Episode 7 - Understanding People - Jamar Jones

Understanding people and the way they think is an art form that many take a lifetime to achieve. Others have a natural ability, still, others learn through experience (trial and error). Jamar may be a natural or a combination, but he sure has an ability. 

Jamar Jones, Business Owner, Speaker, and Author of Changer Your Circle, Change Your Life  

 

Leighann Lovely  00:15

Let's Talk HR is a place for HR professionals, business owners and employees to come together and share experiences, to talk about what's working and what's not. How we can improve best practices so that companies can better attract, train and retain all generations of workers. We all know that there has been a huge shift in what people want. generations are coming together more than ever, on what's important. Mental health has been brought to the forefront of everyone's mind. Let's humanize these conversations. Let's talk about how the economy has been impacted and what needs to happen to find a balance. I'm your host Leighann Lovely. So let's get this conversation started. And remember, if you enjoyed this episode, follow us like us and share us.

 

Leighann Lovely  01:04

I am so excited to have my next guest join me today. He has forced me outside my comfort zone, I look up to him. He is a natural leader and has created his own success and continues to do that. Jamar Jones business owners speaker and author of the book Change Your Circle, Change Your Life is a visionary who believes in leadership and subscribes to the notion that we can all connect with each other in a relatable way from a thriving music career performing for thousands to managing IT professionals. Jim Mars experience inspired him to establish his own branding and media agency, forever media. Now six years later, and 11 employees strong Jamar models consistency and a strong work ethic to his team. His desire to surround himself with good people who challenge him to excel every day is what excites and empowers him. Jamar is proud to serve others as a beacon for excellence. His philosophies and intentional action have changed the landscape of his life and the lives of others. Jamar thank you so much for coming and talking with me today. I'm really excited to have you here.

 

Jamar Jones  02:27

Yeah, it's I'm super, I'm super excited to have to be on this podcast, to talk about some HR talk about life. Talk about people, because that's what HR is all about.

 

Leighann Lovely  02:38

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. It's the human factor, right? I think so many people forget that HR is human resources. So yes, yes. Well, tell me a little bit, you know, about yourself and your business Foureva Media.

 

Jamar Jones  02:56

Yeah, uh, Foureva Media is really becoming a source for branded entertainment. That's the best way to put it for blurring the lines between advertising and entertainment. And how do you do that? So Foureva Media is a firm that really focuses on things that have a cause or a mission. And really teaching people and working with people how to market like an entertainer. So the the company itself, I have about 13 people who work for the company here in Brookfield and yeah, we really are focused on branding, podcasting, social media events, and in design is really our focus.

 

Leighann Lovely  03:43

That's awesome. And you started the organization, you started the company. So you are kind of the everything of you know, owner, human resources and author now you, definitely wrote a book, which, yeah, so often, I have interviewed authors. And I've said, Sorry, I didn't get a chance to read your book, your book I read. And it was yeah, it was awesome. I loved it. So tell me a little bit about changer circle change your life?

 

Jamar Jones  04:18

Yeah, Change Your Circle, Change Your Life is all about how to evaluate your current circle, and then how to get into nuance. And too many people are they live in their own bubble. And they don't know. First of all, they don't know how to be self-aware enough to know that they're just comfortable in their own bubble. And then also they don't know how to get into new circles to expand their mind, their mindsets, their connections, relationships and opportunities. So the book is really focused on mindset and action at the same time and things that you can actually apply it to your life to ultimately change it. And you know, people A circle as really, it almost the the ability to change the circle really defines growth that defines opportunity and where you're going. And in your life, if you stay in the same circle, you're so limited to beliefs and also to opportunity.

 

Leighann Lovely  05:21

And, while I without giving away too much on the book there was there was you talked a little bit about some of the the negatives that the vampires in the shepherd's, which really resonated with me, because, you know, I've had a lot of conversations with people have, you know, you get to a point in your life where you realize there are certain people that you have to, you have to walk away with, or walk away from. And I think that you have a little bit of a personal experience that you share. And that it really, you know, I've experienced that I think many people have experienced that where you cannot continue to grow personally, if you are allowing some people in your life to continue to just drag you down. And so yeah, there. I mean, it was just amazing to read it. Not only was I reading it and hearing your voice in my head I think this is so weird, you know, but it's definitely a different feeling when you know, somebody that you know, the right right wrote the book, and then I feel like wow, I am hearing Jabbar in my head when

 

Jamar Jones  06:29

it's literally like my speak in it too, because I drove my editor crazy, because he's like, you can't say this, you you technically shouldn't have this, they're like, just keep it just keep it I needed to be me.

