Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jordan Lesson, founder of GamingVPN, located in East Lansing, MI, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
GamingVPN is a VPN service that helps gamers get the most out of their gaming experience. With GamingVPN, you can adjust your region to get access to new releases early, defend against skilled-based matchmaking, and watch your favorite region-locked content on streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and more. It's super easy to set up and use. All you need to do is download the VPN, select your desired region, and you're ready to go. You can even switch between regions at any time with just a few clicks. Plus, GamingVPN is one of the fastest VPNs on the market, so you can enjoy uninterrupted gaming without lag or slowdowns.
Our customers include casual gamers who don't necessarily want to be rivaled by top-tier players, especially for hyper-competitive online games like Fortnite, Warzone, and Overwatch. GamingVPN is the best solution for preventing skilled-based matchmaking from taking over your gaming experience.
Tell us about yourself
Ever since I was 14 years old, I have dedicated my life to learning new skills and developing businesses. I learned how to program at 16 years old and took advantage of this new skill to develop numerous projects in the form of mobile applications, web apps, blockchains, and everything in between. From then on, I expanded my understanding of business when I became the youngest person ever to partner with Rocket Mortgage as a mortgage broker/third-party originator. Given that I'm a hardcore gamer and obsessed with identifying potential opportunities, I noticed an overarching problem in the gaming industry which stripped gamers from enjoying their favorite video games to the fullest extent. Fueled by my strong conviction for cyber-freedom and decentralization, I created GamingVPN to give gamers the ability to prevent skilled-based matchmaking from controlling their gaming experience.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
So far in my lifelong journey as an entrepreneur, my greatest accomplishment was selling a company at 19 years old. In 2020, a buddy and I created a subscription box company called DoggoBox for dog owners, which would ship loot boxes full of dog toys and treats to your door every month. Given our strong social media presence and branding, we were able to exit the company when we sold it to a company located in Paris, France, in 2021.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The hardest thing that business owners need to overcome is the fear of failure and the uncertainty of the future. Most businesses go through a period of trial and error, and it's important for business owners to have the courage and confidence to move forward despite the risks. Additionally, business owners must often make difficult decisions that could potentially have a negative impact on the business, such as cutting costs or letting go of staff, which can be difficult to face and overcome. Ultimately, don't let emotion dictate your decisions.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
I believe that the best skill for growing a business is learning how to sell. A lot of people confuse starting a business with building and maintaining a project, but, in essence, a business can not function without cash flow. So, I would suggest learning to sell. It is the first and most important skill an entrepreneur needs to have in their arsenal. Additionally, I would suggest to an up-and-coming entrepreneur to become proficient in many skills. Having experience in several fields rather than a few exposes you to new niches and strategies that could be absent in other industries.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.botlobbies.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordan_lesson/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JordanLesson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-lesson-209b49167/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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