"The worst advice I received was to quit your entrepreneurial dreams and get a day job working for someone else"
Jameson C. Montgomery Tweet
Jameson C. Montgomery is an American Entrepreneur, Author, Inventor, Designer, and Content Creator. He has appeared in several articles and is the most prominent appearance of GQ magazine. Jameson C. Montgomery has been sharing his knowledge and wisdom with thousands of people worldwide, notably through this YouTube channel, books, and custom media series.
His best-selling books, which include the Good Health Book series, help young children remember to take care of their health and wellness by brushing their teeth, getting plenty of sleep and drinking more water each day, as his growing “Jaye Wellness Studio” channel on YouTube makes health and wellness tips convenient and accessible. His channel has been especially recognized as a top resource for sufferers of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, a rare condition of the ear that occurs when the tube connecting the throat and middle ear gets inflamed and blocked. Jameson’s sound advice helps people get the guidance and support they need while battling the condition.
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Table of Contents
Thank you for joining us today. Please introduce yourself to our readers. They want to know you, some of the background story to bring some context to your interview.
Jameson C. Montgomery: Thank you, very happy to be here. I am 34 years old, born and raised in central California. I realized very quickly that I wanted to be an Entrepreneur. College was tough for me because I felt it was structured for me to choose one career, one title to be known by. That was unfortunate for me because I wanted to dive into multiple things. We live in the best country but it’s common here to try to fit everyone into one box and they are expected to be just that. I enjoy writing books, designing custom sneakers, animating, voice-overs, product inventions, motivational speaking. You name it, I’ve done it. This is when I knew I was an Entrepreneur.
You are a successful entrepreneur, so we’d like your viewpoint, do you believe entrepreneurs are born or made? Explain.
Jameson C. Montgomery: You are born with talent. Entrepreneurs are definitely made. You become a great entrepreneur by the experiences you go through while applying the talents you possess. It doesn’t stop there though. You take the talents, the experiences and develop a system. Entrepreneurship is all about designing, pivoting, and executing. It is impossible to predict successful trends, client needs, and lucrative opportunities in business. You operate on a hardware and software basis. You are constantly restructuring, re-wiring, and producing. This can only be cultivated by going through challenges and learning from them.
If you were asked to describe yourself as an entrepreneur in a few words, what would you say?
Jameson C. Montgomery: Eagerness to create better and provide better. I combine that with my refusal to quit.
Tell us about what your company does and how did it change over the years?
Jameson C. Montgomery: My company name is Jaye Wellness Studio. Primarily, I function on the YouTube platform creating content and helpful health and wellness information. My company offers video courses as well as 1 on 1 coaching in areas of health and wellness. Jaye Wellness Studio focuses mainly on the prevention of anxiety and executing stress-relief exercises through yoga and meditation. My company has changed quite a bit along the way. In the beginning, it was focused more on parenting and children. As my channel developed, I was eager to address more serious issues surrounding mental health, depression, and stress. I made the big step at restructuring my entire business model to address these problem areas.
Thank you for all that. Now for the main focus of this interview. With close to 11.000 new businesses registered daily in the US, what must an entrepreneur assume when starting a business?
Jameson C. Montgomery: That they will be overlooked, it’s discouraging to put all of this work into something, and it is not loved as you love it. I learned very quickly that my products and business model aren’t always the problem. I learned that visibility could very well be the blame for the lack of business success. The a-listers in business are going to dominate and leave no room for you most of the time. You have to fight the good fight. You have to make never-quitting your business model. Now, this isn’t to say be naive and assume everything you do should work. You have to be willing to pivot and rework the loose ends. If you are the type of entrepreneur that refuses to reconfigure your platform, you are going to get steamrolled. I say that with love.
Did you make any wrong assumptions before starting a business that you ended up paying dearly for?
Jameson C. Montgomery: I assumed if you put a lot of time and work into a product or video I create, it’s going to receive the amount of recognition it deserves. This is not the case and never will be. You pay keen attention to your clients, be optimistic and work hard. Collectively, your work will get recognition in due time. I paid for having my feelings hurt at the beginning. It steals away your motivation, causes you to overthink and question everything you do. I am a wound with a scab now and a good heart.
I am unphased by flops in business or low engagement. You have to study and restructure. I used that word a lot because it is the basis of being a successful entrepreneur. If you remember one thing from this interview, it’s restructuring. If it doesn’t work, find the source and study why it does not. Keep the blueprint of your business model but reprogram the software to find the connection that works. You have to do all of what I state while not taking it personally. When you take it personally, you do not perform well.
