Meet Nicole Juntura

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole Juntura. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.

Nicole, 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.

I’m not sure I’ll ever really overcome imposter syndrome, but I’ve come to terms with it. I’ve witnessed many forms of creativity up close and seen countless examples of people who were “in charge” and “supposed to know what they’re doing” but really had no clue like the rest of us and persisted anyway. Social media doesn’t tend to show the sweaty side of things and we all put filters on the reality of what we’re doing or how it makes us feel. I remember what actually pushed me to really get the business going was a friend of mine who said I was already doing it, meaning that all of my efforts were already legitimizing my ability to start this business and that I had in fact already started it. The other side of imposter syndrome is feeling as if you are deserving enough, whether that is of success or recognition, or even just to be in the mix. I think you really have to find this odd balance between being cocky to the point of telling yourself–and other people–you’re good enough and also this crazy humility of knowing you never will be.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m Nicole and after the pandemic and motherhood hit simultaneously, I decided to quit my decade-long career in health care administration and decided to finally start some type of creative business since that’s always been what I’ve wanted to do. Eventually landing on a literary-themed craft pretzel food truck/wholesale business (as one does), I immediately realized I needed help and roped my husband in because there was no way I could do any of it alone (as previously thought) and now we co-own and operate the business. We have two kids under the age of five and this is our second season in the truck. Continuing with the literary theme, because English Major, we are simultaneously in the process of starting a hobbitcore/LOTR-themed cafe here in Maine.

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?

Osmosis is the first one, I wouldn’t be familiar with food or foodie life if I didn’t start obsessively flipping through food magazines right after high school (and actually probably earlier). Then I would say courage–it takes a lot to attempt a recipe (time, money, effort) and it can be super disappointing when it doesn’t look or taste right. Lastly, persistence: in order to perfect something, whether it is cooking, baking or just your craft, you have to keep trying and approach it scientifically if you truly want to master a recipe or whatever it is you’re aiming for. Practice is key.

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?

I couldn’t do any of this without my partner Chris. He’s the best. We have very complimentary knowledge bases that work well together and he is great at the things I’m lacking and vice versa. He offered to help and take the lead on most things because neither of us anticipated the difficulties of child-rearing when you are also trying to start a “complicated” food business in today’s economy. None of this would be possible without his help and sacrifice!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.plottwistpretzels.com
• Instagram: @plottwistpretzels
• Facebook: Plot Twist Pretzels

Image Credits

I took all of this with the exception of the one of the trailer, which is by @madelineharrisphotography (instagram)