Jamelle Sanders shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Jamelle, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Honestly, the thing that makes me lose track of time more than anything is writing. As you know, I have written fourteen books and it never ceases to amaze me how cathartic the writing process is. Every new project presents me with a new opportunity to discover new things about myself, explore different parts of my journey, and evolve into the highest expression of who I was created to be. When I am writing, time stands still and a world of possibilities emerge. I normally write very early in the morning and it is part of my quiet time. This is when my phone is turned off, I can’t get any notifications and am most present and centered. Writing really ushers me into a whole new world and it has become a passion of mine. I never imagined I would write fourteen books but I am grateful that I continue to write and that people all around the world have been impacted by my writing. Writing is one of the ways that I am able to reconnect with myself and rediscover new wisdom from my life and journey.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Sure, my name is Jamelle Sanders and I am the Founder and CEO of Jamelle Sanders International LLC. JSI is a global, management, consulting and advisory firm devoted to empowering individuals to fulfill purpose, maximize potential and make a global impact. Through my work, I have the privilege of providing solutions to complex global problems and working with leaders and organizations in the public and private sector. The thing that makes JSI unique is my approach. Most consulting firms follow a basic approach of meeting clients needs and delivering solutions. On the other hand, I have a strategic approach to consulting. In particular, most traditional firms offer large-scale or top-down strategy and data-driven analytics. Conversely, JSI offers custom solutions that are purpose-driven, prophetic in nature, holistic and legacy-shaping. JSI stands out because we are not just dedicated to transforming leaders but also transforming organizations by empowering them to fulfill purpose, maximize their potential, and move the world forward. While many consulting firms focus on optimization, JSI differs in that we are focused on transformation and aligning organizational results with personal purpose. While there is so much I could say about my unique value proposition, the reality is that JSI is an award-winning firm that is not just focused on stacking wins but shaping generations not yet born to time. While I sound polished today, I recall a time when I was confused and lacked clarity in business. As a result, it impacted my bottom line and caused my business to almost collapse on three different occasions. Clarity is the difference maker. Clarity will determine your cashflow and also the longevity of your business. Currently, I am working on some strategic projects that will give the organization an even greater global blueprint, another book is in the works, and I am highly focused on transferring knowledge and wisdom to the next generation through mentorship and legacy programs.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Wow, I really love this question. As a child, I believed that I had to color in the lines. In other words, I had to follow all the rules and live up to the expectations of other people.As children, we feel like we have to follow the template and we do not always feel like we have the freedom to be who we were born to be. As a result, I spent a lot time miserable and living according to the opinions and expectations of other people. I was afraid of standing out or speaking up about what was important to me. In many ways, I did not feel like my voice mattered or that what I had to say was important. So I gave my personal power away and lived in bondage. I did not believe that I truly had a voice or even that my voice was powerful. It was years later before I discovered this powerful truth in my life. This brings me to a very important point. You do not have to color within the lines. You do not have to fit into the box. You are allowed to be an individual. Most of all, never become silent about the things that matter to you. In fact, death begins the day that you become silent about what matters to you. I spent a lot of my early years in silence but I found my voice and I am not afraid to use it. You are more powerful than you could ever imagine. When I overcome that self-limiting belief, it changed everything about my life.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering in many ways has been a gift in my life. Many people see my life today, and they are in awe. They see the books, the television interviews, the press clippings, the awards, and the success. However, I am still trying to process the success. The thing that I remember more than anything is the struggle, the failures, the setbacks, and the disappointments. Ultimately, I remember the suffering the most because it shaped my life in profound ways. In particular, suffering recalibrated my heart, sifted my motives, revealed my intentions, and refined my character. While I am grateful for all the success, I am most appreciative of the suffering. It was the breaking that made me. It was the pressure that prepared me. Essentially, it was the process that promoted me. Suffering taught me that there is no success without struggle and there is no advancement without adversity. People think they know, but they have no idea. They see me on platforms today, but they did not see the process that prepared me for these platforms. Suffering has been a blessing in my life because it built in me the capacity for greatness. You cannot appreciate the summit of success until you have suffered. Everybody wants to rise to the top, but nobody wants to endure trials and tribulations. I’m grateful for everything that attempted to break me. It taught me that I was stronger than I ever imagined. I am grateful for every door that was closed in my face. It taught me that opportunity will never manifest without opposition. Furthermore, I am grateful for the betrayal and the pain because it taught me that not everyone belongs in your life. Suffering is the downpayment on a life of success.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
We live in a trendy society. If you log onto social media on any given day, you will find trending topics and popularity contests. However, those who know me best will tell you that I could care less about trends or following popular culture. Why is that? Fads are temporary, and they have no substance. On the other hand, foundations deal with things that are enduring and can stand the test of time. Before I create a product or a service, I always ask one very important question: Why am I doing this? I do not want to just create things out of desperation or because I am attempting to stay relevant. Ultimately, I create and bring things to the market because I believe that it will add value to people’s lives. So much of the garbage that is put out into the world today has no value. People are desperate for attention and will go to any length to stay relevant. What has happened to the world? We have produced a culture with no foundations. When you have no foundation, everything that you attempt to construct will collapse. I have turned down large sums of money and said no to many offers over the years. I refuse to be bought, and my soul is not for sale. The reason that my work is so different is that I am more focused on the foundation than the results. In essence, I am more concerned with who you are becoming than what you are building. When we emphasize results over development, the outcome is always faulty and defective leadership. You differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts by focusing less on the external and concentrating on the internal. The internal will determine sustainability.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
Ultimately, I think the thing that people will most misunderstand about my legacy is my heart. Over the years, I have endured lots of betrayal and pain in my personal life and in business. I have had people question my motives, doubt my sincerity, and unfairly judge my intentions. In a world where profit often rules over principles, I think people find it hard to believe that I will leave money on the table and walk away before I compromise my values and principles. Many people do not understand that I live my life by higher standards. While they can cut corners and not feel convicted, I know that the consequences of me compromising will be more severe. People will misunderstand the heart behind why I do what I do. I do not do this to be seen or to be recognized. I am not interested in popularity or notoriety. Ultimately, I do this because it is what I was born to do. People will most misunderstand why I do what I do. I do not do this for awards or accolades. I do this because it was what I was put on this planet to do. I do not do this to be liked or to be validated. I do this because I know that God has given me.a voice to shape nations and generations. The thing that people will most misunderstand about my legacy is that I am not interested in applause. I perform for an audience of one and I want to live knowing that God was pleased with my life. I want my life to count and to mean something. I want to leave such a mark that my life continues to impact generations not yet born to time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jamellesanders.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialjamellesanders_
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamelle/
- Twitter: https://x.com/JamelleSanders
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamelleSandersIntl
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/JamelleSanIntl
