Meet Jamaal Jones

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jamaal Jones. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jamaal below.

Jamaal, thank you so much for joining us today and appreciate you talking about a sensitive topic. It’s unfortunately relevant to so many in the community as layoffs have been on the rise recently, and so we’d appreciate hearing your story and how you overcame being let go?

In 2015, I was presented with a job opportunity at a new law firm where I would be earning significantly more than I did at my previous job. I had a very stable job but I decided to take seize the opportunity. I was very excited about the new job but within 3 months of accepting it my position was terminated. Not only was this demoralizing but panic began to set in because I had just leased a new car and moved into a more expensive apartment as a result of my pay increase. Finding new employment was difficult and I became increasingly worried about how I would pay my bills, including my law school student loans. I overcame this layoff by betting on myself. I decided that I was going to give it a shot at starting my own law firm, Jones Health Law. I had no direction or business plan, but I had hope, determination and a strong work ethic that would carry me through. I used my tax return to build a website and purchase business cards and set out to build a practice. Currently, I’m in my 8th year of business and we have about 10 employees/contractors working in our offices located in Florida, Tennessee, and Washington D.C. In other words, getting laid-off was the best thing that could’ve happened to me professionally because it gave me the courage and motivation to do something that I had always dreamt of doing!

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m the founder and Principal Health Law Attorney at Jones Health law, which is a law firm that I opened over 8 years ago. Currently, we have offices in Florida, Tennessee, and Washington D.C. with plans to expand to other jurisdictions. My practice focuses on Healthcare Transactions, Regulatory Compliance, and License Defense for medical and dental professionals and healthcare facilities. I’m passionate about Health Law and get excited when I have the opportunity to participate in a public speaking events. I have been a guest speaker at FAMU, Florida Department of Health, and the ABA – Health Law section. I have also been featured in national publications such as Newsweek, Black Doctor, and Becker’s Hospital to name a few. Most recently I appeared on South Florida PBS to discuss racial disparities in health.

On June 20th, I will be elevated to Chair of the Health Law Section of the Florida Bar. I am the first African-American to hold this position in the history of the Florida Bar.

We have created a Masterclass entitled “Legal Requirements for Operating an IV Hydration Business”. This Masterclass helps attendees: (1) Master the Legal Foundation of Your IV Hydration Venture; (2) Learn How to Easily Gain Compliance + Licensing; and (3) Develop The Key to Protocols + Partnerships to Build a Profitable IV Hydration Practice.

We also have an online shop at our Jones Health Law website where visitors can purchase template documents, such as Medical Director Agreements, Equipment Lease Agreements, Non-Disclosure Agreements, and more!

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?

The following are three qualities and skills that have been impactful in my journey:

1. Patience – We live in a world where we have become accustomed to immediate gratification, but that does not always translate to our journey. Impulsive decision making can be detrimental to your ultimate goal. Yes, you should make quick decisions that don’t linger, but they should be rational, informed, and well thought out to the extent possible, which oftentimes requires patience. My mom always reminded me as a kid that “We are not all running the same race.” We look at our friends, co-workers, or individuals on social media and think to ourselves “that should be me”, but I’ve learned that if you give yourself time you will eventually achieve the goals that you have set for yourself. I’m living proof of that.

2. Communication – I believe that effective communication is becoming a lost art. Primarily, there has been a trend where we communicate through text/email and as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic we have been increasingly living solitary lives. This limits our ability to have in-person communication which has contributed to the breakdown of effective communication and interpersonal skills. I would never be where I am today if I couldn’t write and speak effectively to a broad audience of people, whether they are potential referral sources or clients. You have to communicate clearly, succinctly, and in a way that convinces others that you are knowledgeable about your business. One of the best ways to develop this skill is to attend networking events and other social gatherings and directly communicate with individuals because you never know if the opportunity that you have been waiting for is in that room.

3. Adaptability – You should embrace change rather than rebuff technology or opportunities that can help you get where you’re trying to go. When I was in college I had a professor who prided himself on being a luddite and I always thought that this was a backwards way of thinking that would make advancement impossible. We all know the saying that “when life hands you lemons…make lemonade.” As a business owner you will try and fail at many things along the way but it’s what you take away from it and how to adapt to those challenges or obstacles that is the key to success. For example, artificial intelligence is playing an ever increasing role in our lives and you would be foolish not to explore how to incorporate A.I. into your business or hobby because I’m willing to bet that your competition or counterparts certainly are doing so.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most impactful thing that my parents did for me was to believe in me and support me in the ways necessary for me to be a decent human being and to achieve my ambitions. They put me in the best schools that they could afford, made sure that I was healthy, and emphasized knowledge of self.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Julio Carlos and Monolo Doreste

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Empathy Unlocked: Understanding how to Develop Emotional Intelligence

“Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action. It’s the impetus

Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Boosting Productivity Through Self-Care

When you have a never-ending to-do list it can feel irresponsible to engage in self-care,