Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jorie Bandauski. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jorie, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
My optimism has always been a significant part of who I am and something that my parents nurtured within me from a very young age. Mom and Dad taught me that how I choose to see the world shapes how I will experience it. Thus, I have learned that whether I choose to consider a given set of circumstance to be a setback or a setup, a closed door or a redirection, a simple shift in my perspective to identify and then focus on the opportunity presented before me can make all the difference in the world in regards to the final outcome. As both a designer and a founder, frequent challenges are invariably part of the process of building a business, but I have found that maintaining a positive, open-minded outlook allows me to navigate through or around such speed bumps (or even full on road blocks!) with more flow, creativity and grace.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am the Co-Founder and Creative Partner (Head Jewelry Designer ) at Jorie Breonn, a brand rooted in the belief that jewelry should not only be aesthetically beautiful, but also be deeply meaningful. Each piece that we create carries a deeper story — some designs may be inspired by mythology while others might focus on personal growth or the quiet strength found in transition. Our jewelry is minimal, refined and symbolic, meant to be worn every day as a reflection of who one is and what he or she is endeavoring to become.
What excites me most about the art that we create at Jorie Breonn is the significant emotional connection that people often have with our pieces as evidenced by the very personal stories that they so generously share. Whether one is choosing a necklace to wear when walking down the aisle, a bracelet to honor a beloved pet, a ring to wear as a token of good luck when sitting for finals or a pair of mixed rune stud earrings as protection to have with them through a cancer journey, I am deeply moved every time someone reaches out to tell their story. It truly is an incredible honor to know that something that I created is present during such meaningful moments in other people’s lives. There are countless other incredibly lovely options out there, so when someone chooses a Jorie Breonn design, I feel an overwhelming sense of fulfillment and, for that, I am truly grateful and ever-appreciative… and quite often, moved to the point of tears.
Such profound (and very real) emotional connection with others — typically complete strangers — is why I do what I do. Jewelry holds memory, energy and intention. It has the power to speak when words fall short. My greatest hope is that every Jorie Breonn piece helps someone to feel seen, supported and empowered. That is, and always will be, the heart of our brand.
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?
Upon reflection, the three qualities that have been (and continue to be!) most impactful throughout my journey are : resilience, intuition and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Resilience, for me, is essential. Moments of doubt, delay and/or disappointment are regular occurrences when building a business (or anything for that matter!) from the ground up. Learning to power through, to keep moving forward regardless of how daunting the obstacle(s) in front of me may seem — particularly when ‘things’ do not unfold how I envisioned that they would — is imperative and is undoubtedly the most impactful practice in my process.
To someone early on in their journey, I would offer the advice that setbacks are most definitely not signs to throw in the towel. On the contrary, I have found that an unforeseen complication can actually be a saving grace, an opportunity to pivot or an invitation to grow. I always come back to something that renowned spiritual leader and best-selling self-help author Gabrielle Bernstein often says : “The universe only ever has three answers — yes, not right now, or I have something better in store for you.” That perspective has helped me remain both open-minded and grounded when real-life timing does not align with my intended plan.
Intuition is a second integral component of my personal ‘toolkit’ and has guided (and continues to guide!) every creative and business decision that I have made along the way. I have learned to trust my gut whenever ‘things’ feel aligned, even if a specific set of inputs meant to produce a desired output does not make sense ‘on paper’.
Most times that I have ignored my intuition because the numbers or logic underlying a significant creative decision indicated that I should, it has came back to haunt me. Similarly, I have also learned not to do something simply because everyone else is doing it. My advice to newly minted entrepreneurs, creatives or anyone just ‘doing their thing’ in life would be that if a method, a trend or even a time-tested ‘standard of practice’ does not align with who one is as an individual, it will likely never be sustainable or feel genuine. One’s intuition is their own personal inner compass; I contend that we all stay as connected to our own individual compass as possible and let it lead the way.
Finally, an unwavering commitment to lifelong learning has shaped my journey as both a founder and a designer. I am insatiably curious. I unapologetically ask endless questions without hesitation or fear that others might consider my inquiries trivial or irrelevant. I also actively observe — everything, everywhere all at once — and I always remain open-minded and welcome any and all opportunities to evolve. Whether learning through books, conversations or ‘good old fashioned’ trial and error, I have found that embracing a teachable spirit within has the potential to carry an individual quite far.
For anyone just starting out, my suggestion would be to remain gentle with oneself. Anything worth doing in life takes time. I always endeavor to focus on the next right step rather than the entire staircase. Staying true to my vision, trusting my gut and not being afraid to learn as I go is the ‘recipe’ that works for me and might just help others to achieve their goals and realize their dreams as well!
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Countless books have materially influenced me over the years. A couple of my personal favorites include The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and Atomic Habits by James Clear, but the work that has most meaningfully changed my life is Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins. Tony’s teachings have helped me to better understand how exactly my experiences are shaped by my mindset, the words that I speak and the meaning that I attach to things.
Awaken has considerably shifted my perspective in life — on all things! What I appreciate most about Tony’s book is that it feels like an open invitation to better understand oneself. For me, always striving to have a more complete understanding of who I actually am as a person is one of the most important life concepts that I have ever been taught. Through Tony’s teachings I have learned how to build a real, deeply personal and truly worthwhile relationship with myself! With a better, more intimate understanding of how I am naturally inclined to operate, how I instinctively respond to challenges, what truly motivates me and what patterns hold me back, I am able to navigate life with more clarity, confidence and tranquility.
Another impactful takeaway from Awaken the Giant Within for me was beginning to understand that I have the power to interrupt patterns that do not serve me well and replace them with ones that do. Tony discusses, at length, the power of decisions. In a single moment, with deep clarity, one can decide to change their own life. His explanation of the decision making process really resonated with me and definitely ‘stuck’; as such, I reread his words on the topic often, and apply them across all endeavors in my life — both business and personal. Whenever I feel stuck or uncertain, I remind myself that am potentially just one well reasoned and aligned decision away from taking a new direction and/or a more favorable path forward.
Lastly, I will share my favorite pearl of wisdom from Awaken : Tony reminds his readers that “life is happening for us, not to us.” His relatively simple reframe has helped me to stay grounded during some rather tumultuous ups and downs over the years by encouraging me to remain focused on personal growth, possibility and purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://joriebreonn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joriebreonn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joriebreonn
- Other: https://joriebreonn.etsy.com
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