Jeremy Jenson shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Jeremy, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
1 year ago, I invested in a startup called Honcho Pickleball, the nation’s premier amateur pickleball community in over 60 cities, nationwide. Pickleball has been instrumental in my life to help me prioritize an active lifestyle and eliminate alcohol, while still maintaining my social life and competitive spirit.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Jeremy Jenson is the Founder and CEO of Encore Search Partners, a 40-person executive search firm headquartered in Houston that specializes in recruiting six-figure professionals across a wide range of industries nationwide.
Beyond business, Jeremy is a proud father of three sons and is engaged to a retired professional swimmer from Poland. A resident of Afton Oaks, he’s deeply connected to Houston’s entrepreneurial community, serving as a longtime member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (since 2018), Vistage Worldwide (since 2015), Team Savage 713 (since 2023), and the Founders Club (since 2025).
Driven by personal growth and surrounded by men he deeply respects, Jeremy credits these peer groups for constantly inspiring him to evolve into a better version of himself. Known for his authenticity and bold storytelling on LinkedIn, he has become an influential voice and respected thought leader in the global recruitment industry.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
In 2018, while navigating the challenges of divorce, I moved from Katy to inside the loop. That transition marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life, and the first person to welcome me into it was Shaun McDonald. Over the years, Shaun became much more than a friend – he was my running mate, my confidant, and, in many ways, my anchor.
From 2018 to 2022, I found myself living a destructive lifestyle fueled by alcohol, overindulgence, and sleepless nights. I had lost control of my health, eventually reaching 284 pounds, and was drowning in self-loathing, guilt, and shame.
One day, during a moment of raw honesty, I confided in Shaun that I didn’t believe I was worthy of happiness or true love. He looked at me and said something that still echoes in my mind to this day:
“If only you could see yourself through the lens that we all see you through, then you would know how truly great of a person you are.”
Those words pierced through the fog. They were kind, authentic, and exactly what I needed to hear. That conversation became the spark that ignited my transformation – inspiring the weight loss journey and lifestyle change that have now defined the last three years of my life.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Success taught me that the desire to Win will outshine my fear of losing … but suffering taught me why winning matters.
It stripped away my ego and showed me the difference between being admired and being truly understood for who I am, as a person. It humbled me, made me empathetic, and forced me reflect about the parts of myself I had been avoiding.
In the midst of pain, I learned patience, gratitude, and perspective. I discovered that sacfrifice & discipline aren’t punishment, they’re self-respect. That love isn’t something you earn … it’s something you Allow. I needed to love myself, before anyone else was capable of loving me, as well.
Suffering became my greatest teacher because it humanized me. It reminded me that fulfillment doesn’t come from what I achieved, but from who I became in the process.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
In many ways, Yes. But it’s only one version of who I am. The public version is the man I’ve built intentionally through Marketing, he’s social, successful, well-spoken, well-networked, well-dressed, confident, and cares about the people he leads and the ones he loves. That version is real because it reflects my values, my mission, and my vision.
But it’s not all of me. The private version carries guilt, shame, and insecurity. The public version is the result working with my life coach since January of 2021, the proof that all of my internal pain can be turned into living a life of purpose & integrity, even in the face of internal fear and anxiety. Am I the best father, the best husband, the best leader I can possible be? Only time will tell.
So yes, the public version of me is real. It’s just the polished reflection of a man who’s done the hard work in private. The difference is that now, both versions are finally aligned.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I hope people will tell about me when I’m gone isn’t about how much money I made, how many people I employed, or how many expensive cars I owned. I hope they talk about the kind of man I was.
I want people to say that I lived with purpose & intention, that I lifted others up, created opportunities, and helped people see potential in themselves that they didn’t even know existed. That I was the kind of friend, father, husband, and leader who made people feel seen, valued, and believed in.
I hope they say that I played the long game. That I cared about legacy more than likes, about impact more than income. That I lived my life with vulnerability, authenticity, and integrity.
And most of all, I hope they say that because of knowing me, that I was able to motivate and inspire them in some facet of their lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.espceo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyjenson
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyjenson
