Shell Jones
President & Founder, Play-Place for Autistic Children
MY GREATEST STRENGTH
My greatest strength is my tenacity. I have an innate drive for results. I’m not afraid of uncertainty, mountain-sized tasks, or even the impossible. My formula for success in any situation is focus, feasibility, and finish.
MY INSPIRATION
Maya Angelou has always been my inspiration! She epitomizes the art of eloquence. Her ability to sculpt her thoughts and experiences with such precision, detail, and affect has been the cornerstone of my business purpose, programming, and design. I aim to impact the world with the same shine through service and creativity.
HOW I MOTIVATE OTHERS
I motivate others through positive energy, words of encouragement, and exemplary behavior. I practice presence and everlasting impression. One of my favorite quotes is by Dolly Parton: “Smile, it increases your face value.”
OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE
Division and disconnect is the greatest dilemma facing the African-American community. We have totally lost site of the struggle, the sacrifice, our strength. The big picture has been condensed to selfish rhetoric out of lack of leadership, education, and accountability.
GIVING BACK
I give back to the African-American community through volunteerism at Doorstep Homeless Shelter and Kids Against Hunger food packaging events. And for the past five years, my husband and I have sponsored families in the Detroit area at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
LESSONS LEARNED
The most important lesson I have learned in the course of my career is projection—of confidence, intelligence, and perseverance. In order to sell your vision, you have to radiate passion, leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit. Those are magnets of success.
FINDING BALANCE
I achieve balance through planning and organization. It saves valuable time, energy, and face.
PERSONAL WISDOM
I’ve learned that I am very creative—across the board—and that creativity helps me to bring a flair to everything I engage in—from making a tent with the kids to decorating the house, to creating songs, to designing my business.
CAREER ADVICE
My advice to someone just beginning his or her career is to be extra thorough, be inquisitive about everything, and be patient. The key: “Don’t fit in, stand out.”
