Today we’d like to introduce you to Jayden Mills.
Hi Jayden, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and raised in a small town in Oklahoma, where my Dad and Grandpa owned and operated a small business. I found myself working there after school most days. I also grew up around live music, waking up to Dad playing the guitar and Mom singing along. My whole family is musical- I sang in the choir both at school and in church. I moved to Texas about 7 years ago with my job, but I quickly fell in love with the Hill Country, particularly the historic area of Gruene. With my roots being in live music, support of local businesses, community, and a love for sittin’ outside on the patio, it was easy for me to uproot and replant myself here. I quickly found myself guiding all my friends and family who visited me around town, and the friends I made in the area always knew where to find me– “Are you in Gruene again?” So I thought to myself, “Why not make it a thing?” I’ve never really been the “creative” type, but I decided to start my Instagram page from scratch almost a year ago, and my goal was simply promoting my favorite places and just havin’ fun. So I followed a couple of local accounts, made an intro post, and started taking off. I had no idea that I’d be met with so much local support from the businesses, the musicians, and the people who also love Gruene and surrounding areas who call it home. So far, I’ve posted about things to do, places to eat and drink, where to shop, and what’s going on around town each week- both in advance and as the fun happens live and in-person.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would say the road has been smooth but unfamiliar. I didn’t really start with a road map or any concept of “how to” make an Instagram page successful. To be 100% transparent, at first my biggest struggle was confidence– Videoing out in public, talking to folks about what I’m doing even though I didn’t feel like I was *there* yet. I kind of learned that you just have to do it and let it flop sometimes. I’ve had posts that I thought were really good and let’s just say not many others necessarily agreed. But it was a part of the process. And then it was the learning curve– first, it was, how do I even edit a video? Then, what type of content gets noticed? Eventually, I finally got to a point where it was, How can I make this video better (quality, interaction, relatability, etc.) but still achieve my goal of promoting the business or the artist or the upcoming event? That’s where I’ve seen the most interaction so far is when I’m able to combine all those aspects. Overall, I would say that the obstacles were more of an opportunity for me to learn. I mentioned earlier the positive response I received from locals & business owners. I was shocked how many people began reaching out to me, how what I was doing sparked so many conversations, and how much collaboration I’ve gotten to have with so many places. Plus it’s been fun seeking out places I haven’t been before.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work is mostly Instagram and Facebook content at the moment, but my goal is to eventually also help people plan their trips in Gruene- from stay to itinerary. I’m most proud of the collaborations I’ve had and the relationships that I’ve made so far. My content has really opened the door for building a lot of relationships with people who work around town, artists in town, and some of the owners of different businesses, and that’s what I specialize in. I want to help people feel at home, just like I did when I first visited Gruene- introduce them to the fun, the best cocktails, a delicious meal, and the friendly faces- not just the ones at the main attractions, but also the ones that are scattered up and down the roads. As far as what sets my page apart, I think it’s just truly about who I am and what I love. I’m passionate about what I’m posting, I love the places that I’m recommending, and I love showing people a good time. When I first started the page, I thought a lot about whether I wanted to be a “behind-the-scenes” guy or be in my pictures and in my reels. I quickly put myself into the pictures because I realized, people just love to see a friendly face, and honestly, how can you show someone the fun if they can’t see you having it? I think that one of the things that was holding me back the most at first was that I was “scared” of putting myself out there. You know, I’m not a photographer, I’m not a videographer, so I worried, “Will my content be any good?” I think that’s another thing that sets me a part from so many others. I’m not focused as much on the quality of the picture (the lighting, the shadows, etc.) I’m more focused on creating something where my viewers can see themselves having a good time, through me. I want them to feel like they’re walking in the store, or “cheersing” the margarita, with me. I want them to see what I’ve posted and say, “Let’s go there.” not because it was the most beautiful picture because of editing and cropping, but because I portrayed something real and genuine. What you’re seeing on your feed as you scroll my page is just as fun and enjoyable when you’re there in person.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t necessarily believe in luck in a superstitious sense. I’m certainly lucky for the background and upbringing that I’ve had that have helped make it easier for me to put myself out there, but mostly, I believe that “good luck” is really just good perspective. I’ve had my fair share of personal struggles, obstacles, and upsets for sure, and in those moments, I don’t usually think “wow, this is gonna turn out to be such a great lesson for me once I get through it.” But I am always aware that I *will* get through it eventually. I think that’s the key. Understanding that the situation, no matter what it is, is temporary. In those moments though where I can’t control the circumstances, I try telling myself, you have 2 options here– Embrace or Resist. You can resist, which causes unhappiness about the situation, or you can just, say “look- this is what the situation is, and I’m gonna just keep going.” Embracing is kind of like when you’re in a rapid current, you go with the flow of the water and let it take you back to the bank. Resisting is like trying to swim against the current back to where you started. The river in that scenario is our circumstances. The thing is, the river is going to flow anyway. You can choose to float with it or swim against it, but I think the resisting creates a lot of pain that people mistake as “bad luck.” I think that’s a summary of perspective– understanding what the circumstances are, knowing what parts you can control, and choosing to let go of the stuff you can’t. And so far, it seems that attitude is what has created my “good luck.”
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegrueneguide/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegrueneguide
- Other: TheGrueneGuide@gmail.com
