Meet Jay Jones

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jay Jones. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jay , thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

After a decade in prison and 5 yrs of over the road training rookie drivers for schools owning and operating a Commercial trucking business I came home for good. Sold some equipment and earned a position as a project Manager Driver trainer and Spanish translator in the LNG industry with six figure salary. It put me in rooms with Millionaires during meetings once a week , and no one looked like me . I was years removed from prison with 10 gold teeth and sleeves for tattoos. When your in rooms and no one looks like you you must be slow to speak and listen first . Read the room , learn first therefore when its your time to speak your more accurate in your suggestions and line of questioning. I knew I was different because I made observations and insisted there be changes made , and they made them . But they were looking in my mouth instead of the eyes . I removed the gold teeth shortly after I had out grown the image and mindset. It was unprofessional, consistency and commitment to showing up daily having a great attitude and judge of character will take you far in life . Learning that being a leader means people under your supervision have better suggestions and ideas at times learn to utilize your help . Co workers, Family , friends, Loved ones and even your kids if they are under you , or around they have some talent or value you have to utilize their abilities you won’t know it all. That helped me be successful being the only one in the room who looked like me to be selfless and mainly focus on completion of the project. I was never really in the room alone because I knew I had a team . You have to have the mindset of a teammate. Articulating yourself clearly is a bonus in high profile rooms it gives educated, even if your not Graduating in 2012 at BRCC Auto mechanics & Welding made me a Swiss Army knife with mechanical issues on Commercial vehicles. I was able to problem solve in the nick of time giving instruction over a radio with 3000 people listening in TX /LA , it made me an asset. Setting in on meetings once a week for years gave me a clear indication of when the project would end . Because it was consistently topic of discussion. I began to develop a plan to make this my last job. I made sure I bought a home before it ended and I began to discipline myself and save money so I can invest in my business plans and myself. Flavor Of Louisiana Food Trailer I drew a food trailer on paper in my living room and the interior. Being a certified welder and pipe fitter by trade gave me the ability to build so i installed the equipment myself and saved thousands, I began to research on being in compliance it took 9 months of licensing and permits before the Health Department allowed me to operate. I knew I could sale anything, but most importantly. I knew Consistency and commitment to showing up daily and believing in yourself was essential. Socializing and collaborating with like minded individuals is beneficial to your business and personal life success overall . Having a great attitude, being teachable and believing in yourself you will find the success that your searching for . You have to have educate yourself have adequate rest for the next day perform under pressure consistently and have great character. Never fear the unknown embrace it you only live one life and that’s how you become successful when your the only one in the room that looks like me . Flavor Of Louisiana 💯👑🙌🏾

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?

My name is JoWonn Jones , Raised in Franklin, LA. I’m 43 yrs old , in my younger years I made the 1998 Jr Olympics for basketball. Placed 3rd in the country. After Grade school it was the real world . Next there was a downward spiral into a street life . Addiction, major drug deals , street beefs and prison . Boosie Bad Ass was in the Vo Tech Dorm at DCI he was never in PC he was in the School dorm . I earned trades in Auto mechanics & Welding . Graduated 1st in my class , next I went to work release as a welder . I saw they allowed everyone to hv $25 cash every week . I created a Sports book on paper before Fan Duel while in work release . Realized they never searched us going out to work only when we came bk in . I took the money I skimmed off the top plus small profits weekly to my job and locked it in my tool box I had more than one box incase of a search is bring them to the box on the huge yard that was clean . I earned 10k welding and 5k on the sports book I created . The guys in the facility never knew I played every week for free they only wanted to know what the pot was , they never asked how many ppl played so the pot was bigger and bigger over time . I kept my job at the shipyard on my release for 3 months then I earned my CDL over the course of weekend driving school . I took a vacation from the ship yard and never went bk . They never gave anyone vacation pay if they found another job and quit even if they owe it to u . I started driving OTR never went bk lmoa … After 8 months OTR and a bank roll of 20k I bought my own truck and continued on for years . After going all over the country mile for mile I been to every state a few times except Alaska and Hawaii. Multiple break downs urs over the road I was burnt out after missing Birthdays Holidays Regular days . I sold my equipment and landed a job in Lake Charles LA for 6 figures in the Transportation and LNG industry. Project Management/ Translator. Setting in on meetings for years I knew when the project would wine down. I out together a plan for this to be my last job and I’ll go bk to working for myself. There’s nothing like the freedom of working for self . Knowing when the project would end I created Flavor Of Louisiana Food trailer . I’m still in the trucking industry running from Lake Charles to Houston twice a day 5 days a week and I open Fkavor of Louisiana Fri – Sun Most times in life all it takes is for someone to believe in you , but you most believe in yourself 1st . My Nxt event will b Mardi Gras in Lake Charles LA and Franklin LA then it’s back to my location .. I have a website with multiple products dropping for the spring you won’t be disappointed!!! Follow me @FlavorOfLouisiana on IG Jowonn Jones Face book Tick Tock Thank you & Blessings

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?

First surrounding yourself with positive and like minded individuals is most important. Even if you hv to relocate to a different State City or town get with some individuals that are positive and like minded or on a higher level than u are . Self educated yourself on any endeavor do the research and digging yourself don’t depend on anyone to do your research for you educate yourself it a take u longer at times but you learn the know how parts . Now you can teach others on the field it makes you an expert. And the third skill set is consistency hard work being available having a great attitude, it makes it easy for others to work along side you and higher ups a volunteer important information to you be honest and never forget who helped you get on . There’s no special trait or strategy to being great you uv to stay hungry and put in the work and collaborate promote advertise pray and don’t stop get better yr by yr there’s no secret to it you hv to work for it ..

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

The Book, What’s Your Kick!! By Seanathon Polidore Played a very important role in my success. In the timing in which it dropped . I just finished a bid and started trucking . So I read the book while on my down time in the truck and the added bonus was the Author was one of my Best Friends. So even though we were the same age , he was my mentor bc we lived two totally different lifestyles so when he spoke I knew it was real , the positive messages he send to me on Social Media everyday still to this day .. The most valuable nugget of wisdom in the book was don’t practice 10,000 kicks . Practice 1 kick 10,000 times and you will master it and be able to teach others so we all hv to find our kick and Master that . Whats Your Kick ?

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Flavor Of Louisiana
• Facebook: Jowonn Jones
• Twitter: Flavor Of Louisiana
• Youtube: Flavor Of Louisiana

Image Credits

Thank you to Lisa Landry I absolutely appreciate the opportunity .
Joy Alexander My Mom