E50: Jake Humphrey - My Grandma's Suicide Saved Me
Mar 5, 2020
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Jake Humphrey, a renowned British TV presenter and entrepreneur, shares his tumultuous journey from dropped out to successful broadcaster. He opens up about the devastating loss of his grandmother and how it impacted his mental health. The conversation navigates the struggles of balancing fame with emotional turmoil, the pitfalls of social media, and the lessons learned from failure. Jake emphasizes the importance of authenticity and personal responsibility, providing insights into overcoming adversity and nurturing happiness in the digital age.
Failure is a stepping stone to success and should be embraced and learned from.
Taking full responsibility for one's life and being authentic are key factors in achieving personal and professional growth.
The negative impact of social media on mental health highlights the importance of changing our behavior and being mindful of the content we consume and share.
Deep dives
Jake Humphrey's journey from failure to success
Jake Humphrey, a TV presenter and journalist, shares his story of failure, suicidal thoughts, and online abuse. He believes that failure played a crucial role in his success. At a young age, he experienced failure in his A-level exams, which led him to an unexpected opportunity in TV broadcasting. He emphasizes the importance of teaching children to embrace failure and learn from it. Jake also discusses the misconceptions about him, the pressure of being in the spotlight, and the impact of social media on his mental health. Despite his success, he doesn't feel satisfied and constantly seeks improvement.
The key to success is taking responsibility
Jake emphasizes the importance of taking full responsibility for one's life. He believes that success comes from being accountable for every aspect of life, even when things go wrong. By taking responsibility and not blaming others, individuals can gain control over their lives and achieve success. Jake also highlights the value of authenticity and being true to oneself, as it is essential for personal and professional growth.
Overcoming struggles and embracing the journey
Jake opens up about his personal struggles, including a period of suicidal thoughts and feeling overwhelmed. He emphasizes the importance of talking about these challenges and seeking support. Jake also reflects on the journey of his career, from starting as a TV presenter to building his own production company. He shares his belief that the key to success is enjoying the process and constantly striving for improvement.
Navigating the negative impact of social media
Jake discusses the negative impact of social media on his mental health, particularly the stress it brings due to constant scrutiny and criticism. He emphasizes the need to change our own behavior and be more considerate on social media, rather than blaming external factors. Jake encourages people to be positive, kind, and mindful of the content they consume and share.
The importance of philanthropy and giving back
Jake shares his involvement in various charities and his passion for making a difference in people's lives. He is a patron of Break, a children's charity, and a vice president of Click Sergeant, a cancer charity. He discusses the joy he finds in helping others and using his platform to create positive change.
In my most recent episode of The Diary of a CEO, I sat down with the incredibly successful TV presenter, journalist and entrepreneur Jake Humphrey. Jake has gone from being an unqualified drop out, who was fired from McDonalds after just two months for a lack of communication skills to one of the UK’s most well known TV presenters, with accolades such as CBBC, BT Sport, Formula One and much more. Jake also co-founded the production company Whisper Films, alongside former BBC Sport producer Sunil Patel and David Coulthard and the business has grown from £1.5m to almost £20m. Our conversation was extremely honest and open. Jake has struggled to come to terms with the common misconceptions of who he is, battling suicidal thoughts and developing an unhealthy relationship with social media. We discuss the best way to move forward with the devastating impact social media can have and why failure is the key to being successful.