Author and Coach Jessica Joines

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s time for High Velocity Radio.

Stone Payton: Welcome to the High Velocity Radio show, where we celebrate top performers producing better results in less time. Stone Payton here with you this afternoon and you guys are in for a real treat. Please join me in welcoming to the broadcast speaker, author, and founder of Women’s Purpose Community, Jessica Joines. How are you?

Jessica Joines: I’m good. It’s so good to be here with you, Stone. I’m excited for.

Stone Payton: This. What a delight to have you on the show. I got a ton of questions, Jessica. We probably won’t get to them all, but maybe we could open with you sharing with me and our listeners what is women’s purpose community, and how are you trying to help folks?

Jessica Joines: Yeah, well, it’s a Community that focuses on personal and spiritual growth for women in leadership roles, and I really created it from my own experience. And that was, hey, there’s a lot of great leadership training and leadership development out there. We actually don’t need any more of that. What we need is a way to connect from the heart space, to build really deep, supportive relationships with our peer sets, to foster one another’s growth, and to also focus on the deep, really under layers of the work that fuels everything, which is this kind of continual process of self-discovery, self-awareness, this self-inquiry journey that leads to the endless question of, you know, who am I? And what am I here to do? So that’s what we’re up to. Um, it’s been a pleasure and an honor to create it after myself leaving the corporate world nine years ago.

Stone Payton: So yeah. Say more about your backstory. How did you get into this line of work? I bet it wasn’t a straight path.

Jessica Joines: It was not a straight path. It’s a path where you go back. In hindsight 2020, you’re like, oh, I get it now. But, you know, I often say like, pain is the portal to awakening. And it was definitely the case in my story. And like the dirty little secret, I had my whole 18 years working in advertising and marketing. I was a global CMO when I left. The corporate world was that I never loved it, and I didn’t actually know that I had the opportunity or possibility to choose to do something I loved and make money. So I settled right. Like I went to college, I began a career. I’m like, yeah, I’m going to figure out something. I’m good at that I can make money doing. And what I learned along the way is I’m just the kind of person that, you know, can’t thrive in complacency. And but I kept going. I kept climbing the corporate ladder. I kept really like living this outside in journey, meaning, you know, looking to success or achievement than thinking that that would make me happy. And the truth is that that it didn’t. So I left to embark on my own soul purpose journey S-o-u-l soul to figure out truly like who I am and what I love, and to bring that to the world. And that’s that’s ultimately what led to the creation of this.

Stone Payton: So at this point in your career, now that you’ve been at this a while, what are you finding the most rewarding? What’s the most fun about it these days for you?

Jessica Joines: Um, I love that question. That’s an incredible, beautiful question, Stone. I love seeing the transformation in these women that are that I get the honor of working with. It’s mind blowing to me that I have a even a very little part in their journey and seeing the ways that they’re choosing themselves, that they’re walking away from things that don’t serve and that I spark that in any little way. I mean, a, you know, fills me with happiness and tears, but it’s rewarding in a way that I never imagined possible. So I love that. And then I love getting out there and like talking to folks like you or getting on stage and speaking. Um, it’s always been a passion of mine, even when I was in the marketing world. And I just love getting to, you know, take the message out to people that I think can benefit from it that are feeling trapped by their own careers, their own lives trapped in lives that don’t fulfill them. And to know that there’s there’s a way out if they choose it. And that’s just about choosing yourself.

Stone Payton: Let’s dive into the into the work a little bit. So are you getting groups of women together and facilitating sessions? Is it individually paced? Is it some kind of blend? Talk about the structure and the work a bit.

Jessica Joines: Yeah, I’m happy to. So the the community it’s a year round community. It’s it’s a year long membership, if you will. And something really beautiful that we do is every woman. We have about 65 women that are currently a part of the community is every woman is put with six other women, and you’re with that core group of women for one whole year. So you get to know them really well. You get really deep with them. And every month I introduce a topic that we’re going to focus on together as a community. And it’s always in the realm of personal growth, wellness or spiritual growth. So topics like surrender, um, topics like how to write intentions and manifest a life that you want things of this nature, and then you get to work on these topics within your core group. It’s all virtual. On top of that we have gosh like 20 or more different workshops, classes, everything from meditation and sound healing to we have physicians come in that are more of a holistic background and functional space, talking about brain gut health and how to live healthier lives. So it’s really a place where women can come and be nourished and restored. And, you know, a lot of my women, 90%, you know, they’re moms, right? And they have these really busy careers. So it’s a place that they can just truly focus on them and what they need. So that’s the structure of what it tangibly looks like. And then we have two in-person retreats, um, each year, as I was telling you before I came on one, we just had not too far away from you.

