Meet Jelani Kimble | Advertising & Live Events Professional

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jelani Kimble and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jelani, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
1. What was your thought process behind starting your own business?

My company is called We Live This Ent., and we were previously known as Higher Ground Promotions & Entertainment.

I spent several years crafting my skills in the world of event advertisement and promotions working for Guerilla Union, which produced groundbreaking events such as the original Rock The Bells Festival, Cypress Hill Smokeout, and Paid Dues Festival.

I am grateful for them giving me an opportunity to get my foot in the door, because I always had an interest and a passion for wanting to be a part of making big things happen.

Through my time with the company, I built up a team of like minded individuals that are motivated go getters and are serious about handling business.

I then realized that I could go into business for myself when I knew I was able to properly lead and instruct others to do this the right way, and got everything organized with the help of my ex wife.

We started off as offering out of home advertising and brand ambassador services but everyone on the team also has other talents and passions, so I present my company as a hub for anything you need done, we’ve got that! We have highly skilled event producers, talent buyers, photographers and videographers, DJs, musicians, and much more!
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2. Do you have a budget? How do you think about your personal finances and how do you make lifestyle and spending decisions?

The budget is never the same on a monthly basis. Considering that my business is client based, it can be a roller coaster of sorts.

Spring and Summer are our busy seasons where things really get rolling for us. I definitely have learned to be conscious of a decline in work near the end of each year as well as the beginning of the following year.

We have been reliant on concerts and music festivals for a long time but have really been looking to gain more sustainable clients such as restaurants, boutiques, realtors, and more. I always say we can offer our services to anyone that can use a marketing push for their business.

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3. Risk taking: how do you think about risk, what role has taking risks played in your life/career?

I definitely believe you won’t get too far if you are unwilling to take a risk. Nothing is a sure shot, but if you don’t even try, then you will never know what could have been.

Where are you from and how did your background and upbringing impact who you are today?

I am from West Covina, CA. I was born in Compton, but moved when I was 8 years old. I was very fortunate to have a good childhood, and to have two sets of successful parents that displayed leadership and instilled values within me.

Of course that does not mean I have not made mistakes in my life along the way. That is just not reality. But it’s just all about getting past those mistakes and not allowing it to define the person that you grow to be. Growth never stops no matter what your age is. But that’s something you’ve got to want, and it starts with recognizing what you need to change.

Also, you need to always be open to learning, no matter how smart you may perceive yourself to be. We are all here to be both students and teachers for life. And sometimes you may not even realize what you may have learned from someone or what one has learned from yourself.
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4. What is the most important factor behind your success / the success of your brand?

Honestly, I feel like you should never feel like you’ve made it or that you reached that ceiling.

There is no ceiling. Don’t get too comfortable or feel like you know it all.

It is very important to surround yourself with people that have a higher expertise in areas where you are not as knowledgeable.

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5. What value or principle matters most to you? Why?

Reputation is everything. I always say there are more people watching you than you will ever know. Especially in today’s era where everyone has a camera. Assume that whatever you do can end up on video. And as social media becomes more prevalent by the day, things can spread and get twisted around very quickly.

So act accordingly and always maintain professionalism when conducting business. A big percentage of the work we get comes through referrals from previous clients. One’s word about you travels a long way.

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6. Work life balance: how has your balance changed over time? How do you think about the balance?

I am a father of one, so finding that balance is beyond important.
I enjoy typically being able to build my schedule around my son’s time, and try not to miss those important moments in life where I definitely want to be there. And as he is getting older, it has become easier to take on certain jobs I would pass up when he was much younger.
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7. What’s the end goal? Where do you want to be professionally by the end of your career?

Like most people, I aim to live as comfortably as possible, but still always have a drive to continue to leave a mark in this world.

It’s been a blessing to be able to profit off of things that I love and enjoy doing. I am far from where I aim to be, but things can change quickly.

It’s just all about using your resources and putting the pieces together. And sometimes things just tend to fall in place organically through all the hard work and time that has been put into it all.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business consists of self made individuals that have showcased their skills which have led to excellent results and pleased clientele .

Over several years, the team has been built organically through the work of dedicated and determined individuals.

Very few things ever come easy, although there may be a public perception that sees otherwise.

One thing that always sticks with me is when my mother used to ask me “What did you learn?” There would be times that I would get stuck on that and really have to think about it. Sometimes it would even bother me because it took me out of my comfort zone. Later on in life, I have come to appreciate it more and understand why she would ask me that. There is always something that can be improved on or done better, even if you initially felt like things were perfect. So always look at what you could have changed about a situation or improved upon.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The beach is a must. Most people want to see Venice Beach, so that would most likely be the destination. We would also head over to Santa Monica Pier for a bit.

I would also plan to take my friend on a hike, such as at Griffith Park, Runyon Canyon, or Eaton Canyon.

The following plans would be to visit the mountains where the options would be Mount Baldy, Big Bear, or Lake Arrowhead.

We would most definitely have to attend a concert or two. It all depends on who’s performing where we would end up, but Hollyood Bowl is at the top of the list for music venues.

As far as eating, this friend of mine cannot leave town without going to Grand Central Market. I like options, and they more than meet that quota. Fred’s 62 is also a favorite restaurant of mine.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like thank everyone that is associated with We Live This Ent, or has played a role in our growth. We have only just begun!

Website: https://www.welivethisent.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/welivethisent

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jelanikimble/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/welivethisent

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeLiveThisEnt

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@welivethisent