Jesse Paul Smith got his start in entertainment as a dancer with McDonald Selznick Associates in 2005. He has since built a successful career as a dancer, recording artist, and entrepreneur, using his talents to speak to over 100,000 people worldwide. Now he helps creatives turn their passion into a thriving business with his company, My Creative District, and helps dancers get their big break with the WorldWide Dance Challenge.
What does your company do?
We bring dancers together from all over the world and all different styles to compete head-to-head in front of a live audience. The goal is to help undiscovered dancers with the dream of getting on bigger stages and dancing for bigger stars have their big break.
What has surprised you most about running your own business?
I don’t think I really understood how challenging it was to stay innovative enough to break through all the noise. I’ve always been able to get traction on something, but running your own business takes a new level of commitment.
What drives you to keep working hard each day?
I know who I’m serving: the dancer who’s dreaming of making it big. I know what it’s like to lay in bed and dream about the day you get your big break and can do what you love in front of thousands of people. When I wake up, I know I have the chance to help make their dream a reality.
Be sure to follow Jesse on Instagram, TikTok @worldwidedancechallenge, Facebook, and LinkedIn.