Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristi Jones.
Kristi, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
It wasn’t until earlier this year, I decided to get serious with my blogging and life coaching business. I had dabbled in the writing and blogging for a couple of years but it was through my own growth and healing after my dad’s death in 2013 which led me to start this creative business helping others and do what I have felt called to do for a long time. Through my blogging, coaching and speaking, it is my goal to encourage, inspire and coach others to really show up for their lives and create the life they truly desire. By sharing my journey of living modern midlife, I hope to shine a light on how getting older is exciting, fun and deeply meaningful.
For over 23 years, I have worked in multi-family housing. Started as a leasing consultant and worked crazy hard absorbing everything I could like a sponge. I literally fell into the apartment business as a single mom after moving from Dallas to Norman, Oklahoma. I took the leasing job as an effort to quit working two jobs and get down to one job that would pay the bills and give me more time with my son at home. At that time, I was on state assistance for daycare and a state food assistance program after leaving a toxic marriage that was unsafe for me and my child. I am thankful for those tough decisions I had to make early on as a young mother because it only better prepared me for life as a business owner and entrepreneur even more. After those tough times, I wasn’t scared of failure anymore. I trusted myself, my ability and I had a deep desire to succeed at building a good life for me and my son. I was super focused on learning all I could to become better at my job and the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction I felt once I was making enough money to drop out of the state assistance programs is something I will never forget. I thrived at my work not only building an awesome career over the years, but I also met my awesome husband of over 21 years at work too! With my husband’s complete support and encouragement, I launched my first property management company at the age of 32, then six years later, in 2008, my husband and I began Carlsbad Management Group.
At CMG, we develop, own and manage multi-family housing communities throughout Oklahoma. It is nice to be at a place now in my 40’s to venture out into other areas of personal interest like what I am doing now with the Kristi Jones blog. If I hadn’t had the success and experience in the apartment industry all those years, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to step out and do what I am doing now.
A major shift happened for me In late 2011 which led to my path of doing what I am doing today. My dad had an accident at work which left him with a traumatic brain injury. He was lucky to have even survived the fall. It rocked my world in the biggest way and helping him navigate his healing and recovery was a top priority for me. I was also in heavy “mom mode” as my son was in his junior year of high school and I was working full time when the accident happened so my plate became extremely full. Over the next 18 months, my son would graduate from high school, move away to college, and my dad’s health worsened. A terminal illness, a rare blood cancer, had now come into the picture and within months, he passed away.
I found myself at 43 years old, navigating my complicated grief, new to empty nesting, my own health declining from the stress and grief and I was just broken open on so many levels. It was during my healing and kinda re-grouping of myself that I knew I wanted to help others on a deeper level than what I was doing through my work already. Writing was very helpful for me over the course of the next few years to process things and find my voice. I’ve always loved people, talking to people, hearing their stories, and building community amongst others. Beginning in 2019, I just knew I was ready to take this next step and start this new business. I knew I couldn’t waste the precious things I had learned from my life experiences and knew it could be helpful to others.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Starting my blogging site was mostly trial and error honestly. A couple of years ago, I started a blogging website and trust me… it wasn’t anything fancy but I just decided to start. One thing I learned through being a business owner and entrepreneur is that you just have to start. You can either sit around and talk about it forever or actually do something and put ideas into action. I prefer the “doing something” part! You never feel truly ready to begin a new venture… well, maybe some people do, but for me, I already know when I start something new it is going to have some learning curves involved. That is part of the excitement of being an entrepreneur… having an idea, a vision, then working with persistence to make the vision a reality.
I try my best to surround myself with people who have strengths in areas I am weak. I’m a people person more than a technology person. I want to tell stories and share information to help others not spend all day figuring out how to code things or design a website myself. This year, I teamed up with people that can help me in the areas I need help in so that I can focus on what I do best.
For instance, my husband saw how much time I was putting into photo content and content creation for blog posts. I am thankful that he suggested I outsource that with a photographer occasionally. I listened to that advice which has really lightened the load and made visual blog content creation much easier. Also, this year, I hired someone to design my website and assist with branding.
I know in my gut that I am on the right path so I trust that whatever bumps do arise that I will find the solution and make it work. I believe the stories told on the blog will reach the people that need it most. I just trust that process. I have learned that when I follow my gut instinct I end up where I need to be, doing the work I am supposed to do.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am an empty nester blogger focusing on a modern midlife lifestyle. That said, I touch on travel, wellness, and self-development which is what I call soul food on my website. I offer life coaching and I like to speak on topics of self-development, stepping into your confidence, real talk for single parents, mastering the second season of life and how to live the life you desire with enthusiasm and joy.
I talk and teach about things I know because I have experienced it. I get the realities of juggling working full time and being a parent and a spouse and a business owner and caring for an aging or ill parent… all at the same time. I have also walked in the shoes of being a single mom, not having the money to pay both the electric bill and the phone bill… so you have to figure out a way. I truly get it. Or that feeling of shopping for groceries hoping when you get to the checkout counter the line isn’t long so they don’t see you pay with your voucher. I have climbed out of the valleys and found my way over obstacles in life even when the “chatter” behind my back from the onlookers say “She can’t do it. She is done for.” I have pulled from each and every peak and valley of my life and have been mindful of what I can learn from each of those experiences.
I believe the world needs to see as many examples as we can of real-life people that have rebuilt their life, created the life of their dreams, found genuine lasting love again, flourish in family life, and accomplished what others said they couldn’t do. That is my story.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My mom and dad were huge supporters and mentors when I was a new mom then single mom and really all my life they have been so encouraging. I am grateful I had such supportive parents who always believed in me. My mom is so happy I am doing this new creative project and so supportive of my blog. I hope to honor my dad by doing good work to help others with my creative work.
My husband, Steve, has always had my back. Even before we were married, we were best friends, His belief in me at that time of my life was such a big deal to me. His love and support has always been present. He has been so supportive since I decided to merge into this direction of writing, blogging and coaching. We have always operated like a team and been really supportive of each other’s work and interests. In 2002, when I went out on my own and was a one-man show until my business grew, he always was there to listen, encourage and help me however he could. At those times when I doubted myself, he was quick to build me back up and be my biggest supporter. I am beyond grateful for his love and support.
I believe becoming a mother is what focused me and gave me the direction of my life. My son, Redford, has always been my “why”. Why I worked so hard, why I stretched myself, why I pushed myself to become all I could be. Parents reading this know what I’m talking about! There is something about when you become a parent that you want to give your child a good life and opportunities along with all the love in the world. He is supportive of this new venture I am on and I so appreciate his support. It means the world to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kristijones.org
- Phone: 405-237-5688
- Email: kristi@kristijones.org
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