How Jayson Miletta Built a Business at 18, Scaled with AI, and Learned to Sell Like a Pro
At just 21 years old, Jayson Miletta is proving that age is no barrier to entrepreneurial success. A recent graduate of Rowan University, Jayson is juggling college life with running multiple businesses—and doing it all with the vision and hustle of a seasoned founder.
In a recent episode of The Entrepreneur’s Journey with Michael Pallozzi, Jayson shared his story—from launching side hustles as a kid to scaling a digital marketing agency that’s attracting national clients. His message is clear: smart risk-taking, relentless testing, and staying uncomfortable are the keys to success.
Hustle Baked In from Day One
Jayson’s entrepreneurial itch started early. In kindergarten, he was flipping Silly Bands for profit. By middle school, he’d launched a clothing brand. “I sold to my friends, but I didn’t know anything about marketing or scale,” he recalls. That curiosity and action-first mentality eventually led him into something bigger: a professional cornhole league.
Yes, you read that right.
At 18, fresh out of high school, Jayson joined a team launching a national cornhole franchise. He found investors, landed equity, and began cold-calling on nothing but grit and Google. “I probably got 10,000 ‘no’s before I got one yes,” he laughs. But once he cracked the code, the momentum shifted. “We sold one franchise in five months… then five in one month.”
The Power of Failing Fast
That sales experience was the catalyst for his next move—digital marketing. Today, Jayson runs GDG Media, a full-service growth firm offering everything from ad campaigns to end-to-end sales support.
But what sets GDG apart? Jayson rejects the typical “leads and likes” agency pitch. “You can’t take leads to the bank,” he says. “We tie our work to revenue and even offer rev-share models. If our clients win, we win.”
GDG’s services include:
- Advanced email automation (sending 7,000+ personalized emails daily)
- Google and social ad strategy
- AI-driven lead nurturing
- In-house call center and sales scripting
It’s lean, it’s tech-forward, and it’s all about ROI.
Building a Self-Managing Company
Jayson’s mindset? Build once, scale forever. “I want to spend my time where it matters—building relationships and closing deals. Everything else should be handled by systems or people.” He’s already delegated day-to-day operations and spends most of his time acquiring new clients or refining the strategy.
The ultimate goal? To work 20–30 hours a week, consult for other founders, and explore real estate. Oh, and maybe live on a cruise ship for a month. Why not?
Lessons for Young (and Older) Entrepreneurs
Despite his age, Jayson’s approach to business holds timeless lessons:
- Fail fast, iterate faster: “Every no is just data for your next yes.”
- Delegate to grow: “You can’t scale if you’re doing everything yourself.”
- Revenue beats vanity: “Leads, likes, clicks… none of it matters if it doesn’t make money.”
- Be resourceful: From Facebook groups for Lamborghini owners to AI-generated email outreach—creativity is your edge.
Want to Host a Cornhole Fundraiser?
Jayson still runs Jersey Jay’s Cornhole, a mobile tournament company that helps schools and nonprofits raise money in a fun, laid-back way. It’s a reminder that not all great ideas need to be digital or complex—some just need solid execution and a love for community.
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