Today we’d like to introduce you to Joi A Pearson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Joi. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Born and raised in Hampton, VA I graduated from Hampton University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. After school, I moved to Atlanta, GA where I currently reside. Dedicating year to sales, management, modeling, and working as a personal assistant, I decided that I wanted to pursue my love for photography full time. I always had both my parents at all my events growing up, so when my son, Brenton was born in 2010 I knew that was the only way I’d want it with him. I immediately picked up a camera and I have never looked back! I am a full-time photographer with over 10 years of experience and many more to go!
Event photography and shooting on the red carpet introduced me to my co-host on air, Michael McFadden whom we had a morning radio show called “Micheal and Joi in the Morning” for over two years. When the show first started, Periscope had just become popular and I had to get in on the wave. Over the two years that we were on the air, we interviewed over 1500 guests and we live-streamed the majority of the shows. That live streaming platform is what brought me to my current invention the Joistik, a device that will allow you to live stream or record on multiple platforms, multiple devices simultaneously. “Stick to what you do best and let the Joistik do the rest!”
I am currently working on expanding Joistik, Joi Pearson Photography, working on another book and something fun involving talk and TV with my fiance’, Ken Stokes.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
A smooth road? No, nope, not at all, but an enjoyable journey? Most definitely! I believe that to become an entrepreneur and a full time one more specifically that you have to develop a thick skin and an attitude that you will do whatever is necessary to win! (Keeping in mind that winning means something different for each person.)
I’ve had a lot of struggles along the way and different ones in different businesses:
As a Photographer – I didn’t have a watermark or logo when I first started so people would steal my images; I rectified that easily.
As an Inventor, I didn’t know any other Inventors so I just jumped out there selling immediately. Knowing what I know now I would have made sure that my patent paperwork, trademark, website, etc. was right before I went to market.
As an Author, I would suggest writing every day so that you can get as many thoughts out of your head and on paper; once you have it all down you can delete what you don’t like but you have to have the ideas down first.
As a Radio Personality, my advice would be to be yourself and commit to it only if you are willing to be consistent with your time and energy. Radio and TV are both platforms where people fall in love with you (or not) and though you are not selling yourself, you are selling yourself. Be authentic and be true to that always!
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a Photographer, an Author, and an Inventor! I specialize in Corporate Event photography before I invented Joistik I would say that I was known for always getting my clients the “money shot” now I am known for live streaming and helping people monetize it. I wrote a book called “Monetize your Livestream” which you can purchase on Amazon; that book has led me to teach classes and speak all over the country.
I am proud that all of the businesses that I have had, I have stayed true to my values, my morals, my ethics and most importantly, I never wavered and let the tough times steal my dream! I am proud that I set goals and I reach them, always setting more goals so that I am always striving for more in life! I am proud that I have family and friends that look up to me and that I continue to make proud!
Every day I strive to give each hour that God has given me the best, that is what helps me sleep peacefully at night and it continues to make me proud. I have a post-it on my mirror and it says, “What did you do today to make yourself proud?” I strive to answer back positively every day.
Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
Women are positioned for ALL the opportunities, each and every single one that we want! There are challenges facing women today, yes but there are no challenges that we cannot face and overcome! The challenges that we have now are no comparison to the ones that the women before us faced and overcame, slowly; we are here now because they overcame way more than we can ever imagine. We have obstacles and hurdles that we have to overcome but I believe that they had challenges. We are privileged beyond our years right now and I thank all the women that helped make not only being a woman but a woman entrepreneur easier!
Pricing:
- Joistik $89.99 (www.joistik.com)
- Joistik Jr. $49.99
- 1 look photoshoot with 4 retouched images in HR $400 (1 hour) www.joipearson.com
- Event photography $150/hr with a 3 hour minimum –
Contact Info:
- Website: www.joistik.com | www
.joipearson.com - Phone: (404)969-5647
- Email: info@joistik.com
- Instagram: @joi_stik
- Facebook: @joistikinfo
- Twitter: @joi_stik
- Other: @joipearsonphoto @ubringmejoi
Image Credit:
G Carter King – Diversity Photos
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