When Jason Felts left the small town of Texas to California in 1996, he was a fresh graduate of a highschool who dreamed of building a profession behind the camera.
Image loan: Courtesy of Hollywood Virgin. Jason Fels.
Over the next decade, plus a young creative and the entrepreneur did it.
Felts was a co -founder of his production company J2TV; He built and ran a multi -million entertainment company for Virgin Group as the second youngest general director in the history of the brand after Sir Richard Branson; served as a Virgin Fest CEO; And he was sitting in the Virgin global council, where he consulted with virgin brand firms in various industries.
FELTS is investigating his full lesson to success and why he finally left the entertainment industry for good in his latest memory, Hollywood Virgin: Breaking into and beyond show business.
Image loan: Courtesy of Hollywood Virgin.
Felts also reveals how several key mentors helped him shape him along the way – including Branson, the founder of Branson from the Virgin Group.
Image loan: Courtesy of Hollywood Virgin. Jason Felts and Richard Branson.
Only Felfs only began writing Hollywood Virgin He says he noticed the thread of mentoring Entrepreneur.
Felts says Branson mentor him “through Osmosis.” Basically, Felts has grow to be a leader who is now watching Branson to treat people and managed priorities.
Entrepreneur He sat down with Felts and Branson to learn more about his prospects for business and leadership.
Jason Felf met Richard Branson on the island of Necker – and experienced a “surreal” moment on the table
When Felts first visited Branson’s Necker Island, Virgin America, Voyages and Hotels didn’t exist yet. He didn’t know much about the virgin brand and its founder.
“I went there without any accepted concepts” – recalls Felts ” -[which] I think it is the best way to enter a room or situation. I don’t examine people before I meet them. “
Branson says he immediately appreciated the behavior, humor and enthusiasm of Felts.
“I am quite creative, and Jason is extremely creative, and we both love music and movies, and I thought that there could be ways to cooperate in the coming years,” adds Branson.
One evening the end of dinner on the island of Necker was coming to an end, Branson asked Felts to enter the table – “All our tables are created for dance,” explains Branson – and told everyone about himself.
The request was not one that the founder of Virgin planned. “I do many things that will be deductible,” says Branson.
In what Felts remembers as a “surreal” moment, he stood on the table, surrounded by wealthy and influential people, and shared his look at the film industry, predicting that individuals visit film theaters more often and eat more content on their phones.
“All my inhibitions have disappeared,” says Felts. “I got on the plane and returned to Los Angeles of another person.”
Image loan: Courtesy of Hollywood Virgin. Jason Felts and Richard Branson.
Lead with authenticity and goal
Felts’s experience on the island of Necker taught him the values of true, intentional leadership. “After entering the room or in my case, after entering the table, better or ready to talk and convey your beliefs with authenticity,” he explains. “Don’t be ashamed.”
Many years later, after Felts helped build an entertainment company and the Virgin Group Music Festival, he found himself at a skilled and personal crossroads, which restored these values to the fore.
“I was so busy playing parts and so hard working on being a general director that I lost my real goal and fulfilling this,” explains Felts.
Nowadays, unless the initiative stands a real goal, Felts is not interested – because otherwise “it seems to be a duty.”
Part of the FUGTS revenues from sales Hollywood Virgin will support the NON -PROFIT LGBQT+ Trevor project.
In addition, like many residents of Los Angeles, Felts lost the house with the recent Palisades fire. Reversed the premiere event of the book on February 5, together by Los Angeles Warehouse, in favor of La Fire Department.
“You are as good as your moral compass and authenticity,” says Felts.
Listen and learn
IN Hollywood VirginFelts also examines the concept that irrespective of how you possibly can appear to be talented or confident, they often just think about it.
The tendency to say “yes” to the occasion and developing later logistics is a feature that he and Branson divide, notes Felts.
