Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hillary Danner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hillary, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I am resilient because of my children. When I became a mother I was filled with excitement to give them the best childhood I could imagine. I didn’t anticipate that I would find it difficult to continue my career at the time. But after my second child was born I self-imposed an indefinite pause on my acting career, opened a boutique store in Highland Park, and fell into the food business. Unfortunately, I was also navigating the early stages of what would prove to be a chaotic and challenging divorce. I didn’t have the answers but I needed to find them for myself so I could be better for my kids. It was a messy time but I needed to figure out how to keep going so I could, again, be better for my kids. They were my driving force to wake up every day and take the next step. I knew they were watching me and my choices would affect their beautiful souls.
I zigged and zagged in finding my way. Without a map to follow, I researched and stayed open to many opportunities that I hoped would take me in a positive direction. As children, we are naturally resilient. As adults, it’s often a muscle that needs a personal trainer to rebuild. That trainer is ourselves.
Every single one of us has experienced or will experience personal and/or professional challenges at some point in our journeys. With each adversity, comes the opportunity to learn lessons. How we respond to these lessons dictates our personal growth and ability to embrace & embody resilience.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Born into a family of performers, I originally hail from NYC. My father was an Opera singer and my mother was a Broadway dancer turned Opera director. My childhood was spent traveling the country, in and out of rehearsal & dressing rooms, basement costume caves, and dark theaters. After some time in the undergrad NYU Film program, I left and worked behind the scenes in TV production. Eventually, I moved to LA in the early 1990s, hopped in front of the camera, and was a working actress in Los Angeles for over ten years. In 1997, I moved to Highland Park, bought my first home, and had two children. At this point, I found myself at a creative/life crossroads, juggling kids and callbacks, so I turned to my garden for inspiration and serenity. Surrounded by a plethora of citrus & fig trees along with an abundant vegetable garden — I grabbed the Ball canning jar book and taught myself how to make fruit jams, butters, conserves, and the like.
Unsure of what my next chapter in life would be — I opened a small boutique in my neighborhood; celebrating local artists. Diving into the unknown world of retail was challenging, to say the least, but my creativity muscles were being exercised and most importantly, I was able to remain available anytime for my young kids.
I started sampling my jellies at our monthly art-walk night events. To my happy surprise, the crowds went wild for my preserved offerings – and my pepper jelly, an instant hit! Around this time, the artisanal food scene was just emerging in Los Angeles and I quickly found myself jumping from one pop-up market to another, trying to keep up with the demand — hand pouring jars in my kitchen late into the evening hours.
Sixteen years later, Jenkins Jellies is an award-winning, premium line of all-natural pepper jellies crafted in sun-kissed California. Savory, sweet & irresistibly spicy, Jenkins infuses an iconic Southern treat with a fresh coastal twist, a heartier texture, brimming with jewel-like nuggets of pepper & fruit; a complex blend of seven peppers & peak-season fruit purees. A stunning accompaniment to cheese & charcuterie platters, each jar is a secret ingredient for the creative home chef or food service professional.
I’m most proud of how my products have been integrated into the menus of some of the most respected and busiest restaurants, bars, cafes, and charcuterie companies in Southern California. I’ve been producing my pepper jellies for well over a decade and it still is a thrill to hear from the chefs and food biz owners: ” Your jelly is the most requested item on our charcuterie platters” or “Our turkey sandwich with your pepper jelly is our #1 seller”. I am a hostess at heart and nothing makes me happier than doing something that results in someone else having a great experience.
I’m excited to announce that I am introducing 3 NEW limited-run pepper jellies! It’s been a long time coming, but the first of the new trio has just been released. Blazin’ Boysenberry is available now on the Jenkins Jellies website.
