Meet Jenn T. Grace | Founder & CEO, Publish Your Purpose

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenn T. Grace and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenn T., we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
My entire career has been based on a high-level of risk-taking which can and has made people in my life uncomfortable.

When I was 23, I moved to a new state without a solid plan for employment. I quickly found a job in marketing that I genuinely enjoyed. What I didn’t enjoy was the toxic work environment. With very little planning and a leap of faith I quit my job without knowing where I would land next. Within 3 weeks I had an incredible opportunity lined up to be the first paid executive director of a CT-based non-profit.

After years in my role as executive director I found myself bored and looking for the next opportunity so I took my next leap and started a consulting company. Working with dozens of Fortune 500 clients I had many of them asking me when I was going to write a book. I ignored the requests for a couple of years and then one day just sat down and did it.

That was the best decision of my career. After a decade as a consultant and 4 books on the topics I consulted about I started my publishing company, Publish Your Purpose.

Everyone I knew was asking me how I knew how to write and publish my books. In 2015, I grabbed a small group of people and taught them my process. Then I did it again, and again, and again. I was excited that I had found a scalable revenue stream within my business.

In early 2016, I had an author I was teaching my process to who said “I know that you’ve just spent 3 months teaching me how to do this, but can I just pay you to do it instead?”

And that turned into the biggest career leap I’ve ever made. Without knowing anything about running a publishing company I declared that I would be starting Publish Your Purpose.

It didn’t take long before I realized two things -1) How different a consulting company and a publishing company are to run. The difference in profit margins and staffing alone were quite a revelation. But that did not deter me. 2) That I, with absolute certainty, found my passion, purpose, and calling in life. There is something magical about knowing and feeling that what you are doing you are meant to be doing.

I never would have arrived at this place if it weren’t for the big (calculated) risks I’ve taken over the years of my career. Even to this day I take risks on a regular basis because it’s the best way to move my business forward consistently.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Both myself and my business are based in Hartford County, Connecticut.

If I have someone in from out of town the first thing we are doing is heading to the shoreline so they can experience the beauty of CT’s beaches and the incredible selection of fresh seafood.

We’ll then go to New Haven to experience the rich artist culture of the city. If they’re pizza people we’ll go to Little Italy which is known to have the best pizza in America.

As a book publisher and a lover of words the trip wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Mark Twain House in Hartford.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shout out the power of mastermind groups. I started my business in 2008 and in 2011 I started working with my first mastermind group.

Since 2011, I have always had a group of trusted advisors and mentors within my business due to these types of groups.

Having a group of people who have your back and your best interest can shorten the learning curve and fast-track your success. If you don’t have something like this in your life now, it’s time to create one for yourself.

Website: PublishYourPurpose.com

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Image Credits
LMG Photography