 

Leighann Lovely  06:40

Hey, write your authentic self. You gotta it's got to be. And I'm sure that the people who know you and have have read it, have said something to you similar like, wow, I felt like Jamal was sitting in my bedroom while I was reading this book that probably got creepy away for a second in the bedroom. Chillin in the bedroom? Yes. But no, there were a lot of things that really, you know, resignated with, with me from, you know, just being able to hear your personal story and your personal growth. So, you know, anybody listening, definitely check out the book, it's, it's great. To be able to hear somebody else's story, and then identify in certain ways, whatever that might be, with your own personal story. So, yeah, I loved it. It was great. Yeah. So I would love to, to know a little bit more about it. When did you decide that, hey, I want to write a book. And I want to tell the story.

 

Jamar Jones  07:43

Um, I didn't know it was gonna be in a while I've always wanted to write something. So I knew that I had I knew something was there, the changes circle, change your life. philosophy was all it was with me, you know, five, six years ago, I actually have an old video, that's like five and a half years ago, and I was sitting on this couch, and I was like, change your circle, change your life, you know, something like that some live stream was doing on Facebook or so. So the concept has always been there. But as I started to evolve as a person, I started to get more clear that, okay, this is what I want the book to be about. Because it's something that I've lived personally. And I'm going to continue to live. And so that it just, it just keeps it keeps, you know, something that's fresh, it's new, it's exciting. I'm living in it. So I wanted to share that story. And I felt let you know, I didn't need to wait for all the credentials, you know, I I know through the book, you know, I can have part two, part three, part four, Part Five as I can seem to change my circle, and my life is inevitably going to change. So I'm like, let me just get this out. Now. Let me just do it now. And that was the whole The whole purpose and I want something that's a staple to something that I can pass on to somebody else. That's more than just a business card. It's like, Hey, this is this is me, you can get to learn and, you know, know how my mind works. And it's just, uh, that extra step.

 

Leighann Lovely  09:21

That's great. You know, and a lot of people and I like what you said about, like, let's get it out. There's so many people out there who you started. And then it takes them 10 years because they're like, I just let's make it perfect. Let's make but there is no, there is no, right. There's no form of there's no, there's no perfect. Oh, but you know, yours was great. Your book is great. So,

 

Jamar Jones  09:48

notice the words in that one. I read I read it back and I'm like, oh, there's a period missing, right?

 

Leighann Lovely  09:55

Like, oh, you know what, though? I am, grammar is that's so insignificant when it comes to the content. Oh, content 100%. Now I know that there are some, you know, grammar majors out there. There are some in there like, nope, absent. But you know, really come on. I don't think that's yeah, yeah. I, you know, and I used to my brother is a major in his major in creative writing. And, you know, he used to be an editor and I used to every time I wrote something, I would send it to him and be like, can you edit this? And I got to a point in my life where I'm like, No, it's just not worth it like. And now people text in order to communicate like, yeah, using abbreviations that sometimes I have to Google. I'm like, I don't even know what this abbreviation

 

Jamar Jones  10:50

I'm having to do it. That means we get and we get in there. Now we got to start Googling it, you get what is this?

 

Leighann Lovely  11:01

Yeah, you know, that you're, you're Yeah, I'm dating myself. Oh, god. Oh. So let's go back to Fourever Media, you know, you. You talk a little bit in the book about, you know, starting a business and your journey to that. Tell me, you know, in your own words of just, you know, how did you decide one day, I'm going to start my own company, and now responsible for use 13? Employees? Yeah, yeah. I'd love to hear a little bit more about that. What I mean, and why. I shouldn't say why. I shouldn't ask, why did you start your own business? But, you know, when when did you say, Hey, I'm gonna, I'm gonna do this. This is this is my path.

