Podcast Summary: "How Did Jeremy Jensen Turn STRUGGLE into LEGACY" on Mick Unplugged

Introduction

In the December 30, 2024 episode of "Mick Unplugged," host Mick Hunt welcomes Jeremy Jensen, the founder of Encore Search Partners—the largest privately held executive search firm in Houston. Under Jeremy's leadership, Encore Search Partners has been recognized as one of Houston's Fastest 50 companies for five consecutive years. Mick introduces Jeremy with enthusiasm, setting the stage for an in-depth conversation about Jeremy's journey from adversity to establishing a remarkable legacy.

Early Life and Overcoming Adversity

Jeremy Jensen opens up about his challenging upbringing in Alief, Texas, an underprivileged community in southwest Houston. Raised by a single mother who had him at 16 and left when Jeremy was eight, Jeremy faced significant hardships early on. “Born and raised in Alief, Texas, which is southwest Houston, a very underprivileged, poor community...my dad left and abandoned my mom,” Jeremy shares (02:57). These early experiences instilled in him resilience and the ability to adapt, as frequent moves required him to quickly form new friendships.

Sports played a crucial role in Jeremy's development, teaching him teamwork, competitive drive, and coachability. “Playing sports growing up...taught me teamwork, you know, competitive drive, coachability,” he explains (04:00). Despite excelling in sports, Jeremy faced an ego hit in high school when others began outperforming him, leading to a humbling experience that shaped his future work ethic.

Transition to Entrepreneurship

At the age of 24, Jeremy channeled his intelligence and determination into founding Encore Search Partners. By leveraging his natural leadership abilities and strategic mindset, he grew the company to a 40-person direct hire recruiting firm in Houston. Jeremy attributes his success to “reverse engineering and finding the cheat code in order to grow things” and emphasizes the importance of delegation and focusing on business development and marketing (05:37).

Evolving 'Because' from 'Why'

Mick and Jeremy delve into the concept of shifting from the conventional 'Why' to 'Because'—a deeper, more personal motivation that drives consistent action. Jeremy reflects on his evolving 'because,' moving from a desire for respect and admiration to seeking internal fulfillment. “When I started, it was like, man, if only I could make $250,000 a year...now it’s a different level,” Jeremy notes (07:46). This transformation was influenced by significant life events, including a divorce in 2019, which prompted him to reassess his priorities and seek true happiness through meaningful achievements rather than transient pleasures.

Building a Strong Company Culture

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the importance of cultivating a positive company culture. Jeremy discusses his initial struggles with high turnover due to his aggressive management style and lack of structured processes. “In 2016, I brought in a vice president...he brought a system called EOS, the Entrepreneurial Operating System,” Jeremy explains (16:54). Implementing EOS helped establish clear mission, vision, and values, fostering transparency, honesty, and vulnerability within the leadership team. This approach built trust and camaraderie, essential for a thriving organizational culture.

Mick adds his perspective on the critical role of culture in business success, emphasizing that culture is not about superficial perks but about maintaining consistent values and standards. “Culture is the equivalent of the least value that you accept,” Mick asserts (21:44). He advises leaders to be swift in addressing cultural misalignments to prevent negative behaviors from permeating the team.

Scaling Business through Focus and Discipline

Jeremy shares his insights on scaling a business through disciplined focus and strategic decision-making. He recounts a pivotal moment inspired by a McKinsey consultation, where a simple strategy of increasing prices led to significant revenue growth without adding extra labor. “If we focus on building a brand around 100k fees and we become very consistent with direct marketing...that will obviously help increase our revenue,” Jeremy explains (26:00). Drawing a parallel to Steph Curry's shooting strategy, Jeremy emphasizes the importance of consistent, high-probability actions: “Like if I have a 50% chance at making a two, but a 40% chance at making a three, I'm just going to shoot threes all day” (28:19).

Mick echoes this sentiment, highlighting that scaling is less about complexity and more about maintaining discipline and focus. “Growth and scaling isn't as hard as you think it is. It's discipline,” Mick advises (29:26). Together, they underscore that success in scaling comes from avoiding distractions and maintaining a clear, focused strategy.

Personal Fulfillment and Purpose

The conversation shifts to the importance of personal fulfillment and finding purpose beyond financial success. Jeremy reflects on his past pursuits of money and power, realizing that true happiness comes from meaningful achievements and personal growth. “A man who doesn't have purpose will seek pleasure,” Jeremy states, emphasizing that fulfillment is derived from purposeful actions rather than fleeting pleasures (15:53).

Mick and Jeremy discuss the evolution of their personal motivations, with Jeremy highlighting how his recent relationship has helped him redefine success and seek a more balanced, fulfilling life. “Having a young lady that prioritizes health and fitness...has really helped me reframe my mindset on what success looks like,” Jeremy shares (09:32). This shift towards seeking joy and fulfillment aligns with Mick's philosophy of embracing one's true self to achieve lasting happiness.

Future Plans and Strategic Focus

Looking ahead, Jeremy outlines his plans to focus on demand generation and digital marketing strategies. Recognizing the changing landscape of client acquisition, he aims to invest in social media and thought leadership to attract A clients who are already ready to engage. “We're hiring more marketing people...because the reasons why people buy in a digital age are very different,” Jeremy explains (31:21).

Mick supports this approach, noting the importance of adapting to how clients now research and engage with businesses. “People know what they want to buy before they contact you. They need you to be a concierge in the process,” Mick advises (33:29). Both agree that embracing digital strategies and providing value through content are crucial for sustained growth in the modern business environment.

Closing Remarks

As the episode concludes, Mick and Jeremy emphasize the power of purpose as a driving force behind personal and professional success. Jeremy encourages listeners to channel their 'because' into achieving greatness and staying true to their core motivations. “Keep pushing your limits, embracing your purpose and chasing greatness,” Jeremy advises (35:12).

Mick wraps up by highlighting Jeremy's invaluable insights and encouraging listeners to connect with him on LinkedIn and Instagram for further inspiration and guidance.

Notable Quotes

• Jeremy Jensen (02:57): “Born and raised in Alief, Texas, which is southwest Houston, a very underprivileged, poor community...my dad left and abandoned my mom.”
• Jeremy Jensen (07:46): “When I started, it was like, man, if only I could make $250,000 a year...now it’s a different level.”
• Mick Hunt (21:44): “Culture is the equivalent of the least value that you accept.”
• Jeremy Jensen (26:00): “If we focus on building a brand around 100k fees and we become very consistent with direct marketing...that will obviously help increase our revenue.”
• Mick Hunt (29:26): “Growth and scaling isn't as hard as you think it is. It's discipline.”
• Jeremy Jensen (15:53): “A man who doesn't have purpose will seek pleasure.”
• Jeremy Jensen (35:12): “Keep pushing your limits, embracing your purpose and chasing greatness.”

Conclusion

This episode of "Mick Unplugged" offers a compelling narrative of resilience, strategic leadership, and the pursuit of meaningful success. Jeremy Jensen's journey from a challenging childhood to leading a top executive search firm exemplifies how purpose and disciplined focus can transform struggles into a lasting legacy. Listeners gain valuable insights into building a strong company culture, scaling a business with precision, and finding personal fulfillment through purposeful actions.

For those seeking inspiration and actionable strategies in leadership and entrepreneurship, this episode is a must-listen. Connect with Jeremy Jensen on LinkedIn and Instagram to continue the conversation and gain further insights into his approach to modern leadership and business growth.