BOSS Member Spotlight: Jessica Childress
What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career?
The biggest obstacles were all internal ones. In the early stages of building both The Childress Firm and Juris Prudence LLC, I had to learn how to build systems that could scale without me touching every single thing. I was doing everything myself, which felt necessary at the time but was actually a ceiling.
Learning to delegate was its own challenge. Finding the right people, trusting them with work I cared deeply about, and releasing the need to control every output was a leadership skill that was necessary for me to grow my two companies.
Perhaps the most important obstacle was learning to trust my own voice. I was a lawyer and an entrepreneur simultaneously, building a children's content company while running a legal practice. Learning to balance these two important companies has been one of the greatest and most rewarding challenges of my professional life.
What inspired you to break into your industry?
I have always been an advocate. In elementary school, I was the kid who stuck up for children who were being bullied. In high school, I was on the debate team, advocating for various positions. In college, I was on my university's judiciary committee.
As the child of an educator, education has always been important to me. I grew up in schools, and I grew up surrounded by books. Like the character that I write about, I loved reading, and I still do. In children's education, it was the absence of a character like Juris P. Prudence that inspired me to create her. In 2012, I started writing the first book in the collection because I wanted all children to see law as an exciting, accessible field. I could not find that story on the shelves, so I wrote it.
How do you balance your personal and professional life, or have you found a balance?
I have stopped chasing the idea of perfect balance and started designing a life aligned with the values that are important to me, which are creativity, wellness, service, and impact.
I'm a lawyer, a founder, an author, an entrepreneur, an aunt, a daughter, a fiancée, a soror, a friend, a sister, and so many other identities. Those identities do not turn off at any given time. As a founder, true weekends are not really a thing. I find that I work on vacations, holidays, and weekends. Thankfully, I love what I do, and I have the freedom to determine when the work will get done. To some, working every day would not be balanced, but I think it depends on how you decide to structure that work.
I inject physical and mental health into my daily practices because I know that I cannot effectively serve others if I am not at my best. To me, that means hydrating by drinking a lot of water, moving daily with purposeful movement, keeping a positive mindset, surrounding myself with positive people and people that inspire me, and being a continuous, lifelong learner.
I've also learned that sustainable output requires real recovery, and I've gotten much better at honoring that.
I am very fortunate to have built a life I truly adore. My days are meaningful and purposeful. Each day, I am excited to do work that I love, and it is a privilege to balance something I love doing into the other aspects of my life.
What is an inspirational quote that you live by?
"Stand in your shoes, girl." My grandmother would always tell me this. To me, this means always be confident and never show up as a diminished version of yourself. Never ask someone for permission to take up space. Stand tall and proudly in everything that you do. Every time I've stepped into a room, that voice has been there. Stand in your shoes. Own where you are and who you are. Everything else follows.
Who were influential people or mentors who helped or encouraged you?
Judge Alexander Williams, Jr., who is a retired United States District Judge, has been a mentor to me throughout my legal career. Clerking for him directly out of law school was one of the biggest honors of my legal career.
Additionally, I've found tremendous value in peer mentorship. I have learned so much from other founders, other attorneys charting non-traditional paths, and other women building purpose-driven companies that did not have a blueprint. I am grateful to be a part of a community of peers who inspire me and celebrate the wins alongside me.
What are your "must-haves" to keep your career or business strong?
Systems, delegation, intention, and community are must-haves in all facets of my life. You cannot scale anything you refuse to systematize, and you cannot grow if you are holding every task yourself. Beyond operations, I need a clear north star. I have to know exactly what I'm building and why. When the vision is sharp, decisions get easier.
As far as community goes, having the right people around you who will tell you the truth and push you forward is non-negotiable.
Finally, intention is so important to me. I do not make a goal unless I know there is intention behind achieving it. Otherwise, making the goal is a complete waste of time. Intention to me means putting achievement dates on my calendar, making sure I have the resources to achieve the goal, and if I don't, identifying what resources I lack in order to achieve it.
What is your definition of a BOSS?
A BOSS is someone who has made a deliberate decision about the life they're going to lead and then built it, without waiting for permission. Being a BOSS is ownership of your time, your decisions, your narrative, and your impact. A BOSS does not shrink to fit spaces that were not made for her. She creates new spaces, raises the standard, and brings others along with her.
Please describe yourself in two words. "Visionary Trailblazer."
Learn more about Jessica at:
X || https://twitter.com/childressfirm (@Childressfirm)
Meta || www.facebook.com/thechildressfirm
Instagram || https://www.instagram.com/thechildressfirm (@thechildressfirm)
Website: www.thechildressfirm.com
LinkedIn|| https://www.linkedin.com/in/childressjessica
Youtube || https://www.youtube.com/@childressfirm
Meta || www.facebook.com/JurisPPrudence
X || www.twitter.com/JurisPPrudence (@jurispprudence)
Instagram || www.instagram.com/JurisPPrudence (@jurispprudence)
YouTube || https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0x4BFpyZYxKSiwcu0HGFqQ/feed?view_as=public
Website || www.jurispprudence.com
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jurispprudence
Comments
Post a Comment