Jackson Free Press

Though Angela Butler is now a local entrepreneur and volunteer enthusiast, she says she had to "learn to fail forward toward success."

A few years after graduating from North Forrest High School in Hattiesburg, Butler went to Associated Travel School in Miami. When she moved to Jackson in 1991, she began to work for Rightway Travel as a travel agent. 
 But Butler knew she was destined for more than a typical 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. job; she wanted to be her own boss. "I wanted to get more out of me and to spend time doing for other people," she says.

Eventually, Butler took a leap of faith and started her career as the owner of a Jani-King franchise, a commercial cleaning company that she has now owned for 17 years. Five years later, she gained her license as a real estate agent. Having worked for more than 12 years in real estate, she is currently managing rental properties in the Jackson area.

Butler's latest accomplishment is becoming a John Maxwell-certified public speaker, coach and trainer.

"I wanted to continue to invest in me to become better and add value to other people's lives," she says.

In April, she started conducting Mastermind sessions, which are six-week group meetings where professionals and leaders learn how to start apply the principal from John Maxwell books: to "live intentionally and get more results out of life."

Part of Butler's mission includes helping youth gain self-confidence despite the issues they may face, and to also "learn to fail toward success" like she did.

Butler says a big part of her self-development came from her years of volunteering. She has a nonprofit organization for families at local hospitals: Reach Beyond Ministries Inc. As its organizer, Butler serves breakfast and lunches to the families in the intensive-care family waiting areas of the Baptist Hospital and the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital.

"I know there are people who are away from home and need a hot meal," she says. "They need to see someone who cares about them."

On living in Jackson, Butler says: "It has a lot of challenges but it has a lot of good things, too. Jackson has things to offer that are entertaining and educational, as well." She loves to see plays at New Stage Theatre and loves Ballet Magnificat!. She is also a member of the Greater Fairview Baptist Church.

See angeladbutler.com to learn more about Live2Lead and her coaching sessions.