They picked the wrong person. It must have been a mistake. Maybe they think I’m more legit than I am.

JD looked up from the cutting board and said, “Your imposter is showing…might wanna pick it up and tuck it back in.”

There—in our kitchen—we debated whether I should give the commencement speech for my alma mater, Whittier College.

We went back and forth until JD looked up from sautéing vegetables and asked, “How many Latinas will give a commencement keynote this year? Less than one hand of fingers, I’d guess, so why not step into showing what’s possible?”

And THIS is why I never debate my husband: I WILL ALWAYS LOSE.

A few months later, my daughter helped me put on my cap and gown just before the 2024 ceremony. It was—hands down—the most nervous I’d ever been to give a speech. Ever.

I agonized over what to say, then simply decided to give a nine-minute speech about what I wish someone told me when I sat in those exact seats years prior.

Funny enough, it’s the exact words I’d repeat to myself at every iteration of my career. Want to know what that is? You can find it >>HERE<<.

As we all find our way through life and business, I hope you make many mistakes so you learn to value the lessons, and resist the temptation to dwell in disaster or triumph…in doing so, we’ll find our way to our life’s purpose.

To making moves, and moving tassels from one side of the cap to the other,

j*

The post Me? A commencement speech? NO way appeared first on Jasmine Star.

If you saw us, you might wonder how we ended up together.  We’re an odd mix of founders, to be honest.  We met as part of a mastermind and decided to meet up in real life in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

Who are we?  Wholesale clothing operations, a marketplace for medical care, menu software for chefs, and—amongst others—one of the top-rated fitness podcast hosts.

Adam Schafer built his career as a competitor, trainer, and fitness expert (later becoming an investor and podcast host of MindPump), so we convinced him to give us a session.

I assumed he’d take a page from Schwarzenegger’s book and yell, “I’ne gohing to pahhmp you ahhp!”

Crazy enough, Adam said the opposite, “Do as little as possible to elicit the most amount of change.”

Our workout consisted of perfecting our form, alignment, and proper positioning.  Adam reminded us that if we don’t master the basics, we won’t get the results we want.  Or, worse, we could make a mistake and get hurt.

As each of us stepped to the squat rack, we reminded each other to DO LESS.

The biggest lesson, of course, wasn’t mastering the basics of a workout, but how the same principle applied to business.

How many times have I powered through, busted down walls, and gritted my teeth for endless hours in the name of progress, when what I should have done was DO LESS.

• When in doubt, go back to basics.
• When in fear, go back to basics.
• When in high-flying success, go back to basics.

In a constant barrage of more-more-more, it was a pleasant reminder that less always leads to more.

As I’m gearing up for an exciting launch, my mantra has become DO LESS, GET MORE.  I hope you say the same.

Back to basics,

j*

The post How to Do Less, Get More appeared first on Jasmine Star.

• No rules, just results.
• No expectations, just results.
• No standards, just results.

And results are priceless because they guide the next round of scrappy action.

Last week I was invited by my (scrappy) friend, Stacy Tuschl, to get together for a one-day mastermind she organized.

But here’s the kicker: She hosts some masterminds on a not-for-profit, invite-only basis. Stacy felt like masterminds were worth every penny, but—also—really expensive.

True to her resourceful Wisconsin roots, she took scrappy action and asked a small group of her friends to invest $_ , _ _ _ and she would organize the event and book a professional speaker.

Twenty people invested and it empowered her to hire Leila Hormozi to do a live 1.5-hour Q+A. Should I repeat that?

WE EACH ASKED LEILA A HIGHLY SPECIALIZED QUESTION FOR OUR BUSINESS.

By pooling funds, Stacy was able to commission top talent for a highly personalized experience.

Leila doesn’t do consulting, has a crazy schedule, and selects strategic events to present at…but because we aggregated our collective value (and investment), it was in alignment for her. Why?

• We met in her hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada (short commute!)
• She brought her videographer to record the session (content creation!)
• She was able to talk about business strategy (dust yo shoulders off, Aquisition.com!)

So why am I sending you this note? I want to show how YOU can take scrappy action like Stacy, regardless of what stage you’re at in business.

