Conversations with Jess Thompson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Thompson.

Hi Jess, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started providing coaching and consulting when partnered with my brother-in-law. We travelled around the country providing primarily sales training for start-ups, branches of the military, and larger organizations. Meanwhile, back at home, I was simultaneously helping to run a family electrical business. As much as I loved helping people, I quickly realized that the people who could benefit the most from my help were the ones more like me – small business women who wear multiple hats with minimal support. And while getting up in front of a group of 100 was empowering for my career, I noticed the biggest shifts, brightest ideas, and real progress were the less glamours moments – sitting quietly with my head down, doing the work. Thus, The Quiet Desk was born. Working toward real success doesn’t always need to be loud or aggressive, it just needs to be intentional.

As I started spreading this message, specifically working with women entrepreneurs (many of which had no staff or outside help), I found that this anti-hustle culture resonated with so many others. As women, we often measure ourselves against the way men have traditionally built businesses and, as a result, we find ourselves burning out from trying to “do it all”. In addition to the times changing as new generations begin to emerge in the workforce, women also should be embracing their unique strengths and redefining what business and “success” should look like. Some may still measure success with a dollar sign, but others may measure it with the flexibility to pick up their kids from school or the peace that comes from a professional role that’s aligned with our personal values.

Whatever the definition of success, I help women develop their business with for the type of life they want to be living by setting clear, specific goals and creating an authentic strategy to get them there. As I’ve done this work, I’ve found that the majority of the women I coach already have brilliant ideas, they just need a little help getting organized enough to execute them.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’d question anyone who says they’ve had a “smooth road” in business. Ultimately, running your own business is a series of risks. Sometimes they pay off, sometimes you learn hard lessons. Specifically for The Quiet Desk, I’ve had to swallow the hard pill that my business will go through seasons depending on what’s going on with my life. Earlier this year, my husband and I decided to homeschool our son. We knew absolutely nothing about homeschooling, but we knew that the traditional school system just wasn’t right for him. Around that same time, my father passed away and we were juggling multiple, urgent family needs at once. Naturally, my focus was on my family and less on my business. However, because my business was so enmeshed with who I was as a person, I found myself continuing to draw organic interest from new clients.

Many will caution you to separate work from your personal life, but I don’t see it that way. I think of myself as a tree and my businesses are branches. I can prune the branches or have them more dormant during harsh winters, but they are always there, always connected to the roots and kept alive even if they aren’t blooming in that moment.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I help professional women find clarity and balance through a clear and intentional strategy. Some of my most popular offerings include:

– SMART Goal Setting: creating specific, measurable goals that keep you accountable and progressing forward

– Time Management: Providing proven strategies and frameworks to maximize efficiency and optimize focus

– Client Engagement: Authentic strategy to engage new clients, increase revenue, and handle objections all while being rooted in connection and authenticity (not manipulative sales gimmicks)

– Client Onboarding and Retention Strategies: Carefully crafted infrastructure to set clear expectations with clients and reduce miscommunication or potential conflicts

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I believe that luck (whether good or bad) is just a short-sighted assessment of a long-term plan. Essentially, I do believe that, for the most part, things tend to work out the way they are meant to and I very much believe in a grand-design that favors those who lead with kindness, compassion, and integrity. Spiritually, some may see this as a higher-power who is looking out for them. Scientifically, this may be explained by the fact that our energy leaves a physical trace that affects the world around us. Whatever the explanation, I believe in doing good things and eventually good things will come back to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thequietdeskwithjess.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequietdeskllc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheQuietDesk
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thequietdeskwithjess