We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jessi O’Donnell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jessi , thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us today. We’re excited to dive into your story and your work, but first let’s start with a broader topic that might be stopping many of our readers from pursuing their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. How have you managed to persist despite haters and nay-sayers that inevitably follow folks who are doing something unique, special or off the beaten path?
Easy! God.
Knowing that HE gave me these dreams, these ideas, these gifts, these opportunities – I owe it to Him, my family, myself, and the world – to pursue and persist no matter what. Keeping my eyes on God and HIS TRUTH makes it easy to stay focused inward and on my goals, instead of worrying about what other people may think or say. If God gave me the vision, there’s a reason, and no hater is going to stop that 😉
Another thing that has also helped me persist despite the nay-sayers is investing in a mentor with an incredible mindset. She has helped me to rewire my brain and in doing that one of the (many) things I’ve changed is that I no longer let other people’s limiting beliefs affect me and my dreams. I continually keep in mind that other people’s opinions are only representative of their own belief in their own ability and have no impact on me or what I can do.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Jessi and I am from Orange County, California. I love Jesus, all things holiday, and a gooood vanilla late! I am a mama of two beautiful boys, a small-business owner, and a product-based business mentor.
When I found out I was pregnant with my son in 2020, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to take a leap of faith and invest in my own business, and within two years I went from a bartender/server full time, to a full time small-business owner. I am a self-taught candle curator and business woman, I have an entrepreneurial spirit and I love anything that allows me to be creative. Shine Candle Co. empowers me to embrace it all.
Shine Candle Co. is a luxury candle company that handcrafts all-natural coconut wax blend candles while offering exclusive clean-burning scents and a beautiful and timeless minimalist design. Our mission is to offer a beautiful and enjoyable product that ensures the wellness of our customers by using the highest quality clean-burning ingredients.
I began this company to inform about the dangers of other candle companies while providing cleaner and safer alternatives to their harmful products. I also wanted to provide a source of light to the world not only through candles, but through who we are as a proud Christian company as well. Matthew 5:16 stays at the core of who we are and what we hope to inspire in others.
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.”
I have loved the entrepreneurial journey and the freedom and flexibility it has given me and my family, as well as the incredible growth I continue to experience from it… so much so that I knew I had to help give it to other moms/women that wanted to have it too – which is where Jessi Shine Method, or the JSM, came into existence.
I have created a course to help women start product-based businesses, while giving them all the tools they need to quickly turn it into a profitable venture. I am so excited to be launching the JSM the week of my 30th birthday this July. I couldn’t think of a better way to start a new decade than launching a new business to help other women thrive!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Faith.
Boldness.
Resilience.
My most important advice would be to have faith and to work on your mindset!
Stand firm in your faith and know that God works all things together for your good. Know that you are exactly where you’re suppose to be, and focus on learning what you need to wherever you are. Also keep in mind things don’t happen TO YOU – they happen FOR YOU. Everything is an opportunity for learning and growth – and rejection is redirection.
Don’t be afraid to be bold and to take risks. Taking risks has now become something I welcome, because the reward has always always been worth it – even if it comes as a learning lesson.
Trust in God’s plan for your life and then pursue, persist, overcome, and achieve.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I would credit that overall to my first son, Jackson. His life brought an incredible fire to mine. If it weren’t for him I wouldn’t have had the desire or motivation to really pursue my own business and teach myself all of the necessary skills, or continue to pursue growth and overcoming obstacles like I have over these last three years. Now, both my boys are my daily driving force in my growth.
Within the last year though – my mentor had also been a driving force behind helping me build and develop essential skills, qualities, and knowledge that I need to be successful. I came to her a very different woman than I am now. She has helped me in so many ways and areas in life, it would take forever to write, but I am a HUGE advocate for coaching/finding a mentor because the right one can really change the trajectory of your life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shinecandleco.com
- Instagram: @theworldofjessi ; @shinecandlecompany
- Facebook: @shineluxurycandlecompany ; @jessishinemethod
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-o-donnell-5b90aa15a?trk=contact-info
Image Credits
@chanellewhitacre
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
