Jason R. Sol: Leaving the Corporate World to Chase a Dream

Who Is Jason R. Sol?

The 2013 Interview

Dance Mogul: You told us about working on the upcoming Ninja Turtles movie last we spoke. What have you been up to since then?

Jason R. Sol: Since finishing working on the Michael Bay-produced Ninja Turtles, I have been pretty involved with the stunt side of the acting industry. I just finished working on an episode of the Power Rangers series where I did stunts as the Silver Guardian. I’m also breaking more into the modeling world. In the month of October, I booked two print jobs for a leading financial and telecommunications company. I am currently cast in a principal role in my first Korean drama as Jae Min, a positive protagonist. This groundbreaking series, called This Love Song, is filming in New York and will debut in November. There will be a number of choreographed dance scenes, working with Bounce Dance Studios in Flushing.

Dance Mogul: What has been your formula for progression?

Jason R. Sol: I don’t know if there is an exact formula or blueprint in this industry. Everyone makes or digs their own path. I’m really grateful and lucky to have such an awesome support system. Everyone on my Facebook, Instagram and Twitter has given me so much motivation and encouragement! I have those tough days that I question if I should go back to the corporate world. I realize that I can’t quit, because I’d feel guilty letting down all my supporters who really believed in me. They push me to keep pursuing my passion, and I’m always grateful for that!

The video below is about courage. The director was inspired by my life’s backstory and journey, so we shot a short video together for it.

Dance Mogul: How can being in a magazine that inspires self-empowerment help move you and others forward?

Jason R. Sol: I’m very grateful and flattered to be interviewed by Dance Mogul Magazine. I hope my story really inspires people to follow their dreams no matter what circumstance they’re in. I had a pretty comfortable life, and I gave up everything I worked for and moved to New York City to pursue a dream. Today, I’m working harder than I ever did but happier than I’ve ever been! Even though I don’t know when my next paycheck will be, it’s so exciting to actually pursue a lifelong dream! As long as you have a positive and humble attitude topped with a strong work ethic, the sky is the limit! It sounds cliché, but it’s so true!

Today, I’m working harder than I ever did but happier than I’ve ever been!

— Jason R. Sol to Dance Mogul Magazine, 2013

Dance Mogul: As individuals, do you feel we should hold each other accountable and responsible for our actions on social networks and in our community?

Jason R. Sol: Yes. Social networks and communities have increasingly become primary spaces where people interact with each other. Just as I would treat my fellow community members with respect in my physical community, I believe members of my online community deserve the same. I hope others that share my online space feel the same. It’s amazing to see how our culture and the way we live have drastically changed in the last couple of years!

Dance Mogul: If you could change the world for the better and money was no object, what would you do?

Jason R. Sol: I would love to end world hunger. There are many days and nights that I sacrifice food just to maintain my budget. Those days are tough for me because I love to eat, but I can only imagine how people, especially kids, go through this on a regular basis. Everyone should have access and never be denied food.

Dance Mogul: What are your thoughts about working as a team to help uplift the community?

Jason R. Sol: As a young boy, I was always taught that it was better to give than to receive. I always loved to help and give to others. To be able to be in a position to help others is such a gratifying feeling! As I started my career in acting, my finances were cut drastically. I have been so humbled and blessed with the amount of support I’ve received from friends and family. I might not have all the nicest things, but I am grateful for what I do have. We have so many more unfortunate people that are struggling to get by, and if I can help someone have a better day, it’s a priceless feeling. I am currently working with a friend to start a foundation to help the community. It’s in its infant stages, but I’m excited to get that going!

Dance Mogul: Do you feel that a magazine that is geared toward the youth is needed in our society?

Jason R. Sol: I have to say that it’s much needed, due to the fact that youth today are so advanced with their knowledge of technology and the way the culture has evolved. Even though it wasn’t too long ago that I finished school, the way we live now is so advanced compared to when I was a youth. It’s great to have a magazine that really empowers the youth and motivates them to succeed. Kids are a lot smarter than we give them credit for. They have so much to offer and just need the right resources and guidance to succeed.

