JMMB Elevate 3.0 Outlines Tips for Financial Empowerment  

 JMMB Elevate 3.0 began Day 2 of its signature financial empowerment event on Saturday, January 16, with a virtual fireside chat, with a three-member panel consisting of: managing director of Dream Entertainment, Scott Dunn; CEO and founder of Soul Career, Lisandra Rickards; and online brand strategist, host and motivational speaker, Terri-Karelle Reid. The trio explored the topic, ‘Taking Action: Replacing Fear With the Power of Now’.

Dunn, in drawing on his personal experience of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted his company, outlined that fear and anxiety became constant partners during 2020. “Following the restrictions of (hosting) live entertainment events, there were days, weeks, months when we [at DREAM Entertainment] all wanted to give up,” he said.

The survival of the company, Dunn explained, became predicated on aggressively pursuing what were initially supplementary revenue streams and areas in which we had expertise, such as event planning, social media management and marketing for corporate entities. 

With the entertainment landscape restricted in Jamaica, the company also revved up staging events in the United States, where the COVID-19 protocols were more accommodating to live events; in addition to collaborating with competitors, to ensure its sustainability and the overall viability of the local entertainment industry. 

“It was the knowledge that my staff and stakeholders are depending on me to show up and do my job that helped me to push past my fear and anxiety,” Dunn said. 

During the fireside chat, Reid shared with the hundreds of viewers online that she was able to survive and thrive in 2020 due to the financial and personal strategies she had been implementing long before the pandemic hit. 

“When my regular sources of income slowed, I was able to focus on building out an online presence via a website and a new podcast,” she shared. “Overcoming fear as an entrepreneur is to embrace life challenges as opportunities for growth. Focus on the fact that the growth does not occur in our comfort zone.” On a personal note, Terri-Karelle also divulged that she ensured she had her emergency fund in place that served as a buffer to tide her through at the onset of COVID-19.

She recommends that entrepreneurs seek out mentors, who have experience overcoming the challenges you are facing.

For Rickards, the pandemic hit at the same time she was in the process of launching her own business and securing funding.

“The first four months of 2020, I was racked with fear. But with the support of key investors, I was able to end the year with the best sales period to date,” the Soul Career CEO said. “It shows that we can cultivate a relationship with risk, as this will help you push past fear and appreciate that it creates an ideal environment for personal and professional growth.” She also urged individuals to show up and to execute on the solid plan that they have, despite being anxious and unmotivated.

Both Reid and Rickards, also urged persons to build a strong support network of professionals to help and encourage them, especially during periods of anxiety and stress. In her final nugget, Terri-Karelle reminded individuals, “in order to level up you have to invest (and believe) in yourself.” 

From Ideas to Execution
JMMB Elevate 3.0 co-headliner, John Henry, delivered a riveting presentation on “Ideas are Easy; Execution is Everything,” on the mainstage on January 16.

The entrepreneur, investor and real estate developer, Henry, stressed the importance of deliberate and strategic investment in ourselves and our passions as the keys to success.
Henry stated “It takes approximately 24 months of aggressively working your side hustle, and developing your expertise, for little or no reward or profit, before it will be equipped to reap lasting success.”

He cited his own experience developing video content on black entrepreneurship “on the side”, while working as a laundry services salesman, which eventually led to his securing a television show about black entrepreneurship on cable television - Hustle.

He also advised participants to anchor their communication with customers in who they are as individuals, rather than relying on conventional sales and marketing techniques.

“What’s your story? The people that win, lead with who they are as a person. View yourself as a messenger. Leverage the modern infrastructure and go spread your message”.

Before closing out his JMMB Elevate 3.0 presentation, he urged listeners to take advantage of existing online tools to grow their businesses and expand their personal brands.

Re-Igniting  Your Passion for Success
The final presentation of the day saw participants receiving tips to “Re/ignite Your Passion for Success”, courtesy of co-headliner, US-based entrepreneur and motivational speaker, Stacey Flowers.

Flowers’ method is encapsulated in the word ‘POWER’, with each letter representing a step in the process.  In brief, she noted that it is critical to have the right people to support your growth and development; obstacles are a part of the journey to success and so anticipate and overcome them; know your reason or your ‘why’; set your own expectations and seek out a conducive environment to live out those expectations; and accept full responsibility for your choices, so that you can re/ignite that passion for success. 

During the 2-day event, participants also engaged in an interactive online activity; accessed financial resources; attended virtual goal planning sessions, hosted by JMMB experts; visited the online exhibitors that included sponsors: Adam and Eve Day Spa and Salon, Scentre Yourself, Bresheh and M10 Bar & Grill. 

Kerry-Ann Stimpson, chief marketing officer at JMMB Group, in closing the successful staging of the virtual JMMB Elevate 3.0, encouraged viewers to continue to research information to deliver ongoing financial empowerment and challenged them to take action towards their goal achievement as they re/ignite their passion for success in 2021. She also reassured them that JMMB has more in store for them to help them to stay connected and to take the next step.

Highlights of JMMB Elevate 3.0 will be posted on the company’s social media pages.