Meet Dr. Roger Starner Jones Jr.

We recently connected with Dr. Roger Starner Jones Jr. and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Dr. Roger Starner with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I get my work ethic from Coach Jimmy Mitchell, my high school football coach. His famous adage was “Finish what you start.” He had a powerful influence on my formative years, and I am thankful for that. I think of that adage often.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

The next part of the interview is where we’d love to learn more about you, your story and what you are focused on professionally – whether it’s a business, nonprofit, artistic career etc.

Please tell our readers about what you do, what you feel is most exciting or special about it, as well as anything else you’d like folks to know about your brand/art/etc. If relevant, please also tell our readers about anything new (events, product/service launches, expansion, etc)

Thomas Edison said, “If you do what you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”
Successful entrepreneurs put it all on the line to pursue a dream. Six years ago, I risked everything to change specialties and start a new career. Patients and their family members often ask why I did this.

The answer is simple. I met my father when I was 28 years old. He was living in a shack in rural Mississippi that lacked running water and electricity. He was huddled next to a propane heater to stay warm. My father had lost everything because of alcohol addiction. He had 11 DUIs in seven years. The chief of police in his hometown of 2,500 people called my brother and said, “Your father is not doing well. He needs to be involuntarily committed to the state hospital.” My brother said, “Do it.” My father was committed to the state hospital, detoxed by a doctor who saved his life, and never used alcohol again. We had a good relationship after that, as good as it could be given the circumstances.

After seeing the life-changing effect of sobriety in my father’s life, I decided to pursue a fellowship in addiction medicine after working as an ER doctor for 10 years. Today, I own two addiction medicine and behavioral health practices headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. We connect with patients on a personal level and operate with a ‘Mom and Pop’ company culture where we treat people the way we want to be treated.

The moment I met my father, I realized addiction was a legitimate disease rather than a moral failing. My primary professional focus continues to be on how to provide the best possible addiction medicine care to people who need it.
The most important lesson I learned after starting two businesses is that not everyone is for you. Believe it or not, some people (not just competitors) want nothing more than to see you and your business fail. As a business owner, you must surround yourself with capable people who are genuinely interested in helping you grow your business.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

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?

1. Emotion is the enemy of common sense. Successful business owners assess difficult situations objectively. It is easy for emotions to influence business decisions. That is a recipe for disaster. Business decisions must be made without the influence of emotions. This is especially true for decisions related to staffing.
2. All things being equal, the simplest solution is best. Intelligent and capable people tend to take on difficult challenges. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.
3. Perfection is the enemy of good. This statement speaks for itself. It is okay to arrive at an acceptable solution, even if it is not perfect.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

Small minds can be conquered by hardships. Strong minds overcome them. Many people give up too easily when starting a business. 80% of small businesses fail within three years of opening. Businesses fail for many reasons, not just a lack of capital. Successful business owners are mentally tough. They are made stronger, not weaker, by hardship. Regular exercise and time spent in nature do wonders for the stressed mind. I recommend both to entrepreneurs.

Contact Info:

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