Story of the Week
A quiet moment in the StoryStack Studio office — where legacy begins.
When Jalal Wilson and his family boarded a plane from Seattle to Columbia, South Carolina, they carried more than just luggage. They carried dreams, uncertainties, and a deep sense that something meaningful awaited them in this unfamiliar Southern city.
“I felt like a rockstar traveling from city to city looking for a new home during COVID when flights and hotels were surprisingly affordable.”
After visiting Houston, Atlanta, and Columbia, the choice became clear. Columbia offered the balance they sought: affordability, family friendliness, and a refreshingly slower pace of life. Shortly after settling on their destination, Jalal married his partner, officially blending their families. While exchanging vows they both included “building generational wealth” — though the path to that goal remained unclear.
The Leap of Faith
Reality struck hard just three months later when Jalal lost his job of five years, only a week after receiving praise from his employers. With no job and the pandemic still unfolding, the family decided it was time to take the leap. They sold most of their possessions, gathered every dollar they could, and moved on faith.
“Something about not taking the old into the new sounded right to me.”
Landing in Columbia with his wife and children, Jalal felt the immense weight of responsibility. Their first weeks involved multiple temporary housing situations before finally securing a three-bedroom rental that forced the couple to transform the living room into their bedroom.
Family tensions emerged in this transition period. The isolation of being in a new place without support systems tested their resilience daily.
Survival Mode
The entrepreneurial dream that had once seemed so attainable began to fade under the pressure of simply surviving. Feeling defeated, Jalal journeyed back into the job market. The professional adjustment proved equally challenging. The work culture differed significantly from Seattle, with lower pay and requests that felt like shaving away layers of identity.
“I remember sitting in the barbershop chair as my son help my barber cut off my beard.”
The turning point came when the family found their tribe, another transplant family from California whom they affectionately call “the cousins.” Suddenly, South Carolina started to feel less like a strange place and more like home. After two challenging years, they purchased their first home, a significant milestone that required Jalal to truly believe they deserved this stability. When life slaps you around enough you start to feel unworthy of any blessing you receive.
Finding Purpose Through Story
Having his own office space finally gave Jalal the mental room to think, to examine who he was and what he truly wanted.
“I decided to stop trying to force skills I did not naturally possess. Instead, I focused on stacking skills I already had: a love for stories, a genuine interest in people, and an appreciation for preserving timeless memories.”
StoryStack Studio emerged from this realization. Today, Jalal helps families and businesses in Columbia craft narratives that connect and endure. His journey from Seattle transplant to established storyteller informs every aspect of his approach.
Each setback, doubt, lesson, and blessing became necessary threads in the narrative that brought StoryStack Studio to life.
They carried more than just luggage — they carried a legacy waiting to be told. Now, through StoryStack Studio, Jalal helps others unpack and preserve theirs.
About StoryStack Studio
StoryStack Studio helps businesses and families in Columbia, SC preserve what matters most — one story at a time. Want your story told? Contact us today.