If you could go back in time to when you first started your business, what advice would you give yourself and why? Explain
Jameson C. Montgomery: I would tell myself not to get so emotional about what doesn’t work. The process of maturing and learning to keep moving was developed in time. You will not receive hearts, flowers, and chocolate in business. I expected everyone to like what I put my heart into and reward me with gentleness and acceptance. I receive messages being called names and how my video is terrible. In the beginning, I used to overthink why this person thought I was an idiot. You cannot do this. People will simply be upset because they had a bad day. You cannot take every piece of criticism to bed with you. You have to keep doing what you love and continue improving.
What is the worst advice you received regarding running a business and what lesson would you like others to learn from your experience?
Jameson C. Montgomery: The worst advice I received was to quit your entrepreneurial dreams and get a day job working for someone else. Things are not going to work efficiently right away, or at all if you quit. It looks pretty tainted and empty when you go outside the box. Make no mistake about it, there is nothing wrong with working for someone in your career, but if you have this burning desire to create new constantly, your job may not supply this. I am continually exploring and creating. It never stops. I like the idea of waking up and saying I think I will make a video about the benefits of Elderberry, design some merch at noon, and create a video course on stress in the evening. Do not wait for someone else to create it when you feel you have something special that can change lives. Fuel your thoughts into a plan and execute.
In your opinion, how has COVID-19 changed what entrepreneurs should assume before starting a business? What hasn’t changed?
Jameson C. Montgomery: I think Covid-19 should be the bracket for an entrepreneur to structure from. It has created a different level of thinking and opportunity. The mindset of an entrepreneur is someone who paddles along the waves of the tide. Never succumbing to the waves but not resisting enough to crash. If you are just starting in this new world of Covid, you are not having to completely rewrite the system as many have. You can build from that disposition. What hasn’t changed is having the mindset that every business owner and entrepreneur should have, creating better. Nothing in this world stays static. Mcdonald’s has developed and redeveloped many times. You have to get rid of the fixed mindset and develop a dynamic one that interchanges with the seasons.
What is a common myth about entrepreneurship that aspiring entrepreneurs and would-be business owners believe in? What advice would you give them?
Jameson C. Montgomery: Entrepreneurship is a false reputation to be presented as this individual that doesn’t play by the rules and has an abundance of time. If you do what you want totally, you will lose. You have to pay attention to trends, client needs, and improvements. Entrepreneurship is not about you and your needs. Entrepreneurship is about what is needed, what can be better, and how to develop it more efficiently. I would tell any new business owner to keep making their business model better constantly. Walt Disney is known for continually improving and not getting comfortable. Keep your mind in the position to pack and unpack what doesn’t work.
What traits, qualities, and assumptions do you believe are most important to have before starting a business?
Jameson C. Montgomery: You have to have the never-quit trait and the median center mentality. You have not to be too high or too low when starting a business. You may begin trending, soaring with sales, and scaling like crazy. Keep an even reaction to the good and panic to the bad. It’s an excellent quality because you are not settling in but not blowing up your business; the second things aren’t working. Centered is the best approach.
How can aspiring leaders prepare themselves for the future challenges of entrepreneurship? Are there any books, websites, or even movies to learn from?
Jameson C. Montgomery: The best way to prepare for future challenges is to develop the core needed in business. You have to be even-natured and have the mindset that a change can happen at any moment. The internet is full of free content to explore. Youtube is a great way to learn from the greats. They all were able to ride the tide and paddle through distasteful situations. It’s how you develop as an individual and the experiences you face. No one can prepare for everything coming, but building core principles will help assimilate the hardships. You are going to witness a lot of solid and mature-minded entrepreneurs due to Covid-19. Being creative is what makes an entrepreneur great.
You have shared quite a bit of your wisdom and our readers thank you for your generosity but would also love to know: If you could choose any job other than being an entrepreneur, what would it be?
Jameson C. Montgomery: I would be a Family Doctor. I have a skill for identifying problem areas and recognizing behavior changes in the mind and body. I also have a passion for nutrition and wellness. This would definitely be my job of choice.
Thank you so much for your time, I believe I speak for all of our readers when I say that this has been incredibly insightful. We do have one more question: If you could add anyone to Mount Rushmore, but not a politician, who would it be; why?
Jameson C. Montgomery: Gary Vaynerchuk. He has already changed the game of entrepreneurship in my eyes. For years we looked at business owners and entrepreneurs as these leaders directing others with force and bitterness. He leads many with humility, humbleness, and a strong work ethic while being himself. I think when it’s all said and done, he might actually get added on there.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Jameson C. Montgomery for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Jameson C. Montgomery or his company, you can do it through his – Instagram
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