Dance Mogul: If you had to name five people that helped change the world for the better, who would they be?

Jason R. Sol: This question was a little difficult to answer because we have so many great people that had major impacts on how we live today. Five people that come to mind are Jesus Christ, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr. and Bill Gates.

Dance Mogul: What do you want your legacy to be?

Jason R. Sol: I’ve never been asked or even thought about this question. I had to really think about what I want people to remember me for. If I had to choose, I would hope people would give me credit for having the courage to go pursue a dream that a lot of people only fantasize about. Sometimes I can’t believe I quit my job and moved to New York to pursue something I had absolutely no background or training in. I simply had a passion that gave me tunnel vision to not second-guess my decision.

So many people I know or have met are stuck in what they call a “dead-end job.” They are only working there because they need the money or it’s the safe route. I was that person for eight years after college! If you don’t try to follow your dreams today, one day you’ll realize you don’t have time to do it anymore and live a regretful life. I have one life to live, and I wanted to make sure not to live in regret. I’m not saying everyone should just quit their jobs and go for their dreams, but you should know if it’s the best move for you. I’m not the most talented, best-looking, tallest or smartest, but I know I’m a hard worker. I am making the best with the cards I was dealt. I have been very fortunate to have the opportunities to work with great actors, but most people don’t realize that these opportunities only came disguised as all the hard work I put in.

I’m not the most talented, best-looking, tallest or smartest, but I know I’m a hard worker.

— Jason R. Sol to Dance Mogul Magazine, 2013

Interview reproduced in full from DMM’s October 23, 2013 feature, with spelling and punctuation corrected.

Watch

The short film Courage, embedded in the interview above, was made by Launch Pictures and inspired by Jason’s story of leaving his corporate career. It is the clearest picture of why DMM featured him: the leap itself is the lesson.

Career Timeline

Where Is Jason R. Sol Now?

In 2013, Jason said he hoped people would remember him for having the courage to chase a dream. IMDb shows that he kept working the next year, listing 2014 credits that include Agent Mathis in the short film The Vigilante and roles in Locas of Weyard Hall, TNT: Always on the Run and My Crazy Love.

Whatever came next, the decision captured here is the part that inspires: a man who did everything expected of him, found it wasn’t enough, and bet on himself.

What the Next Generation Should Learn

1. Know if the leap is right for you. Jason was clear: he wasn’t telling everyone to quit their jobs, but to honestly ask whether following a dream is the best move for them.

2. Hard work is the hidden opportunity. He said his breaks only came disguised as the hard work he put in.

3. Support systems matter. On tough days, the people who believed in him kept him from going back.

4. Give, even when you have less. Even while sacrificing meals for his budget, he talked about ending hunger and starting a foundation.

Why It Matters to DMM

DMM’s mission reaches beyond dance to anyone building a life with purpose. Jason’s story speaks to every reader stuck in a safe job and wondering about the dream they set aside. It is about courage, discipline, gratitude and community, the same values behind every dancer we cover.

Read more stories of people who chose their own path in our Exclusive Interviews, and plan the business side of a creative career with The Dancer’s Lifetime Plan.

Jason R. Sol: Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Jason R. Sol?

Jason R. Sol is an actor and stunt performer from central Pennsylvania who left an eight-year corporate career and moved to New York City in December 2011 to pursue acting.

What did Jason R. Sol work on in 2013?

He told DMM he worked on the Michael Bay-produced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, did stunts as the Silver Guardian on Power Rangers, played an MMA fighter on Royal Pains and was cast in the Korean drama This Love Song.

What is the short film Courage?

Courage is a short film by Launch Pictures. Jason told DMM the director was inspired by his life story and journey, and they shot it together.

What does Jason R. Sol want his legacy to be?

He said he hopes people credit him for having the courage to pursue a dream that many people only fantasize about.

The Story Continues

Jason told DMM he once thought it was cliché to say hard work makes dreams come true, and that he was proving himself wrong every day. That is a story worth keeping.

If you are standing where he stood in 2011, his advice is honest: know whether the move is right for you, then work harder than you ever have.

Sources & Further Viewing

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