We had the good fortune of connecting with Cory Moore and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cory, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have been an entrepreneur since I was 21 attending college in Texas State University. For me the decision was always pretty easy. I was working for some people at the time and I really saw first hand a lot of things I did not like. I also realized if I wanted to have complete control over my life and my career starting my own business was the only option to pursue.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a serial entrepreneur I have been involved in a variety of businesses over the years. Some of which I am still very involved in today and others I am not. J&M Jewelry, which is a diamond jewelry manufacturer, custom designer, and wholesaler is my primary business and that business was started in 2005 while I was in college. Since then I have started several other businesses and actually just started 2 new projects in 2020. SentialGem which launched on 10/15/2020 is the world’s first Aquamarine powder designed as an additive for your favorite beauty product and VividEFX which is our media company specializing in video motion graphics and marketing content. I have always been highly motivated and driven and I evaluate every opportunity to determine if it makes sense or not. My struggle has always been I am only one person and you can only do so much. You can only be in one place at one time and that’s difficult with a mind set like mine. As I have matured in my business career I have realized the importance of team and surrounding yourself with the right team members so you can delegate those responsibilities. I think so many young people today believe that starting a business or becoming an entrepreneur is the easier option. It is definitely not an easy option and probably the most challenging option you can take regarding your career. It takes a tremendous amount of dedication, time, and focus to push through and be consistent. Success is a combination of all those things accumulated over a period of time. If I could tell the world one thing about any business or brand I am involved in it would be that we apply integrity, honesty, and the highest levels of morals with each project and customer. So many companies are only focused on how much money they make. Any business needs to make money and of course making money is important but anything I stamp my name on personally will never sacrifice those things for a profit.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Living in Houston I have been spoiled. It’s literally one of the largest cities in the country and there is so much to offer. I believe in balance and I have tried to balance eating, drinking, and staying active. I would take my friend for a nice workout at one of the many gyms in the Houston area or enjoy some of the surprisingly good mountain bike trails in the Cypress Creek or The Woodlands areas. We would visit some of the well known craft breweries in the area such as Brash Brewing, Ingenious Brewing , and B-52 Brewing to name a few. We would definitely fill our bellies with some good sushi and Mexican food, in which there are way too many options to list.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This is a loaded question but I have a lot of people to be thankful for. First and foremost I would like to give thanks to God for blessing me and giving me the abilities and opportunities to do what I do. I would also like to place a huge portion of my success on my parents and how they raised me. Lets just say I was a hand full growing up and I am thankful for what they taught me and the discipline they instilled in me. My wife, Michelle has been a huge cheerleader and supporter of everything I have pursued. When I was young growing up I always thought getting a 9-5 corporate job was the route I needed to take. Meeting Michelle showed me that there were other options and she was a huge factor in my interest in wanting to become a business owner. Lastly, from a professional level I have to recognize some of my mentors, Tomer Jackson in Israel and Moshe Weiser in New York City. These guys will likely never read this but they were major influencers in my passion and education on this road to success.

Website: www.jandmjewelry.com
Instagram: @jandmjewelry
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophercorymoore/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JandMJewelry/
Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/jandmjewelry
Other: www.sentialgem.com www.vividefx.com

Image Credits
Photographer Josue Lopez He is our creative director and we have full permission to use this content.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.