughts and business ideas.
I purchased the Top 3 Notebook from Erin On Demand, who is a social media and brand strategist. You list out your top 3 goals for the day to eventually get you to a bigger goal. This is a great method because it’s not an overwhelmingly long list of goals that will have you feeling crappy if you don’t get it all done. Simply three main goals for the day. I love it!
I also subscribe mostly to other young black women who are entrepreneurs to keep myself motivated. I’ve been more intentional with the content that I consume. In the past, I wasn’t so strict about what I watched or listened to because I thought that I could separate entertainment/media from my real life. Everything that you consume becomes you, so I limit the nonsense and watch more inspirational content. It’s okay to watch and listen to things just for entertainment as I still do, but moderation is everything. YouTube is one of the best resources out there when it comes to discovering other like-minded people to keep you inspired!
Contact Info:
- Email: digitaljada@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitaljada/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1n4Qo_VFoRQWsNKubXcl2w
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