One Door Closing Can Close Multiple Doors You Didn't Know Were Connected.

Damon Darling's reported lifetime ban from Walmart, along with references to Sam's Club and Murphy USA, raises a much bigger question for entrepreneurs and content creators: What happens when viral content starts affecting your personal brand?

In this episode of Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk, Photographer Jackson, Steve Jackson, breaks down the situation from an entrepreneurship, personal branding, reputation management, content strategy, and business development perspective.

What happens when viral content collides with your personal brand?

In this solo episode of Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk, Photographer Jackson, Steve Jackson, examines the reported lifetime ban involving comedian and content creator Damon Darling and Walmart, including references to Sam’s Club and Murphy USA.

Rather than simply discussing the controversy, Steve uses the situation as a case study in personal branding, reputation management, corporate relationships, content strategy, entrepreneurship, and the long-term consequences of viral content.

Steve explores an important question for entrepreneurs and creators:

Can one action close multiple doors you didn't even know were connected?

The episode examines the potential “blast radius” of a public incident and why entrepreneurs should think carefully about how their behavior, content, collaborations, and public image may affect future business opportunities.

Steve also discusses Damon Darling’s charitable content, his comedy career, his coffee brand, Me & Mom’s Coffee, and the tension between positive content and viral entertainment.

The larger lesson isn't simply about Damon Darling or Walmart.

It's about brand equity.

Every video you publish becomes part of your digital footprint. Every public interaction can contribute to how potential partners, corporations, customers, sponsors, and collaborators perceive you.

Steve also discusses alternative ways creators can structure charitable campaigns, including nonprofit partnerships, corporate charitable initiatives, community organizations, and building a separate philanthropic platform.

Most importantly, this episode challenges creators to ask:

Are you building attention—or are you building an asset?

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How Self-Analysis Can Help You Grow Your Business and Your Life

What happens when you stop analyzing only your business and start analyzing yourself?

In this solo episode of Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk, photographer, creative entrepreneur, business coach, and strategist Steve Jackson reflects on the importance of personal growth, business evolution, self-analysis, relationships, community, and actually putting knowledge into action.

Steve challenges entrepreneurs and creatives to ask deeper questions: What are your values? What value do you bring? What do you do? What don't you do? What won't you do? What can you outsource? Who can you partner with? And most importantly, how can you grow?

The conversation explores why entrepreneurs cannot remain exactly where they started, why maintaining a business indefinitely can become dangerous, and why growth requires a combination of self-reflection, action, strategic relationships, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Steve also shares personal reflections about his own entrepreneurial journey, his approach to learning from experts, collaborating with his network, managing business expenses, building systems, and continuing to develop his creative business.

The central message is simple:

Don't just collect wisdom. Implement it.

Take the knowledge you've gained, apply it, teach it, collaborate with others, and use it to elevate yourself and your business.

Your business should reflect what you actually stand for—not simply what you originally decided years ago.

What do you uniquely bring to your clients, customers, collaborators, or community?

Be clear about the work you actually want to continue doing.

Defining your boundaries can be just as important as defining your services.

Your non-negotiables help shape your brand, business model, and relationships.

You don't necessarily need to personally perform every task required to operate your business.

The right people can complement your skills and help you move further.

Growth should remain an intentional part of the entrepreneurial process.

When was the last time you analyzed yourself?

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Networking isn't just about collecting business cards—it's about building relationships, creating opportunities, and increasing your visibility. In this solo episode, Steve Jackson shares why entrepreneurs and creatives need to get out, make connections, research the people in the room, and intentionally build their network. Networking can feel uncomfortable, especially if you're naturally introverted or don't know anyone at an event. But building relationships is one of the most important activities for entrepreneurs, creatives, freelancers, and business owners who want to create more opportunities.

In this episode of Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk, photographer, creative entrepreneur, business coach, and strategist Steve Jackson shares his perspective on the importance of networking and why consistently putting yourself in rooms with other people can expand your opportunities.

Steve explains that he tries to attend networking events at least twice a month—even when he doesn't feel like going or can only stay for 30 minutes. The objective isn't necessarily to meet everyone in the room. Sometimes the goal is simply to show up, make a few meaningful connections, and continue building your network.

He also challenges listeners who struggle with networking to make the process smaller and more manageable: meet three people, get three contacts, and leave if that's all you can do.

The episode also explores how networking can help you discover potential clients, partners, employers, collaborators, speakers, sponsors, and other valuable relationships.

Steve recommends researching an event before attending. Look at the speakers, panelists, hosts, sponsors, and companies involved. Knowing who will be in the room can help you approach networking with greater intention instead of walking into an event completely blind.

The bigger lesson is simple:

Get out there. Build relationships. Create connections. Increase your visibility.

Your network can become a powerful asset in your entrepreneurial journey.

