Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chermain Jennings. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Chermain, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I hope to leave a legacy that transcends monetary mentions. My greatest wish is to inspire others to live their lives, embrace their callings, and just DO IT! I operate in faith and obedience through the highs and lows. After I am gone, I want people to remember and reflect on that. My tenacity and ambition are two of my greatest strengths. We are all on borrowed time so, Go For IT! I’ve traveled, I’ve taken leaps of faith, I’ve evolved, but most importantly, I have LIVED and lived with no regrets! Give “you” your all…you’re worth it!

Chermain, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hello! I am Chermain Jennings the CEO and Principal Consultant of C.JENNINGS LLC. At C.JENNINGS LLC., we help Executives of Nonprofit Organizations with readiness, proposal development, and the submission of government grant proposals through Training and Development Workshops and 1:1 Coaching+Technical Assistance. Our mission is to “Equip nonprofit organizations with the tools necessary to submit competitive government grant proposals.”

Now, you’re probably wondering how I got here. I often get asked how I got into the grants industry. Honestly, it wasn’t intentional. I earned my graduate degree in Organizational Communications with the intention of becoming a Corporate Communications Consultant. I didn’t have dreams of being a grant writer and don’t know many grant pros who dreamt of becoming a grant writer as a kid. However, early on I was intentional about learning as much as I could and expanding my skill set. That intentionality proved beneficial while working at Girl Scouts and United Way. While working at both organizations, I would ask the grant writers if I could help them with the grants or “give it a shot” and they gave me the space to try. Surprisingly, but not surprisingly, I was good at it! Honestly, I’ve been a writer my entire life – poems, short stories, song lyrics…I genuinely enjoy writing and saw it as an art. So, you couple grant experience with an Organizational Communications degree and some interesting work experiences, and VOILÀ…a Grant Consultant is born!

Though not always the glamorous lifestyle that social media would have you to believe, being a full-time entrepreneur is a worthwhile experience and I am glad that I took the leap!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I believe that the biggest lesson I’ve had to unlearn is the idea that you have to be perfect or “it” has to be perfect for you to get started. I started my business in 2019 while working full-time and I was completely clueless! I had NO idea what I was doing. I literally was winging it! Since its launch in October 2019, the business has undergone several changes but more importantly, I have experienced a number of changes. I’ve grown so much professionally, personally, and spiritually throughout the years and while I doubt that will ever change, I am grateful for my tenacity and will to “Do It Anyway!” I don’t always have all the answers and that can sometimes be frustrating but that’s where growth happens. So, I lean on the idea that I will show up as my best self. Not perfect self! My best self!

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source for new clients for C.JENNINGS LLC. is a two-part response. We have found referrals from clients, colleagues, and our general network to be the best source of generating new leads/clients. Providing quality services, adding true value, and positively impacting the organizations you work with makes it easy for others to recommend your services. So, it has become increasingly more common for us to have inquiries from people referred by previous clients and colleagues.

The second part of my answer is social media. As we all know, social media has become the main source of branding and promoting yourself and your business. While I don’t produce a ton of content on my social media pages, I do keep my LinkedIn profile current. Regularly posting personal and business accomplishments, client wins, speaking engagement photos and webinar announcements have been great marketing. So, the referrals generate an interest and my LinkedIn profile establishes credibility. Then I direct them to our website to schedule a clarity call. This combination and general flow has worked well for generating new leads, clients, and expanding my network!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cjenningsllc.com
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/chermain-jennings-m-a-9ba13141

Image Credits
Mena Darre Shot By Mello