Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joslyn Kelly. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Joslyn, thanks for joining us today. Can you share a customer success story with us?
J’s Breakfast Club is blessed to celebrate 7 years in business serving Gary and Northwest Indiana with great food while inspiring positivity through love by doing what we love where we love for the people we love.
Joslyn, 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 am Joslyn Kelly. I am a proud product of Gary, Indiana on a mission to promote change through example.
J’s Breakfast Club opened in 2015 after several major life occurrences, starting with the death of my son by suicide while actively serving in the US Army in December 2014. Then subsequently, I was dismissed from my job 6 months later. These 2 instances in particular forced an opportunity to reassess life and how I would choose to move forward. With much prayer, therapy, and self reflection, this journey birthed a purpose that has grown into a passion founded on the principle to love to live and when things get hard, live to love. Truth is it is all based on love – my love for self, my love for family, and my love for community.
In addition to being the owner and Visionary of J’s Breakfast Club, I am the founder of the Love for Jalyn Foundation and This is Gary Inc. Both are not for profit entities that are purposed in improving the lives and the socio economic conditions impacting the community. I have also recently embarked on a community development project, Victory Way, working to transform a major gateway entering the City for which has never been developed since the inception of Gary.
In short, I am a woman of vision committed to service. Most importantly, I am resilient and purpose driven individual founded in love fuelled in hope that enables my faith. Someone once said that nothing comes to a dreamer, but sleep. In the very same way that this theory applies to a fuse until it is lit. So… Dare to dream and become tenacious enough to make it happen. I am the dreamer who’s fuse has been lit!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
The most important lesson that I have had to unlearn is not to limit my thoughts or abilities. Failures have proven to be preparation to do more and be more. J’s Breakfast Club is the third go at restaurant ownership. During the period prior to opening, I had the opportunity to assess what work I had done that gave me the most fulfillment and it was anything having to do with service. And once food and entertainment was added, it is truly my happy space.
Previous limitations that I imposed on myself by judging my abilities based on other’s perceptions stopped me from trying and more so believing in me. I settled for situations and after hitting rock bottom realized that there was nothing to lose. By getting out of my own way, I have been able to live a more free and fulfilling life!!!
Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?
There was a period in earlier stages of the business that I fought the notion that I had failed. Our books seemed strong, but I was having difficulties making payroll and paying the bills. I visited my previous financial advisor who advised me to close the doors and even suggested that I get a divorce.
Thank God for a strong village of real supporters who answered the call and saw my need for help. My accountant pulled me in and set me straight. I found a new financial advisor that listened through my sobbing tears and patiently instructed me to dry my tears, to sit up straight, and pivot! This episode taught me much, gave me much, and grounded me for further growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.jsbreakfastclubgary.com
- Instagram: Jsbreakfastclub_
- Facebook: Jsbreakfastclub
- Youtube: Jsbreakfastclub
- Yelp: Jsbreakfastclub
- Other: Www.thisisgaryvw.com
Image Credits
Cooleys Video (Waylan Cooley)