Starting a video production company at 21 years old

Starting a video production company at 21 was like diving into the deep end of a pool without knowing how to swim. I was a full-time student, balancing lectures, assignments, and the inevitable pull of college life—friends, relationships, and the constant desire to prove I could handle it all. My passion for storytelling and capturing moments on film had always been clear, but the road to turning that passion into a business was anything but. I had little money, no formal business training, and only a vague sense of what running a company entailed. But I was driven by a relentless need to create and share my vision with the world, and that was enough to push me forward, even when the odds seemed stacked against me.

The early days were a whirlwind of learning through trial and error. I was juggling classes by day and editing videos by night, often sacrificing sleep to meet client deadlines and school projects. Every penny earned went straight back into the business, whether it was for a new camera lens or paying off a subscription to editing software. My lack of knowledge in business management was glaring, but I quickly became adept at faking it until I made it. Networking events were nerve-wracking, and every pitch felt like stepping onto a stage with no script. Yet, each small success—a satisfied client, a completed project—was a reminder that I was on the right path, even if that path was far from easy.

Family and friends were both my greatest supporters and my biggest challenges. They couldn’t always understand why I was so obsessed with this idea, why I was willing to forgo parties and outings, or why I was constantly stressed about finding the next gig. Relationships strained under the weight of my commitment, and there were times I questioned if I was making the right choices. But as time went on, I learned to strike a delicate balance—between work and play, passion and practicality. Slowly, the business grew, and so did I, learning not just how to run a company, but how to navigate life with purpose and resilience. Today, I look back on those early years with pride, knowing that the struggle wasn’t just about building a business—it was about building myself.