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

Jessica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

It’s important to know what happiness is. Your ambition and purpose is struck in such a way that getting up in the morning feels different. It’s a sense of knowing that you found your life purpose and bound to leave behind your legacy. The short answer is yes, I am happy as a business owner. But happiness wasn’t always a part of my journey at first. I didn’t want to have a “feeling” tarnish my goals and motivation for whether or not I could accomplish something. It wasn’t until hearing my business partner, at the time we first met, reiterate a vision I’ve felt my whole life. This sort of “security” provided me with contentment and an inner fulfillment.

That epiphany is not something that comes with a “regular” job because a “regular” job is something you don’t enjoy doing. And even though salary is the number one reason people settle, it is technically irrelevant, While familiarity is comfortable, it doesn’t provide room for growth.

I’ve worked at McDonald’s, a call-center, as a freelancer, in retail, as journalist, etc. When I got closer to knowing where my ambitions were, finding the right fit in an already-existing position in the world felt more and more narrow. So I decided to create my own job, my own business, with my own vision. And now I get to live every day doing what I want to do with a team that shares the same values.

Jessica, 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’m a co-founder and act as Illustrator and Creative for Motivation Media Productions, also known as The Motivation Place. We are a small production company based out of Michigan, USA, that specializes in business leadership consulting and self-publishing services for aspiring authors.

We provide useful content and coaching for businesses and individuals to thrive in their leadership endeavors as well as create opportunities for authors and speakers to share their stories with the world. More specifically, we:​

-Publish motivational books and original works.

-Consult with leaders, authors, and speakers to foster personal and professional growth.

-Create content (posts, videos, podcasts, etc.) to share motivational resources we use and believe in.

Being a lifestyle company, maintaining a work-life balance is crucial to us. The majority of the work our team produces is created remotely using online collaborative tools to communicate. This also allows us to expand our network, grow our team, and creates a successful, flexible work environment.

Oh, and coffee. Lots and lots of coffee!

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

The morale of a team is vital to the success and productivity of a business. This idea isn’t talked about enough, and when it is, it’s generally too late, leaving an organization facing high turnover. The majority of problems a business faces, especially its morale, must be solved starting with communication. Communication is everything! Check in with your team regularly, listen to concerns, and keep everyone informed about current events.

It’s no secret that work ethic is down. But before choosing new and more team members, focus on the ones you have and let them be a part of operations. People work better when they know what’s expected of them. They also work harder when they know their work matters. Don’t let your team slip under the “silent quit” movement we’re seeing today.

While every team is unique, as an effective leader, it’s important to always be flexible, adaptable, open, and willing to try new approaches to meet the needs of your team to maintain high morale.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

In 2020, my team and I wrote and published our first book called Remotely Crazy. It tackled the main problems in the remote-work world the COVID-19 pandemic created, while sharing valuable resources that will better the reader’s work-life balance. As the book’s illustrator, I felt as though my five years in college and studying the publishing industry paid off.

The feeling of holding a physical copy of hard work in a book is such a rewarding experience. After only seeing the manuscript on a computer screen for months, watching the words come to life in your hands is indescribable and I encourage anyone who has a story to consider publishing so they too can physically feel their life’s work come to fruition.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.themotivationplace.com
• Instagram: therealmotivationplace
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLeadershipDojo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/motivation-media-productions/?viewAsMember=true
• Youtube: The Motivation Place | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9h9jexTR9j9z5tYGvdm1ZA
• Other: Remotely Crazy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Remotely-Crazy-Motivators-Pandemically-Oppressed-Tech-Laden-ebook/dp/B09FFVXFXM/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=remotely+crazy&qid=1630872524&s=books&sr=1-1