Stone Payton: Yeah.

Jessica Joines: Yeah.

Stone Payton: So I know in in my arena, digital media, business media, there’s I have come to believe there is often some misinformation or incomplete information or some preconceived notions that are often off the mark. Do you find or do you feel that sometimes you initially at least run into people that have some, uh, maybe some notions about this kind of work and, and a lot of, some of what you have to do is educate before you can really Serve.

Jessica Joines: Yeah, sometimes it’s got so the main thing when I was first starting out, and it’s particularly women that were working at companies and actually wanted to get this funded. Right. And it’s proving the validity of it. So very traditional, like, hey, I’m giving you leadership training. No brainer. Right. But making the connection to wellness, things like life balance, things like truly understanding and feeling emotionally connected to a sense of purpose is a little like less tangible. And also, you know, understanding how women in leadership roles, the kind of relationships they need, right. So there’s a lot of networking type of stuff out there, lots of conferences. I’m sure you’ve been to them, and they often can be a little bit transactional in nature. And that just doesn’t work for women in long term. They need those heart centered relationships, yes, even in the business world. So at first that was like a outrageous kind of Conversation. It wasn’t. But, you know, times have changed and especially like with Covid and when things hit and just seeing the impact, like, you know, it was a million women that had to leave the workforce. Right.

Jessica Joines: They’re getting it. They’re getting that. It’s it’s more holistic support that’s really needed. So there has been a bit of an awakening around that. The other thing I run into a lot is and this is how I grew up, and I don’t know how you grew up with it, Stone but the the message was always like, go figure out what you’re good at. Well, what you’re good at is not necessarily your purpose. And so my reframe of that is like, no, it’s what you love. You will be good at what you love, but the thing you’re truly passionate about is what you’re meant to show up in. Because when we anchor into what we’re good at, like, I’m really good at math, but you know, that’s not something I love, right? So that’s been a reframe too, because it goes against a lot of traditional, more types of career assessments in the ways and things that we measure and try to anchor to purpose so that that sometimes is an obstacle because people think, I can’t do, I can’t make money doing what I love. There’s a big limiting belief around that.

Stone Payton: Yeah, well, I have to believe while there is certainly must be so much value in the rigor, the discipline, the structure and the ideas that you are bringing to these groups, I have to believe there must be tremendous value in just hanging out with other women and having these conversations, that peer to peer dynamic. I bet that has some power to it as well, doesn’t it?

Jessica Joines: Yeah, it really does. And for me, again, I created this from my own experience. So, you know, I was a global CMO, you know, several, you know, $500 million company living in New York City. I was one of three women on the executive team in New York. Can be very transactional, you know. And I would go out to all these events, and I was exchanging business cards, but I wasn’t building the type of relationships that were supportive to my growth. And look, um, you know, we’re a little bit different. And so it was really created from my own pain point, like, well, how do we do this? How do we bring all these women together who are in these very high powered roles, but help them really build relationships that are not anchored to this is what I do. So identifying like what I do and like getting right into deal making, but connect from a place of like actually who I am and and what’s keeping me up at night. So at our retreat, for example, I mean, yeah, we have women holding space for one another on really deep, sensitive issues. Um, you know, a lot of tears, a lot of laughter. But it’s it’s incredibly rewarding. And for me personally, I feel like, wow, this is created, you know, an incredible family. That’s how it feels to me.

Stone Payton: So on your personal journey when you made this, I’m going to call it a leap. That’s what it seems like. It was a.

Jessica Joines: It was a leap with no plan into the unknown. To be clear, I had no plan. So I’m a risk taker though, so I was able to sustain it.

Stone Payton: On this leap. Did you have the benefit of one or more mentors coaches to help you navigate this new terrain along the way? Early on you.

Jessica Joines: In a sense. So the way that I went about it and it’s what my book is about and it is a unique way. So to back up, I had spent like a decade within the corporate environment, like trying to figure this thing out. And when I say figure this thing out, what I was looking for was purpose. Like how to get paid to be happy. You know, how to how to because I wasn’t. And to wake up and do something I love. I was waking up in fear and anxiety. Okay. And every traditional avenue that was available to that was not returning the answer to me. It was very much the skills based approach. Um, even, you know Simon Sinek, who I love, but the concentric circles and getting in this formulaic way wasn’t working for me. So I had to go back to some of my roots. And those are spiritual roots and, um, not connected to any religion, but more, um, eastern wisdom, ancient wisdom teachings around purpose and dharma. And I resonated with those, but I didn’t know, like I understood them in theory. I didn’t know what to do with them. So looking back at those teachings and some modern day teachers around, that was the guidance that I looked to, to quote unquote, figure it out. And then I ended up turning that into a book, those lessons and putting it in a more practical way for others that maybe weren’t finding, um, the answer to purpose from the traditional measures. So it was different spiritual teachers and then a lot of like ancient wisdom teachings.

