JENNIVERE LEE | CP Magazine

• What does being entrepreneurial mean to you? It means finding that drive inside yourself & identifying what makes you unique or what you have to offer & taking the initiative to be an independent self starter. It also means being creative & growing my brand.

• What was your motivation to become an entrepreneur? I've always dreamed of having my own brand. I like to think parts of me shine through in everything I create and devote my time & energy to. I spend so much time in trying to “perfect” things before I put it out there for the world to see which may be counter productive but I hate cringing at past mistakes. My novel, my music & brand JenniVere are all inter related.

• What is the function of your company? JenniVere is a music, contemporary women’s literature & hopefully one day a fashion brand. I relocated to SoCal from NYC a year or so ago to pursue a career in Hollywood but I’m bicoastal and still visit NYC often. I’m also available as a fitness trainer, FitnessDesignByJSL- I want people to live a healthy life. It's not just about looking a certain way, exercise releases natural chemicals, such as endorphins, oxytocin and dopamine, all which makes us feel good. I’m a lot happier when I’m healthy & take time out for myself. So for fitness clients I strive to make the most of the time we have together since I know everyone is busy and they don’t have time to plan “time for myself” so I design a routine & regimen catered specifically towards them & their goals.

• There will be those who think you are very lucky, so tell us also about the

difficult times you have lived until you got here. There is no such thing as luck. You create & determine your own future. I fall prey to my own negative thoughts a lot & overthink things which has kept me from being as successful as I could have been. I also have trust issues having lived most of my life in the concrete jungle. The difficult times are not over for me yet but I learn from my mistakes and bad choices everyday. However I’m making progress everyday & surrounding myself with only positive people I can look up to so I’m glad to be where I am today than say 5 years ago.

• You commented a while ago that you would like to inspire people, make them believe in the success of their ideas and projects. Do you think that,

somehow, you are doing it with your own example? I’m still a work in progress but one day I’ll write an autobiography instead of a spicy fictional chick lit novel & yes I’m certain it will be an inspirational story: “Poor Asian American girl from Queens NY who struggled & hustled & kept on going... has all her dreams come true.”

• You never thought about abandoning it? Of course I have, I’ve met some really obnoxious, petty people who will belittle you, try to discourage you & even compete with you. I’ve had periods of disinterest & thoughts of just giving up all the time but I’m learning to block out those who try to pull me into the negative zone.

• You have opened many doors, but have others been

closed to you? Some people enjoy inviting you to their door then slamming doors in your face, it’s sadistic & cruel but karma will get them in the end if their intentions were not good but where one door closes, another one opens and sometimes 2 or 3 or 4.

• Do you think there is an objective formula that allows

any businesswoman to achieve success? I read a lot & try to keep up with things happening in film, music, lit, fitness & I’ve also read many self help & business books but I think aside from coming from wealth which I do not & knowing the right people - the answer is no. I don’t think there is a cookie cutter formula for success.

• To almost finish the interview, being so young, what

goals would you like to achieve? I would like to complete my film Happy Hollowdays and act in interesting and well written films. I’d like to hear from a great songplugger who can get my songs on film soundtracks and have my songs remixed & hear myself on the radio. My dream would be to portray the Marvel superhero Silk.

• What advice would you give to women entrepreneurs,

entrepreneurs or those who want to become? Be prepared to sacrifice everything, row against the current, let criticism bounce off your skin, rely and trust yourself and your gut instincts. Find people with strengths you lack. For example I found a great executive assistant who helps me with emails, correspondence, organizing and planning my schedule. Be patient and be persistent and find people who have been there & done that who can offer good/smart advice and to find people with many years of experience in the industry who can guide you.