Networking is the process of building and maintaining professional relationships with people who may provide opportunities, knowledge, partnerships, referrals, collaboration, or mutual support.

Networking can help entrepreneurs build relationships, discover opportunities, increase visibility, find potential clients and partners, and develop a stronger professional support system.

There isn't one required frequency, but Steve shares that he tries to attend networking events at least twice a month and encourages consistency—even if you can only stay briefly.

Start small. Instead of trying to meet everyone, challenge yourself to meet three people, exchange contact information, and have a few intentional conversations.

Research the event beforehand. Identify the speakers, panelists, hosts, sponsors, companies, and other key people who may attend. Then look for potential connections that align with your goals.

Networking can connect you with potential clients, collaborators, partners, employers, sponsors, and people who can refer you to opportunities.

Go anyway. Research who will be there, set a small goal for yourself, introduce yourself to a few people, exchange contact information, and follow up afterward.

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A reflection on being undervalued, learning to advocate for yourself, and applying an entrepreneurial mindset to your career.

What is your work actually worth?

In this solo episode of Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk, photographer and creative entrepreneur Steve Jackson reflects on one of the lessons that shaped his entrepreneurial mindset: learning how to recognize when you are being undervalued and having the courage to speak up.

Steve looks back at a period when he was taking on additional responsibilities at work, covering duties across multiple departments, staying late, and carrying responsibilities that weren't part of his original job description—only to receive a 25-cent raise.

That experience became bigger than a story about a paycheck.

It became a lesson about self-worth, negotiation, advocacy, career growth, entrepreneurship, and standing on your dreams.

Steve also reflects on his younger years, his experience working at a grocery store, being approached about military service, choosing an artistic path instead, and eventually transitioning from music into photography, video, and creative entrepreneurship.

The central message is simple:

You have to recognize your value, use your voice, and continue building toward where you actually want to go.

Whether you're an employee, freelancer, artist, photographer, creative entrepreneur, or business owner, this episode is a reminder that your current circumstances don't have to define your future.

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What happens when an opportunity you value doesn't meet your price?

In this episode of Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk, photographer and creative entrepreneur Steve Jackson gets candid about pricing, negotiation, business boundaries, networking, and the importance of knowing when to say no.

Coming home from an event, Steve reflects on an experience where he was originally expected to serve as contracted media but ultimately decided not to accept an offer that didn't align with his budget and the realities of operating with a team.

The lesson isn't simply "never negotiate." It's knowing the difference between a worthwhile negotiation and a deal that undervalues your time, skills, labor, equipment, team, and business.

Steve also explains why he sometimes approaches nonprofit organizations differently, why certain opportunities are worth doing for free, and why creative entrepreneurs should get out of the house and intentionally network at events.

The conversation expands beyond photography into entrepreneurship, content creation, community, collaboration, and the philosophy behind Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk: learning from different industries and finding ways to apply those lessons across business.

Steve also discusses his work with Pull Up Experience, LaunchArts Media, Alien Eyez Photos Media, and Creative Frequency, highlighting the importance of collaboration and consistently creating.

If you're a photographer, content creator, freelancer, consultant, artist, entrepreneur, or small-business owner struggling with pricing or deciding which opportunities deserve your time, this episode is for you.

Your price is part of your business model. Your boundaries are part of your business model. And saying no is sometimes part of your growth strategy.

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How to Start a Creative Business: Practice, Community & Doing the Work

What does it really take to turn a creative skill into a business?

In this solo episode of Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk, photographer and creative entrepreneur Steve Jackson reflects on his journey from picking up a camera at a young age, putting it down, returning to photography years later, and eventually building Alien Eyez Photos Media.

Steve breaks down what he learned from spending his first years doing the work before charging for it—including assisting other photographers, working as a production assistant, helping with video and podcast productions, and gaining experience on a major movie set when Superman filmed in Cleveland.

The lesson isn't simply "work for free."

It's about practice, positioning, relationships, community, mentorship, and developing enough experience to understand what your work is actually worth.

Steve also explains how bringing his camera to events became his version of practicing basketball: show up, practice, learn, repeat, and improve.

From learning lighting and flash recycle times to understanding client interactions, pricing, business boundaries, marketing, and the importance of investing in the right equipment, this episode explores the process behind turning a creative ability into a sustainable business.

He also shares a practical framework for beginners:

Practice < Community < Mentorship < Experience < Pricing < Consistency < Growth

Whether you're a photographer, videographer, podcaster, baker, artist, coach, designer, or another type of creative entrepreneur, the principle applies:

You have to practice before you can master it.

And you have to do the work before you can fully understand the value of the work.

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What happens when you stop waiting to be ready and simply start doing the work?

In this solo episode of Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk, photographer and entrepreneur Steve Jackson reflects on his journey from picking up a camera as a young child to developing the professional skills, business knowledge, relationships, and confidence required to turn photography into a business.