Jenkins remains a small, family-run business. We are determined to offer our customers the best pepper jelly you will find by using the freshest & natural ingredients. A tongue-tingling twist on an American classic – Jenkins Jellies will turn your culinary ordinary into extraordinary, one dollop at a time.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Work ethic: It’s important to cultivate a purpose. I’ve always enjoyed helping out with others’ projects or creating my own. I learned from an early age that to get things done — you have to work (preferably well) with others. As a little girl in the theater– I watched a random group of people come together for a limited time to create magic and then disperse. This was my life on repeat. If there was a weak link it caused issues– the magic could be in jeopardy. I learned to be a team player and show up to the best of my ability. My experience was wildly different than that of many of my elementary peers; I basically went to work with my parents. I was expected to be part of the team and to keep up. The concept of helping and working together for the greater good seeped into my being through osmosis, I figure. To this, I attribute my strong work ethic.
Mindset shift:
Creating a boot-strapped business and managing everyday living can be difficult. Life can get overwhelming and dark. That darn imposter-syndrome-monster looms; sitting on the sidelines waiting to pounce, always. It became apparent to me that it was necessary to pause, get quiet, and listen to what stories I had been telling myself about myself and about my business. Recognizing that most of them were false, I embarked on a mindset-shift journey. Putting on my big girl pants, I took a leap of faith, coming to the realization that I needed to invest both in myself and my business– simultaneously– and leave fear and doubt at the back door. This part of my journey is an ongoing daily practice. If I could go back in time – this would be the first gift I would give my younger self. Get a grip on your mindset. It will dictate your life.
Stay open to learning:
There is so much we can share with and learn from each other. I used to think I would never succeed in any sort of business because I was too sensitive and my sense of self was challenged. I tripped and fell more times than I care to remember, but I always got back up and tried again. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. And if you don’t understand the answer, well, then ask again. Welcome input & discussion into your life then discern what feels right and what doesn’t for your business/life. Get comfortable with thinking outside the box and look for mentors who will share different experiences and perspectives with you. When folks ask my advice about starting a business, I say: “Show up, check your ego at the door, keep an open mind, ask questions, and most of all — BE KIND”. I have learned that It’s so important to expect, welcome and even celebrate the challenges. This is where we learn our truth and ultimately how to be the best we can be for ourselves and our businesses.
I will always have so much to learn which will, in turn, keep my cup of purpose overflowing.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Two years ago I stumbled upon Vishen Lakihani. He is the founder and CEO of Mindvalley and the author of three books: The Code of the Extraordinary Mind, The Buddha and the Badass, and The 6 Phase Meditation. I’ve audio-read them all and enjoy practicing The 6 Phase Meditation.
Mindvalley is an award-winning education movement with millions of students worldwide. Vishen has created an online learning platform that “brings you the world’s best teachers in every category of your transformation. Whether it’s creative problem solving, emotional intelligence, human literacy, or career readiness – we seek out the top trainers in the world and bring them into our ecosystem so you always learn from the very best in the field.” (credit Mindvalley website)
I’m forever grateful for finding this space called Mindvalley. I’m plugged into it almost every day. This is where I’ve been able to extract meaningful and actionable information that has directly affected both my personal and business growth rapidly. The teachers and community are top-notch and the space is incredibly welcoming and kind. You can pick and choose what resonates with you and leave what doesn’t to the side.
At the end of my first year of Mindvalley membership — in addition to the mental/inner peace I was discovering — I had also doubled the sales of my business. I never want to graduate from this kind of schooling!
Mindvalley Quests & The Mindvalley Show with Vishen (podcast) got me through the pandemic and ultimately was the mind shift needed to change the trajectory of my business and life. If this resonates with you, check it out!
“I believe that a person can only realize their fullest potential when they’re in a constant state of growth. And through my work with Mindvalley, transformation has become the primary driver of my life.” -Vishen Lakihani
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jenkinsjellies.com
- Instagram: @jenkinsjellies
- Facebook: @jenkinsjellies
Image Credits
Alana Wynn Hillary Danner