Stone Payton: When you were committing these ideas to paper, when you were putting this book together, did did parts of the book or chapters or whatever come to you easier than others? What was the experience of crafting the the book like for you?

Jessica Joines: Yeah, it it was not traditional in terms of what I hear the process can be because for me it was a bit easy in terms of I was not even wanting like it was not like, oh, I want to write a book. I felt like I uncovered something through my own journey that I had to share, because I had suffered through it for so long. So it was really me taking what I had actually done to arrive at purpose and just translating. It started as a course book, okay. And translating that, you know, pen to paper, which was easy to do, which was a little hard, is when I said, well, this isn’t very interesting. I should probably put connect it to my, you know, autobiographical story. And putting that in was, you know, a bit more vulnerable and a little bit more challenging at times.

Stone Payton: And I know you’re a professional speaker was was speaking in front of groups. Was that intimidating at all or had you already kind of been there, done that in your corporate career? What was that like becoming a professional speaker?

Jessica Joines: So this is like my passion. Yeah. So the answer is, um, no, I do. I get nervous at times. Yes. Um, but I’m able to channel that adrenaline to the stage since I was a, you know, I did acting as a kid even, you know, in my 20s for a bit. A lot of theater. So for me, it’s always been like a divine calling, something I have loved doing. You know, when I was a CMO, I spoke a lot, too. So the only time I would feel nervous is when I decide that I’m going to share something pretty vulnerable. So sharing, for example, in my book and on stage about, you know, being in recovery and being an addict, that wasn’t easy the first time I did it.

Stone Payton: So with your marketing chops and you clearly have them. If you were a CMO of an organization that size, I’m curious to know what shifts you chose to to make, or how the whole sales and marketing thing works for a practice like yours. Now, clearly a very different animal. How do you get the the new business?

Jessica Joines: Yeah, it’s such a good question. I will say on the marketing front, let’s start there. You know, a lot of what I did was positioning and, you know, I could tell a story. It was hard to tell my own story. So I actually hired a friend from the marketing world to, like, help me craft my story for my website. It is so hard to like to, you know, even if you’re a professional, to tell your own story. So I always encourage people like get the coaching help, you know, get it because it’s really hard to do for you sometimes what you’re able to do for others. And this was this was a little bit different because of the nature of what we do. I really tuned in and saw quite, you know, from results early on that this was an attraction not promotion. So you know, I haven’t done a ton of like direct outreach, for example. But what I do is create content and do a lot on social media and try to put out really helpful info, which is, you know, definitely a strong principle within marketing and really draw people in that this type of work speaks to rather than like hard. You know, I worked at a performance, you know, marketing agency for years rather than doing any type of real hardcore direct efforts or the types of tactics I used to use.

Stone Payton: I don’t know where you find the time or the energy, but you also have a radio show. Tell us about that.

Jessica Joines: I do. I love it, so I fell into this. Gosh, I think I feel like it was a year or two before Covid. I was doing what I’m doing right now with you, Stone. I was and it was also an Atlanta based podcast. I was interviewing with them and the executive producer is like, you should have your own show. And I was like, okay, what does that mean? And fell into it. And, um, they they ended up making some changes. So I moved over with another network, Unity Radio, which was a part of Unity Church. Very kind of new age spiritual radio show and doing a lot of live shows and live coloring. And that now has migrated and become mind, body, spirit, which yeah, I love doing it, as I can tell you do too. It’s just it’s just a ton of fun and it’s great. It’s a live coaching show, so it keeps me on my toes too. Yeah. And to find women that want to that do want to come on and talk about their problems isn’t always easy. Um, but I think you learn, you get so much out of it, um, when you’re just really hearing that other people struggle and what those what those answers or solutions or ways forward might be.

Stone Payton: Okay, so let’s paint just a little bit more of a picture. If someone is listening to this and they’re exploring the idea of becoming part of women’s purpose community. What are what are some things that they might expect, and what would you have them to begin thinking about if they’re considering this?

Jessica Joines: Yeah, a lot of women come in that are going through different life transitions. And I’ll, I’ll say that’s the number one reason. And also that they just, you know, they’re giving everywhere in their life. You know, they’re married, they have kids, they have a job, and there’s no place that’s just solely for them. So what they can expect is to receive. And I very much hold the energy around it of a sanctuary where they can come in. They don’t have to do anything. They don’t have to be anything. They don’t have to like, think about an agenda or, you know, they just come and really receive. And it’s a place to be vulnerable and know it’s a safe space to do that and to focus on their own self-discovery, which for me is a continual lifelong journey. I was reading recently that it said, you know, the spiritual journey is not like seeking wisdom or or learning, you know, studies or scripture even. It’s really the continual journey of self-inquiry and the willingness to look within. And so we do a lot of looking within and, um, you know, willingness to continually discover who we are.