 

Jamar Jones  11:53

Yeah, um, I was talking to my dad the other day about this. And, you know, I'm naturally a risk taker. You know, like, it's just, it's just in me, I'm about to take a gigantic risk in a couple weeks. And it's, it's something that you when I was doing music, like, I always had this entrepreneur mindset of doing something for myself. So I never was in this, like, I got to get the degree, I got to get the, you know, like the pathway was never appealing to me. And I'm like, I'd rather bet on myself and bet on a system, you know, so let me let me do it. You know, so, through music, I think I developed an entrepreneur spirit. And so by time I got laid off from the IT company I was working at, or the financial company, I, you know, it's like getting back into the workforce. It's let me tell you how my mind works. It doesn't make sense. So I, you know, after I got laid off, there's some severance pay that happened, you know, very short, I think was like, probably like a month wasn't much. And then after that, I'm supposed to, you know, get collect unemployment. I have so much pride of myself are doing my own thing. I only collected unemployment for two weeks. And then I just said, like, I don't need you, I don't need you. Stupid, I shouldn't just took the money. But I just was like, I didn't want to turn in false interviews of what I'm doing. Because I'm like, I'm not gonna go find a job, I'm not going to, I'm going to decide to do this myself. And that was kind of that moment where I'm like, No, I'm gonna, like, I don't want to lean on these other things that are gonna dictate my future. So I wanted to take that upon myself. So that I was like, Hey, I'm just gonna open something that anything I'm kind of good at, is what I want to start at. So I had like, 20 services, anything I'm kind of good at, put it out there. And then slowly, the things that correlated with me just took off, you know, the video and the photography side more video than anything started to take off. And I started to develop that. And I feel like throughout the years now I've, I'm finally getting in that sweet spot of, you know, really the essence of myself now breathing through the company, and I'm able to offer a lot of value.

 

Leighann Lovely  14:28

That's great. And it takes some people well, some people never find that sweet spot of what they want to do. Some people dream about it their entire lives and and never find that and it also takes somebody who is willing to take that risk, and there are a lot of risk adverse individuals out there you are you're, you know, a very small percentage of the population who is willing to take a chance on themselves and willing to take a leap of faith and then be able to build it and be successful at it. So I yeah, I applaud you. That's, that's amazing. And you also are very involved in in other avenues. Other things, something coming up. What is it? Is it next week? Young Guns?

 

Jamar Jones  15:20

Yeah, two weeks, two weeks ago. Young Guns, they have another summit that they're doing. So yeah, we're and we're in the cool thing about getting involved with the Young Guns Movement is that now that I'm involved, I'm trying to elevate the events every single time to slowly each one, just trying to do something different, to add that little extra character to it. So I'm involved a lot of different groups, I'm on the board of climb, as well, which is a nonprofit organization all about financial literacy for the youth and young adults, just getting access to Financial Literacy, part of a group called Ford 48. So it's Emerging Leaders of Milwaukee, kind of come together and communicate and networks to help the community as well. And I'm about you know, probably involved with a lot of other things that are too long to list. But,

 

Leighann Lovely  16:18

but you know, you also you also try to take on mentors when you when you can, yes,

 

Jamar Jones  16:24

yes, so I personally mentor five people each year. So I get my phone number. And it's I have some youth, you know, some you know, young adults, so some people in high school, college, and then I have some, some older adults that are just trying to figure it out, you know, like, what, what's the next step? What do they do and have one guy that's, you know, around things like 38-39? Then he's just, you know, he's just trying to figure out how does he change his circle? How does he do it?

 

Leighann Lovely  16:53

And that's great, because for some people, it's it's difficult to reach out, and it's difficult to find somebody, but to have that lifeline, when you're when you have questions. Yeah, you know, I've had multiple mentors throughout my career, I'm in, I'm in the market for a mentor, Hey anyone out there. But I, you know, it's every mentor I've had has always happened naturally, I've never had to search for one before. And I just kind of, I'm kind of hanging out there right now. Like, I wonder, but anyways, but I, you know, having having a solid mentor that you can look up to, and that you respect, and that just, it's an amazing thing to have, especially as a young adult coming in and looking up to somebody who's built their own thing. I mean, you truly have built this from from scratch taking the risks that you've taken to build what you have built. That's, I mean, it's, that's awesome. Yeah, that's great.

