We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer Williamson-Mendez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jennifer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?
Success is truly in the eye of the beholder. I believe that when you are happy, enjoying life and able to live the life you want, that qualifies as success. Not everyone feels that way. Frequently, we tie success to our jobs and the money we earn. I choose not to. I left a six-figure job to follow my lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. This career change has led to a new meaning of success. As a teacher, I feel that I am successful every year that I have helped students graduate and follow their dreams. As a photographer, I feel successful when I take amazing pictures that my clients love. As a career coach, I am successful when one of my career coaching clients acquires the job they have been so desperately seeking. Finally, as an academic coach, when one of my clients uses the material I have helped them to create to earn a college scholarship, that is when I am successful. I developed my view of success through seeing people within my family strive for the ever-elusive dollar as they worked blue collar jobs. I also watched an aunt who was constantly trying new things and enjoying life. This is the model I follow when it comes to success.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I spent the first 22 years of my career working in higher education and helping college students be successful and get their first professional job. During this time, I earned certifications in career coaching, academic coaching and life coaching. I realized that the credentials, skills and knowledge I gained during this time could be used to benefit others if I offered my services though my own business. That was the beginning of Jennifer Mendez Coaching. My coaching business offers services for individuals seeking guidance and assistance in the following areas: career coaching, resume and cover letter services, interview preparation, testing preparation for certification exams, college application preparation and scholarship essay support. In addition, I assist with life and goal setting, career exploration and getting “unstuck”. I have had numerous successes in each of these areas, but several that I am most proud of are one of my academic clients was able to get accepted to her number 1 school choice and through many hours of collaboration, secured a full ride for 4 years including tuition, books, room and board. A second success that I am most proud of is from one of my career clients who had taken a professional certification exam 4 times without success. Her job was on the line if she did not pass. Through several hours of collaborative studying and using my techniques to understand the questions, she was able to pass the exam the very next time she took the test. I want my clients and followers to understand that I am here to support them in whatever they want to accomplish and that their success is my success.
My most recent endeavor is more on the creative end. I have always wanted to be artistic. I have tried all of the traditional artistic medias and lacked the skill and ability to take it to the next step. Over the years, I have really enjoyed dabbling in photography. Not only did I enjoy capturing scenery but enjoyed capturing special moments for my family and friends. Recently, I felt the need to embrace this creativity and take my hobby and turn it into a business. I am so excited to have opened my newest business JLWM Photography that offers senior sessions, family photography, maternity sessions, pet photography, event pictures and other categories upon request. What I want with my business is to use my creativity and passion for capturing life’s special moments.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2019, I was working for a University in Wisconsin. I was running the campus and making 6 figures. To be completely honest, the money was great, but I was unfulfilled. When I was in second grade, I was lucky enough to have a teacher who changed my life and inspired me to be a K-12 teacher. At the end of 2019, I was presented with the opportunity to leave that position, move to Texas and earn my teaching certification. I took a few months off to focus on my certification courses and in August 2020 accepted an English position in Tyler, TX. This pivot in careers has had its ups and downs, but overall, I am happy with my decision. I enjoy spending my day with my students and colleagues, I take pride when I see them at graduation, and bask in their success when they come back to visit. This career has also allotted me the time and opportunity to pursue my passions and open my coaching and photography businesses. These side endeavors keep me focused, channel my creativity and help my family live the lives we enjoy.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of my coaching business is when I receive feedback that the work that I assisted them with made their dreams come true or changed their life for the better.
Image Credits
Jennifer Williamson-Mendez