#111 | Entrepreneurial Thinking With Jess Ekstrom

One of my favorite aspects of the Coffee With Kim community is the diversity of industries, talents, and roles. The common denominator is our commitment to never stop leveling up. This episode’s guest, Jess Ekstrom, is teaching us how to do just that by adopting an entrepreneurial mindset. 

Most know her as the founder of Headbands for Hope, but Jess has started many other businesses and is also the author of Chasing the Bright Side and Create Your Bright Ideas. In our convo, she laid out the do’s and don’ts of being more entrepreneurial whether you’re in a traditional job, have a side hustle, or are a business owner. If you love this conversation, check out more entrepreneur tips here.

Inspiration from frustration

In ‘Create Your Bright Ideas’, Jess shows kids that if they want something to be different in the world, they can do something about it today! It was interesting to hear her say she shares the same lessons with kids as she does with other adults. Of all the lessons Jess teaches, the one she repeats most often is that the best inspiration comes from frustration. 

“Jeff Hoffman created the airport kiosk because he was frustrated about having to wait in the checked luggage line when all he needed was a boarding pass. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to create the next Spotify or AirBNB but instead we should pay attention to the moments you’re frustrated about something and think of how you can make it better.”

Attention or Success?

Junior Achievement did a study this year that noted 60% of teens want to start their own business instead of work a regular 9-5. What’s unclear in this creator economy is if they want attention or success. Jess even admits to asking herself the same question. We agreed that the two are not co-dependent.

“You can be successful when no one is looking and you can have attention without success. It’s easy to go live, post, or record but what are you pointing it toward? Having clarity on where your talents can serve a need to create impact is important. That’s what my books help with.”

Fall In Love With The Process

Speaking of success, we know it looks and feels different to everyone. Whatever your goal, whether a certain amount of followers, speaking on a TedX stage, or making x amount of dollars, Jess reiterated what we’ve heard before, the journey is more important than the achievement. She explained we actually have hits of dopamine when we’re close to the finish line not when we’ve reached it. 

“It’s tough to keep thinking that the next achievement will bring happiness because when those things happen you just keep moving the goalpost. If we can learn to love the process, then maybe we can enjoy the time spent before the result and avoid feeling empty after “it” happens.”

Want To Skip Around?

9:33 Inspiration from frustration
13:27 Smile File
17:37 Attention or Success?
19:16 What is the end goal?
21:13 Fear of encouraging entrepreneurism
36:40 The Purpose Test
40:29 Anxious ambition vs Inspired ambition

Links Mentioned

Jess’s book: https://jessekstrom.com/create-your-bright-ideas/

Jess’s website: https://jessekstrom.com/

If You Enjoyed Today’s Episode:

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