 

Jamar Jones  17:59

It's, I have to pinch myself every time, you know, about being here, but I would say that the key to to doing what I'm doing is, is people, you know, you want to, you want to put your belief into people, even when they don't see it. And you can't do this alone. So people that maybe have an ego or pride, they're never going to build something bigger than themselves. Because you can't get past that one person, it's you need to empower other people, you need to have belief in them and, and give them room to to grow and to expand their own efforts. And I think through forever media, that's, that's what I'm, you know, I just want to unlock people's superpower. And, and let them let them go, you know, with it and run in and grow through it. And that's really the key, you know, you have to know, you know, this is an HR podcast, but that people is, if your culture is not there, you can't scale. You know, there's, there's no way to do it, and people will find something better, you know, so I'm trying to create that culture that is all about belief and growth and opportunity, unlocking superpowers, and, you know, just putting people in their own creative genius.

 

Leighann Lovely  19:29

And that's, you said culture. That is the number one reason anybody leaves a company, it 100% I mean, you're not happy at a company and people I have on a regular basis. I have people call me and say, I've been at this company 20 years, but I've noticed a cultural shift and it's becoming it's becoming a hostile work environment. I'm, I need to be out of here yesterday. But the managers and the owners to think like you, who empower their employees to be themselves, who empower their employees to do the best they can, by allowing them to do a variety of things, whether that be encouraging a side hustle, whether that be encouraging their own creativity, encouraging them to come forward with their own ideas. Yeah, those are things that will take your company to the next level. But there are so a lot of companies out there operating under the idea that, no, my employees have to be 100%, only about me and my company. And it's like, wait, wait. But people inherently want to do things for themselves and feel good for themselves, and know that they're being valued as individuals. It's not just about you. So get off your pedistal

 

Jamar Jones  20:57

Yeah, that the, I like to sum up all of that into into this, if, as a business owner or manager, you are in charge of selling the company in the brand. If what you what you want, is to start getting partners and stakeholders within what you're selling. So you have to provide equity. So if if your team and you're the other people that work for the organization, if they don't have equity, then what why are they there? They're just collecting a paycheck. And they're just they're just doing doing the task. There's no, there's no, they have nothing attached to it. So you have to provide and I'm not saying like literal equity of percentage, what I'm saying is that you have to give them some some type of buy in, you know, that, why are they here. So you have to, like you said, promote those ideas, promote those side hustles, those other things that can say, you can have something that says this is yours, too, this is yours are doing this together. It's not just me riding the wave and getting all the accolades. You know, this is a team effort. And we took that idea that you had and now look at it, boom, right? You know, so that's equity within your employees and within your team is so crucial for success.

 

Leighann Lovely  22:26

Yeah, absolutely. And I've, again, like I said, I've seen it, not only have I seen it from the outside, looking in at a company, because I've talked with the employees that work there, but I've experienced it myself, where I'm like, Wow, I'm literally just a number, another representative that's painted the color of the company, and right, being told that I need to blend in and just be the company. We're not an individual. That's just not the way the world works anymore. Everybody wants to have their own individuality. And if people like you, they buy from you, and you are the company. So it's just yeah, 100. Right. And as an owner who encourages your, you know, your employees to, to be themselves too. You know, and I'm going on a tangent, I have a tendency to do. I'm an HR geek,

 

Jamar Jones  23:22

Natural, it's your podcast, you can do whatever you want, when you gotta go on a tangent,

 

