Podcast Summary
From Tough Beginnings to Millionaire CEO: Despite facing adversity, including sexual abuse, homelessness, and juvenile detention, JT McCormick persevered through hard work and dedication to become a successful CEO.
No matter what challenges life throws at us, we can overcome them with determination and hard work. JT McCormick, the CEO of Scribe Media, shares his inspiring story of growing up on the tough streets of Dayton, Ohio, as a son of a drug dealing pimp and an orphan single mother. Despite facing hardships such as sexual abuse, homelessness, and stints in juvenile detention, JT beat the odds and became a millionaire. He attributes his work ethic to his father, who was a great communicator but also unreliable. JT learned to be loyal and committed to his work, even when things were difficult. He stood in front of dirty toilets for hours to ensure they were the cleanest in San Antonio and Texas. This experience taught him the value of hard work and perseverance. So, no matter what your background is or what challenges you face, remember that with dedication and a strong work ethic, you too can achieve great things. Join the Yap Society on Slack to network, give feedback, and learn more. And if you're in need of digital advertising, marketing, or content creation services, check out Rethink Creative Group.
The importance of striving for excellence despite adversity: Growing up in poverty and adversity, the speaker learned the importance of working hard and being the best at everything, even when faced with extreme challenges
Striving for excellence in every aspect of life, no matter the circumstances, can lead to success. The speaker's father instilled in him the importance of being the best at whatever he did, from cleaning toilets to becoming a CEO. The speaker's upbringing was marked by poverty and adversity, but he and his mother made the best of their situation. They lived in the United States, where poverty was still a significant challenge, and they experienced hardships such as having to tape dry cleaning bags to their windows during the winter to keep out the cold air. Despite these challenges, the speaker's mother even resorted to working as a prostitute at times to provide for her family. The speaker's experiences instilled in him a strong work ethic and determination to succeed, which he applied to every aspect of his life.
Overcoming adversity and learning respect: Jovan's experiences with food insecurity, bullying, and witnessing his mother's suffering shaped him into a resilient leader who values respect for all.
Growing up, Jovan had to deal with food insecurity and the challenges of being a mixed-race child in a racially divided community. He learned to navigate through difficult situations, including being bullied and witnessing his mother's suffering. Jovan's father played a significant role in shaping him into the person he is today by teaching him to be the best at whatever he does and to communicate effectively with everyone. A powerful lesson came when Jovan was young, and his father made him say hello to a little girl in a grocery store. This experience instilled in Jovan the importance of respecting everyone, regardless of their position or background. Despite the hardships, Jovan's experiences have helped him become a successful leader, emphasizing the value of resilience and respect for all.
Kindness and genuine interest create meaningful connections: Treating service industry people with kindness and sincere interest can lead to deeper connections. Money's lack can lead to desperate measures, and the business models of industries like alcohol and pharmaceuticals prioritize repeat customers.
Treating service industry people with kindness and genuine interest can lead to meaningful connections. The speaker's father taught him this valuable lesson, and it's important to ask how people are doing with sincerity. Money, on the other hand, became a deep concern for the speaker due to his experiences of lacking it, leading him to view the lack of money as the root of all evil because of the desperate measures people take to obtain it. An intriguing analogy his father used was comparing the CEO of Budweiser to a drug dealer, highlighting how legalized drugs, like alcohol and pharmaceuticals, follow similar business models, with the ultimate goal being repeat customers.
Lessons from personal experiences: Our past experiences, even the difficult ones, can provide valuable lessons and strengths for future success
The experiences we go through in our personal lives, no matter how challenging, can shape us and provide valuable lessons that can be applied to our professional endeavors. The speaker's mother, who defied odds to raise him despite financial struggles and a difficult past, instilled in him the determination to succeed. The speaker's own experiences with adversity, including multiple stints in juvenile detention, fueled his hustle and resilience, which he later brought to the corporate world. The speaker's story is a powerful reminder that our past experiences, however difficult, can provide valuable lessons and strengths that can help us succeed in the future.
Overcoming adversity in childhood: Despite a challenging past, the speaker found strength and turned negative experiences into positives, instilling a strong work ethic and ability to handle stress.
Despite a challenging and chaotic childhood, including experiences of sexual abuse and poverty, the speaker found ways to turn negative situations into positives and use those experiences to succeed in life. A particularly impactful moment came when he was left alone with younger siblings and had to provide for them, instilling in him a strong work ethic and ability to handle stress. This experience helped him manage the pressures of growing a business and view financial metrics with a sense of calm. The speaker's resilience and determination, even without a traditional education, led him to start his career as a janitor and eventually become successful.
Learning from various experiences leads to opportunities: Starting small and focusing on passion can lead to significant opportunities and career growth. Effective platforms like Shopify make it easy to sell products and grow a business. Wise investing is crucial for financial growth.
Paying attention to detail and learning from various experiences can lead to significant opportunities and career growth. The speaker shared how starting as a candle maker in a mall led him to corporate America and eventually becoming the CEO of a publishing company. Similarly, starting a business with Shopify can provide an easy and effective platform to sell products and grow, allowing individuals to focus on their passion and success. Furthermore, investing wisely is crucial to beat inflation and grow wealth, and managing multiple investment accounts can be simplified with the right tools.