Stone Payton: Passions, interests, hobbies outside the scope of, of this work. Again, don’t know where you would find the time and energy. A lot of listeners on shows that I produce and or host or co-hosts know that I like to hunt, fish and travel. Anything you nerd out about that’s not this.

Jessica Joines: I’m a massive hiker, so that’s like, you know, my where I am on the weekends and I live in an area where there’s just a ton of great, you know, mountain range and a lot of hiking. You can find me up in the mountains. Um, that’s what I do. I love solo hiking. People who love me don’t really like that, but that’s okay. So I’ve done a lot of, like, national parks on my own, and that’s a real passion for me. Um, and then, yeah, you know, um, I’m a spiritual seeker. I love all of it. So I spend a lot of time exploring that. I’m very open minded and I love it all. And that’s a passion for me is just continually, you know, whether it’s different talks or things going out there and seeing what people have to say in that arena and, and always being willing to learn. So those are really my, my main passions at the moment.

Stone Payton: You know, I characterize the question as if it were going to be something outside the scope of your work. But as I hear you talking about it, and as I reflect on what I enjoy doing, it’s just so wholly consistent with this idea of doing your own soul work. Hunting, fishing and travel is soul work for me, I think maybe. Huh?

Jessica Joines: Yeah, absolutely. You know, whatever lights you up. And personally, I think any time that we’re doing anything out in nature, we’re getting closer to our soul. That’s that’s been a big lesson for me.

Stone Payton: And as a practitioner, I’ve come to believe that everybody is well served from that. I really do feel like if I can do that, recharge the batteries, I come back that much more energized and equipped to genuinely serve the people that I’m trying to serve. So I think it’s an important component to the whole equation. Huh.

Jessica Joines: I agree. I mean, it’s the air mask analogy. And again, women are like notorious of not having their air mask on. And then, you know, giving from depletion. And, you know, I’m someone that I went through burnout. Adrenal fatigue. I’m still recovering from it. So I also know the darker end of like not taking care of yourself and restoring yourself. And, you know, just it leads to health problems at the end of the day. And you’re and then when you’re giving from depletion, I don’t, you know, not from wholeness. I don’t know if you’re truly able to give in the way that person deserves either.

Stone Payton: Before we wrap, I would love to leave our listeners, if we could, with a couple of actionable ideas. Something to chew on. Sometimes I call them pro tips. You know, maybe it’s a do or don’t something they could be reading. Just something in. Look gang, the number one pro tip here is reach out to to Jessica or somebody on her team to tap into her work. But to to hold them between now and then. Jessica let’s let’s leave them with with something to chew on.

Jessica Joines: Okay. I got it for you. This is something we talk about on my show a lot. And often women who ever come on, they’re struggling with something. And the question I always ask, and so I’ll ask this to your listeners, is, you know, think of anywhere in your life you’re struggling. And I promise you, in that part of your life, you’re believing the fear in your mind more than the truth in your heart. So anything that you ever want to solve or dive into to, you know, ease your own suffering, just ask yourself, how am I believing the fear, the voice of limitation in my mind more than what my heart has to say about this? And within that, there’s so much that will be revealed for you. And it is really like the key to happiness.

Stone Payton: Well said. An excellent counsel. All right. What’s the best way for our listeners to do just that, to have a more substantive conversation with you or somebody on the team, tap into your work, maybe get their hands on this. We got a long list here. Get your hands on this book. Catch you at a speaking engagement. Hear your show. But let’s leave them with some coordinates.

Jessica Joines: Yeah. So the best place to go to my main website, which is, is pretty easy because it’s my name. And my name is a little bit unique, as you might have heard, it’s Jessica jones.com, but that’s joins with an e j o I n e s. And from there you can find my book. You can find the Woman’s purpose community. You can find all the things.

Stone Payton: Jessica, it has been an absolute delight having you on the program this afternoon. Thank you for your insight, your perspective, your enthusiasm, your wisdom. You are doing really good work that clearly is so impactful for so many. Keep up the good work. Don’t be a stranger. We would like to circle back sometime and and continue to follow your story, but thank you for making the time to visit with us today.

Jessica Joines: Oh, thank you so much for having me on Stone. It’s been an honor.

Stone Payton: My pleasure. Alright, until next time. This is Stone Payton for our guest today, Jessica Jones with Women’s Purpose Community and everyone here at the Business RadioX family saying, we’ll see you in the fast lane.