We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jalisa Keyes. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jalisa below.
Hi Jalisa, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Covid changed the dynamic of my life along with the rest of the world. The world stopped and life slowed down. Consequently, I was able to stop, pause, and reflect on my life and what I truly valued. I realized, though, I was doing well financially, I did not have a healthy and thriving work-life balance. Even with enforcing my boundaries, work seeped into my personal life. I never felt as if I had time off or away from work.
With the support of therapy, for the first time, in my life, I chose myself and my values. I understood that no amount of money was worth me continuing to suffocate and overwork myself, so I decided to resign as pharmacy manager and relocate to Texas. After I resigned, I felt so much lighter. Although I knew I made the right decision, it was still an adjustment for me because I no longer experienced anxiety about work and all its stress. Despite that being a difficult and frustrating time for me, I am grateful for the experience because I developed more spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.
Due to working hard and saving, I was able to take time off from working when I relocated in April 2021. I used my freedom and time to reset. During that time, I experienced entrepreneurship as DJing was my main source of income. Being that I was new to Texas, I became acquainted with the DJ scene to gain insight into pay and opportunities. I quickly realized that the DJ scene was saturated. Needless to say, I created exposure and opportunities for myself.
Taking a risk and betting on myself was life changing for me. The decision to resign as pharmacy manager 2 years ago resulted in me establishing, Key Access, LLC, a business for myself to manage my career as a pharmacist and a DJ. Now that I have my business structured legally and financially, I am focused on developing my brand as well as launching my website for booking, content, opportunities, and more!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I am J. Keyes, the Doctor, DJ, and sole proprietor of Key Access, LLC. Key Access, LLC incorporates my profession as a pharmacist and my passion as a DJ. It was not until I became a pharmacist in 2018 that I discovered I, too, was a DJ. I began learning how to DJ in 2018 as a hobby. I was fortunate to have met great mentors that educated me on the proper way to DJ and influenced me to formulate my hobby into a business. I utilized my pharmacist earnings to invest in my DJ start-up expenses.
I officially established Key Access, LLC in March 2022. It was originally established for my DJ entertainment services. However, after experiencing contract work through my professional career as a pharmacist, I realized that I could also implement my pharmaceutical services into Key Access. With Key Access, clients have key access to me through music entertainment or pharmacy.
Music entertainment is provided for any event ranging from public performances to family reunions to product launches to corporate events. In addition to the music, I also provide sound, lighting, and curated playlists and/or mixes for specialized events, businesses, trainers, etc. As for my pharmacy services, they are available through specified contracts with employers for consultations, data and clinical review, prior authorizations, immunizations, clinical research, and compounding and dispensing pharmaceuticals. Contracting with employers as a pharmacist allows me to provide additional staffing and services to their business needs.
When choosing to conduct business with Key Access, clients are choosing a business that is founded on the core of who I am. My clients are essentially contacting me to have their prescription for music or medicine filled! Clients requests will be fulfilled with knowledge, care, quality, and a memorable experience.
I was chosen and gifted with the ability to excel at math, science, and arts my entire life. I also absorbed and skillfully listened to a lot of music along the way as I attended family gatherings, churches, musicals, concerts, plays, and more. Additionally, I exposed myself to music through traveling around the world, embracing other cultures, and meeting new people.
I incorporate these experiences by conjoining science (medicine) and music (vibrations/energy). Music is medicinal. It is nourishing and therapeutic. I utilize music’s ability to connect, heal, and transform by delivering an impactful, groovy, memorable, earthly, and warm experience for my clients.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Yes, unbeknownst to me, I entered into a season of pivoting the moment I chose myself and the desires of my heart by resigning from a pharmacy manager position in April 2021. I needed a break from the workforce. I was exhausted and drained from the demands of the profession in the community pharmacy setting. I also realized practicing community pharmacy was not a fit for me. I also knew that once I was ready to work as a pharmacist again the position would have to work for me in order for me to work for it!
With prayer and patience, I, now, fulfill a position that God designed for me. Like seriously, God placed me exactly where I wanted to be. It did not happen overnight, but when it happened it came directly to and for me. For a couple years, it felt as if I was journaling and praying for a perfect job that I know did not exist. However, feeling my way through this experience demonstrated how magnificent God is. I am currently working as a Clinical Review Pharmacist with wonderful hours, no patient interactions, no talking or repeating myself all day, no phones ringing off the hook, my feet and back is no longer tired, pay is more than I’ve received at previous jobs, and I do not work nearly as hard as I use to! I am extremely grateful. I am deserving of this! Thank you.
That break away from pharmacy allowed me to explore entrepreneurship as a DJ. I enjoyed the flexibility, freedom, creativity, and pay as a DJ which greatly differed from working as a pharmacist for corporate America. As a result, I established Key Access, LLC. I never imagined having my own brand or business in life until I pivoted. Moreover, if it was not for me choosing to become a DJ outside of being a pharmacist, none of this would exist for me.
Reflecting on how it started vs how it is going has me amazed at how journaling about my love for music evolved into me learning how to DJ as a hobby to becoming a DJ. DJing was a self-discovery passion pursed as an outlet for work-life balance as a pharmacist. I never considered the money, attention, and opportunities from DJing because it was self-fulfilling. I knew that DJing was a craft I would enjoy becoming skillful at regardless of pay, benefits, or whatever! Honestly, once I decided to embark on becoming a DJ, everything aligned for me.
Pivoting redefined my life. I, now, live a life where I embody the capacity to be a doctor and a DJ. I am beyond proud of my divine dynamics. It is truly fulfilling to be used by God to share my gifts between the two worlds of music and medicine.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
“The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron and “Millionaire Success Habits” by Dean Graziosi are fantastic self-development books. Both books were recommended by my amazing therapist. These books shifted my mindset to focus more on what I do want rather than what I do not. This demonstrated that the mindset along with confidence is essential to creating the life I desire along with reaching the next level of success, wealth, and joy!
In 2018, I dedicated time outside of my career as a pharmacist to read and spend time doing the exercises in “The Artist’s Way” book. The book introduced me to journaling and truly manifesting a life that I desired. One prompt asked me, “what would you be doing if you were not doing what you were doing for a living without considering the opinions of others, money, etc”. The prompts in the book guided me in the most profound ways to becoming a DJ. It was truly something I never considered doing, especially not for the money! Fast forward to 5 years later, I, not only DJ, but I have a business as a result of DJing!
As for the management and entrepreneurial aspect, the “Millionaire Success Habits” book expanded and broadened my horizon surrounding personal development, money, and freedom. I currently view money as a means to be able to do incredible things. Money has the ability to create more free time and experiences in my life by generating jobs, opportunities, and experiences for others. Being able to pay others to assist me with work will subsequently allow me more free time to focus on serving, creating, and living while giving back and purposely impacting the world around me in any way that God sees fit for me to do so.
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Charles Gbadebo