CYLS 124: From Strife to STEM - How to Use the Past To Brand Yourself with Janeya Griffin
Summary: About our Guests: Janeya Griffin At the age of 16 years, Janeya Griffin faced significant hardship when her parents were incarcerated and she raised herself and her 6 year old brother. Since that time, she has dedicated herself and her career towards entrepreneurship, advocating for technology and social justice, and examining generational wealth, specifically within underserved communities. Having gained experience serving as a contractor for federal labs and organizations across the country, including the National Aeronautic Space Agency (NASA), Janeya recently founded a consulting start-up called The Commercializer, a strategic firm that actualizes independent inventors, intellectual assets, and monetizes entrepreneurs’ ideas. In addition, she co-founded the creative agency ConCre8tes which focuses on helping men, women, and children behind bars and beyond by changing how society views people with criminal histories. Vincent Bragg Vincent Bragg, co-founder of ConCre8tes, spent 121 months in federal prison. During that time, he studied law, wrote books, and organized think-tanks. The difficulties he experienced working in prison, including the low pay and forced labor, highlighted the need for a fair method to help incarcerated people. Episode Summary Janeya recounts her childhood and its impact on her personal development. She offers valuable insight, describing the importance of understanding one’s past and how it influences your life. Having taken an introspective look at herself, Janeya explains how she took advantage of opportunities that motivated her. Vincent, her co-founder of ConCre8tes, discusses the origins of ConCre8tes. He explains how the agency empowers incarcerated and formally incarcerated people return to work. Insight from this episode: Strategies for using your passion to find your purpose. How intentionality helped Janeya identify her career path. How to move forward and use the lessons encountered along the way. Why personal branding is important. Keys to turning adversity into an opportunity for growth and finding your direction. Vincent’s experience while incarcerated helped him discover a way to help others who were previously or are currently incarcerated. The importance of ownership of ideas and property rights. Quotes from the show: “Until I started, like, questioning, ‘Like, okay. Why am I the way that I am? Good and bad?’ Right? ‘Um, what makes me tick? What instances or situations have happened in my life that have, kind of transformed, like my journey and things like that, and brought me to this place that I’m at right now?’” – Janeya Griffin, Episode 124 “I decided that I wanted to go into my 30s with forgiveness and healing.” - Janeya Griffin, Episode 124 “So, to me, you know, you remind me of the ladies from ‘Hidden Figures.’ You know what I mean? Who were doing their thing? Just the importance and the representation, I think is just so dynamic.” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode 124 “Being humble enough to ask for help. And then being wise enough to listen when people are talking to you and helping you find your way.” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode 124 “I’ve learned to listen in the midst of chaos.” - Janeya Griffin, Episode 124 “When you allow this many people to be intentional about an outcome of something, we’re able to manifest that.” – Vincent Bragg, Episode 124 Resources Mentioned: Trello – Janeya Griffin G Suite – Janeya Griffin Favorite Book: The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach – Janeya Griffin The Process of “I” by Emily Maroutian – Vincent Bragg Favorite Quote: Janeya Griffin: “There are no problems, only solutions.” – John Lennon “Life is simple. Everything happens for you, not to you.“ – Byron Katie Vincent Bragg: "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." - Frederick Douglass 3 keys to Create Your Best Life: Janeya Griffin: Invest in ourselves and our communities. Giving with the intent to grow. Collaboration over competition. Vincent Bragg: Self-realization. Authenticity. To live your best life, find something that you can’t live without. Stay Connected: Create Your Life Series: https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/ https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/ Kevin: www.kevinybrown.com www.instagram.com/kevinybrown www.twitter.com/kevinybrown www.facebook.com/kevbrown001 Janeya Griffin: www.instagram.com/janeyagriffin/?hl=en twitter.com/janeyagriffin www.facebook.com/JaneyaGriffin/ Vincent Bragg: www.instagram.com/iamvincentbragg/ twitter.com/IAmVincentBragg?lang=en www.facebook.com/gslicksta ConCre8tes: concreates.com/ www.instagram.com/concre8tes/ twitter.com/CONCREATES_ www.facebook.com/concre8tes/ Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, google play, stitcher and www.createyourlifeseries.com/podcast
