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

Hi Jackie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’ve been obsessed with writing since I was a kid. I always loved to express myself this way — whether it was poetry about what boy sat next to me in math class or a list of the meals my mother made that I liked vs. the ones I deemed “yucky.” (Sorry, mom).

Though I toyed with many career ideas back then, from ballerina to lawyer, one stuck: becoming the next Oprah Winfrey. Clearly, confidence was not an issue! As I began my journey to becoming to the next talk show and media giant, I fell into journalism (just like Oprah did, per my 3rd-grade book report!). I’ve always been a talker, so interviewing and asking people questions came naturally to me.

I landed my first journalism gig 15 years ago, writing for a hyperlocal news website in New Jersey, and I haven’t stopped writing and interviewing since. I studied journalism in high school and college, where I treated my job on the student newspaper the way some might treat church. I spent days and nights in the office and even rang in my 21st birthday from my college newspaper’s office.

I charged forward into a career in journalism, where I covered crime in New England for five years. I also covered the #MeToo movement, which led to changes in the legislation there, which I’ve always been incredibly proud of. While I landed the front-page stories I’d dreamed about, I was miserable. I was completely burnt out and depressed by the dark stories I had immersed myself in.

Unsure what to do next, I stepped out of crime and tried a few different writing positions. But nothing stuck. During the pandemic, I decided to bet on myself and use my skills to found my own business, JackTemp Consulting. I knew I was the top-performing reporter, with some of the most-read articles in every single newsroom I’d worked in. This wasn’t a coincidence! This was because of my talent, and I knew it was time for me to own it.

With my business now, I use all of the skills from my journalism career to draw out my client’s most authentic stories. With my signature framework Story Magic, I help female entrepreneurs nail their about pages and brand stories by filling it with the juicy details of their life that will make them stand out.

I’ve found a way to use my natural talents in a way that I never could’ve imagined as a kid. Stayed tuned for my own version of O Magazine, though. And yes, I will be on the cover every month.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I want the world to know that every single person has a story.

When I work with entrepreneurs to craft their brand stories, we go through a framework that talks about EVERYTHING, from their relationships with their parents and high school prom to where they want to live in their 60s. Of course, I don’t need to know about your prom dress to understand what you do and communicate it to your audience. But the small details, the spreadsheets one of my clients made to organize her childhood chores before becoming a bookkeeper, the time my client who would become a spiritual coach asked her dad how he knew God was real at the ripe age of 3…these are the things that attract people! When you uncover the small details, the big picture comes into focus.

My work in journalism (I still work as a freelancer reporter for Women’s Health Magazine and more) and my business I am uniquely positioned to help you draw these details out and turn them into a compelling pitch to a podcast, email, sales page, or newsletter blast.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have so much support in my business journey from my team, to my clients, and my coaches! One major source of inspiration has been my parents. My dad and mom have owned and operated restaurants, including now, an Italian restaurant called Ferraro1061 in New Jersey. They have truly worked harder than anyone I know to build a menu, deal with a changing world, and maintain their staff.

My parents don’t have fancy business degrees, and they didn’t become successful through their legacy network. They became successful business owners by working hard and getting to know their community. The absolutely bomb pizza doesn’t hurt, either.

Website: jackietempera.com

Instagram: instagram.com/jacktemp

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-tempera-94895142

Twitter: twitter.com/jacktemp

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

Other: tiktok.com/jackietemp

Image Credits
Starky Morillo Photography

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