Jason Patel

A world full of people who can deal with their hardships is one that is full of individuals equipped to defeat their problems and, later, defeat the problems afflicting our communities.

 

Jason Patel is the founder of Transizion, a college admissions consulting and planning company that provides affordable mentorship and tutoring to students and families. The company provides boot camps to students online. His advice has been featured in the Washington Post, BBC, NBC News, Reader’s Digest, Forbes, Fast Company, and a number of other great outlets. Jason is an experienced amateur boxer and Brazilian Jiujitsu purple belt. He is a natural competitor and outdoorsman.

Jason is also a former career ambassador at the George Washington University, where he helped students and professionals with resumes, cover letters, interviews, elevator pitches, and other job-hunting topics. The George Washington University is not just his alma mater but also the place he fell in love with helping hard-working people succeed.

Transizion donates a portion of profits to organizations that provide underserved students and veterans with college and career advice. Jason wants his company to be one of the first to take on the Opportunity Divide in America. Income inequality and automation have contributed to the erosion of public trust and opportunities in American communities. Transizion is here to fight back.

Jason and his Transizion team feature a 100% customer-satisfaction rate. They are focused on student performance and customer service. The goal of the company is to make pre-college and pre-career mentorship, tutoring, and solutions affordable to those who are seeking opportunities to grow themselves.

Jason is a Free and Accepted Mason and brother of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

Where did the idea for your company come from?

After graduating college, I began volunteering around Washington, DC, helping students and young people with their college applications and job hunts, respectively. I wanted to become a greater contributor to the city that had given me so much.

After one of my students earned a full ride and multiple scholarships to top universities, his mother implored me to start a business so that I could help more people. And so, Transizion was born. We help students and young people with college admissions and finding internships and jobs.

I was so passionate about helping people with college and jobs because my parents are immigrants. They saw the greatness of America and always told me to appreciate that good things take time and hard work. All the great things we have in this country are a result of sacrifice and work ethic – it’s our job as entrepreneurs and builders to keep this tradition alive. When I was in college, I interned at the nonprofit Opportunity Nation, whose mission is to defeat the Opportunity Divide in America. Their mission has stuck with me ever since.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

Right after I wake up, I drink coffee and do yoga while listening to my playlist. The playlist is all Hip Hop and EDM – this music makes me feel alive. After getting ready, I’ll answer emails and address client work. After eating lunch, I’ll get to my to-do list, which includes outreach, sales, content writing, and managing my team members. In the evening, I’ll head to jiujitsu practice and clear my mind while dishing out and enduring friendly beatings. I’ll get back home and finish work for the day.

I make my day productive by practicing the following:

– I’ll answer emails only after Yoga so that I can start the day on my terms. I don’t want to start the day with any type of needless rush or anxiety.

– I meal prep twice a week. This really saves a lot of time.

– The apps Trello and Errands are great for tracking major and minor projects. Use them to make your life easier.

– Place a strong emphasis on physical well-being. I deadlift and have a goal of hitting 400 lbs by the end of November. If you take care of your body, you’ll feel better mentally.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I always write things down, perform research, and then self-experiment. When I’m bringing something to life, I always ensure to implement it as soon as possible. After thinking through the consequences, I’ll put my words into action within minutes or hours. Test, test, test. Always be willing to experiment and fail.

What’s one trend that excites you?

The rising interest in stoicism really excites me. When we can deal with our own problems and change our own spiritually without lashing out at the world, only then can we change it. Complaining does no good. Taking your lumps accordingly, remaining emotionally steady, and realizing there is no reason to hurt something or be angry over slights is the first step to peace. A world full of people who can deal with their hardships is one that is full of individuals equipped to defeat their problems and, later, defeat the problems afflicting our communities. Clean your room and make your bed before the thought of attacking someone crosses your mind.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I am willing to make extreme sacrifices to get the job done. While this trait has led to some personal hardship and turmoil, I have the confidence in myself to figure out business-related problems with circumspect action.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Stop worrying. Life is good, and it’ll get better. Worrying does absolutely nothing. It doesn’t add to your health and, for that matter, your bank account. Worrying comes at the cost of mental health.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Politicians need to stop espousing identity politics. Instead, they need to present an economic vision for their communities. People will divide themselves into tribes if you focus on their identities and, by extension, their differences. Conversely, men and women of all colors and backgrounds understand economic prosperity. Focus on the economics. Focus on the future. The robots are coming.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

When you encounter failure, write down what went wrong. Then, implement it into your systems. Don’t dwell on failure or shortcomings. You can’t do anything about it, so move forward with your head high and chin down.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Content marketing has been huge for business. Students and parents love our content, which includes essay guides, academic advice, and career guidance. Content marketing takes a lot of patience, but the ROI is incredible.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Transizion’s first product was offering college- and career-related workshops. At first, I refused to acknowledge customers didn’t want impersonal workshops. It took me a full year to realize and digest my mistake. I began to iterate and evaluate the few positive responses I got from my workshops. I finally discovered that parents wanted personalized service.

It took a lot of patience, self-reflection, and forcing myself to face the truth.

Facing the truth is something I’m now good at. It takes time and failure to learn how to face the music.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Offering career advice to professionals is, I believe, going to become an even bigger market. Build your brand right now so you can eventually begin an online consulting practice.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I bought plenty of medical tape and a seated back support for my office chair. Jiujutsu puts a lot of mileage on your body, so I’ve taken precautions to protect myself as I get older. The best medicine is preventative medicine. I don’t want to endure a catastrophic injury just because I didn’t prepare. Furthermore, I want my back to be healthy – no disc or muscle issues – as I reach my 30s. There is lesson in injury, but let’s delay them as much as possible.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

Trello has been incredible. It’s intuitive, simple, and anyone can learn it. If you need to manage projects, get on Trello. We use it to monitor student progress, prospects, and content assignments for our writers.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

It’s written well and tells the story of one of our country’s greatest leaders. Winning battles and building countries is about courage, guts, and grit as much as it involves compromise, level-headedness, and the discipline to wait for good things to come despite the storm around you. Abraham Lincoln is a larger-than-life figure and one of history’s greatest leaders.

What is your favorite quote?

“Life is a marathon, not a race. Sincerity in your actions is what matters.” – my father

You need you have the fire in your heart to succeed. No one can do it for you. If you want it, work hard and go get it. Never get distracted.

Key learnings:

• Be willing to experiment and fail.
• Confront your failures and losses. The quicker you do it, the better.
• Place an emphasis on physical health and managing your time properly.
• You can’t create hours in the day, but you can use them better. Use time-management tools.
• Dedicate yourself to something larger than you and be willing to take failure with humility. If you have a purpose, nothing can stop you.

Connect:

Transizion.com

Instagram: @jasonpatel13
Linkedin:
Facebook:
Twitter: @Transizion_