We recently had the chance to connect with Jerry “J-Man” Joyner and have shared our conversation below.
Jerry “J-Man”, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
“My alarm’s set for 4:20 a.m., but most mornings I’m already awake—mentally walking through a successful day before my feet ever hit the floor.
The first words out of my mouth aren’t to a screen, they’re to God:
*‘Thank you, thank you, thank you—for another day on this Earth.’*
I say a simple prayer I live by. I give thanks for the air I breathe that oxygenates my body, the water I drink that hydrates it, and the food I eat that nourishes it—along with gratitude for the abundance this world offers us. I express gratitude for my health, my wisdom, my wealth, and the prosperity that flows into my life. Then I ask for protection over my wife, the people we love—and even the ones we don’t. Amen.
From there, it’s time to wake the body up. I step onto my vibration deck and spend about ten minutes doing Shuai Shou Gong—getting the blood moving and the muscles alive. Then it’s three sets of twelve pushups and a brisk forty-minute walk, using that time to visualize the wins I’m about to create.
By the time it’s around 5:20 a.m., *that’s* when I finally check my phone. Breaking the habit of looking at it first thing was tough—but once I made it thirty days, discipline became routine.
After that, it’s a quick hit of protein and a hot-to-ice cold shower to flip the switch.
At that point, I’m grounded, focused, and fully charged—ready to go earn the day instead of letting the day run me.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
“My name’s Jerry ‘J-Man’ Joyner. I’m a storyteller, media builder, and brand architect who believes the most powerful thing we can do right now is cut through the noise and tell the truth—plain and simple.
At my core, I build platforms that spotlight resilience, creativity, and the human side of success. Through my work in podcasting, film, and digital media, I focus on real conversations about mental wellness, purpose, entrepreneurship, and the stories that don’t always get told loud enough. My flagship project, *Find Your Brightside*, is about helping people navigate heavy times without sugarcoating reality—acknowledging the darkness, learning from it, and choosing a better direction forward.
What makes my work different is that it’s lived, not theoretical. I’m not interested in hustle clichés or polished perfection. I’m interested in honest stories, earned wisdom, and building things that actually help people—whether that’s through a podcast episode, a documentary, or a creative space where ideas and collaboration can thrive.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding *Find Your Brightside* into a broader media ecosystem—developing short-form and long-form content, documentary storytelling, and community-driven projects that bring people together around optimism with backbone. Everything I do is rooted in one simple belief: when you shine a light, even just a little, people find their way.”
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
“The relationship that’s shaped how I see myself the most is my relationship with myself over time—earned through the people who challenged me, believed in me, and, in some cases, disappointed me.
Early on, mentors and family taught me discipline, work ethic, and accountability. Later in life, business partnerships and creative collaborations taught me something just as important: discernment. I learned that not every strong personality is a strong partner, and not every opportunity is aligned just because it’s exciting.
But the most defining relationship has been my marriage. Being with someone who sees you clearly—strengths, flaws, blind spots and all—forces growth in a way nothing else does. It taught me how to listen better, lead with humility, and understand that success without alignment isn’t success at all.
All of that shaped how I see myself today: not as someone who has it all figured out, but as someone committed to learning, correcting course when needed, and choosing relationships that are built on trust, respect, and shared values. That lens influences every decision I make—personally and professionally.”
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
“I don’t think there was a single moment—it was more of a realization that hiding my pain was costing me more energy than facing it.
For a long time, I did what a lot of people do: I stayed productive, stayed busy, stayed outwardly positive. From the outside, things looked successful. Inside, I was carrying weight I hadn’t given a name to yet. Eventually, I understood that pain doesn’t disappear when you ignore it—it just goes quiet and starts steering your decisions.
The shift happened when I stopped treating pain like something to be embarrassed by and started treating it like information. Pain shows you where you’ve outgrown a situation, a role, or a version of yourself. Once I listened instead of numbing it, I could make cleaner choices—with my time, my partnerships, and my priorities.
Using pain as power doesn’t mean glorifying it. It means extracting wisdom from it. Today, I don’t hide what shaped me—I use it to lead with more clarity, more empathy, and more purpose. That’s where the real strength came from.”
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
“Yes—the public version of me is the real me. It’s just the edited-for-time version.
What people see publicly is the same foundation I live privately: optimism with backbone, gratitude, and a belief in showing up with intention. The difference is that not every quiet moment, doubt, or course correction belongs on a stage or a feed.
I don’t perform a character. I protect my energy. Publicly, I lead with clarity and positivity. Privately, I do the work—reflection, discipline, prayer, and accountability—to earn that clarity. If anything, the public version is a distilled version of the real one, not a mask.
So yes, it’s me. Same values. Same voice. Just fewer footnotes.”
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
“I understand that momentum matters more than motivation—and alignment matters more than approval.
Most people wait to feel ready, confident, or validated before they move. I’ve learned that clarity comes after action, not before it. You don’t think your way into a better life—you walk your way into it, one intentional step at a time.
I also understand that peace is a performance indicator. If something looks good on paper but costs you your sleep, your health, or your integrity, it’s too expensive. Walking away can be a power move.
And finally, I’ve learned that the mind follows the body. Discipline in the small things—how you start your day, how you breathe, how you move—creates stability in the big things. When you take care of your inputs, the outcomes take care of themselves.
Once you grasp those things, you stop chasing noise and start building something that actually lasts.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.iamjman.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjmanofficial/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerryjoyner/
- Twitter: https://x.com/iamjmanofficial
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JMansBrightside
Image Credits
Andrew Sherman
