Meet Jay Graves | Author, Speaker, and Facilitator.

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

Hi Jay, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
The most difficult decision I ever had to make was relocating to Houston, Texas, from Greensboro, North Carolina. I had never lived outside of North Carolina, and the thought of moving a family of five was daunting. It meant disrupting everyone’s life, leaving behind our home, family, friends, and a solid community.

To make this decision, I sought counsel from a few trusted friends and did thorough research on both the role and the new area. I also spent a lot of time in meditation and reflection. A particular Bible passage helped me during this time—the story of Jesus walking on water. One of the disciples asked Jesus to bid him to come onto the water, and despite knowing the impossibility of walking on water, the disciple stepped out of the boat and walked before giving in to his fear.

Relocating to Houston felt like my own version of stepping out of the boat. It was a leap of faith into the unknown. However, this decision paid off tremendously. I met some incredible people, expanded my professional network, and seized new opportunities that would not have been possible otherwise. This move has profoundly shaped my career and personal growth.

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.
One day, I arrived at work at my corporate job in a large insurance company, only to be met by my supervisor in a panic. Our team coach had called out sick, leaving a room full of people who needed training on a specific application. Wanting to help, I quickly printed out some documents and, off the cuff, stepped into the training room. To my surprise, I found that I loved being in front of the room—engaging, teaching, and even entertaining the group.

That unexpected experience ignited a passion in me, leading me to take a role as a corporate trainer. From there, I advanced into leadership roles, training and developing other trainers, leaders, and executives.

Instead of following the traditional path of leading teams and organizations, I realized my purpose lay in empowering others beyond the confines of a corporate job. My time in the corporate world taught me invaluable lessons that formal education never covered.

My goal is to use these principles to help others become more emotionally resilient, enhance their emotional intelligence, and discover their leadership voice. I believe this will enable them to become leaders whom people genuinely want to follow. My extensive experience qualifies me to contribute meaningfully at the leadership table, and my journey of self-discovery equips me to help teams perform at higher levels through improved communication and leadership. This, in turn, can lead to better team performance and a positive impact on the company’s bottom line.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Attending an Houston Astro’s game or Houston Rockets game will be at the top of the list.
Day 1: Visit Discovery Green park and take a walk around Buffalo Bayou. Maybe rent a kayak for a fun adventure.
Day 2: Catch a performance at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts or a concert at House of Blues.
Day 3: Visit Hermann Park and explore the Houston Zoo or take a paddleboat ride on the lake.
Day 4: Spend the day shopping at The Galleria or the boutiques in Rice Village

Must do restaurants include the following:
Taste of Texas
Perry’s Steakhouse
Carrabba’s The Original (Not to be confused with Carrabba’s Chain Restaurant)
The Breakfast Klub is a Houston spot that everyone must try.
Brunch at Hugo’s for an upscale Mexican brunch experience

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to recognize a few people that have pushed me and believed in me from the beginning. My wife has been the most instrumental person in regards to me completing my first book, relocating to Texas and developing my gifts. She invested in me while we were dating because she believed there was more in me than I saw in myself. We are both believe in self development and always look for ways to be better.

Website: https://theemergeex.com/

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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-graves

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