Exploring Life & Business with Joe Adams

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Adams.

Hi Joe, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been a fighter for the “little guy” and I can’t stand bullies. When I was in elementary school in San Diego, California I would seek out the kids who didn’t have anyone to play with or eat lunch with and chat with them. As I grew up, I found that looking for the quiet person, the shy person, the overlooked person unlocks a great amount of benefit for everyone.

As an undergraduate at the University of California, San Diego and then a law student at UC Davis School of Law I sought out knowledge about power structures – how they form, change, and collapse. My motivation has always been the same – I can’t stand bullies. That could mean a government agency targeting a person for political gain, a politician seeking to divide people, or big business ruining the environment.

A big part of my life now is focused on “Influence The World,” a 501c3 nonprofit organization I helped found with some friends I’ve made here in Los Angeles. The mission of Influence The World is to harness the power of social media to give back to young people in need around the world. I believe that in empowering young people who may not be otherwise visible, we can lift up entire communities and raise the consciousness of the planet.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Building a grassroots organization out of simply an idea comes with a lot of challenges. People can over-promise and under-deliver. Well-meaning friends will offer not-always-constructive criticisms. The world is full of armchair generals. I am a firm believer in taking educated risks. “You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take” according to Wayne Gretzky.

I find that leading by doing is the best way to overcome doubts in others and self-doubt that will get in the way of progress. Others will come along once they see you are doing something good.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Years ago I developed a focus on U.S. immigration for very talented people – artists, entertainers, entrepreneurs, and athletes. The U.S. immigration system, for all its faults, has a very robust system for retaining high-level talent in the form of the O category visa and the EB-1 category greencard. My practice focuses on the immigration needs of those people, their families, and their employers.

I learn so much from my clients. Just today I was working with a client who is an Indian national and on her EB-1 greencard. She is presenting at the World Economic Forum next year in Davos, Switzerland. She and I are collaborating with Influence The World to bring an economist point of view to our charity efforts to make sure we are impacting the greatest number of people.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Covid-19 required everyone to take a look at their own humanity. Driving back from an Influence The World charity trip in Tijuana, Mexico earlier this year fellow board member Eureka O’Hara (HBO’s We’re Here, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars) and I reflected on how not a single person on this planet didn’t at some point feel alone, isolated, worried for themselves and their families. Looking ahead we feel that in the world of the arts, entertainment, film and television there will be less room for the shallower, exploitative style reality genres and there will be a greater audience for stories about people overcoming adversity and claiming a seat at the table.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jaesq.com, https://www.influencetheworld.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeadamsesq/ 

Image Credits
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and Joe; The ITW Team on a recent charity build; Joe and one of his new friends in Vietnam