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Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Mrs. Kelsey Stafford of Lawrenceville

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We’re looking forward to introducing you to Mrs. Kelsey Stafford. Check out our conversation below.

Kelsey, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
Would I hire myself?

100% yes! When I put my mind to something I cannot be stopped. Being an athlete I have an insane drive to complete the tasks I set my mind to.

Before I started my own business I was working a corporate job for someone else and I was completing my daily tasks as asked. I was a good team player and an overall good employee.

Once I started working for myself – I started setting crazy goals. Like benchmarks I never thought I could hit but I always hit them. & then I would set a higher goal for myself to see how I could break the record again.

I felt like I was kept at a lower level when working for someone else and once I stopped limiting myself to someone elses business I saw the true potential I have to grow something of my own.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Kelsey Stafford, owner and operator of Stafford Productions LLC, where we help athletes turn their game footage into powerful highlight videos that get them noticed by college and pro coaches. What makes us different is that our videos aren’t just edited by someone who knows video production—they’re crafted by a professional college recruiter with years of experience evaluating talent and connecting players to the right programs.

We work fast—usually delivering within 24–48 hours—because in the recruiting world, timing can make all the difference. And thanks to our network of college and pro coaches, every video has the potential to land in front of real decision-makers.

Our mission is simple: to give every athlete, no matter their background or budget, the same high-quality recruiting tools that top prospects have. It’s not just about making a video—it’s about opening doors, building confidence, and helping young athletes take the next step toward their dream.

I got into this business by being an athlete myself. I went to an NCAA school a long time ago and did not have the resources that athletes have today. It was a struggle to go through my own recruiting process and I wanted to give back to the community what I never had.

Right now, we’re working on expanding our reach globally, connecting with athletes from the U.S., Europe, South America, and beyond, and continuing to be the most affordable, highest-value option in the market—without ever compromising on quality.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
I would say the person who taught me the most about work would be Grant Cardone.

I worked for him right out of college and I worked for his sales team. I wanted to work for an editing company since that is what I went to college for but I did not have enough experience yet.

I needed a job and found a sales position to get money and pay my bills. Little did I know that it would change my entire outlook on life.

While I worked for him I read all of his books and was surrounded by people who wanted to go bigger and better every day! Now that I no longer work for him I can see that some of it was a little extra but it taught me some key factors and rules that I still live by.

You always want to set giant goals. Even if you don’t think its possible or it’s crazy – those giant goals make you work harder and if you don’t hit them, you probably got close to it. Every day you need to be doing something to make yourself and your business better. No matter what it is.

Every interaction is a sale and once you can master sales and take big action, you can accomplish anything.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
During my college years, I suffered a career-ending injury that forced me to stop playing soccer—a sport I had dedicated my entire life to. When you’ve done something for as long as you can remember, it becomes part of your identity. Suddenly being told I could never step on the field again left me feeling lost, unsure of who I was without the game.

In the aftermath, I found myself resenting the sport I once loved and even feeling bitterness toward those who could still play. I carried that frustration for years, until I discovered a new way to stay connected to the game—by creating highlight videos for other athletes.

Through this work, I realized I could turn my pain into purpose. I forgave both myself and the sport, and built a business that allows me to remain an active part of the soccer community. Today, I use my experience to support athletes at every stage of their journey, helping them chase their dreams and giving back to the game that shaped me.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely—what you see is 100% the real me.

When I started my business and built my brand, it was never just about selling a service. It was about the impact I could make on the athletic community. People connect with people, so in order to build genuine trust and provide real value, I stay authentic and use my own experiences to guide the next generation of athletes.

Social media is often full of filters, highlight reels, and curated perfection—but I’ve chosen to be the opposite. I want young athletes to see someone who has lived what they’re going through, and know the advice I share is real because I’ve experienced it firsthand.

Everyone I work with knows that my team and I are real people who have been in their shoes. Our mission is simple: to help them succeed, reach the next level, and feel supported every step of the way.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I set aside my name, my title, and everything I own, what would remain is my passion for helping athletes succeed, my resilience in the face of challenges, and the knowledge I’ve gained about taking athletes to the next level—and building a business from the ground up.

Before launching my own company, I worked for a digital marketing firm, where I became certified in social media marketing, advertising, and business consultation. That knowledge is invaluable. It will never go out of style, even as platforms, trends, and algorithms evolve.

People often overcomplicate growing a business or a brand, but in reality, it’s incredibly simple: you need to be everywhere, all the time, all at once. My drive to serve, inspire, and create opportunities for the next generation of athletes doesn’t come from my title or possessions—it comes from who I am. And that will always remain.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
All photos were taken by me (Kelsey Stafford)

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