Meet Jodi Jill

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jodi Jill a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jodi , appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I find creativity to be the drive that, in part, defines my passion. There is a deep hunger I have to be part of today’s world and embrace what humans can do today and into the future. The way I keep my creative spirit alive is allowing it to explore. Living in Los Angeles offers a number of opportunities to explore, understand and embrace our world and I couldn’t be more excited to do this on a weekly basis.

My goal is to stop the grind of world and go do something fun in Los Angeles. Just last week I was sitting in a coffee shop I’ve never heard of before drinking a tea I’ve never experienced all the while listening to music I’ve never heard. It’s the chance to embrace how things look, feel and be when you don’t know everything and find the drive to learn more. This teases creativity into action and it’s an amazing part of having access to so many different and unique opportunities when living in Los Angeles.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’ve always loved puzzles. They have been a way to learn, have fun and even focus. Early on in my career I knew writing and puzzles would be part of my life. Which is why I am not surprised that National Puzzle Day celebrated the 30th anniversary in 2024. The passion I have for puzzles, especially sharing with the children, is exactly why I get up early, go to bed late and hustle in the middle.

My puzzle making career has been hand-in-hand with my writing career. I’ve written dozens of books and contributed to multiple websites and online posts. However, my biggest delight is sharing that I’ve created over 20,000 puzzles, many of which are used in educational settings on a daily basis, for kids to learn and enjoy. The best part of any job is doing what you love.

Recently, the puzzle world has opened up to new opportunities and I’m finding myself excited as I’ve been engaging with new puzzles and opportunities.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think there were several skills I found very helpful when I started (and even today). It’s important to take time to research every situation before jumping in. Sometimes you avoid a major situation by simply understanding how people work, how situations develop and offer what you think is possible with your skillset.

Another skill I’ve found important to use (and practice until you are comfortable) is knowing what you are worth. It just so happens that sometimes things are not offered to a person at their worth. If you can feel comfortable saying what you are worth, people will appreciate your skills and you will feel good about your contributions.

Finally, I’ve found the skill of having fun relevant and important. Of course, nobody should be goofing off when they need to be working, but they don’t need to be so uptight either. Make a point to smile, be at your best and share your enthusiasm. Having fun at work by doing what you love, rubs off on your clients, coworkers, people everywhere and even your boss.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
Over the past 12 months I’ve released a new jigsaw puzzle, a commemorative jigsaw puzzle highlighting National Puzzle Day. While I’m a professional puzzle maker and worked with dozens of artists and photographers consulting and sharing the step-by-step process (including a course I created for entrepreneurs), it was a moment of growth and opportunity when this jigsaw arrived after months of planning.

Of course you start with a jigsaw concept and then a few months later a truck, full of jigsaw puzzles, arrives to unload. It’s an awe inspiring moment that transfers an idea you had to a real item that is a beautiful box with jigsaw pieces inside. It’s the amazing experience when the process goes from digital idea to physical item. It’s the very definition of growth that stretches you beyond just a moment. You now have a product that people will buy, judge, discuss and consider to be part of their collection.

There is this an excitement involved with introducing a product to the new world. It’s a place where you have to trust your idea, believe in the future and let the world decide if they like your item or not. Believe me, you grow in ways you never knew possible. Yet, when you get to the other side by selling out the jigsaw, you reflect on the growth that was necessary on a fast paced puzzle journey.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
This are mine — Jodi Jill

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