We were lucky to catch up with Lamarr Key recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lamarr, appreciate you joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

I moved to Houston after college to boost my career, and it was a game-changer. After months of job hunting, I got an interview at the Council on Recovery. There was just one problem: I had just undergone back surgery and wasn’t supposed to sit or stand for an extended period. But I was determined to make it work, so I made the 2.5-hour drive with my seat dangerously reclined so as not to stress my back. I even wore my back brace and used a grabber during my interview. Luckily, my resilience and credentials impressed the manager, and I got the job!

But then reality set in. I had nowhere to live, no savings, and no idea how to move my belongings to Houston. It would have been easy to give up, but I was determined to follow through. I was even willing to live out of my car if necessary. Thankfully, some amazing friends helped me out, and I was able to move to Houston gradually.

Looking back, I learned that sometimes you don’t have a plan, and things may not work out as you expect, but that’s okay. Life is full of surprises! If you’re willing to take risks and bet on yourself, you can achieve amazing things.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m originally from Indianapolis, Indiana and I’m super proud of my roots! Although I moved to Texas when I was 16 and have lived here for more than half of my life, I still consider myself an Indiana native. I’m a huge sports fan, especially when it comes to football – GO EAGLES! I love all kinds of music, but my favorites are hip-hop, R&B, and Neo Soul. I can listen to music from any decade, I just love it all!

I’m all about community empowerment and I believe that quality health education and information should be available to everyone. As for business, I have an entrepreneurial spirit and I love observing the various ways people make a living, whether it’s traditional or unique. Right now, I have an ATM business, I’m a mobile notary, and I breed English bulldogs and French bulldogs. Although I’m not sure how much of an impact I’m making on my community at the moment, I hope that these ventures and future ones will allow me to empower the community by providing opportunities for people with invaluable skills, like plumbers, electricians, etc.

When it comes to my brand, I believe that customer service, quality, and brand integrity are super important in any type of business.

All in all, I’m just proud of my ability to juggle everything that I do.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

I have found my true calling in public health and feel fulfilled serving communities and individuals. However, as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to understand that self-fulfillment and self-interest are two sides of the same coin, and it’s important to differentiate between them.

If I could start anew, I would consider pursuing careers in biology, such as animal science or anesthesiology, or in psychology, focusing on the human brain and behavior. While I cannot say for certain where my passion lies, I believe that by following my interests, I can reach new heights and achieve greater success.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

So, my business partner is actually my brother and we’ve been working together for some time now. I know it’s often discouraged to mix family and business, but I’ve found that it’s been a great opportunity for both of us to grow and learn from each other. The lessons we’ve learned together have also been really helpful in working with other people. When you’re working with family, communication, patience, and honesty are key. You’ve got to be willing to work through differences in opinion and ride out any bumps in the road. But, despite any challenges, I wouldn’t want anyone else as my business partner. Our experiences have brought us even closer and helped us to grow both personally and professionally.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nearuatms.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamarr-key-42294374