Exploring Life & Business with Melissa K. Jones of the CEOffice

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Melissa K. Jones.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In 2014, while attending a conference, I had my AHA moment. A small business owner shared her struggle in finding and keeping talent. Sitting there in the 4th row, I knew I could help. This combination of hearing a need + my leadership experience, + my passion for helping others excel + knowing people would pay for help became the catalyst to start the CEOffice in 2015.

The CEOffice was founded in January 2015 in Chicago. Since then, I have worked with founders of accounting boutiques, floral design firms, indie media companies, interior design firms, marketing agencies, photographers, and more. Over the past nine years, I’ve hosted events for creative entrepreneurs, facilitated masterminds, coached founders and leadership teams, hosted podcasts, and spoken at events.

The disruption to the workforce since 2020 only added fuel to the fire. We need great leaders who care about their team and clients!

Let’s dig deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
There have been many challenges along the way, but such is life. How we choose to respond determines our growth.

1. Very early on I dealt with copycats to my business model locally and internationally. Seeing your branding copied and pasted to a business in France is an eye-opening experience. Locally, I had a candid discussion with an imitator to address the issue. Others I block or ignore. Imitation is a part of business; you’ll have to know when to defend and when to stay focused on creating.

2. One of the bigger challenges was a competitor who facilitated similar events with volunteers and at no cost to the attendees. Meanwhile, I struggled to charge attendees and pay co-facilitators. This was a tough period for me while I tried to figure out and refine my business model. One of the most helpful insights I received during this time was from a colleague. They shared my competitor was backed by a tech investor. Hearing this gave me some sense of relief because the playing fields weren’t the same.

3. Another part of the journey is learning to separate your identity from what you do. If you’ve identified yourself by your career, accomplishments, and titles, then it can be quite a transition when those no longer matter. This was a hard lesson, too, but worth it. When you lose the attachment and instead focus on what you can do and who you can help, anything is possible. This mindset gives you the freedom to navigate tough seasons with more grace.

4. Create alignment between your pricing, perceived value, and quality of work. When I first started, I undercharged and, as a result, attracted clients who didn’t understand or appreciate the work. Navigating through this requires a strong sense of self, an understanding of the market, integrity, and adherence to your standard of work. Your character is more important than personal branding.

5. Relationships matter. Follow through on your word. Do your best work. Treat people with respect.

We’ve been impressed with the CEOffice, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart?
The CEOffice is a leadership and operations firm helping leaders of service-based small businesses better serve their teams and clients.

Why combine leadership and operations versus focusing on one? Together, they help you better actualize the potential of your team. Leadership coaching supports your relationships. Operations coaching ensures you have the resources to set them up for success.

My most successful partnerships are with leaders who have a heart for people. They commit to making time for relationships and strive for excellence in their work.

Clients and team members know I care about their success, personally and professionally. This is reflected in the relationships that continue past the end of a project.

I offer individual sessions and retainer services. Individual coaching sessions are ideal for specific challenges. Retainer services are ideal for leaders who want ongoing support to strengthen the relationship with their team and improve performance.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Leadership development is critical to business and the community. How leaders show up ripple effect on those around them, either calling people up or pushing them down. If you don’t have the financial resources to spend on a leadership coach, I recommend taking advantage of many free resources (books, podcasts, videos).

In the words of President Truman, “Readers of good books, particularly books of biography and history, are preparing themselves for leadership. Not all readers become leaders. But all leaders must be readers.”

Pricing:

• Individual Session: starts at $500
• Coaching: starts at $3000
• Inquire for custom package

Contact Info:

• Website: theceoffice.co
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC__RK0_lumlMZWVYrZC5oGg

Image Credits
Vibe Tribe Creative