From salesperson to successful businessman: Dedication, hard work, and a positive attitude towards all tasks can lead to significant success. Use tools like Yahoo Finance to make informed decisions and stay updated.
Determination, hard work, and a willingness to go the extra mile can lead to significant success. The speaker shared his experience of starting as a salesperson in a small company with no prior knowledge of what he was selling. He listened to his competitors, tailored their pitches, and put in long hours, eventually growing the company from a team of 13 to over a hundred people. The speaker's dedication and mentality of not believing in low-level tasks earned him the respect of his employees. He also emphasized the importance of using tools like Yahoo Finance to make informed decisions and stay on top of financial news. Overall, the message is that success requires effort, hard work, and a positive attitude towards all tasks.
Desire to preserve legacy leads to unexpected opportunity: Expressing a clear goal and the courage to pursue it can open doors to unforeseen successes
Determination and a strong desire to preserve one's legacy can lead to unexpected opportunities. JT McCormick, despite not having a college degree or founding a company, was handpicked by Tucker Max to be the CEO of Scribe Media. This came about after JT expressed his desire to document his background for his children, leading him to reach out to Tucker for help. Impressed by JT's unique perspective and unconventional approach, Tucker offered him a role in the company. This experience shows that having a clear goal and the courage to pursue it can open doors to unforeseen successes, even in the face of imposter syndrome or perceived limitations.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome without Traditional Academic Credentials: Embrace unique strengths, focus on passions, and make sacrifices for long-term success. Imposter syndrome can be overcome by recognizing personal experiences and skills, even without formal education.
Imposter syndrome, or the feeling of being a fraud despite accomplishments, can be overcome by recognizing unique strengths and experiences, even without traditional academic credentials. The speaker shares how they struggled with imposter syndrome due to a lack of degrees, but found validation in their business skills and experiences. They also emphasize the importance of focusing on areas of passion and expertise, even if starting over, and maintaining a positive attitude towards opportunities for success. The speaker's philosophies on success include the idea that sacrifices must be made to achieve it, as exemplified by LeBron James' dedication and hard work. Overall, the key takeaway is to embrace unique strengths and experiences, focus on areas of passion, and be willing to make sacrifices for long-term success.
Sacrifices for Success: Family Time, Sleep, and Hiring: Effective hiring and prioritizing sleep are crucial for business success, but can require sacrifices in personal time and family relationships.
Success often comes with sacrifices, and LeBron James's missed family time due to his basketball career is a prime example. Another important sacrifice for success is sleep, which can help improve thinking and overall health. In the business world, entrepreneurs must also make sacrifices, such as investing time into hiring the right people and building effective processes, which ultimately lead to profits. The hiring platform Indeed can help streamline this process by allowing businesses to attract, interview, and hire all in one place. Additionally, sleep is a crucial component of achieving success, and sacrificing it can hinder productivity and overall well-being. The 3 P's of business - people, process, and profits - should be prioritized in that order, with great people leading to the ability to build effective processes and ultimately achieve profits.
Prioritizing people over profits: Focusing on people and learning from mistakes leads to better company culture, talent retention, positive work environment, and long-term success.
Prioritizing people over profits, particularly in publicly traded companies, can lead to a better company culture and long-term success. The speaker, who leads a privately owned company, emphasizes the importance of servant leadership and serving one's employees, rather than viewing them as subordinates. He believes that by putting people first, companies can retain talent, foster a positive work environment, and ultimately achieve better results. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes and not giving up, as failure only occurs when one stops trying. From a personal morning routine perspective, the speaker suggests focusing on productivity and positive thinking to start the day off right. Overall, the key takeaway is that prioritizing people and learning from mistakes can lead to personal and professional growth and success.
Daily routine and giving back: Success requires dedication to faith, health, family, business, and investing, as well as giving back and teaching essential skills to others.
Success is not achieved without failure and continuous learning. The speaker shares his daily routine, which includes prayer, studying, working out, and mentoring youth from his community. He emphasizes the importance of giving back and teaching essential skills to those who may not have the same opportunities. The speaker's dedication to his faith, health, family, business, and investing is inspiring, but his philanthropic efforts make him an exceptional role model. By sharing his experiences and knowledge, he aims to help the next generation succeed. You can learn more about the speaker and his initiatives by visiting his website, following him on social media, or attending one of his speaking engagements.
Entrepreneur J.T. McCormick shares his experiences and lessons on LinkedIn and in his book 'I Got There': Overcoming challenges like racism, poverty, and abuse, J.T. McCormick achieved success and now works with Hala Taha on Young and Profiting, sharing insights on LinkedIn and in his book 'I Got There'.
J.T. McCormick, the guest on this episode of Young and Profiting podcast, is an accomplished entrepreneur and author who shares his business experiences and lessons on LinkedIn every week. His personal website, jtmccormick.com, is also a great resource, and his book "I Got There" is a recommended read. McCormick overcame challenges such as racism, poverty, and abuse to achieve success, and he currently works closely with the podcast's host, Hala Taha, handling business development matters and making major decisions. Listeners can connect with Hala on Instagram (@yapwithhala) or LinkedIn, and are encouraged to join the Yap Society community on Slack for live chats. Don't forget to write a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to the show, and follow Young and Profiting on Instagram (@youngandprofiting) and check out the website at youngandprofiting.com. Special thanks to Timothy Tan for his contributions to the podcast.
