The Jasmine Star Show

“Oprah loves your cupcakes.”Imagine hearing THAT on the other end of the line…Candace Nelson, one of the incredible guests that Amy Porterfield curated as a guest for our co-hosting series, received this exact call from Oprah’s producer at Harpo Studios.Shortly after that call, Sprinkles became a worldwide brand with only one little (and new) location in Beverly Hills.But, she’s done many more iconic things—beyond the baked goods—Candace is a business mentor for women and a New York Times Best Selling author. She’s even been a Shark on Shark Tank and a judge on Cupcake Wars and Sugar Rush.In this episode, you’ll learn the most successful pitches on Shark Tank, tips on building your personal brand, and advice for pivoting.Click play to learn all of this and…(00:01:46) An overview of Candace's entrepreneurial journey (from founding Sprinkles Cupcake ATM to being a guest shark on Shark Tank).(00:03:17) Candace's experience of feeling unmoored after selling the majority stake in Sprinkles and her desire to pivot her personal brand and talk about entrepreneurship.(00:04:28) Discussion of Candace's experience of being featured on the Oprah show and the impact it had on her brand's success.(00:06:55) Candace's advice when feeling the need to pivot in business.(00:10:11) Candace's experience as a guest shark on Shark Tank (including how she got the opportunity and her interactions with the other sharks).(00:16:07) The importance of being assertive in business (example of this through a Shark Tank experience).(00:18:20) The two common traits of the most successful pitches on Shark Tank.(00:20:59) What makes the best entrepreneurs (in the context of investing and partnerships).(00:29:22) The key to staying relevant and ahead in business.(00:34:07) The importance of building a supportive community (especially for women entrepreneurs).(00:36:01) A conversation women need to have more of.For full show notes, visithttps://jasminestar.com/podcast/episode443You know that feeling when you find a platform that just works—and you never have to worry about switching? That’s been me and Showit for the past 10+ years.I built my website with Showit because it gives me total design freedom.If you’re ready to build a website that works FOR you—and not against you—head to JasmineStar.com/showit for a 14-day free trial + first month free when you subscribe!

Have you ever heard a presentation (or speech) that made you feel like you were listening to your favorite throwback—simply because your head was continuously nodding in agreement?If so, I’m gonna guess you felt yourself immersed in the stories the speaker was telling. And guess what? That wasn’t by accident.In this short-n-sweet episode, I’m going to teach you how to do exactly THAT. Get ready to learn the secrets behind crafting a speech that captivates, resonates, and leaves your audience nodding along every step of the way.Click play to hear all of this and…(00:00:50) How to grab your audience's attention from the very beginning.(00:05:20) My advice on organizing the “main content” of your speech or presentation.(00:07:15) The best way to insert facts, statistics, and personal stories (to build credibility and strengthen your main points.)(00:09:18) The importance of smooth transitions (and how to apply them!) to guide listeners from one subject to another and help them digest the information.(00:10:14) My favorite engagement techniques to connect with the audience.For full show notes, visitjasminestar.com/podcast/episode442

Have you ever wondered what made Starbucks such a cultural phenomenon?Hot take: it’s not the coffee.It actually has more to do with their atmosphere… why, you ask?Well, their comfy chairs, spacious layouts, and free Wi-Fi create a warm and inviting ambiance – a "third place” to be exact (what their customers TRULY wanted)…A place to go beyond work and home to relax, socialize, or catch up on emails outside of their typical locations. By tapping into this "why" behind customer behavior, Starbucks became, well… STARBUCKS.Ready to learn how you can tap into the “why” behind your customers’ behaviors so you can build a massively successful business? I knew I liked you.In this episode, you’ll hear frameworks for understanding customer behavior, my top three ways to gather feedback and action steps for optimizing each stage of the customer journey.Click play to hear all of this and…(00:00:00) The importance of understanding customer behavior and making decisions to benefit them.(00:02:05) The basics of customer behavior.(00:05:48) The “Fogg Framework” and how you can use it to serve your customers and clients well.(00:11:52) How you can use data and gather feedback to understand customer behavior.(00:16:27) How you can combine data with feedback to make the BEST business decisions.(00:19:23) The action steps I’m giving you after listening to this episode.For full show notes, visitjasminestar.com/podcast/episode441 After you listen, you may also enjoy this episode, How to Create an UNFORGETTABLE Customer Experience, >>HERE<<.

