Empowering Artists, Entrepreneurs, and YOU to Create Unstoppable Careers with Jo-Ná Williams [GWL 06]

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Jo-Ná A. Williams, Esq. founded J.A. Williams Law P.C. – The Artist Empowerment Firm in 2011 to provide artists and entrepreneurs with ways to successfully navigate their careers and provide assistance with business, entertainment and intellectual property matters. She founded Artist Empowerment Group in 2013 to advise artists on business, branding and marketing. Some of her clients have written best-selling books, reached the Billboard Top 100, and been nominated for Grammys. She’s been featured in Marie TV, The Vocalist Magazine, Women In Music, ReverbNation, CDBaby and The New York State Bar Association’s Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Journal.

Show Notes

Quote: “Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake” Henry David Thoreau

Jo-Ná’s journey

• At 17, she was a background vocalist for independent artists. Her mother was a record promoter in Detroit so music was a huge part of Jo-Ná’s life.
• In high school, Jo-Ná was brought in to perform and prepare background vocals and was told she would be credited and compensated for her work but she never was.
• When she realized she had been exploited, she decided she wanted to go to law school to learn how to protect other artists who might be in similar situations.

On networking and mentorship

• Create relationships but always continue to build on them, check in on them, and network with them. Continue to offer value to them and they will remember that because most people don’t go that extra mile.
• Sometimes mentors are not supportive and don’t buy into your vision but that’s what pushes you to want to be prove them wrong. It allows you to see what you’re truly made of.

The lawyerpreneur side of Jo-Ná: The Artist Empowerment Company

• She started the Artist Empowerment Company because she had interests that didn’t fit into the law firm.
• She knew what her passion was and worked towards building her brand around her passion. For other who might not know what their brand is going to be about, try to figure it out.

On the importance of blogging as a lawyer

• Writing is important to put your voice out in the world because you have a perspective that other people might not have or you see things differently and it’s just as valuable.
• It also keeps her legal mind strong and sharp.

On meditation

• Meditation taught her forgiveness and there’s no such thing as perfection.
• Deepak Chopra Center 21 Day Meditation challenge
• There are many lessons to learn from yoga. When you’re in a difficult pose, it makes you wonder if you are the type of person who runs away from a challenge.

Best part of job

Connecting with people and doing interviews, speaking, being intellectually challenged

Worst part of the job

The back-end, management part of it.

On work/life balance

Incorporating one day of rest changed the game for her because she went from being sick often, broke, and failing at relationships to happy and successful.

Recommended Reading:

Danielle Laporte – The Desire Map: A Guide to Creating Goals with Soul (Affiliate Link*)

Action Item:

keep in mind that we live in a relationship-based type of world. How far you get is based on the relationships you have. Continue to network, but network with care.

Contact Info:

Jawilliamslaw.com

Artistempowerment.nyc

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