Today we’d like to introduce you to Jake Tripp.
Hi Jake, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As far back as I can remember, creativity has been an integral part of my life, serving as a guiding force in my career choices and personal endeavors. My journey began when I dropped out of my final year of college to join a successful band in Chicago called Dolphins. We enjoyed our fair share of success, but as with many things, we eventually went our separate ways.
In need of a stable income, I joined State Farm and ventured into the world of insurance marketing and sales. My boss’s decision to hire me as “Jake from State Farm” was, in hindsight, a brilliant marketing move. However, after four years in the industry, I found myself yearning for a more creative outlet.
With the need to create resurfacing, I left my job and opened up Codex West, a music studio in Midway. We used our old music connections to create a retreat for artists seeking a break from the city. Simultaneously, I returned to school to complete my degree.
Things were going well until the COVID-19 pandemic struck, causing the music industry to grind to a halt. As a result, we had no choice but to shut down the studio. Despite this setback, I knew I needed to continue pursuing my creative passions, so I turned my focus to my first love: writing.
I finally completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Philosophy, with minors in English and Environmental Studies.
During this time, I also started an internship with Dynamic Blending, an INC 5000 contract manufacturer.
Eventually, the marketing department branched out to form Unhinged Creative Agency, where I now work as a content strategist for a diverse range of brands. In addition, I run my own business, providing content strategy services to local and national businesses, with the hope to focus on outdoor brands soon.
In my current roles, I can channel my creativity to help businesses communicate their stories and messages effectively. I genuinely love what I do and am excited to continue growing in this field. On the side, I am working on a novel that I hope to release sometime next year, further showcasing my passion for creativity in every aspect of my life.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Without sounding too contrived, there’s something to be said about accepting reality as it becomes the truth.
Whenever I am certain of the future, I find it difficult to accept change.
For example, it was very difficult to accept COVID-19 shutting down my music production business along with a few other businesses I had invested time and money into, but the moment I accepted the change, the easier it became to see what opportunities the future had in store.
I always think of the quote from Foucault: “I don’t feel that it is necessary to know exactly what I am. The main interest in life and work is to become someone else that you were not in the beginning.”
When I was younger, I thought I would be living in a big city, but now, nothing could replace my love for nature and exploration. If I hadn’t been open to the prospect of something different, I may’ve missed out on this huge part of my life!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in content strategy, which is just a “buzzword,” meaning I help people create and curate content for their businesses.
I’m most likely known to have a strong intuition regarding holistic branding and for having a quick wit. A client called me “Don Draper” in a brand strategy workshop, which I think is a compliment, though I’m still unsure!
I am most proud of my unpublished novel, but from a business standpoint, I’d say I’m proud of how quickly I have become an accomplished content strategist in such a short amount of time.
The main thing that sets me apart is that I’ve always been a storyteller, and every brand is just a story waiting to be told. It’s my job to bring that story to life.
Do you have any advice for those just starting?
For those just starting, get an internship or find a way to be involved with a company if content marketing is what you’d like to do. When I just started, I was completely unaware of the business model and all of the backend work that goes into copywriting alone.
Unfortunately, it’s not just about being a “good writer” nowadays. More often than not, it is about the technical and monetary backend work that makes content or copywriting successful, not just being a “good writer.”
With this in mind, do not be discouraged if you can’t get traction. This does not mean you’re a bad writer! It means you don’t fully understand the backend and can only understand that part of working with a good company.
The work is only sometimes fulfilling, but use it to fuel your passions and find unique ways to make it fulfilling.
Pricing:
- Initial Consultation – Free
- Blogging and SEO – $35,00/hr
- Social Media Management – $40.00/hr
- Content Strategy Workshop – $1,000
- Content Curation and Design – $40.00/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: www.apollinaxcritique.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/7routfit
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jake.tripp.52/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaketripp6
