Today we’d like to introduce you to Julius Harper.
Julius, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
There are so many experiences that have led me here right now to this point in my life; I can’t sum it up in a few words or sentences. But I can say this; it’s been exciting and eventful.
With that said, my career started in high school; now don’t think I did this intentionally. For example, while attending Skyline High, a career development school here in Dallas, TX, for three years, I took classes for Graphic Arts. Drawing is something I’ve always loved to do in my pass time. So, signing up for a course like that was a no brainer for me. Also, taking the class it lead to my first paid graphic design client. Dashundra Williams, a good friend of mine, we started creating personalized notepads for people at school. That wasn’t my only introduction to entrepreneurship, and it would include selling my drawings to tattoo shops as well. I enjoyed having my own money my way, maybe because seeing Mama and Pops running their businesses.
Fast forward to my senior year; by this time, both my parents were in jail. I am no longer doing graphic design work for people too. It was a tough time, and I had to grow up faster than expected. Along with not knowing what was happening next and knowing going right off to university wasn’t going to be in the cards at that time, it was a scary time for me.
I graduated in 2004, got a job. Then my place at 18. I was feeling lost and the anxiety of wasting time. During a conversation with my best friend about my worries, he told me about the Art Institute of Dallas. The following week I was walking into the Art Institute, I remember feeling out of place. But I didn’t shy away from the challenge. Initially, I wanted to be in the computer animation program, and shortly after, realizing it was not for me. Let’s say; I ended up finishing with the Graphic Design Associates program. Those two years changed the course of my life.
Skipping forward, I am now 23 and attending Westwood College to receive a bachelor’s degree in Visual Communications. I formed the idea to create Cultivated Productions during that time. But that would happen four years later, by the way.
After graduating, I landed my first graphic design role at The Design Factory, a black-owned creative agency. Noticing many of my friends, especially those of color, wasn’t having any luck with starting their design careers, I got creative. While in college, I created a documentary about stereotypes in ”Advertisement that affected our daily lives.” I interviewed several agencies, including Sederrick Raphiel, the owner of The Design Factory. I developed graphic design skills, web design, and digital marketing skills while there. Sederrick was a mentor to me and gave me the confidence to start Cultivated Production. Left The Design Factory in 2014, began the start of Cultivated Productions, I assisted small to mid-size businesses with innovative design strategies and digital marketing techniques. During the 8+ years of expanding my career and entrepreneurship, I’ve been privileged to work with top brands such as Raising Cane’s, Michaels Stores, and FC Dallas Soccer Organization, to name a few.
Today, the agency is no longer operating – I decided to switch my gears, and with doing so, I landed opportunities as a Business Consultant. I believe this switch was vital because there is a disconnect happening with business owners. Many of the entrepreneurs I assisted needed more than a person to create websites, logos, and develop digital marketing strategies. They needed a business partner — someone to challenge their business models and tweak their brand’s messaging. Not only did they need a business partner, they needed well thought out digital marketing tactics that fit their end customers’ buying behaviors.
Now, I have a mission to impact people by providing tools that change and align their focus with their business and personal goals.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There are always obstacles, right? I’ve experienced the growing pains of starting a business like for instance not getting paid. Along with seeing client projects fail some of my fault and others not. Even experienced months without work, waiting for contracts to go through to pay bills and put food on the table. But everything I’ve faced and still will come to face are just the building blocks to my journey.
Please tell us about Jsharp Consulting.
Jsharp Consulting is a brand development and digital marketing consulting agency. I work with personal brands/businesses to improve their target audiences’ engagement throughout all digital touch-points, which includes the website, social, and email. When working with me you gain a business partner someone who understands that a business owner shouldn’t be doing everything alone and needs to focus on their product or service first.
I work closely with clients to develop successful branding and digital marketing strategies, while carefully considering the budget, key metrics, and all components needed to make it a success. As a personal goal, it’s important I work with people of color. I am currently incredibly pleased to be at FedEx as an eCommerce Consultant. The clients I get to assist gets help from an expert.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Having access to a restart button would mean I could not have had the same experiences or even some opportunities. With that said, there’s nothing I would do differently. But I would tell my younger self, “be patient, this is just the beginning.”
Pricing:
- Pricing is customized to the project
- Monthly Retainers start at $300
- Clearly define your budget
Contact Info:
- Website: Jsharp.biz
- Email: jsharp85r@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jsharp.biz/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/jsharpbiz/
Image Credit:
Marscel HP – Photography
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