Kentucky Connect: Meet George Bell!

Big things are poppin' for Collegiate Curls here at the University of Kentucky, as we kick off our Interest Week! What better way for us to show love to all of our supportive students than to highlight a few of the move makers on our campus?

Here at UK, we have a plethora of students and alumni making boss moves both on and off campus! Our first move-maker of the week hails from Louisville, KY. Mr. George Bell is a 20-year-old Junior pursuing a Marketing degree. Of his college options, he chose UK based on its accredited Marketing program, scholarship awards, and its proximity to his hometown. Oh! And his favorite hair product is his brush to "keep the waves on seasick" (you know we had to ask)...

During his time at UK so far, George has established himself as an entrepreneur! We got the chance to catch up with Mr. Bell to talk about his business: Life Off U

CC: How would you describe the purpose/mission of Life Off U?

Mr. Bell: The purpose of Life Off U is to enhance the college student experience. Most students, especially those who aren't from their collegiate city, have no idea what opportunities lie beyond campus borders. With Life Off U, I hope to create a one-stop platform that can assist students with finding entertainment, food, housing, events, and much more in a way no other platform has before.

What inspired you to start the company?

I was inspired to make the company by my own realization that I had no idea about the things going on off-campus and the belief I was equipped to bring value to businesses and students alike through my skillsets. It also came from my own beliefs: the only way to get rich was to make money for yourself. So, starting a business I'm passionate about has been something I've dreamed of doing since I was a kid.

How did you go about putting your business plan in action?

Really it was just telling myself to get it done. With building a website, cold calling and showing up at businesses, reaching out to investors, going to several networking meetings, registering for multiple entrepreneurship events and expos, it really all came down to not being scared to fall on my face and taking a chance. I think that's what all success stems from: unadulterated hustle and the fear of contentment being greater than the fear of failure.

What are your long term goals for Life Off U?

My long-term goals for Life Off U are a mobile app platform spanning across the country with partnerships to major Universities, in both private and public sectors, helping students finding the best ways to live Life Off U!

How has Life Off U impacted your life as a young entrepreneur so far?

Life Off U has given me profound knowledge. Most people think owning a business makes me super wise and financially superior, which in some ways it has. Although, I'd say more than anything, its opened my eyes to the fact that business is difficult and the gap between me, my business, and the Fortune 500 companies I hope to be apart of one day is astronomical. It's also helped me form new relationships with people much smarter and wiser than myself, giving me new avenues to information and resources. Most importantly, its helped shine the light on who's really with me and who believes in my idea and my desire to be great.

What would you like to see from Collegiate Curls this year?

I love your #CurlCrushMondays; it really made my day getting a shoutout from you guys and definitely makes me feel the work I do has been recognized, so doing more of those for the fine, working men/women of UK is something I'm 100% behind!

How can the people get in touch with you and start getting involved with Life Off U?

For anybody looking to get involved with Life Off U, you can email destin@lifeoffu.com or follow my pages (IG: Life_Off_U) (Twitter: LifeOffU) and check out my website (www.lifeoffu.com). I'm actually looking for designers and videographers to help me create content, so if anyone is interested in that, most definitely hit me up!

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A huge thank you to George for taking the time to fill us in on his life as a young entrepreneur at the University of Kentucky! We have no doubt that all of his hard work will pay off. Be sure to support using the contact information listed above and in the future, look out for Life Off U to come to a campus near you!

Come back for a new Kentucky Connect each day of our Interest Week ; )