Blog | Just Be Simple

WHERE IT ALL STARTED

The start of the New Year. January 1st, 2020, I finally decided to start streaming on Twitch. I've always wanted to do YouTube & stream because I know what I had in my heart was bigger than basketball. I had hopes & dreams of playing professional basketball while simultaneously capturing the moments of my journey.

After I graduated high school May of 2019, I was looking for what to do next. I go on to play basketball at a Prep Academy & travel all around the country, basically playing for free. Playing against professionals, training with them, meeting scouts, high level competition, etc. Haven't even thought about YouTube or Twitch during this time because I'm living out my vision.

My season ends & I know I'm not going to college, so now I'm back at square one. I've always loved gaming. Especially NBA 2K. Playing with my boys online, just having fun. Going back to 'that night' where it all started. It was New Years Eve around 11:30 PM. My boys and I playing MyPark NBA 2K20, I asked, "Yo, should I turn my stream on?" They all scream, "YEAAH, if we on, you better cut that stream on!" Bet. And the rest is history.

What you see in this picture is me, Jaden Banks, at 19 years young. I move out my family crib with 2 duffle bags, little to no clothes, 26 inch TV, MacBook Pro Air, and my PS4. WHY? I needed to take that leap of self belief. To show myself how bad I wanted it. I moved in with my brother Kyle 45 minutes away from New Orleans with NO CAR! Slept on an air mattress, barely had any money to eat, no haircut for months, streamed 12-13 hours a day, and filmed YouTube videos, on top of me going through my spiritual awakening ALONE.

But, guess what?! I DID IT! No Excuses. Every monthly paycheck I got from Twitch, I used for food and gave it all right back to my supporters for giveaways. I didn't have much (materialistically) but, felt so free and open. WHY? Because I was doing something I love. Fulfilling my purpose at the same time.

This is where it all started!

THE END OF AN ERA

After my season ended, my basketball career was officially done. BY MY CHOICE. Not from injury, I wasn't good enough, not being coachable, not enough heart, nothing. I'm glad.

November 8th, 2019. Right after graduating high school, this was the best opportunity for me.

Just so y'all know I'm not cap..

THE COME BACK

A couple months after living with my brother Kyle, I go back to my family in New Orleans and get straight to business. Sometimes they not even seeing my face. I'm still streaming 12 hours a day & making YouTube videos. I rarely ate. Just worked out, meditated, journaled, and streamed/filmed. That's all I wanted to do.

My family was under the impression that I was gonna be gone for a couple days to a week. I ended up gone for 3-5 months. I had to feel the wind beneath my wings in order to fly.

Every time I got some more money, I invested it right back into my setup and the quality. As you see in this picture, I'm using my MacBook Pro Air to stream now and I upgrade to getting a Blue Yeti Microphone.

THE MAC UPGRADE

If you know anything about streaming, computers, and the requirements of broadcasting a good stream, it is nearly impossible to stream of any MacBook. I made it happen. I couldn't use any streaming software like Streamlabs or OBS. It would immediately crash my laptop. I made it work. True definition of persistence and if somebody really wants to, then they will. That's how I live my life.

PROJECT FACEBOOK MARKET!

This day still gives me the chills. October 1, 2020, I purchase my first ever PC! With my own money. I bought it off of Facebook Marketplace and I was so excited. I still have no car so I had to get somebody to bring me. It was in a very rough part of the city, but I didn't care. I will go to the end for something that I love. Purpose & Passion.

As you can also see in the picture, I made some ore upgrades. I bought my first gaming monitor. Asus VG245 24'inch. And I bought my first camera. Logitech C920 Pro off of Facebook Marketplace. I was so ready to hook everything up. Stayed up all night fixing my settings, fixing the audio, quality, etc. It was well worth the wait.

PROJECT FACEBOOK MARKET

(CLOSE-UP PIC)

One thing I also want you to focus on is the whiteboard on the wall. On top of me streaming multiple hours a day, barely sleeping because my passion makes it impossible. I remained disciplined. My everyday routine. Meditate, brush teeth, (yes, I had to remind myself, don't judge) workout, go for a walk, read, write how I'm doing, feeling, & thinking, learn something new, and do some shadow work. EVERYDAY! There is no days off. Because even when you're "resting", you're still being present and rejuvenating your purpose. Where your energy goes, your attention flows. I made sure to be 100% conscious of my energy, time, and space. It's supposed to be relaxing, but this passion makes that impossible.

ALL IN MODE

In this picture, everything I wanted has came full circle.

I have an Asus double monitor setup, professional keyboard, mouse, microphone, headset, and PC. If you look closely, you can also see my Facebook Marketplace PC still in the back that I still have to this day. I'll never forget where & how I started.

At this point, I'm officially all in!

THE MOVE OUT

December 31st, 2021

I finally save up enough money to move out of my family crib. It was a very tedious process on finding a place, but it was easy getting one. When you want something in this life, the universe will do anything to help conspire that vision. I get my own gaming/streaming room. I've always wanted a space of my own to yell, laugh, and be completely free in it without anybody telling me to quiet down.

This all comes from a vision I had, manifested, slept on, wrote about, and dreamt of. Then, the energy of the universe made everything come to fruition. My own responsibilities and bills.

Now, the true work begins.

THE MOVE IN

Everything I've ever thought of transpired in one picture. Always grateful, never content.

OFFICIAL SETUP

January 2022

I've achieved a triple-monitor setup, the finest top of the line technology, & the best community to support themselves and myself. Over the years, I've came to remember that strangers will support/believe in you more than most of the people who have known us our whole lives. It's a blessing in disguise though. WHY? Because WHEN they do start to believe in what could see the whole time.. they'll be back. Then, the ball is in your court. You could do whatever you wanna do at that point.

But you ain't never gon be happy till you love yourz!

THE BEGINNING OF NEW LIFE!

Cheers to new beginning!

Thank you all for believing.

The unseen is now seen.