Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Barnett.
Jay, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I will give the short story of version, after pursuing my football career I found myself at a very low place and a failed suicide attempt because I had fallen into a deep depression and I had to battled and claw my way out. Spent a few years in therapy seeking the answers to so many questions I had as a teenager after my parent’s divorce.
After finding freedom through therapy, I decided to create a program for teens that would help them navigate through their emotions and circumstances to discover their identity as Kings & Queens. TheMeWeProject is 5 weeks self-development programs that take teens, girls & boys through intense training on how to build a vision, master their emotions, and how to cope with life trials.
We have conducted these programs in schools, community centers and churches. After successfully administering those programs, I began to write books about my story and also I could use them as tools for my programs. My first book “Finding our lost Kings & Queens” which is about my story and my work with teens. After mentoring girls and wrote a 2nd book “Letters to a Young Queen” which is a compilation of letters to encouraged young girls to love themselves and be Queens.
And the most recent book for young men “Hello King” which is my story about boyhood to transition into manhood.
In addition to my books, I began speaking as a kid in my dad’s church at the age of 9 as a minister, but I walked away from church and God after my parent’s divorce. And later would be picked speaking up at the age of 30 to share my story by encouraging teens all over the country with my message about becoming of King & Queen.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not, this journey has been everything but smooth, but I have enjoyed every high, low, valley, and pothole. I have gone through 4 publicists, I have spent 20k of my own money to push my brand, traveling, and going to conferences to connect with other people outside of my network.
What has helped me is that I took the same work ethic and relentlessly pursue that I had in football and translated into this business. Just like any other business, you will meet people that make promises they can’t keep. That is just life, but I have always remained consistent and faithful to the vision that God gave me.
There have been many days I wanted to quit but I reflect on the kid’s lives that has been changed through my books, speaking and programs and it gives me that push to continue to work beyond my feelings of quitting. I just remind myself that I am giving them something that I wanted when I was a teen, which is support, guidance and unconditional love.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about JBarnett Enterprises – what should we know?
My business is building youth through my speaking, books, and programs. In adjacent to that I conduct programs for business, schools and churches on how to conduct with millennials and youth by effective communication.
Also, I have emotional programs in group homes and foster care because I am earning my masters in Family Therapy, so I teach kids that are in foster care how to navigate through their situations and become empowered by their experiences.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
My greatest characteristic I believe is I am relentless and resilient like no other. I am too afraid to quit because I am afraid of what I may miss if I quit, this concept keeps me going beyond.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.webuildprojects.org
- Email: jay@jay-barnett.com
- Instagram: kingjaybarnett
- Twitter: kingjaybarnett
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