We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jason Sherard a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jason, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is so interesting to me-it is one topic that my sister and I talk about quite often when discussing our business ideas and projects. Imposter syndrome is the persistent feeling of self-doubt or inadequacy, people often feel like they are frauds by believing their success is driven by luck than actual talent and skill. For years I battled with imposter syndrome by overworking myself (literally stayed up countless nights to perfect something), I had a strong fear of failure because I didn’t want to let those down who have given outside support. So many factors played into it. I didn’t feel like I was good enough in certain areas and overly compared my business to my peers. To the outside world I looked like I had it all figured out and made no mistakes, but I struggled with keeping up on social media postings-it truly felt like I was irrelevant in the pool of business. You log on TikTok you see everyone posting business content having hundreds to thousands of followers, and actively engaging with them. It bothered me to know that I could be just as if not more successful than those on social media. I just couldn’t get out of my head. The support from my customers showed differently than what was floating in my head. Orders were still coming in constantly and yet I felt I wasn’t doing enough. I didn’t have a strong faith or belief within myself for some reason. When you’re building a business/empire, you’re pretty much STRIPPED of yourself. I wasn’t living up to my brand name…STRIPPED. I wanted to hold on to being the face of the brand, but you really don’t know anything about me. That version only works but for so long, people want to know you, your story, what inspires you to create and keep going. I finally stepped out of my imposter syndrome by surrounding myself with not only business owners but people who have a strong belief in themselves. I began by Stripping myself of who I thought I was. I thought I was the one who couldn’t break down or have any setbacks or struggle with mental health and confidence. I began overcoming this syndrome by being more vulnerable with people in my life. Letting them see the real, I get heartbroken, have been let down by potential business deals, etc. It made me feel more at ease to release the things that I kindly just brushed off and kept moving. Stripping myself away from those limiting beliefs that were placed on me whether by others or myself. I speak confidently to myself – affirming that I am worthy of having more, my business is successful, I am an inspiration to others. Varying my affirmations and staying grounded in faith has provided me with a stronger sense of self. I stopped thinking and speaking negatively to myself regarding my projects in business and life in general. It has truly changed my trajectory and gave me more focus and clarity as to what my purpose is. I find joy in everyday things and express a strong sense of gratitude to be able to have a business and inspire others to create. I began building a stronger sense of self awareness, acknowledging my accomplishments and truly understanding that my imposter syndrome was not factual. Thus, I created my own sense of belonging for myself as I did for others with my business, I stepped in and became the higher version of self I envisioned myself to be. I can proudly and confidently say that I’m the business owner of Body by Stripped.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I create! The most exciting and special aspect of Body by Stripped is its ability to combine luxury and fun in a way that feels deeply personal and inviting. I created the brand to embody confidence, luxury, with fun. The brand started with mens underwear and grew into our infamous body butter and now candles! The brand ombre colors reflect the brand identity that’s both bold and approachable and captures the essence of sophistication and playfulness. I’m not just selling products, I’m creating moments of joy, connection and indulgence for my customers. I think people can shop care free and feel good when they shop my brand because they know its made with pure love and joy. I want them to feel happy and beautiful when they utilize my products from the inside out. Something new that I’m excited about is the Discovery Set for body butter. It will feature 4 best selling body butter products for you to enjoy. The packaging is phenomenal. Its amazing seeing your vision of packaging come to light and the ability to share it. I’m also excited to expand into new markets in the beauty industry that I’ve touched on in the past, now I want to grow it more. I’ll keep quiet on the new products for now, but there will be signs!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I feel the most important quality to embody on entrepreneurship is having a strong mental health game, emotional support, financial stability. I’d tell people get your paper work in order, get business insurance, an LLC, a virtual address, separate business bank account, and a tax preparer. Take your time to plan out everything and make sure you have a good support team. Mistakes and failures will always be made but that’s where you truly learn to succeed. Its an everchanging business with ups and downs but you have to stay focused and stay the course. Don’t get discouraged by low engagement on posts or if your sales are slow to stagnant. The right customer will come, the tribe that vibes with your business will come. On my right arm I have “Never Give Up” tattooed on me, whenever I feel like I’m wanting to, I remember the promise I made to myself to not to give up.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
Body by Stripped’s ideal client is someone who values indulgence, self-care, and mindful living. They are thoughtful about the products they use and prioritize quality, sustainability, and wellness in their daily lives. They prioritize taking time for themselves and believe in creating rituals of relaxation and rejuvenation. They’re eco-conscious and wellness focused. I feel they also have an eye for quality and love products that feel luxurious without being wasteful or excessive. The ideal client has high-standards because we all should expect the best! They expect consistency, long lasting results, and are drawn to a brand that allows them to express themselves and feel unique. Everyone is encouraged to explore luxurious body care products without constraints of traditional beauty standards.
Body by Stripped client is someone who just doesn’t want a product– they truly want an experience, a moment of joy, and a connection to the brand that resonates with their lifestyle and values.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bodybystripped.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/bodybystripped_bb
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