Jenny Jacob, Publisher
Publisher, Jenny Jacob, has a passion for women and also for supporting widows and orphans.
Jenny shared her story with Dorothy Edward Thomas in Finally at 40 Life Begins magazine. Download PDF version here.
‘Doing it Afraid!’ – Finally at 40™ Magazine
At 42, Jenny was looking for work and discovered being over forty was a definite disadvantage to being hired. Three separate employments only lasted a few months, and she became depressed and anxious. During her depression and anxiety Jenny was prompted to research the over 40 syndrome (menopause) and discovered she was definitely not alone. One morning, as she was lying in bed (unemployed) feeling low and vulnerable, she had an idea. “I could start a magazine for women over 40!” It all seemed quite impossible, but the idea would not lie down. Jenny felt sure that there was a market for such a publication. She even had a name Finally At 40 – Life Begins.
Part of Jenny’s vision was that this magazine would encourage women over 40 to believe in themselves, to move beyond feelings of low self-esteem, to believe that it is possible to see dreams come true, and to prove the old adage that life begins at 40. The second part of Jenny’s vision, was to continue her interest in raising funds for women and orphans in the third world.
For the next three months she did all the research she could. During that time Jenny also applied for loans from various banks, but she was rejected until finally she was able to secure a small loan of $3000.00 which she used to buy stationary and office equipment. “$3000 was short lived, but I was very grateful to have received that support.” Jenny says. Along the way she met a handful of people who were involved in the magazine industry, and they became her mentors and helpers and saved her thousands of dollars. With a plan and strategy in place and only $10 left in the account Jacob Publishing was born early July 2006 “Was I afraid when the business began, yes! Even though the feelings of anxiety and depression were present, I was determined to overcome them, I used to tell myself that tomorrow would be a better day.”
With no previous experience in publishing, editing or writing, on September 2006 the first copy of Finally At 40 Life Begins was published, and it continues to go from strength to strength.
Jenny says: “The office receives emails regularly thanking us for the magazine. Women share how encouraged they are by the real life stories of other women’s successes and of how they have overcome many obstacles to reach their desired goals. I feel truly blessed by their comments.”
Jenny says, “If you have a dream or idea and want it to become a reality, but you feel afraid, take a leap of faith into the unknown, and if afraid then do it afraid because I have learnt with every problem there is always a solution!”
Jacob Publishing is also now publishing a second magazine French Provincial.