>>How can you get started today?<<

1. Reach out to a group of industry peers or colleagues and invite them to invest in a not-for-profit Mastermind.
2. Set the investment price and facilitate an easy way to collect the payment.
3. Once you collect, you now have a budget to hire a speaker for a group session.
4. Reminder: Your investment can be listed at $100, $1,000, or $10,000, depending on the stage of business you/your peers are in. The key is to know that pooling your funds will empower you to attract someone who can teach you something from a further point in their career.

I’m sharing my journey because I want you—yes, YOU—to take control of your future opportunities. Don’t wait for it to happen. Make it happen.

Scrappy action,

j*

The post Candid Look: Scrappy Action Gets Results appeared first on Jasmine Star.

I’m always nervous before I speak, but in a room full of smart, successful, established CEOs, I was downright intimidated.

In 2018, I sat in a Mastermind and raised my hand to nervously ask the host a question, “How can I get into invite-only Masterminds?” (This is a slightly elevated way of asking how to sit at the Cool Kids cafeteria table in junior high school.)

The host spoke slowly into the mic and said, “DO. COOL. S#!T.”

He went on to explain that the way you get into an invite-only room is by doing something other people aren’t. That’s it.

Last week, a member of the mastermind I host asked a similar question:

But the crazy thing is that I didn’t give her the same answer that I was given five years ago. I, instead, told her to share what she knows.

It’s no longer about just doing cool stuff, but also sharing HOW you’re doing it. Even if it feels insignificant.

In comparison to the other speakers at the Mastermind I spoke at last week, my keynote session was rudimentary (Mergers&Acquisitions, wealth-building with investment properties, changing landscapes with dynamic ad placement…then I walked on the Beverly Wilshire stage in Beverly Hills to talk about content creation with a small team).

Yup, me and all of my fried pickle glory.

I’m sharing this because I believe—deeply—that how you get invited into new rooms or circles is by sharing what you know and doing so consistently.

You want to punch in a different weight class, or play in the big league? Create, do it in cool ways, and share it.

Speaking of which, I recorded this keynote session and will share it on YouTube soon (been adding new videos every week on my channel!), but until then, I’m sharing My Four Building Blocks to Creating Meaningful Relationships with Entrepreneurs (which I use at events and know will be helpful) on my >>podcast HERE<<.

I hope this note serves as a reminder that you have something special to share with the world, and to be encouraged to continue sharing until doors to closed rooms fling open for you at the perfect time.

Perfectly pickled,

j*

The post Getting invite-only access for you appeared first on Jasmine Star.

But when I try it on, I look like I’m sitting on the couch in a Snuggie.

I read about leadership, and study the greats, but when I’m faced with the opportunity to rise like George Washington leading his troops across the Potomac, I turn into a Vaudeville version of a visionary.

JUST FLEW IN FROM CHA-KAH-GOOOO AND BOY ARE MY ARMS TIRED!

I distract, deflect, and use humor to avoid grappling with tough decision making in the moment.

Last week my mentor, Susan, met with our leadership team to strategize projects and plans for the remainder of the year and Q1 2024.

I had ideas! plans! promotions! to outline for her, but she stopped me in my tracks and flipped the script. No, no, that will not be how this day will unfold.

I’ll share more about what she said in a future note, but—for now—I want to show what it looks like to lead in the process of learning.

I’m drawn to people who share their process and business insights, and I’ve been profoundly impacted by the few (courageous) leaders who expose the prickly parts of running a business. So that’s what I’m doing here today…I’m sharing a note I wrote to the leadership team the day after our meeting with Susan.

I’m doing this to document my journey, but—mostly—doing this to show the process of growing, so you can learn from my lessons and show up valiantly under pressure.

LET’S GO WASHINGTON, BABY!

One day I’ll look back at this note and thank myself for being willing to do the hard work to change, innovate, and push past my comfort zone.

Right now the team is running all projects AND are building new ones, while gently nudging me to take some time to define a clearer vision of the future.

I can’t wait to share what we’re working on but—for now—I’m scheduling a sabbatical at the end of the month (no phone, no computer, just me alone in nature…WHO AM I?!) to return with a fresh perspective on making bold decisions for the future.

Until then, I’m honored to be on this journey together.

j*

The post Prickly parts of leadership appeared first on Jasmine Star.

I don’t talk much about it because—quite frankly—I’m trying to figure it out. I’m a first generation Latina, entrepreneur, and CEO/mother. I’m a self-taught business owner, so adding a toddler to the mix has been…well…interesting.

