We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jasmine Bonilla. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jasmine below.
Jasmine, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
My confidence and self-esteem developed in my later years. Confidence and self-esteem were not second nature to me growing up as an adolescent. It wasn’t until I started taking community college classes that I found self-confidence. Growing up in the 90s, you were with the in-crowd or weren’t. There was no gray space. My high school teachers often called on students to read randomly or do math questions on the board. Being called on was the most nerve-racking thing for me. As my high school years went on, I fell further behind. I had to leave my senior year to finish at an adult school because I didn’t have enough credits. My main reason for cutting school wasn’t to hang out and be a rebel; it was to avoid having to read in front of my peers or being put on the spot to do math questions in front of them. I got my high school diploma anyway and dove into college classes. English class at San Francisco City College is where the switch happened. As I looked around the classroom, I noticed people of different ages and backgrounds. There was no “in-crowd,” just students. I remember thinking, “Nobody knows me in this class!” That is when I decided to switch gears and stay ahead of myself by raising my hand as fast as possible to answer and ask questions, not being afraid, and not caring what others thought. I found my inner scholar that day. I knew she was in there. She just needed the right platform to surface.
From that day forward, I took every opportunity to throw myself into uncomfortable situations to be comfortable (public speaking, being on live TV, taking on large projects, and advocating for others). I instill that motivation in my children. One of the things that I tell my kids is that mistakes are not harmful, but just a stepping stone to the next level you need to get to, and fear is the fuel to help launch you into places you never thought you could go.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Jasmine Bonilla from Sacramento, California. I am a mother of four beautiful children and a wife to an incredibly supportive husband. I own and am the founder of Jazz’s Saucy Sauce, an all-purpose condiment (Vegan, gluten-free, keto-friendly). I started this business at the beginning of COVID-19 in 2020. The most exciting and unique thing about having this business is watching my kids weave themselves in it. My 15-year-old now runs my Saturday farmers markets; my two little ones help pass out samples to market-goers, and, of course, the baby stays cuddled in mom‘s arms, looking cute.
We currently offer three flavors and 8-ounce sizes. Original, which has a very mild spice (Cayenne) that’s perfect on salads as a salad dressing, potatoes, eggs, and sandwiches; Sultry Smoke (Hickory Smoked Salt, Smoked Paprika, and Chipotle) has no spice to it but a bold smoky flavor, which is terrific for mac & cheese, tomato bisque, pizza, marinade for shrimp, and even brisket. Our best-seller, Spicy (Habanero), is perfect as a spicy pasta sauce, a substitute for mayonnaise for deviled eggs, and the list continues. Once you try it, you will know what to put it on.
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?
One of the highly impactful things in my business journey was joining the Alchemist Kitchen food business incubator. It’s a program that helps small food entrepreneurs navigate the confusing world of certifications, licenses, and rules and regulations in the food industry. Alchemist also has many resources that can help with how you can finance your business, product development, and more. Another skill that is very helpful for me is to be OK when you are told no. There will be a bunch of no’s, and with a blink of an eye, you will get the most significant yes you’ve been waiting for. Last but not least, one of the most prominent qualities is the drive to keep moving forward. Starting a small business is not for the faint of heart. Being an entrepreneur means taking risks before seeing the rewards.
The advice I would give to folks earlier in the journey is this:
“Take risks: if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise.” – Swami Vivekananda
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, one of the things I do is take a second to breathe—concentrating on breathing evenly. I journal about my day, good or bad; I have conversations with my twin brother, Jason. We talk about everything, and we talk about nothing, but that seems to help clear my mind and get me ready for the next task. I also keep a planner so that I keep my week organized. Last, I close my eyes, stretch my breathing, collect my thoughts, and pray. Praying helps me take a look at my stressful day and see it as a blessing.
Contact Info:
- Website: JazzsSaucySauce.com
- Instagram: Jazz’s Saucy Sauce
- Facebook: Jazz’s Saucy Sauce
- Linkedin: Jasmine Bonilla