Steve talks about returning seriously to photography around 2018, learning the technical side of photography and production, working alongside other photographers, serving as a second shooter and production assistant, and even getting the opportunity to work on the set of Superman while it was filming in Cleveland.

But one of the biggest lessons came from doing the work before getting paid.

Steve describes spending his first roughly 150 events working for free, using those experiences to develop his skills, understand equipment, learn lighting and workflow, build relationships, and discover what professional photography actually required.

Eventually, that experience led to his first paid photography client his brother Eroc Beatz for a $50 photo session.

From there, the work compounded.You don't become good at your craft by waiting until you're ready. You become good by practicing, doing the work, getting around people ahead of you, testing yourself, and eventually learning how to charge for the value you've developed.

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Are You Still Who You Were? Why Entrepreneurs Need to Test Themselves.

What happens when you stop assuming you know where you stand—and actually test yourself?

In this introspective solo episode of Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk, Photographer Jackson (Steve Jackson) explores the importance of testing yourself as an entrepreneur, creative, business owner, and human being.

Inspired partly by testing a new microphone, Steve uses the idea of testing and checking as a larger metaphor for personal development, business growth, consistency, transformation, and self-awareness.

The message is simple: You cannot improve what you never measure, challenge, or examine.

Steve challenges creative entrepreneurs to regularly test their skills, knowledge, boundaries, business models, habits, assumptions, and even their own identity.

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What you repeatedly say to yourself can shape the way you approach your life, creativity, business, and opportunities.

In this solo episode of Alien Eyez Photos Industry Talk, Photographer Jackson (Steve Jackson) shares a collection of personal affirmations designed specifically for creative entrepreneurs, artists, business owners, and anyone working on personal growth.

This episode is more than a motivational message. It is an opportunity to pause, reset your mindset, and speak positive, intentional words over yourself and your entrepreneurial journey.

Photographer Jackson leads listeners through affirmations focused on gratitude, abundance, self-worth, financial growth, business development, positive opportunities, confidence, and self-love.

Among the affirmations shared in this episode:

• “I am grateful for the many blessings in my life.”
• “I am worthy, and I am enough.”
• “I am in tune with the abundant nature of the universe.”
• “I am building a money mansion.”
• “I am abundantly abundant.”
• “I love myself, I love my life.”
• “My business is growing every single day.”
• “As I am expanding, my business expands.”
• “Positive opportunities follow me.”
• “I get paid easily and often.”
• “I am an amazing creative entrepreneur.”

Jackson also shares a personal philosophy about life as a continuous journey of love, peace, education, experiences, and educated guesses. His message is simple: continue learning, but don't make negative guesses about yourself. Instead, practice speaking kind, encouraging, and empowering words over yourself.

The episode closes with a reminder that your identity as a creative entrepreneur can be something you intentionally reinforce. Whether you're a photographer, musician, poet, author, artist, coach, or business owner, your mindset is part of the entrepreneurial journey.

Jackson also discusses Alien Affirmations 1, 2, 3, his eight-minute affirmation track, and reveals that he has accumulated additional personal affirmations over several years that helped him through difficult periods.

If you're building a business, developing yourself, pursuing creative work, or simply looking for positive affirmations to start your day, this episode is designed to give you a mental reset.

Press play. Repeat the affirmations. Speak positively over yourself. Keep building.

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Some conversations give you belief. Some give you a blueprint. This one gives you both. Host Steven "Photographer" Jackson sits down at Creator Clubhouse in Atlanta with Tybo (Tybo Audio), the studio designer Atlanta's creator scene calls "Studio Jesus" for a story that runs from homelessness and a sixth-grade dropout to building the production spaces behind the city's biggest podcasters. Fresh off the Podcast Summit, the two dig into what it actually takes to build a creative career and a durable business from the ground floor.

Tybo's throughline is disarmingly simple and hard to live: provide value, and the money will come. He explains how showing up and fixing problems no one asked him to fix, before ever discussing price earned him a reputation, a roster of clients who became mentors, and a business that now commands high-ticket studio builds. Along the way he unpacks the mindset that carried him through the dark years ("pressure makes diamonds"), the manifestation habit he's used since he was a "delusional" 12-year-old telling everyone he'd get a Lambo, and the single question from a naturopathic doctor that redirected his entire career.

The back half turns tactical: how to make an iPhone look cinematic, why mic proximity and the inverse square law matter more than gear names, how to read skin tones and use references, how to think in pre-/production/post- stages, and where AI genuinely fits into a modern creative workflow. It closes on legacy — the idea that the name you leave behind is either remembered in "heaven" or "hell," and that the work of building a good one starts now.

"Provide as much value and the pay will come."

From Homelessness to Studio Success: Tybo Audio on Music, Podcasting, Entrepreneurship & Building Studios, this is must listen for all aspiring production specialist. This is a masterclass on how to turn technical skills into a business.

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