Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jeromie Jones. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jeromie, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
Many think that people who appear to have money, status, fame, power, etc., don’t have problems. This idea that money can solve all of your problems is simply a lie. In fact, it’s been my direct experience that since I have elevated in my career, income, and life, I have even more problems that money can’t solve. Those issues are further complicated by being a black man that’s openly gay, and a social media influencer, all of which carry their own unique set of stereotypes and challenges to overcome. I have experienced people who didn’t want to work with me. I’ve experienced people posting negative comments about my husband and I on various social media platforms. I have had friends use me and turn on me. I’ve been left out of events, engagements, and overlooked for awards. I’ve also experienced relationship violence, generational trauma, and countless personal health struggles. Enduring so much pain so publicly eventually began to drain me mentally, physically, and emotionally. I was deeply depressed. On my platform, I was able to show up and be Kake King, but in my private life, Jeromie Jones was suffering.
While I wanted very much to hide and continue to suffer in silence and put on a brave face, I was reminded of my faith in God, and that I didn’t have to walk a tough path alone. I learned to lean on my close close friends, and be transparent with everyone about what I was going through. Telling my truth, helped me to write different endings and create new chapters of my life. I became more mindful of how I used social media and became extremely familiar with the block button. I worked to curate the content that I posted, as well as the type of content that I followed. I had to take control of the inputs into my life and became more aware of what I allowed myself to be exposed to. I take breaks when I need to and I maintain relationships with both my pastor and my therapist. For me, it’s important that I have both spiritual and mental health guidance.
Overcoming hardships takes resilience, but a person doesn’t become resilient over night. It takes time to learn yourself and get comfortable doing the work that you need to do on you to make yourself happy. The best thing that I’ve done is to make my personal health and fitness a priority in my life. Each morning, I wake up early. I ground myself in gratitude and a thankful prayer, then I go to the gym and work out. Preserving this time for myself has helped me start each day on a positive note. Feeling grounded helps keep me focused no matter what the day brings, and daily prayer keeps me connected. When challenges in my life arise, I lean on the positive coping mechanisms that I have developed, I don’t try to endure things alone, and I take time to check in with the people that care about me. Overcoming is inevitable if you stay persistent. Eventually, you will see your circumstances change. You just have to keep going, especially when it’s hard, and never give up.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am Jeromie “Kake King” Jones, an industry leading cake artists, business/branding coach, an influencer, and instructor. As a cake artist, I bake and decorate beautiful custom cakes, and treats that are sold online and shipped to your door. As a business/branding coach, I help entrepreneurs gain the knowledge and skills they need to excel in their business and reach their goals. I offer a multitude of online classes at Kake King University (KKU) for entrepreneurs and those in the baking industry. I’m also a social media influencer.
What’s exciting and special about what I do is the opportunity to truly do what I love, make people smile. When I see someone enjoying my desserts, or when I hear of someone who has taken positive steps in their business after a consultation, I can’t help but feel proud. Putting good into this world and being a light fills me with so much joy. I also get the opportunity to be creative daily and try new things that also generate revenue. So many times we have to choose between what work fulfills us and what work puts food on the table. I’m grateful that for me, they are one in the same.
Each season, my website boasts a special curated menu to bring home all the feels, as well as specials on staple items such as our buy one get one half off sale on my signature buttercream.
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?
As I look back over my life, having strong faith has been essential in my journey. There have been so many times where I did not have the answer; where doors were closed; where I tried something that didn’t work; and times where I truly didn’t know how I would make it, but my faith in God carried me though. I recommend every person become spiritually connected and grounded in some way.
Having an English degree as a cake artist & influencer has truly been impactful on my journey as well. The corses that I took taught me to think critically; to speak with clarity; to write eloquently; and to be a better communicator. All of these are essential skills when running a business and teaching. There’s always an opportunity to grow especially as technology and access to technology change. I recommend anyone wanting to stay on top of best practices in communication take advantage of any courses or videos that are out there on the subject. I am constantly learning, whether it be in formal classroom settings or online, I make it a point to always be working on building something.
My positive outlook on life has also been extremely impactful. When we are faced with hard times in life, we have to understand that while we can’t control what is happening, we can control our reaction to it. Looking for the positive in every situation helps me to remain in a space where I can appreciate both the struggles and triumphs that life automatically brings. I choose to see something positive.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
My biggest area of growth or improvement in the last 12 months has been getting granular about organization and establishing strong standard operating procedures. As I’ve grown I’ve needed a lot more help than I have in previous times. Having my processes and procedures in place that are clearly understood and carried out has made a world of difference in the way I run my business from the inside out. These processes and procedures have drastically improved customer buying experiences and have elevated my online engagement as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sprinklemebykakeking.com/
- Instagram: iamkakeking
- Facebook: iamkakeking
- Linkedin: Jeromie Jones
Image Credits
Jeromie “Kake King” Jones