“There is an old saying” false “until you do it” and I do not subscribe to it, “says Felts. “Don’t fake yourself. Ask questions and surround yourself with people smarter than you. “
Branson also supports the approach to listening and learning. At the starting, the entrepreneur decided that Felts was a good listener, which is a “critical attribute” for a strong leader, he says.
Branson points to Virgin Unite’s ElderlyA gaggle of independent global leaders working for peace and human rights, including leaders reminiscent of Nelson Mandela and Jimmy Carter.
“Everyone is great listeners,” explains Branson. “They know what they think. They don’t have to hear how they say it aloud, and the only way they can learn is to listen to other people. “
Stay present and trust your team
When Felts watched Branson achieved the goal of going to space in 2021, he experienced the moment of the bulb: seeing how Branson fulfills his dream, helped him realize that he also achieved his own. The time has come to go from the entertainment industry.
The revelation also helped Felts to struggle with the “Striveer syndrome” or a tendency to feel that he should all the time do or look for more. Nowadays, Felts now not feels the must participate in each event.
“Five years ago you could invite me to open an envelope and I would be there because I felt that I had to be there,” says Felts. “Now I am 100% focused on my presence.”
Felts admits that his team Stive has not disappeared completely, but now he approaches the hours of the day otherwise and has separate phones for work and personal use. “It’s not really about balance – there is no game and work differentiation for me,” he says. “That’s more [a matter] time management. “
FELTS is adamant in modeling this philosophy for its team; He pushes people to take breaks and informs them that they do not all the time have to look in person. He returns to a different belief that he shares and Branson: If you’re taking care of your people, he’ll deal with business.
“I would always [say]”I do not pay you for the number of working hours. I pay for the way you think and pay for how you’re taking care of yourself, “explains Felts. – If you want to go to yoga in the morning, because it exhausts you and you can be creative, do it. If you want to miss the personnel meeting, because it is part of your routine, okay. Think, catch up, get notes. “
Be -oriented on details, but also delegate
Felts took up ambitious projects during his stay in Hollywood and Virgin Group, from developing, financing and producing film and television programs to assist in creating the award -winning Virgin America Safety dance VIDEO and organizing Virgin music festivals.
Branson appreciates that Felts is not taken too seriously or avoids details.
“This is important, as well as the leader,” says Branson. “He will dress when he feels comfortable so that other people can dress when they feel comfortable. Rolle the sleeves and enters the density. If there is a festival, it is outside, find out what is going on.
Photo: Hollywood Virgin. Richard Branson and Jason Fels.
Branson says Felts is running in team assembly and management, one other need for successful leadership. He adds that good leaders should know tips on how to delegate, allowing people to learn from mistakes and achievements.
This is a leadership strategy that Branson itself uses. For example, when the Virgin Group Virgin Voyages cruises began, Branson was involved in the original design work, “getting to all weeds” for several months before it went back to permit another person.
“In Virgin, we try to promote from the inside so that we know someone’s strengths and weaknesses before they become, say, the main director,” says Branson, “that it is unlikely to come and destroy the spirit and the company.”
Find a mentor and ask for help
As a child from Big Hollywood Dreams, Felts called cold fan clubs and celebrity assistants with abandonment, and this led to exciting possibilities, reminiscent of participation in the recording of the then show of John Ritter in the then rhythm of John Ritter Hearts Lit.
Of course, nowadays, young entrepreneurs looking for mentors and advice are more prone to send E -Mail or DM than on a phone or writing a letter.
“If you make contact and reach out, [consider] By doing this in a way in which you present a mutually favorable opportunity, “suggests felts.” If you are looking for something, determine in advance what you can provide this person, company or organization in return, because time and capacity are limited. “
Branson encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to look for individuals who run the successful company and may sell them or withdrew because many of them “would be pleased to help a young person to conduct their activities.”
“If there is someone you respect, who has retired in your area, take them and check if they can give you a few hours in the evenings or come and help you a little,” says Branson.
“Never be afraid to ask,” Felts agrees.
This is undoubtedly the mentality of some of the best business successes.