Jordan Nahmias
Q What do you do?
“I help people learn from themselves so they can navigate decisions - creative, business, work, life.”
Often times, this is when they’ve been in a place where they have done one thing for a long time and are not sure where it’s going. Or, they have had an itch to do something else, but don’t know how to get there. Or, they are at the beginning of a career or project and are wondering - what is it that I could do that would be meaningful and also motivating? Or, they are near an end of a career or project and are wondering, I’ve worked on this one thing for so long, but I have no idea what to do if I am not doing this one thing. Or, they are just burnt out.
I've been in all of those places - and it's not fun. But, I've also learned how to navigate those challenges, and more importantly, how to enable others to develop their own skills to do the same.The way I work with people through these questions is by looking at their whole lives - we can’t think our way through every dilemma. We need to tap into the other information that we can access, and that comes through emotions, our body, and our brains. We can also draw on the stories that are around us - not just the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves, but also the stories that we find in film, literature and art. By integrating what we learn not only from sources outside ourselves but those other parts of ourselves we have ignored for some time, we can invite in a new way of being with our dilemmas and with our challenges. We can draw on that new knowledge to find answers that support the whole of us - and allow the whole of us to move forward in whatever choice we make for what’s next.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
That's an interesting question. More directly, I commenced my training with New Ventures West, a coaching certification program out of San Francisco and now use its method of Integral Coaching (which I could spend a whole other application writing about, but that is largely academic and, thus I think, boring for you to read) to help folks develop and move towards change. But, more broadly - I went to law school, started working as an entertainment lawyer, and eventually ran a law firm (which got pretty boring after 10+ years). I also founded a film festival here in Toronto, produced and executive produced film, and continued to work on my own independent art practice and business. In those roles, I of course learned just how odd and extraordinary the creative industries can be - but, I also (and perhaps more importantly) spent many invaluable hours listening to my clients, my colleagues and my employees tell me about their career and creative problems and challenges. Through all of that I learned to listen to the issues underlying day to day challenges of my clients and my colleagues, and, really understood how to advise and guide clients and colleagues legally, strategically, and perhaps most importantly, in ways that integrated the wholeness of their lives into their business and creative decisions in weird and wonderful ways.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
Unlike many other coaches and strategists, I have what I think is a fairly unique and insightful role to play in helping executives, producers and other creative leaders develop their own skills to navigate the unique set of challenges presented by working in the creative industries. I also think, specifically to working with individuals and organizations in the creative industries, as a creative person myself, still being involved in arts organizations, making art and working in the film business from time to time, I have my finger on the pulse of what the challenges are that are arising in the now. Knowing what is current is critical for being able to strategize, advise and hear the challenges of my clients.
Q What are you working on right now?
I am, of course, currently spending most of my time working with clients; preparing practices and development programs for them; and spending time with other writings and research that will serve my clients. On my own personal end, I am spending more time writing myself - in particular, finding ways to draw on creative narratives to enhance my own development as well as to further hone my niche as a coach and strategist.
Q What’s your style?
My perspective on work and life is that the two are inevitably intertwined - to that end, we often and can't (and perhaps are better served by not) having two "identities", per se. I truly believe that we do our best work by bringing all of our selves to our work, and we are at our best with our friends and family when we bring all of our selves to those relationships. In that sense, the two are never actually separate if we bring our fullness to both, all the time. The project that represents this is actually my own website. When we were designing this, I was very intentional in being clear that what I put out there is about me, as a whole person - my writing, my photography, my coaching practice and my own story. I hope it conveys that message.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
A long standing challenge in my own life is finding more time to work on my creative practices - photography, printmaking, design, music making. I would love to focus on these more but also accept and welcome the limitations to that as a result of the rest of my life, my young children, and my desire to help others. Oh, and of course, make a living.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Client acquisition certainly is a tricky one at the moment. The coaching industry is somewhat saturated, so it's an ongoing challenge to separate myself from the field in terms of marketing. That may be why social media strategy, for instance, continues to sit at the bottom of my to do list. Also on the bottom of my to do list - this application which I can honestly say I have been avoiding/delaying for months. But, I am really glad to be doing it now - definitely helps to hone my own thinking on what I do, who I speak to, and who I work with.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Two things: scheduling and social media programming.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I know, with certainty, that if I could go back in time, it would be to the end of high school to tell myself "Jordan, you are an artist - listen to your teachers and go to art school. Don't worry about what everyone else is doing so much." The "why" of this is a bit harder, but I think, with the benefit of hindsight, that if I had done that, I would have gotten to where I think I am going, albeit, a bit faster and with a bit more knowledge of myself and my own creative urges. That all said, I have no regrets - I have a wonderful life and am grateful for all of the experiences I've had (including the ones that were less than pleasant like law school or being a lawyer for so long) - without those, I wouldn't be where I am right now.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I would speak to Jim Hollis - he is a Jungian analyst and has an unbelievable understanding of the human condition as well as the themes that we all work with and face over the courses of our lives and careers.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I am looking for opportunities to work with people and organizations who are inspired, open-minded and hungry to create both in their work and in their careers. That applies both to the types of creative professionals and leaders I am looking to work with, but also, to potential partners and collaborators. I would love to undertake a podcast project with like-minded folks, or, to start to build a network of individuals looking to pool our skills and resources to provide more mentorship and guidance to individuals and organizations in the creative spheres to allow for better leadership and more meaningful development.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My ideal client is at a point in their work where they really want to make a meaningful change - be that to take on a creative project that has always scared them, to pursue a different job or field of work that they have been intimidated by or felt ill equipped to move toward, or, to explore a new way of being with the world where they don't feel like they have to hide certain part(s) of themselves from their colleagues, partners or clients. That is a really inspirational place to be - that place at the edge of the diving board where you know you need to jump, but don't feel ready yet and don't really know how to do it gracefully.
Q What is your rate?
I work to peoples' abilities. So, while my standard package is USD $3,000 for 10 sessions (each averaging about an hour or so), I also fully understand that that is not within everyone's ability or resources. To that end, I offer options - either packages that are shorter engagements to accommodate a cost need, or, fully packages at a lower rate offered on a sliding scale. I also am always open to bartering services or goods - for instance, an artist I have admired for a long time recently approached me for services, so we are doing a combination of fees and a piece of his work for my services.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
hi@jordannahmias.com or my site: www.jordannahmias.com. My favourite foray into conversation is usually favourite film!
Q Who is a creative you admire?
I would recommend the folks over at Public Office. They are old clients of mine, and super talented, creative and insightful people. Can't recommend them for their work and care enough. www.wearepublicoffice.com
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Write, Shoot, DJ.
This member profile was originally published in November 2023