I’m tired in new ways (my tiredness is tired), less productive, and feel like I’ll never catch up (my to-do list is longer than a CVS pharmacy receipt). My daughter crashes my Zoom meetings (often with a guitar in her hand and Playdoh smashed in her hair), and scribbles on every piece of paper on my desk (why, yes, contracts too).

She insists on morning dance parties in the kitchen, avocado toast, long bubble baths, and a nightly massage. Y’ALL I AM ON DAY FOUR OF DRY SHAMPOO AND THREE LAYERS OF EYE CONCEALER.

And I couldn’t be happier.

I’ve strengthened just about every mental muscle to find a way to maintain sustainable work levels…and the business continues to grow.

A few months ago, JD and I scheduled a date to talk about my travel plans for this year. There was a lot of invitations, but I didn’t want to be away from my family. Instead of asking, “Why do I have to say no to these opportunities,” I asked, “How could we make it work?”

One of the best business lessons I learned is to ask better questions.

I now ask questions that invite possibilities and creative thinking, instead of dead-end questions.

We asked each other what we’d need to make it work and after brainstorming, we decided to commit to traveling as a family for 12 months. I mean, does this sound crazy? A little, yeah.

But does it thrill us to chart our own path and make memories? A lot, yeah.

Let’s chat about how you can avoid Dead-end Questions…

1. A dead-end question leaves you feeling dread, resentment, and victimized. Instead, ask questions that challenge you, force you to get creative, and invite your imagination to go into overdrive.
   • “Why does this always happen to me?”  ”What can I do to change things in the future?”
2. Dead-end questions don’t have logical answers; they are fraught with emotions and fictionalized outcomes. Instead, ask questions that appeal to logic and can correspond with a set of actions to take (not playing out worst-case scenarios).
   • “What if I never figure this out?”  ”What new approach can I take to figure this out?”
3. Dead-end questions can easily be answered by your past mistakes or missteps; essentially, you’ll defer to using the past to define the future. Instead, ask questions that empower you to act like your Future Self…what questions could you ask that get you closer to your future goals, not your past mistakes?
   • “Who would ever buy from me without experience?”  ”How can I show my professionalism apart from my experience level?”

Lastly, in a moment of full candor, people have sent messages and emails about my parenting choices (listen, you wanna rile people up? Get them talking about sleep schedules! mobile devices! sugar content! car seats in rental cars!…and more!).

While I appreciate their concern, JD and I are okay making decisions according to the questions we ask ourselves.

At the end of the day, I’m just a girl trying to follow my dream, and raise a daughter to do the same.

Guitars and Playdoh,

j*

The post Ask These Questions for More Success appeared first on Jasmine Star.

I was hosting a holiday tamale dinner (homemade by yours truly!), and decided to make it a painting party as well.

When I unboxed all the art supplies, I realized I underestimated just how many numbers appeared on each forthcoming masterpiece.  You ladies will be painting for a week straight, JD laughed as he shook his head and walked away.

Undaunted, my friends and I started the party by unwrapping tamales, then unwrapping our supplies.  NINE hours later, they left with unfinished paintings.

The following morning I told JD I wasn’t going to finish the painting.  I was overwhelmed.  It took more time than expected.  I wasn’t seeing results.  There were so! many! details!

Each day, however, I painted a little more.  I worked in small sprints because, well, I realized this painting represented building a business.

Building a business is overwhelming.  It takes more time than expected.  It rarely yields quick results.  And there are so! many! details!

It’s been two weeks since I started my paint-by-number masterpiece, and more than a decade since I started my business, and yet I’m excited to continue to see small bits of progress, each adding to the bigger picture.

As we begin the new year, I hope you find yourself ready to work on your masterpiece, regardless of how long it takes, or what progress is experienced.

To slowly unwrapping your success (and tamales),

j*

P.S. You know those conversations that start from the heart right away – the ones where there’s no small talk about the weather, no introduction… nothing but straight up honesty? That’s exactly the kind of conversation I had with Anthony Trucks on today’s podcast. Click >>PLAY<< if you want to hear us talk about everything from owning the value you bring to the world to how to be ok when people reject your offer to what I hope JD and I pass on to Luna (and a whole lot more).

The post A paint-by-number business? appeared first on Jasmine Star.

As the daughter of an immigrant and an (unreasonably) proud homeschooled child, I loved writing, but often had to use old or discarded notebooks my mom found while dumpster diving.