Leighann Lovely  23:27

and then three hours, you'd be like, okay, Leighann, I have other things to get to. I do appreciate the time, but I gotta go. Anyways, I know. That's, that's Yeah. So you know what I love about you. And you the first time I met you, I remember I actually saw you at the, when you were introduced at Young Guns, as you're joining the Young Guns. You walked in, and I was like, Who is this guy? Like, is he famous or something? Because you walked in? And you had? Who was it that was following you with? Like a camera? Or was it? Yeah, okay. Yeah. Right. I'm like, what does he do? Like, he must be famous. They're like, they have like cameras around him. And they're like, some, like, kind of, like watching you and then they introduced you. And I'm like, Okay, so he's, he's somebody important because, you know, they're filming all of this and, and then I briefly had the opportunity to talk with you and then we scheduled a one on one and I walked into your office, I had no idea what to expect. And then what we talked for, like two and a half an hour or two and like, walked out, I'm like, holy crap, like I've never done. I've never walked into a meeting and expecting it to be like, an hour and then leave and I'm like, Oh, my God. But it was like one of the greatest conversations like that I ever had, like on the first meeting. And I remember you said to me, oh, later on, if you're gonna hang out with me, you better get comfortable being in front of cameras. And since that day, the one thing that I'm not comfortable with and the reason that I'm I do a podcast where it's not doesn't show a picture of me is because I'm not. But every time I've seen you, you're like, Here, get in front of that camera. And you do you encourage, and you push people to do things that are outside, and not enough. Not in a uncomfortable way, but you encourage that, that limit that line, you kind of push that envelope of, but you can do this, you could and I love that about you. It's just you have a natural ability to talk people into doing things that maybe it's just that you're just a great sales guy.

 

Jamar Jones  25:57

Hey, people, you know, it's it's just people i That's amazing. That's amazing feedback. I always like to I'm always interested on hearing the outside looking in, you know, cuz like I'm always seeing it from one lens. And I some time I like this, you know, that kind of feedback. It's just people like it's a, I can quickly adapt to personalities for people and depending on if you're like, Andy Weins or you're very loud, and you know, and just like Dalio, but I can I can, I can get to that level with him. Or I can go calm and somebody that's more reserved. And so I have the ability to kind of, and that's what I kind of learned through the years, it's like, this is something that is not normal that now a lot of people have, you know, that kind of ability to connect with all types of individuals, they can only connect with only certain groups. And I think just how I carry myself and how I'm doing this stuff is is really interesting. And I just naturally always want to push people I just, I don't know, it's just in me, I always want to do it. And that's why I tell people at work here. I'm like, if you don't, if you don't want to be pushed this the wrong place. The Wrong place, because I'm gonna do it naturally. I'm not even gonna, I'm not even gonna, like do it intentionally. It's just gonna be like, No, you're gonna watch you got this like stuff get over there. Or, you know, I'm gonna push the boundaries of, of, you know, because I want to see greatness. I think we're, we all have greatness within us. We just have to unlock it. And that's, and I think you getting in front of those cameras. It just boosts a little bit a little bit of confidence. I did that I did that phone. Okay, let's go to the next day.

 

Leighann Lovely  27:39

Yeah, it No, it's to have that natural, that natural ability that you have to just, and it's subtle. You're just like, Oh, you just grabbed me. Okay, you're gonna go over here and you're gonna do this. And I'm like, no, no, I'm no, I'm not. No, yeah, yeah, yeah, you got this. You got this land. You got this? I guess I got this tomorrow. It's great. It's absolute. You are, you're a natural leader. You're you. You're a natural born leader. You're confident you. Yeah, you you are the kind of person who should be owning their own business and whatever you have in the hopper, and I'm, I'm so curious, I'm not going to ask you. But whatever it is, I'm sure that it's going to be a great success. I'm your cheering section over here.

 

Jamar Jones  28:26

Oh, my God. Well, once I announced that I will be hitting you up. I'm hitting actually everybody up. Okay. It's gonna happen this year, in the fall. And it's,

 

Leighann Lovely  28:39

is it required me to get in front of any cameras?

 

Leighann Lovely  28:46

Oh, of course. Okay. So, we are coming to time, but the question of the season. So of asking everybody, if you could pinpoint a time period in your career that made a huge difference in your life, or your career path? When would that be and why?

 

Jamar Jones  29:11

You know, I kind of I for myself, I have I have too many to name. I would say one of the I want to give you a really good concise answer. I one of the times that I say it in my book, so I have a mentor. And I don't think he knows on how much he did for me. It's, it's, I was in a period where I was, you know, deep into music, you know, trying to work an IT job at the same time. I was young and learning a lot of stuff didn't understand the corporate world at all. And I just felt like his patients in cander And the opportunities he was giving me the forgiveness that He gave me through that process of me evolving and learning and growing, I will never take that for granted of what he was able to do. And the mentorship and just the the late nights at the office, just give me some, you know, tips and tricks on some stuff or, you know, just that further belief. And, because I feel like it made me who I am today, because I had the, the entertainment, you know, the ambition side of me, but now I learned how to hone that in and deliver that in a way of in all different aspects. In really dove into more of personalities learning on how to communicate better with people how to listen, I was just a knucklehead, just you know, I would never listen. And it's helped me to listen first and then respond, just to so many things. That it it, I feel like that position in my life when I was about 23-24 It just really helped me become who I am today and be able to change my circle multiple times to get to this position.

