We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cortland Jones. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cortland below.

Cortland, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

To explain how I transitioned from the idea of my business to the execution of launching it begins with explaining how I wrote and published my first book Out of the Darkness: A Journey into the Marvelous Light released in February 2014. My journey as an author began with the idea of writing about my understanding of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ to help others who may have an inquiring heart and mind about what it means to have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. The idea to write the book came to me in 2000, but the year I began writing was 2005.

I was reading a book written by author and Pastor Max Lucado sharing his perspective and depiction of the Bible character known as the woman with the issue of blood. The manner in which he wrote and described her journey of faith moving in the direction of her healing. believing touching the hem of Jesus’ garment would bring about her deliverance inspired me. To the point I remember saying to myself when I began writing I wanted to write like Max Lucado. I haven’t stopped writing since. At the time I was inspired to write, I was going through divorce and my own personal sojourn of wanting to encounter a miraculous touch from Jesus as the woman portrayed in the scriptures and Max Lucida’s account in his book.

So began my journey walking by faith in seeking to become a published author. Whereas oftentimes we may think we need money or the right time to start such a venture, my journey proved that such notions causes us more often to remain in a state of waiting instead of taking the risk faith requires in order to see the fulfillment of what God will do as we learn to trust Him and follow His lead. I began setting aside time to write. Plotting out my table of contents and manuscript outline to identify and determine what the talking points of my book content would be. I would actually go to the beach, library, or any identified quiet place to make sure I had uninterrupted time to focus on what I was writing about. During that time, going through divorce, I lost my apartment, my car was repossessed, and I spent less time with my children due to having to move in with my mother and my children now being an hour away. Again, not the ideal time and circumstances one would think would be to begin writing and pursuing becoming a published author, but it was the perfect time from God’s perspective.

Nine years later, from 2005, my book was published and released in February 2014. By August 2014, from the advice of a friend who also was a published author, I decided to launch my personal business CJones ENTERPRISES. I had a friend assist me with completing the necessary paperwork to ensure it would be a recognized business with an official EIN number from the state. My business model was influenced heavily by reflecting upon what I understood to be my strengths and passion. I knew I was good at listening to others and have a sincere desire to want to help others feel better having hope for the future despite the reality of the condition of their current circumstances. Something I had to learn myself.

An Empowerment Coaching Service became my business model providing coaching services for aspiring authors, aspiring entrepreneurs, personal spiritual growth and development, coparenting support, and teacher mentoring. All aspects of who I am and what I do as an author, retired educator, entrepreneur, and public speaker. Since my business was launched in August 2014 I have successfully aided 7 clients in becoming published authors and I currently have an elementary age client and young adult client who will also become published authors. Four of my clients have successfully launched their own businesses as aspiring entrepreneurs and I have one success story of a former client who desired coaching to grow spiritually in their faith walk with Jesus Christ and experience a positive healthy romantic relationship resulting in marriage. Six years after participating in my coaching program they experienced the fulfillment of what they desired.

Remaining focused, faith, and fruitful to what the goal requires is essential to moving from idea to execution. Being steadfast, resilient, and resolute helps too. Having trusted advisors, friends you can talk to and learn from keeps you encouraged in the process of what your journey requires from you. Understanding the journey is the destination is critical in not giving up. Once you identify the goal, the goal no longer ceases to be the goal. The goal becomes all of the action steps required to accomplish the goal.

Cortland, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am Cortland Jones, author, retired educator, entrepreneur, and public speaker.

I currently own and operate my personal business CJones ENTERPRISES www.cortlandjones.com offering empowerment coaching services for aspiring authors, entrepreneurs, individuals seeking personal/spiritual growth and development, coparenting coaching, and teacher mentoring. You can contact me by email at [email protected].

I am a contributing writer to Vision and Purpose Community Magazine and I have published articles in Mocha Kid Magazine and SpeakUpSis! Magazine. I have published 7 books, that also includes two children’s books and two ebooks, and all of them are available on Amazon.

I also partner with the Howard County Arts Council facilitating a Cartoon Art Workshop and a Creative Writing Workshop during the summer since 2019.

I am the CEO of the nonprofit organization The Better Place, Inc. www.thebetterplaceinc.org and our vision is creating a world where youth and families thrive. Our mission includes the support of youth, families, and schools in employing the self-regulation skills helpful in experiencing self-fulfillment and we participate in causes associated with literacy, social justice, and trauma.

Our nonprofit is currently producing a short film documentary on the subject of literacy and its impact on the African American in America past and present.

I also offer grant writing services having acquired, since 2014, $55, 000.00 in grant funding for our nonprofit and other organizations.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

At the time of the pandemic I had to pause on everything related to my business as well as the nonprofit. The year prior to the pandemic, after a rebrand launch, I saw my personal business experience financial growth I had not yet previously encountered so the uncertainty of the pandemic was challenging.

It felt like I was starting over when I restarted promoting my services as an empowerment coach that had grown to online courses following the pandemic. I invited former clients and new clients to participate in online courses I offered as a way to remain connected to past clientele while inviting prospective and new clients to see what I offered in my individual coaching session through a group format. It became a free consultation strategy.

It was encouraging to see from my tax returns filed this past tax year (Spring 2022) for tax year 2021 that my earnings prior to the pandemic had returned. It also was a source of encouragement to me that my efforts to engage the use of social media, word of mouth, and persistence in reaching out to my network community was paying off.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

July 2023 is my official one year anniversary of retiring from my service as an educator. I served as a classroom teacher from the Fall of 1992 to the summer of 2022. Transitioning into retirement my goal was to become focused more on the growth and development of my personal business, but God had greater plans for me.

By February 2023, I began to see a shift and pivot from being business minded to focusing more on my physical health and spiritual wellbeing. God inspired me to take a more wholistic approach to how I was making use of my time in retirement and where I was lending my energies. I felt like He did not want me to operate, business as usual in how I approached my time day to day since I had just retired so I could actually benefit from resting after 30 years of working.

The pivot and shift has definitely proved to be beneficial, fulfilling, and rewarding as I feel more peace, joy, and contentment as each day progresses into the next and I still experience fulfillment with work related tasks involving my business. My pace of life has slowed tremendously as I am learning to be present more appreciating the experience of life and its journey than I ever have at any point in my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cortlandjones.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortlandjones/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cortland.jones.507/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortland-jones-50531132/

Image Credits
Photographer David Nicholas