Episode 7 - Vulnerability, Storytelling and Community with Jessica Birak of Mint & Birch

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Meet Jessica Birak, mother of five and founder of Mint & Birch, a jewellery company that tells stories through unique pieces. With over 8 years of business, Jessica creates beautiful pieces of jewellery that are engravable and customizable with hand lettering, making them as unique and lovely as the people who order them. She shares how to be vulnerable on social media while having a business, navigating motherhood and entrepreneurship.

Key Takeaways:

  • How Jessica found her vulnerability voice and realized that it was ok to share deeply personal things, especially around the journey of motherhood and mental health

  • How her company and social media feed are more than just a jewellery; it’s a place to share and be vulnerable

  • Business and community building go hand and hand

  • There’s no such thing as balance, life is full of waves of varying sizes and strength

  • Part of being a busy mum and business owner is full of winging it and managing the business cycles. 

  • A list of non-negotiables for every area of her life keeps Jessica on track, which reflects staying true to her word, doing what she says she will and honouring her standard of work.

  • How Jessica grew her skillset in jewellery by returning to what she loved doing as a kid.

  • The biggest challenges in her business include remembering that listening to your own heart is important throughout your day, staying in your own world when things are intense and maintaining your self-esteem. 

  • There’s no such thing as an underdog because we are all in this together, everyone has a business to run no matter where and what they start with.

  • There’s a risk of being taken advantage of in business, whether sharing on social media or just in business. This makes it very important to set and communicate boundaries, especially in collaborations. 

  • The need to be watchful of not crossing your own boundaries by overly focusing on customer service instead of realizing that sometimes the customer is not always right. It is a heart-based decision, not out of obligation, which will build resentment. 

  • Advice and tips for starting a business from Jessica: 

    • Never forget where you started and the feeling you had when you made your first sale. This carries over to how your business will be part of your success. 

    • Listen to your heart and know what you need to stay inspired so that you can adapt to the situation

  • How believing that she was the underdog would have gotten her nowhere. By believing that she has something to offer, she was able to build something even with limited resources and connections. 

  • It’s ok to start with ‘nothing’, you still have your talent, vision and dreams. A blank canvas is an opportunity, reframe it and it will and grow into something beautiful from nothing. 

  • You could be on the cusp of something, so don’t give up because you never know how your business will grow.  

Show Notes:

Danielle Wiebe