We were lucky to catch up with Jana Abrams recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jana, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I believe my work ethic is the direct result of My Family’s Bold Journey. My parents immigrated to Canada from Ukraine with 2 small children, I was 3 yrs old, my sister was 8. My parents didn’t know anyone in this new Country, they didn’t speak the language and only had $50 to start a new life, a better life for their children, free of antisemitism and communism. My parents were industrious people striving to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. I watched as they worked multiple blue collar jobs to provide basic necessities for their young family. Necessity was truly the mother of invention when my father established his painting business, which I watched him grow into a lucrative contracting company in later years. His reputation of his work ethic preceded him, resulting in a successful retention of a loyal customer base that continued to contact his business years after he had passed away. Fast forward 20 years later. I find myself, a single mom of a 20 month old child and suffering from active Ulcerative Colitis disease. That is precisely when the work ethic and perseverance that my parents taught me kicked in, and like my father, I started my own business. Jana Abrams Talent Agency was established.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
If I had to use one word to describe my ‘brand’, it would be Altruism. I believe we were all put on this earth to help each other. My motto is you can attract a lot more bees with honey; be positive, be kind, and be helpful, it goes a long way! Remember this dear friends, Karma is only a bitch, if you are. I originally pursed an acting career in hopes of sharing stories that would motivate and inspire others to make a difference. When my life took an unexpected turn and I could no longer afford to pursue an acting career, I decided to position myself in a way that I could help others get those important stories out. Utilizing my acting and business sense, I become the talent agent that I would have wanted for myself.
It was during the entertainment industry drought of Covid-19, that I had to pivot once again. My clients weren’t working and I found myself consoling many of them experiencing mental health issues. I decided to tap back into my creativity and started writing projects for my clients, and am currently production on several of them.
My own Covid therapy came in the form of photography, the product of searching for light during the darkest days. Long walks in my community during the lockdowns inspired me to capture the beauty and wonder that surrounds all of us, when we open our hearts and minds. In hopes of sharing positive energy with those in need of a ‘pick me up’, I created a daily photo blog @ourbeautifulburlington with over 3500 followers to date, which spun off into a line of inspiring greeting cards featured in the Tourism Burlington office, and carried by several local retailers.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
It is truly my pleasure to mentor others. Being mindful of not coming across too preachy, I will keep this short and sweet. Thank you for this opportunity!
1) Don’t waste a lot of time dwelling on problems, consciously focus on finding solutions. This starts with being mindful of your positive energy, let it be your driving force. Don’t get discouraged. The bigger the challenge, the greater the opportunity for personal growth, and achieving your personal best. Trust me, what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.
2) Be true to yourself. Don’t do anything half-assed, because at the end of the day the only person you are cheating is yourself. Take all the time you need. Life is a Journey, Keep Moving
3) Be kind to yourself, don’t hold onto grudges. The person you had beef with has moved on, you are the only one who suffers when you hold onto that negative energy. Give yourself the apology you believe you deserve and move on.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played an important role in your development?
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is my favourite book. I give a copy of it to all of the important people in my life, as it truly is a gift.The Alchemist reminds us that each of us can make our own lives, and the world around us better. But we have to put in the work and be willing to have the courage to confront our dreams. Your dreams are YOUR dreams for a reason, don’t give up on your calling.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jata.ca
- Instagram: @janaabramstalent
- Facebook: Jana Abrams Talent Agency
- Other: www.jaggedpicsphotography.com
Image Credits
David Leyes Photography
