GUYS, today we have a real live celebrity on Livlyhood today!!!! Jenna Kim Jones is a stand up comedian and worked for The Daily Show. I met her at an event recently and got up the courage (after my husband pushed me to do it) to ask if she’d be willing to be on my blog. She was so down to earth and I loved her responses!
Tell us a little about yourself and your career
Hi! I’m Jenna Kim Jones! I started performing stand up comedy years ago when I worked at The Daily Show with Jon Stewart in New York City. My career has been growing and changing ever since. In 2014 I was the on camera host and narrator of the feature documentary Meet the Mormons. In that same year, I recorded my first comedy special, #SorryNotSorry with Jenna Kim Jones and launched my podcast with the same name. Since then, I’ve released a second comedy special, Jenna Kim Jones Live In Hollywood as part of Sirius XM Laugh USA’s series “Everyone Laughs.” and will be recording a third special in the Atlanta area this summer! On a more personal note, I’m happily married to the best guy I know and we have two daughters (2 years old and 4 months old). It’s insane trying to raise kids and pursue my career but somehow it works. (I’m also very very tired.)
How does your community of women you surround yourself with support you?
I have an amazing family. My mom and my sisters, my mother-in-law and sisters-in-law are strong women. In reality, we share so many common experiences as women and yet we all have a unique perspective of those experiences. There is so much we can learn from each other. I love that.
Women are legit. Need I say more?You’ve worked in some incredibly high-profile environments. How have you stayed true to yourself in difficult situations?
I’m a clean comedian because that’s really who I am. I don’t swear or tell jokes that would make me feel uncomfortable because I promise you, it wouldn’t be funny if I did. And everyone who I’ve worked with, whether in TV or in comedy, has respected that because I was so clear about it from the start. I learned early on that it’s ok to say no to certain jobs or opportunities because there is a lot of work out there and there are gigs that will come, especially if I’m ready for it.
What do you wish you could go back and tell your younger self re: your career aspirations?
Be patient! Don’t believe what you hear–there’s no such thing as an overnight success. Also, you have SO MUCH TO LEARN so stop acting like you know everything! Also, that haircut was bad and everyone was afraid to tell you!
What is your career-related mantra?
Why not you!? Years ago, my mom looked at me when I asked her if it was crazy that I wanted to perform stand up comedy and replied with, “Why not you?” It totally changed my perspective. (And when Mindy Kaling recently wrote a book titled, “Why Not Me?” I was happy for her but also a little annoyed that I couldn’t use that for my own book title someday.) Next time you doubt yourself, say it out loud! WHY NOT YOU?! Or e-mail me and I’ll be happy to reply with it in all caps.
