We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jocelyn Newman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jocelyn, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Overcoming imposter syndrome is an ongoing journey for me. Feelings still creep in that I’m not qualified to run my business, or that my business isn’t legitimate. And to some extent, there’s a nugget of truth in these feelings: I am indeed building my qualifications and growing my company’s legitimacy! But at the same time, I aim to combat these feelings by writing them down and then re-writing them as opportunities. It’s not that I’m unqualified; it’s that I’m piloting a new strategy. It’s not that I lack industry expertise; it’s that I’m continuously learning and applying a fresh perspective.
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?
I’m the founder of First Peak (www.firstpeak.co; @firstpeakbaby), a line of sustainable adventurewear for babies and toddlers (up to 4 years old). All our clothes are manufactured in the Bay Area, using eco-friendly fabrics that are specially designed to resist stains, odors, and moisture. The company was inspired by own experiences getting outside with my young kids: I was tired of soggy, smelly cotton that would stretch out and stain after just one wear. I rejected the idea that baby clothes just get “destroyed and thrown away,” rather than being built durably. We’re proud to be one of babylist’s best clothing brands, where we’re celebrated as being the best clothes for adventure. Recently, we launched a line of stretchy joggers and overalls that are perfect for getting out in the world with babies and toddlers.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think my curiosity, organization, and boldness were most critical in my journey.
I think one of my greatest strengths is my ability to learn and ask questions, and I’m able to set aside ego when I’m new to a concept. So much of my entrepreneurial journey has required me to learn a brand new industry, so remaining curious helped me to keep asking questions, requesting introductions, and building my competence.
Organization was also key. I launched my business as a new mom, while also working a full-time job. Practicing strategies to manage my time and keep all my to-dos in order was so important to my ability to make continued progress. I’m constantly piloting different tools and testing out pen-and-paper strategies to manage my work, and evolving my processes to be most reliable and efficient.
And finally, I believe my boldness was hugely impactful. For many of us, the scariest part of starting a business is just that: starting. Being willing to take the leap and put myself out there was hugely critical. I often encourage those early in their journey to start to build that boldness by simply talking about their idea to anyone who will listen — it can feel daunting, but it’s a great way to build up your bold energy.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
My top challenge right now is growing my audience in a way that feels sustainable and organic. I have a small, bootstrapped business, and pumping all my invested dollars toward ads doesn’t feel like the right path to me. With that, I’m continuously seeking new paths to engage with more families, whether that be through interviews like this one, community events, wholesale, or others. I’m not sure this is an issue that will ever feel “resolved,” but it is one that I’m excited to keep chipping away at.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.firstpeak.co
- Instagram: @firstpeakbaby