“Do you come from an immigrant family?”When my English Professor asked me this while critiquing my first college paper… I was shook.I’ve thought about this for years, decades, in fact. But in retrospect, it was a hidden blessing. It led me to discover passions I might have otherwise overlooked. (Ahem, like business!) Most importantly, it led me here, recording this episode for you.So, let me ask you. Have you ever caught yourself overthinking situations in your business?Inspired by wisdom from Jay Shetty, I've created a five-step framework that turns overthinking into an actionable plan that solves problems.Click play to hear all of this and...(00:01:07) My experience receiving criticism from a college professor and its impact on my confidence.(00:02:59) Why I scratched my first Commencement Speech idea and wrote a different concept.(00:05:38) The concept of overthinking and its impact on decision-making in business.(00:06:32) My Five-step Framework to Combat Overthinking.(00:11:00) My actual Commencement Speech and why this was so near and dear to my heart.For full show notes visit, https://jasminestar.com/podcast/episode440

Can you imagine being named the BEST in the globe at what you do?Well, That's exactly what happened to Will Guidara, the former co-owner of 11 Madison Park, and Amy Porterfield, my resident cohost, and I had the pleasure and honor to interview him. When I tell you he did NOT disappoint, y’all, Will graciously shared his philosophy of "unreasonable hospitality" and how it propelled the restaurant to be named the best in the world with us.Now you might be thinking, “Jasmine, sounds great but I don’t own a restaurant.”Trust me when I say that you, me, Amy, and literally any other business owner you can think of are in the business of HOSPITALITY.In this episode, you’ll learn the concept of "unreasonable hospitality" and its application in business, how to create a stellar customer experience, and what it takes to be number one in your industry.Click play to hear all of this and…(00:01:02) The difference between service and hospitality.(00:02:09) Will’s story about reaching the title of “the best restaurant in the world”.(00:08:22) Will’s tips and insights on leadership.(00:18:50) The importance of giving the benefit of the doubt and understanding the cost of leadership.(00:24:32) A story Will told about serving a hot dog at a fancy restaurant and how it led to a breakthrough in hospitality.(00:31:13) How to overcome resistance in leadership and the importance of understanding team capacity and priorities.(00:35:24) The sacrifices Will made in pursuit of excellence and the need for balance in work and life.(00:36:30) The concept of “unreasonable hospitality” and its impact on business leadership and customer experience.(00:37:34) How to create a culture of normalized feedback in a business and its importance in fostering growth and improvement.(00:38:38) The idea of making every experience into a personalized and memorable interaction.(00:41:38) “The Rule of 95 Five” and how you can apply it in your business(00:43:12) The impact of investing in unreasonable hospitality.(00:46:05) Strategies for small businesses to implement and scale unreasonable hospitality in their digital offerings.(00:50:28) Your homework assignment after listening to this episode.For full show notes, visit https://jasminestar.com/podcast/episode439Get a copy of Unreasonable Hospitality >>HERE<<.You know that feeling when you find a platform that just works—and you never have to worry about switching? That’s been me and Showit for the past 10+ years.I built my website with Showit because it gives me total design freedom.If you’re ready to build a website that works FOR you—and not against you—head to JasmineStar.com/showit for a 14-day free trial + first month free when you subscribe!

You know who knew a thing or two about defying norms?Coco Chanel.In the 20th century in France, women wore corsets and frilly dresses (basically only clothes that were appealing to men.)So, what’d she do? She started designing clothes that were simple, sleek, and stylish with clean lines and timeless elegance.And let me tell you, the whole world took notice but she didn’t stop there…She went on to break even more rules. She chopped off her hair into a short bob, which was unheard of at the time. She rocked menswear-inspired outfits, and she even dared to use jersey fabric in women's fashion. Y’all, Chanel was a gangster.In fact, Chanel famously said, 'In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.'So, how can you break (or bend) the rules and stand out in your business? Got you covered.In this episode, you’ll learn my framework for embracing a rule-breaker mindset, how to assess the risks and rewards when breaking a business rule, and how to address common fears and hesitations.Click play to hear all of this and…(00:00:00) My upbringing in a conservative home with strict rules (and how I challenged all of the ones that didn’t make sense to me.)(00:02:53) My healthy rule-breaking framework and why I believe it’s important in business.(00:08:26) How Coco Chanel broke fashion rules and revolutionized the industry.(00:10:30) The Rule Breaker Mindset and four steps to take to achieve it.(00:21:19) How to persevere in the face of challenges when rule-breaking.(00:22:20) How to identify the right rules to break.(00:29:53) Two strategies to inject innovation into your business.For full show notes, visitjasminestar.com/podcast/episode438You know that feeling when you find a platform that just works—and you never have to worry about switching? That’s been me and Showit for the past 10+ years.I built my website with Showit because it gives me total design freedom.If you’re ready to build a website that works FOR you—and not against you—head to JasmineStar.com/showit for a 14-day free trial + first month free when you subscribe!

