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Creating Success Stories
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Seneca Brookins, founder of Jasudo, based in Chicago, Illinois, and has been a NASE member since 2013. His primary reasons for joining the NASE were meeting other entrepreneurs to build friendships and business relationships and to have a support network to help stay motivated and learn from. Seneca’s company was founded on a simple idea; create success stories through information technology.
What inspired you to enter the field you are in?
My inspiration stemmed from studying IT Project Management as a grad student at DePaul University along with my lifelong interest in graphic design and computers. I have always spent a lot of my time contributing to causes that promote web development, entrepreneurship and higher education for youth.
When and why did you start your business?
I founded Jasudo in November 2012 to respond to the mounting need for entrepreneurs to have a presence on the web. I understood the benefits of how influential a high-quality and engaging website was to reaching potential customers who might not have otherwise known about the existence of the business or the products or services it offered.
Jasudo is a unique name, how did you come up with it, was it inspired by something?
If you’re wondering what our name means or what a Jasudo is, you wouldn’t be the first. For starters, it was not in the English language; at least not until now. Jasudo, pronounced [ja- soo - doe], means “the way someone gets things done now.” When phonetically broken down, “Ja” means “yes” in German, “now” in Spanish and “already” in Portuguese. “Su” means “his,” “her,” and “their” in Spanish. “Do” means “execute,” “accomplish” and “exert” in English and “way” in Japanese. My inspiration for the name emanated from the desire to appeal to a global audience while demonstrating who we are and how we deliver service to our customers.
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received
from a client?
Client feedback makes my job worth it. I long for a candid response to how I can take a clients’ idea and decode it into a tangible website or business plan. One of my best compliments came from a client who said, “I brought my start-up to Jasudo as an incomplete idea; I was not sure what my next steps were. They listened to my vision, putting my needs first, and explained every step clearly to make the process simple and so much fun!” Their compliment corroborated the goal we endeavor to meet with every single client we take on.
What challenges have you faced in your business?
How have you overcome them?
The idea of starting Jasudo was exciting, but a bit overwhelming. Juggling all of the facets of getting established, believing in myself, making the personal investment of time and capital and building a team was difficult when I first set out. I overcame these challenges by researching my business idea and developing a detailed actionable business plan to avoid jumping headfirst into my ambitions. I set a foundation to keep me focused and motivated on the goals of the business to withstand obstacles that arose naturally.
How do you market your business?
I make use of my personal website, senecabrookins.com, and my network of industry contacts and business acquaintances to engage and generate leads. These efforts supplement the marketing strategy that Jasudo employs via social media, landing page websites, affiliate programs, customer referrals and advertising.
Do you have any employees? If so, how many?
Jasudo is a small, yet spirited company with three part-time employees. We have a very lean and self-directed team of experts, coupled with talented vendors. We have strategic partnerships in five countries to aid us in delivering a 24 hours a day and seven days a week operational schedule so that our customers are never kept waiting.
Tell me about time management; is it difficult to run your business and go to graduate school simultaneously?
Some days are more challenging than others. However, it is no coincidence that I attend school for IT Project Management. Learning the methodology prepares me to proficiently apply time-management methods for school and my business. I treat school responsibilities as a project. I allocate time each week for studying, attending classes and submitting homework on-time. Luckily, grad school helps me to be a better manager in spite of the daunting tasks that come with balancing my school commitments and projects for Jasudo.
What’s the best thing about being self-employed?
Being self-employed is often seen as a favorable perception by most people, this allows me to carry a positive self-view about myself. But more importantly, I like the capability of contributing to someone else’s success story by doing something I love to do through self-employment. I get to take an idea and turn it into a viable business concept. It’s awesome!
What’s the most important piece of advice you would give to someone starting their own business?
Research your business idea first! Ambition is essential, but glossing things over can land you in hot water. Do some careful exploration before taking the leap so you’ll know the ins and outs from every angle. Knowing that you are knowledgeable and prepared is often more than enough motivation to start a business with confidence.
Learn more about Seneca Brookins, Jasudo and other Self Employed businesses in the NASE Small Business Locator directory. You can add your own company to the NASE Small Business Locator in up to three categories at no charge – it is a free benefit to NASE members.