We’re looking forward to introducing you to Michael Jaycox. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Michael, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
The Neapolitan Novels. You could ask me this question any day and the answer would probably be the most recent book off my shelf — but these four novels have truly captured my love of great fiction. Written by Elena Ferrante and translated into English by Ann Goldstein, the series tells a singular story of friendship spanning sixty years in Naples, Italy. It’s amazing; go read it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’d describe myself as a writer with an entrepreneurial spirit. I’m equally happy shutting myself in a room for hours to type away at the computer as I am dreaming up new business opportunities. Several years ago, that combination of interests led to the creation of In Your Words Copy, a boutique copywriting agency that specializes in developing long-term brand strategies with its clients.
The way I see it, every business should be telling a story — and that’s where I like to come in.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
A dreamer, for sure. And to be fair, I think I still am (for better and worse). Every time I catch hold of an idea — whether it’s for a story or part of my business — my mind zips off after it like a bottle rocket. I’ve spent a lot of time with my head up in the clouds.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
When you do something for a long time without success or validation, it becomes easy to question why you’re doing it at all — whether it’s all just been a big waste of time.
And having chased a number of dreams myself, I can confirm that sometimes the answer is yes — I’ve run down plenty of dark corridors only to find myself at a solid, immovable dead end.
But it’s been in those same failures where I’ve confirmed what I actually love to do — and not just what I do for reward.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Personally, I use AI all the time. It’s one of the most powerful tools for small businesses and entrepreneurs to increase efficiency — and honestly, if you’re not strategically implementing it, you’re already falling behind.
But it has no place in art.
This isn’t even an argument about money or credit or whether the results are good — I don’t care. For me, the point is that art is a distinctly human practice. It’s how many of us have expressed ourselves for thousands of years. To turn that over to a machine is to give up one of the few things that makes us special.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What false labels are you still carrying?
False labels — that’s an interesting way to put it. I’ve certainly struggled with labels. If anything, I’ve carried so many that it’s been hard to present myself in any one way with confidence.
I wish there were a single word that could explain everything I do — fiction writer, choreographer, copywriter, instructor, marketer — without needing further explanation.
So I guess the false label I place upon myself is that I’m “un-label-able.” Instead, if I can be a man of many hats, I’d like to think that I can become comfortable being a man of many labels.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.inyourwordscopy.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-jaycox