You’ve heard me talking about “getting in the room”, right?Well, I gave some advice to a friend recently when she shared her challenge of finding a room that was the right fit for her. And I wanna share it with YOU, too……“Pick a room, any room… Will it be the best room? Will it be the right room? Most likely not, but it's a muscle you build.”I get it. Trust me, I do.It seems counterproductive joining a room without being sure it isn’t a fit. But what if you got so good at making the wrong room the right room? Can you imagine how great you’d be at maximizing when you DID get in the right room?In this episode you’ll learn how much of your revenue you should be investing in educational resources, the mindset to have around making investments, and what to do when an investment doesn’t seem to be paying off.Click play to hear all of this and…(00:01:10) The decision-making process behind my $50,000 investment in Gary Vaynerchuk’s program.(00:04:39) A message from my friend and peer, Brandon Kidd, on reinvesting in education and personal development.(00:06:52) My personal experience of investing in education and coaching and what I always consider before saying yes.(00:16:49) How you can make the absolute most of your investments.(00:21:10) The value of seeking discomfort to grow and challenge limiting beliefs.For full show notes, visit jasminestar.com/podcast/episode437Resources mentioned in this episode:Wealth Building Strategies: How to Budget, Invest, and Raise Your Prices with Brandon Kidd (The Jasmine Star Show)Five Mindset Shifts For Business Growth (The Jasmine Star Show)Letting Your Marketing Work For You with Billy Gene (The Jasmine Star Show)

Fawn Weaver, CEO of Uncle Nearest Whiskey, shares insights on competing with big players, embracing purpose, and building generational wealth. She discusses pioneering her role in the whiskey industry as a Black woman, the importance of brand ownership, and the historical significance of African Americans in whiskey making. Fawn's journey from homelessness to CEO, advice for marginalized communities, and strategic fundraising tips are also highlighted in this engaging conversation.

My mentor, Susan Sierota, introduced me to a concept that took me a hot minute to grasp….But once it clicked, I knew I had to share it with y’all. She said, “Being a CEO requires thriving in the ambiguity of paradoxes and opposites.”If you’re wondering what the heck that means, you’re not alone. You’ll learn everything you need to know in this episode.**But one thing this mindset shift taught me is that the path to true profitability is about aligning with our purpose, not just the revenue. It's about making choices that resonate with our core, even if they seem counterintuitive at first glance. (Phew…how’s that for a cliffhanger?)Click play to hear all of this and…(00:01:02) The topic of this podcast and its importance for entrepreneurs in making well-rounded decisions.(00:02:03) Examples of paradoxical pairs in business and how they can coexist.(00:04:12) The benefits of embracing paradoxes and how I was introduced to this concept.(00:12:21) An example of a company that’s thriving in the ambiguity of opposites and paradoxes.(00:17:40) Two strategies (with practical examples) that’ll help you think BIGGER and embrace paradoxes.For full show notes, visit: jasminestar.com/podcast/episode435You know that feeling when you find a platform that just works—and you never have to worry about switching? That’s been me and Showit for the past 10+ years.I built my website with Showit because it gives me total design freedom.If you’re ready to build a website that works FOR you—and not against you—head to JasmineStar.com/showit for a 14-day free trial + first month free when you subscribe!

Maybe you’ve asked yourself this question……“What is THIS all for?”It's a question that digs at the heart of purpose, pushing you to consider the true meaning behind the endless amount of work.And to this day, I wonder if my grandmother asked herself this question. She moved to East LA to work in a sweatshop, taking three buses to work after dropping off her three kids at school, one with special needs—getting home with just enough time to put dinner on the table and send the kids to bed.Maybe she knew that one day her hard and treacherous work would pave the way for her granddaughter to not only go to college but to come back to deliver a commencement speech.In this (very short) episode, you’ll learn the four qualities that’ll take you SO far in life and business.Click play to hear all of this and…(00:00:00) My personal (and emotional) experiences at Whittier College.(00:02:35) The four qualities that’ll take you far in life and business.(00:06:50) My words to YOU when finding your purpose and making a positive impact on future generations.(00:07:46) The sacrifices my grandmother made for me to live the life I do today.For full show notes, visit https://jasminestar.com/podcast/episode434