We recently connected with J.K. Lynch and have shared our conversation below.
Hi J.K., thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
That’s a good question. It depends on the place and space I am in. There are a couple of arenas where I still deal with imposter syndrome. To overcome it, I have learned to keep showing up. By continuing to show up, I keep learning from my mistakes and realize that I am worthy to sit at the table, or be in the space that I am in.
I have lived a life where I have been overlooked, underestimated, and deemed unworthy in so many aspects, but I have learned that the grace I have been afforded to have been in the spaces I have been in provides me the opportunity to personally grow and transform. It has also taught me to pull folks along on the journey and to potentially make room for them at the table.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I was a Social Studies teacher for 20 years who left the classroom in 2024. Throughout those 20 years, I taught, led my department in the two school divisions I worked for, was the PR liaison for my last school, was a contributing author for the textbook series “Movement”, mentored new teachers, hosted student teachers, and finished my career as the coordinator for the International Baccalaureate Program at my last school. I am not an educator who taught for a couple of years and then ran screaming from the profession. I possess a host of skills and a wealth of knowledge that have benefited me on my new career path. These skills, along with my mistakes are encapsulated in my book, “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up: Stories of a Tired Former Teacher”, published May of 2025. My book tells my story through the lens of humor and introspection and is unique because you can start the book at almost any point due to how it is broken up. “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up: Stories of a Tired Former Teacher” can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Audible (yes, there’s an audio version) and GoodReads. If you wish to cut out the middle man, feel free to order directly from me at [email protected] (there’s a holiday deal if 2 or more copies are purchased) or if you live in the Richmond, VA area, visit the Local Author Book Fair on November 15th at 325 Courthouse Road from 10:30 am -1 pm.
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?
Quality #1: You’re going to make mistakes. If I could have done this whole process all over again, I would have done it all again because of how many friends I have been able to help by finding the right cover artist, book distribution, and finding my voice as an author.
Quality #2: No one is going to care about your dream or passion more than you. I found so many people in the publishing and publicist business are about the almighty dollar and will leave you looking crazy while they leave you high and dry to chase the next dollar. If I trusted the first editor and cover artist I met, I promise you, I would have been talked about and not in a good way!!!!! Trust your gut. There have been some deals I walked away from because they just didn’t feel or seem right. What you are working on is special and you have to nurture that thing like it is a newborn- protect it, and be careful who you talk about it with.
Quality #3: Ignore the Monday Morning Quarterbacks. There are a lot of people out there who will look at what you are doing, provide constructive criticism by coming from a place of love- please, hear them. There will also be those who will have something to say and how if it was them, they would have done it differently. In 99% of those cases, ignore them because most of them have not ascertained or will almost never do what it takes to be where you are.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I would love to connect with people who are doing different podcasts and have a following. The couple of interviews that I have done with folks locally have helped me and helped them. I enjoy symbiotic relationships- I can help get the word out about your podcast and others are able to learn about my book and may buy it for themselves or purchase it for a current educator or one who has left the profession.
I also loved the work that I did with the book series “Movement”, so those who might be putting together projects that teach history creatively and through the multifaceted lens that is America, I would love to work with them as well.
Lastly (and this is from folks who have read the book already), if there are producers or show runners out there, I would love to pitch my book to them.
Anyone in these categories and is serious about collaboration can reach out to me at [email protected].
Contact Info:
- Website: ycmtsu-jklynch.com
- Instagram: @ycmt.su
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jelani-k-lynch/
- Other: TikTok: @mrlynchwroteabook and @unclelynch99
