We recently connected with Jamaal Rashad and have shared our conversation below.
Jamaal, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Finding my purpose has been quite the journey. I think the overarching lesson for me was that our perceived purpose may change. If you asked me as a young man, I was certain that my purpose was to be a professional athlete. My father, uncle, and grandfather all played professional sports, and there was no doubt in my mind that I was destined to follow in their footsteps. After having a career-ending injury during my college career, I was completely lost. I had no direction, much less purpose, and I was forced to start over and redefine who I was. I quickly learned that I needed to direct my passion into something positive before it became self-destructive, and this is where my journey to entrepreneurship started. I spent time becoming reacquainted with myself to learn who I truly was, my strengths, my weaknesses, and the things that made me special as a human, not an athlete. This opened an entirely new world for me.
I believe our purpose lies in the greatest version of ourselves; thus, I would say that “finding purpose” is to find yourself, and it’s not a linear equation. In the same way that we evolve and change as people, our purpose may oftentimes do the same, and it’s important to give ourselves grace through this process. We’re all blessed with a gift or special skill set, and that gift can be intertwined with our purpose at any time. I realized that as I began to search through myself for my own special strengths, my purpose has always emerged. At the moment, I’m focused on positively impacting the world through how I conduct business, and leading by example is something I take great pride in. We must be the change we want to see in the world, so if I want to live in a business world that includes integrity, accountability, and excellence, then I must hold myself to those same standards. Perfection is never obtainable, and very few are willing to pursue it for fear of disappointment from never catching it. However, this pursuit brings out the very best in us, and in turn, influences those around us.
Purpose is something that can shift, but I’d challenge people to dig a little deeper into who they are. Find out what your strengths are. Have the courage to ask others close to you, “Hey, what do you think I’m really good at?” or “What do you think are my strengths?”. Then, truly listen to what they say. Look for consistency among the people you ask. When you hear similar responses, take note. Consider taking different personality tests like Myers Briggs or Core Strengths to obtain more objective information. I guarantee you’ll find some consistencies, and when you do, follow that rabbit hole. Although the uncertainty and vulnerability can be absolutely terrifying, what you’ll find is worth it. Everything great lies on the other side of our fears.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Although my story is intertwined with sports at its core, I’ve been an entrepreneur for as long as I can remember, whether it was walking door to door to wash cars as a kid, building a sports tech platform to shift the power dynamic to college athletes in my early 20s, or starting a Los Angeles-based Physical Therapy business. I’ve always been good at identifying opportunities. However, the true thought process came from the time that was spent looking introspectively to understand who I truly was, becoming very familiar with my strengths and weaknesses, and getting clear on my purpose.
I knew that I could be successful using the same approach that I’ve always used in business; pursuing my interests, studying a lot, and optimistically fighting through fear. Having some success after plenty of failures, I decided that I wanted to build a business that I could spend a lifetime conducting. I’d also dreamed of doing international business, so it was important for me to build something scalable that would take me all over the world. While listening to a podcast that was suggested by a friend, the narrator referenced “avoiding competition through authenticity” and a light bulb went off. I realized that no one on the planet could be me better than me, and therefore, I needed to create a business that was an extension of who I was.
I used to struggle telling people what I do, in part because I’ve learned to monetize who I am and what I bring to the world. However, as a consulting and advisory firm, 80% of the support we provide comes in two ways: (1) helping raise capital for companies seeking growth, and (2) leveraging our expertise and network to support the companys’ initiatives. Supporting a companys’ initiatives may be something internal like management consulting or board restructuring, it may also be something more external, such as a strategic relationship or a celebrity ambassadorship.
In terms of new projects, we’re working on some exciting things. I can’t go into too much detail, but the global sports business and renewable technologies are very exciting. Interestingly enough, they attract me because they’re both industries that play a huge role in our global society and tap into the raw nature of humanity.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
First, being introspective and using tools (trusted sources and personality testing) to find out my strengths and weaknesses was a game changer. We also tend to lean into things we’re good at, so finding your strengths is one of the first steps to the path to success.
Second, speaking with intention and being a person who follows through on their word has truly set me apart from a lot of others. So often people make empty promises or go back on a promise when it’s convenient, and it’s incredible how people can justify doing so. However, as the world gets more and more connected, our pasts are not far in the distance and people soon become aware of who you are. What you put out comes right back to you.
Third, is consistency. It’s easy to be great here and there, but I find that most people have trouble just being consistently good. A lot of great entrepreneurs will preach having a routine, and I couldn’t agree more. Whether it’s a morning routine, workout routine, or both, make sure to keep promises to yourself. Watch how people treat themselves; it will tell you everything you need to know about them.
The best advice I could give is to learn. Learn your strengths and weaknesses and learn more about what you like. Then, I’d recommend starting with just one book on a topic that interests you. If your interests lie in entrepreneurship, you may want to start with a finance or negotiation book. If it’s music, study other professionals and gain insight into their process. If you’re not a reader, try an audiobook. If you’re more hands-on, watch videos of your favorite thought leaders and professionals. Practice and knowledge build confidence. We live in a time where we have more information at our fingertips than ever before, but we must take action!
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Collaboration is everything. As much as we want to believe we’re responsible for our outcomes, we’re only responsible for the decisions we make that contribute to those outcomes. I believe all great things come through collaboration, and I always seek to align myself with individuals of high character who are pursuing excellence and want to positively impact the world.
I love to collaborate with other entrepreneurs, and if they’re former athletes, it’s an added bonus. The value I give to my clients comes from my personal experience and my network, so collaboration that supports either is something I always welcome. I want to continue building a team that’s equipped to handle the future of business. We’re entering a world that is more connected than ever and thus requires individuals to think big picture and display high emotional intelligence. Leaders who can take action and do business with integrity will shape the future.
The best way for people to connect with me would be either IG: @jrashad34 or my email [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rashadgroup.co
- Instagram: jrashad34
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamaal-rashad/
Image Credits
Cory Pickert
