We were lucky to catch up with Jalia Pettis recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jalia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
Ever feel like you knew you were destined for more? That is exactly how I felt when I relocated to Arizona and decided to work my business full-time. I quit a full-time corporate job, packed up my belongings, put my three kids in the car as a single mother and drove cross country. I felt like I had reached the cap of where I was in the job I was in and the place I lived. It was time for me to take a risk or what I like to refer to as a leap of faith. I had several people who made comments on my decision both discouraging and encouraging. However, I knew that is what I needed to do in order to allow what I visualized within my imagination become a reality.
Jalia, 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?
I consider myself a woman who wears many hats, a Visionary. My business background is composed of over 20-years in Human Resource Management coupled with Training and Marketing. I am someone who discovered my purpose in my younger years. I always have had the zeal to become an entrepreneur and in discovering this allowed me to align my purpose with my passion.
In 2006 I created 3Jay Productions, a creative conglomerate that provides B2B & B2C relating to visual marketing and professional styling. Based in Phoenix, Arizona yet travel to meet the many needs of our clientele. When I started 3Jay Production, I didn’t have a business mentor, I was working a full-time job which happened to be right next to a building that housed an SBA office. I made multiple trips to that office during my lunch break and it helped cultivate my understanding of starting a business. 3Jay Productions offers a broad range of services to include business development, brand management, imaging, art direction, event planning, and public relations.
As a dually licensed beauty professional I understood that it was imperative to know how to work with all types of skin and hair. However with growing in the industry I quickly realized that ideal was not shared by all so in 2018 I began to utilize my background as a Trainer to educate others within the beauty industry on a variety of topics relating to skin, makeup and business. In addition, I rebranded one arm of my business that was an fashion event entitled the Style Exhibition to an educational platform for those within the beauty industry.
What sets me a part as a business owner and also as a service provider is that I can see things from all sides. I am a consumer, I have been an employee, I have been a Manager and now as an Employer I understand how to take all things into consideration. So when I work with other individuals who want to become business owners I talk about how to take your time and each necessary step in the process. When I work with a client who is interested in hiring me individually or 3Jay for something specific I talk through all aspects before taking on the contract. It has to be a good fit for me just as much as a fit for them.
As such I am proud to be skilled in many areas, a master of none is not who I am by any means. Thankfully, each of my skills has been cultivated by education whether through hands-on experience or certifications. I take pride in my work and the finished result.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
The best source of new clients for me has been word of mouth. Marketing is a huge component of any business however customer service goes even farther than marketing. People will remember how you treated them whether positive or negative. I like to think that I treat people the way I want to be treated until they show me otherwise.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Building an audience on social media is NOT one size fits all. There are classes that coach you through the do’s and don’ts however social media is ever changing. We have algorithms that sometimes sound like a foreign language along with followers that could be “bots”. Not to mention understanding what to post, schedules, hashtags, photos, videos, stories, reels there is so much that it can become overwhelming! My perspective is that consistency and authenticity be at the forefront. Your following on social media doesn’t equate to growing a successful business so don’t let that be the measurement that discourages you. Use it for what it is, a marketing tool.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.3jayproductions.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jaliadp
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/3jayproductions
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/2861025/admin/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/jaliadp
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbRyJvZNcTOsQMvlCC8P3wQ
- Other: www.jaliapettis.com www.styleexhibition.com www.facebook.com/jaliapettis www.instagram.com/3jayproductions
Image Credits
Images by Matt Martian, Rachel Kaye, West Eal, Kale Ross, The Social Photog, Arantes Stephens & AzWah