I learned how to save money from exchanging recyclables for cash, selling lemonade, and hosting a yard sale when I was nine years old.

When I walked into the bright pink Hello Kitty store (which smelled like peach cream, fresh erasers, and grape soda) and bought my first ever new journal, I felt like Ernest Hemingway.  Little Ernesta Hemingwariguez. That was the start of my passion for journaling.

Every year, I start a new journal and I add entries whenever I can (traveling, during low moments, when I need to figure out what to do next, etc.).  Take a look at my 2022 journal versus my 2023 journal.

Last year’s journal looks like it took a beating, but it’s simply signs of motherhood.  My daughter left a greasy burrito on my journal…she put stickers on it…she left me notes on the cover (and virtually every page).

When I look back on what I wrote in it, I see peaks and valleys, which is just a poetic way of saying I ate crap, I blundered, I got lost, but found a way to keep going.

Ernesta Hemingwariguez strikes again!

Journals, for me, are a testament to surviving 100% of my hardest days.  It’s realizing that the moments I thought defined or ruined me, were simply challenges to determine my strength.  If each page could talk, it’d yell at me, HOW BAD DO YOU WANT THIS SO BUCK UP AND KEEP GOING.

(My journal has the same attitude of my Puerto Rican cousin who lives in the Bronx and wears hoop earrings so big they practically touch her elbows.)

Without sounding dramatic, journaling has changed my life.  At my lowest points, being able to write my thoughts revealed my greatest worries…and then opened my eyes to the next best action to take. If you’re ready to journal in 2023, I’d love to sell you my new journal now available at Target…JUST KIDDING I AM NOT PITCHING A JOURNAL.

If you’re ready to journal in 2023, here’s a very simple framework to get you started:

1. List three things you’re grateful for (get specific: you’re not just thankful for your pet, list what, specifically, your pet does to make you grateful).
2. List three emotions you’re going to focus on for the day (how do you want to feel?)
3. List three things you’re focused on working toward (business goals, health goals, relationship goals, etc.)
4. List three things that you think will stop you from working toward what you want (and then add ways to stop it from happening).

When you start journaling, take a photo and tag me on your Instagram story…bonus points if you have a Hello Kitty journal.

To writing our futures,

j*

P.S. If you are starting 2023 by mapping out your goals and creating a plan to reach them, you’ll want to >>press play<< on this podcast episode. I’m going to walk you through the exact process I use to map out my goals each quarter and break them down into doable monthly, weekly, and daily assignments. I’ve used this process for years and seen the results in my business – and I can’t wait to share it with you. Press >>PLAY<< now!

The post Can you journal your way to success? appeared first on Jasmine Star.

And–boom–just like that, he gave himself one option:  Success.

(Maybe I should avoid using the word BOOM and Apollo 11 in the same note, eh?)

But here’s the thing:  Our brains are more inclined to avoid pain than to achieve progress.

Don’t believe me?  Here are 10 Ways to Ensure Your Business Stays Stuck in 2023:

1. Wait for the perfect time.
2. Expect the best-case scenario.
3. Start something new today, start something new tomorrow. Repeat.
4. Read lots of books, don’t take action.
5. Listen to lots of podcasts, don’t take action.
6. Watch lots of tutorials, don’t take action.
7. Ask for advice, don’t take action.
8. Blame the situation, not yourself.
9. Wait for someone to help you.
10. Make excuses and give yourself a way out.

Does the idea of being stuck incite PAIN?  If so, embrace the opposite:

1. The perfect time doesn’t exist, start today.
2. Hope for the best-case scenario, plan for the worst.
3. Start something new today and stick with it for longer than anyone else.
4. Read lots of books, take action.
5. Listen to lots of podcasts, take action.
6. Watch lots of tutorials, take action.
7. Ask for advice, take action.
8. Learn from the situation, make yourself better.
9. The only person who’ll help you is you.
10. Don’t make excuses and make yourself a way through.

Failure is not an option,

j*

P.S. Have you ever talked with someone who helped you reflect on all you had learned and feel profoundly grateful for the challenges you’ve had along the way? If so, tune into yesterday’s podcast with Rachel Roth where we cover it ALL: everything from the importance of defining your own success to how to overcome the crippling fear and insecurity of being a business owner to my secret method for figuring out what I don’t know… and more.

The post Avoid Getting Stuck In Business (here’s how!) appeared first on Jasmine Star.