We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jarod O’Brian. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jarod below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jarod 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?
Full transparency moment – my work ethic comes directly from my father. We do not have the typical “father-son” relationship, but as I’ve grown into manhood certain lessons he wanted me to learn have become clear. This man was/is a workaholic, and the one thing I could never take from him is the principle he instilled in me that hard work pays off.
He’s the definition of an old-school type of guy, especially from the south – Memphis, TN to be exact. Sidebar: If you’ve ever seen “Fences” – Denzel Washington’s character is the spitting image of how my old head approaches life. The way my father views the world is always from an operational lens. Every moment that presents itself, he wants to sneak a lesson or get me to look deeper than the surface. As extreme as my childhood may have been, I want to credit him for never sugarcoating anything to pacify me. His methods are like taking an advanced course to handle the ups and downs of life.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Simply put, Intellect Connect is a lifestyle brand that encourages individuals to elevate their mindset by dissecting key topics such as relationships, emotional intelligence, and mental stability. After plugging the blog site, https://www.intellectconnect.co/, I frequently encourage audience members to “visit and get [their] mental stimulation.”
There are multiple methods and strategies implemented throughout the years to create brand awareness, especially in such a strong social media-driven society. Video clips of topic breakdowns, inspirational quotes, and articles can be easily found on my Instagram handle @theintellectconnect. Let’s be honest… I’ve been at this thing since 2017. From the feedback garnered over the years, people have genuinely expressed how my content has enlightened them, provided a fresh perspective, and/or served as a form of encouragement.
Keeping it a buck, I am focused on massive expansion heading into 2024. This isn’t a New Year resolution ordeal, but I’ve played too nice in the past. It’s time to shake things up and make sure people know who I am!
I won’t give out all the plays in the playbook, but the key focus is brand monetization moving forward. I intend to cultivate more partnerships vs. a popular audience. Affiliate marketing, paid-published content, live events, and a book signing are all within the near future. I am still considering pursuing the podcast route. The right pieces just need to be in place.
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. Develop a genuine curiosity. When it pertains to creating and breaking through the concrete to bring your idea into full manifestation, curiosity will guide you to what’s next! If you are not genuinely curious there is no way your vision will survive the brainstorming and ideation process.
2. Be a student. Too many creatives and entrepreneurs experience random encounters and business meetings without fully understanding what they are getting involved in. Take some time to study the market, product, client base, etc. There are times to make big leaps, but the legs underneath you need to be strongly developed first.
3. Create a disciplined environment. Although the creative process is normally described as free-flowing, many areas of discipline should be focused on. Be intentional about scheduling time to create. What content are you consuming? Study people within the field who execute on a high level. Be proactive in seeking information, instead of waiting for it to be handed to you. Go get it!
Are you open to working with others in the space?
Absolutely yes! I am searching for people to collaborate with. Not just any kind of person, but I am open to partnering with individuals who have clear visions of their brand’s direction.
Since the foundation of Intellect Connect is established on relationships and effective communication, I desire to combine my platform and creative genius with like-minded thinkers. It’s never too late to speak things I desire into existence, so I’ll go out on a limb and state that I wouldn’t mind working with @niceandneatpodcast, @stephanspeaks, @thefemininitydoctor, @hardlyinitiated, @msaprilmason and a few others. I gained a wealth of knowledge from my own life; as my brand grows so will its impact!
The previous thought was not meant to name-drop, but I felt the best way to highlight brand identity is to showcase other brands that closely relate. Work has to be done to reach certain platforms. Furthermore, my line is open to any other brand that operates on the same frequency.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.intellectconnect.co/
- Instagram: @theintellectconnect
- Twitter: @the1intellect