 

Leighann Lovely  31:20

That's awesome. So this was when you were in your early 20s.

 

Jamar Jones  31:26

Yeah, early 23-24. Yeah, it was, because I, you know, he was basically like, hey, you know, cuz there's a training budget, and then he was like, go to, you know, you, you got to find the events and seminars and stuff to go to. But you know, whatever you find, as long as it's not astronomical, I'll prove it, and you got to go, and you got to take your notes, but you got to give me the notes after you get back. So it was like this thing. So I just, like went to all these different seminars, all these different kind of trainings and stuff, and it just really helped me, but then also the personal connection with him, you know, helping me through it, and dealing with real life situations, like crappy bosses, and, you know, just dealing with stupid stuff in the corporate world. I, I had to learn through that. And I could actually apply what I was learning right then in there. So it's just, it was a fast pace of kind of growth. That happened within like, a, like, a three year period. From,

 

Leighann Lovely  32:24

Yeah, that's great. And, you know, and I've said this before, and I'm gonna say it all the time. It's, it's, it's always when we need it most that the greatest people come into our lives and they offer the, it's, it's when we ask for the advice. And that, that we get, you know, what we need? And sometimes those people just fall into our lives at the right time.

 

Jamar Jones  32:51

Oh, 100% 100%. But you got to ask, yep, pick what is asked. Because if you don't ask, you know, get, right.

 

Leighann Lovely  33:01

You? Yeah, it's it's 100% You have to take the initiative, and you have to ask, so. Yeah, that's awesome. That's, that's great. Again, mentors, career mentors, have been, for me just made the world of difference. Because, like, so many, the number one thing that I was incapable of understanding when I entered into the workforce was the politics behind. Right. I know and, you know, we all say Oh, well, you just go to work and do your job Keep your head down. You it's impossible to avoid some of the politics that go on in an office and for a young you know, young individual entering into the the corporate world. It is a jungle it's it's sometimes hard to understand what is really happening on a day to day basis when it comes to the Yeah, I am, right. I am guilty of being one of the worst. People when I was younger, I mean, I would come home and my dad's like, you're gonna get yourself fired. And sure enough. I'm better now. I you know, yeah. Yeah. I have not gotten myself fired in a very, very, very long time.

 

Jamar Jones  34:27

There you go. That's progress. That's progress, progress.

 

Leighann Lovely  34:33

I just, you know, I've always had the mouth on me and I just never knew when to not talk so. Well, hey, Jamar, this has been an awesome conversation. I really appreciate you coming on and talking with me today. I'm so excited to hear what comes next with you. I know that you always have some amazing things in the hopper and I look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks at the Young Guns Movement or the Young Guns Summit. And yeah, I will put in the show notes how you can reach out to Fourever Media if you are interested in Jamar's book, Change Your Circle, Change Your Life. That'll also be in the show notes. But if somebody wants to reach out directly to you, is there another way that you would prefer that they do that?

 

Jamar Jones  35:19

Um, LinkedIn is by the best way or JJones@fourevermedia.com You know, email me, you know, I am reachable. I'm busy but reachable.

 

Leighann Lovely  35:35

Well, again, thank you so very much.

 

Jamar Jones  35:38

Yeah, thank you.

 

Leighann Lovely  35:40

Thank you again for listening to Let's Talk HR. I appreciate your time and support without you the audience this would not be possible. So don't forget that if you enjoyed this episode, to follow us, like us or share us. Have a wonderful day.

 

Jamar Jones

LinkedIN - linkedin.com/in/relatablejamar

E-mail - JJones@fourevermedia.com 

Website - fourevamedia.com 

Author - Change Your Circle, Change Your Life

Young Guns Movement - https://www.younggunsevent.com/ 

 

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