Real Life Struggles with Jennifer Sanger

On part two of this episode of Real Life Struggles, the tables are turned and I’m being interviewed! My two close friends and fellow entrepreneurs Beka & Sarah join me while we recap my roller coaster experience on The Drew Barrymore Show (watch your back, Harrison!), my life, updates about Jamison & Bexley, and the top three things I don’t like about being a business owner. Thank you for listening, and check out the links to my Drew Barrymore appearance and Drew’s Little Book of Small Businesses where my new best friend Drew features my business. 

On this episode of Real Life Struggles, the tables are turned and I’m being interviewed! My two close friends and fellow entrepreneurs Beka & Sarah join me while we recap my roller coaster experience on The Drew Barrymore Show (watch your back, Harrison!), my life, updates about Jamison & Bexley, and the top three things I don’t like about being a business owner. Thank you for listening, and check out the links to my Drew Barrymore appearance and Drew’s Little Book of Small Businesses where my new best friend Drew features my business. 

I was asked back in August to give a talk to a powerful group of women who are part of a local group call Girl Talk Society.  The topic of that months meet up was "Getting shit off your plate" and I spoke on how to simplify your day to day tasks. 

I wrote a whole speech on it and like nature, I went off script and spoke from my drunken heart. 

The script I wrote can be found as a blog on my website but you can listen  to the whole talk here.  

How do you simplify your day to day tasks so you can be as productive as possible?     

We’re baaaaaaack!

I missed you all so much, but after running around like crazy the past year, I’m back to give you more of my thoughts, share some of the events I’ve been a part of, and bring on more of my famous friends for interviews. 

In Season two of Everyday Struggles, I recap all the happenings from my life (The babies are back in school, THANK GOD!), talk updates from my business, Jamison and Bexley, and talk about some of the microaggressions that I’ve encountered over the past year as the spotlight on black-owned business increased. 

Check out my blog right here for a taste into my real life, mom life and be sure to always check out Jamison & Bexley where you can get adventurous clothes for your adventurous kids!

That is a wrap on season 1.  I want to thank all my guests for joining me.  I want to thank my new listeners for listening to my ADHD mind.  If you feel inclined to support this podcast, you can definitely slide into my PayPal. No donation is too small!  

This episode is a brain dump of everything and anything on my mind at the time of recording this podcast.  If you have any ideas or suggestions on topics you would like for me to cover in season 2, please email me at [email protected] or you can slide into my DM over on Instagram at Reallifestrugglespodcast.  

Check out this webpage I mentioned in the episode: 
https://soulsalt.com/how-to-be-your-authentic-self/

Also check out my online boutique: www.jamisonandbexley.com

I recently did an interview with the CEO of Ivory Paper Co.  What I wasn't expecting was the messages I received after that episode aired.  

I believe there are 3 sides to every story: Side A, Side B & the truth.  We already talked to side A, now its time to hear side B....from the consumer standpoint.  

I encourage everyone to listen to this episode with an open mind and to not assume all businesses act as this business has. This is a big learning experience for everyone and I'm honored that Sarah took the time to speak with me to speak her truth with her "struggle" of wanting to support a small business and feeling ignored and having to fend for herself to come to any resolution.  

You can find Sarah on TikTok at Silverfoxstarlet and Grammamillenial 

It's always fun chatting with a fellow mompreneur.  This episode I sit down with my good friend Tamara Sykes! 

Tamara Sykes is a Caribbean-born mom, wife, and entrepreneur dedicated to helping women create a business and life that they love. Using her digital know-how, she teaches Search Engine Optimization to brand owners so they can increase their website traffic without social media burnout. And from time to time, she shares snippets of her real life to encourage others to create their version of happiness in everyday life.

https://www.baydiangirl.com/

Alitzah Stinson is the founder & CEO of Ivory Paper Co, a Columbus Ohio based planner company.  She has been in business since 2018 and has been flourishing every season with fun and new prints and styles of her planner.  In 2020 she saw her order volume almost triple!  With new orders and multiple mentions in nationally syndicated publications, she faced a lot of backlash with how some of the orders were not fulfilled in the timely manner the customers expected. 

Listen to or conversation on how we talk everything from starting a business, raising little girls and how to deal with all the stress that comes from everything.

Follow her business on IG: @ivorypaperco
Follow her business on FB: Ivory Paper Co
Check out her website: https://www.ivorypaperco.com/

 Have you ever thought about owning your business but do not know where to go?  Thought about leaving corporate America behind and work for yourself but you are scared you have no idea what you doing?  Then you are me from 4 years ago.  

Four years ago, I was pregnant with my son and worked at an insurance agency.  I was a (what I like to say) part time designer and just was not getting as much fulfillment from doing fashion shows.  Do not get me wrong, I loved putting on shows.  I loved the design process.  I loved the stress I always put on myself to complete my collection just in time before the curtain raises.  I loved all of that and more, but I had to be honest.  My fashion was not paying any bills.  It was just a hobby I did once a year and would get a high for 1 week then it would always fizzle out until the next show.  And also, my life was shifting.  I was pregnant with my second kid and my priorities were changing.  How could I still do what I love [fashion] but also make it family friendly??

This was when I had the GREAT idea of starting my own business.  That is right.  Jamison & Bexley was born before Jamison was even born.  I knew what his name was before we had him, but we did not announce it until the day he entered the world.  I wanted to start a children’s clothing company because I was a mother.  I was my ideal target market.  I wanted to find clothes that were different than what you would find at the children’s place or baby gap.  

So that is it, the end, right? WRONG.  I was so wrong.  I thought “wow, I’ll start a business, and everything will just fall into place.  I’ll get all the orders, make lots of money and quit my job!” That is not how it worked out…at all.  Boy was the ride bumpy and every day I am learning something new.  This September will be 4 years that I have had my company and only in the last year did I focus on it as a fulltime job.  

I left my corporate job right when the pandemic hit to focus on my mental health and when the governor shut down all of Ohio, I used that time to do some continuing education on how to turn my “side hustle” into a full-time job.  Tears were shed, lessons learned and lots of trial and error but in 2020 I had the best year ever beating 3 of my sales goals and I am on trend to double my sales from last year. 

There are things that I wish I knew then that I want to share with all of you.  Tips and tricks on how to run your business while maintaining your household.  You can join my new Facebook group called #Mompreneurs Round Table where I will be sharing some tips and tricks on how to start, build and scale your business! 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/mompreneursroundtable

Raising children is hard...raising mixed race children in a society that may never fully accept them is even harder.  This is something myself and so many others suffer with.  Will my children be accepted from all the races they are mixed with?  How do I show them they are loved when they don't see anyone else that looks like them?  How do I explain that not everyone is going to like them based on the color of their skin? 

The main thing that I am dealing with as a mother is how can I raise confident children when I, myself tease them about their biracial identity. 

The first step is recognizing the fault you are creating and making an conscience effort to change your thought process. 

And to always remember, that even though your children are mixed...they are mixed with love!