Episode 2: Creating Glow and Community with Jessica Koessler, the Founder of Bronze Bar In this episode of Worthy to Create, Bridjet sits down with Jessica, the inspiring founder of Bronze Bar, to uncover what it truly means to follow your gut and create something extraordinary. Jessica shares her journey of leaving corporate life, ending a relationship that no longer served her, and stepping boldly into her next level as a business owner and visionary. From activating all five senses in her brand experience, to discovering her self-worth, building financial freedom, and cultivating a vibrant community through the Bronze Bar ecosystem—Jessica’s story is one of courage, creativity, and transformation. If you’ve ever felt the pull to create something bigger, to listen to your intuition, or to surround yourself with a community that celebrates your glow—this conversation will light you up. Get to know Jessica now.
Episode 2: Creating Glow and Community with Jessica Koessler, the Founder of Bronze Bar
In this episode of Worthy to Create, Bridjet sits down with Jessica, the inspiring founder of Bronze Bar, to uncover what it truly means to follow your gut and create something extraordinary. Jessica shares her journey of leaving corporate life, ending a relationship that no longer served her, and stepping boldly into her next level as a business owner and visionary.
From activating all five senses in her brand experience, to discovering her self-worth, building financial freedom, and cultivating a vibrant community through the Bronze Bar ecosystem—Jessica’s story is one of courage, creativity, and transformation.
If you’ve ever felt the pull to create something bigger, to listen to your intuition, or to surround yourself with a community that celebrates your glow—this conversation will light you up. Get to know Jessica now.
More From Jessica:
Follow Jessica on Instagram @thebronzebarmi
More From Bridjet
Follow Bridjet on Instagram @BridjetMorris
Join us in person for Worthy x London AN EXCLUSIVE GLOBAL GATHERING FOR WOMEN WHO KNOW THEY’RE MEANT FOR MORE- can't wait to see you there
https://bridjetmorris.com/events/worthy-london/
Episode 2 Creating Blow And Community With Jessica Koessler Founder Of The Bronze Bar - Video
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Bridjet: Ladies and gentlemen, mostly ladies listening. Welcome to the Worthy By Design Podcast. Our guest today is Jessica Kessler, the owner of the Bronze Bar, founder owner, CEO, yay of the bronze bar spray tanning business. And she is literally kicking ass. And I'm so grateful to have you here, to have this conversation, to hear all the things about how you started business, how you grew up, what you're doing, how people can find you.
All the amazing things you're accomplishing. Oh gosh. Welcome. Thank you. Thank you, thank you. I'm so honored to be here. I adore you and thank you for having me. I we're Gemini sisters. Yes, we are. And we share the common love of Midland, Michigan. Oh. If you know, you know. Oh my gosh. Shout up to Northwood.
Northwood, yes. Timberwolves. I love it. Okay, so let's start. I like to start with my guests on like. How you even got, like to this point, how, what was life growing up like for you? Were you always this ambitious, like, you know, [00:01:00] powerful woman who was like gonna go full force in corporate world? Like what was life like as like little Jessica?
Jessica: Oh my gosh, A little Jessica. I would say that I have always been. Ambitious and the kind of gal who wanted to pay her own way, for sure. Um, I have never like done well with authority. I am a middle child, Gemini, redhead. So I'm fiery. I, yeah, I would, I've definitely have always been ambitious. I had a love for beauty, like at a really, really young age.
Like I would tag along with. My mom and my aunt too. Their nail appointments awesome. Their hair appointments, and I would just be in awe of the vibe, the atmosphere, the smells, the vibe, the women, like their outfits, wearing heels. Like I was just enamored. I can so relate to this. Yes. Right. Like I've just always been enamored by beauty and.
I've always been very, very social. Like I was the, you know, kid in school. I was always in trouble for talking too much. I'd have my desk in the corner because I couldn't shut [00:02:00] up. Um, I'm such a yapper. But yeah, I would say I've always loved beauty. I loved business. Like I was the, the kid who was always like starting a new business in the basement.
I love that the lemonades. Dan girl. Amazing. For sure. Yes. Amazing. Um, so you, yeah. You said you had that ambition as like a young girl and obviously you went to college, finish, have your MBA. Yes. At what point did you realize you were gonna like, go into this marketing branding and kind of make that like your, your, you know, career?
Yeah, I would say it's been very organic and so. Like the real story is like I, I mean like way back in high school, I knew I loved beauty. I wanted to actually do hair. And I applied for this program that was, you go to school, you know, high school half the day, and then you go to beauty school and I was denied.
Oh, wow. And when I got the rejection, I literally thought they were lying to me. I was like, wait. You're joking, like, you don't want me, what? And I was denied that. Wait, why did they deny you? They just had a cap of the amount of people they could take. And [00:03:00] so, um, that was like my first round of rejection.
Right. But, um, yeah, so I was denied that program and then I. I got a job at a hair salon and I worked there. You didn't take no for an answer. I did not. No. I worked there from the time I was 16 through undergrad. Wow. And so I, again, always loved beauty and I found that I really loved seeing the transformation of women, like from the time they'd walk in the door to the time they would walk out.
Mm-hmm. They were different. They walked a little taller. They felt confident, they spoke differently. And so I, that was always like ingrained in me. But my dad had always said, no, you hate, you know what? We're not gonna pay for beauty school. You need to go to college. Mm-hmm. So I went to college. I loved marketing.
I truly still, I love marketing. I say like I do marketing and a little bit of spray tanning. Mm-hmm. Um, but you are a marketing like, oh my God, that is your, yeah. Thank you. That really shines through your brand. I thank you. I really, really. Learn to love to understand why people behave the way that they do.
Mm-hmm. Right? Because everyone behaves the way they do for a reason. Mm-hmm. And really getting into people's mindset [00:04:00] and understanding the reason they make decisions is like fascinating to me. And, um, so yeah, I just really, I started actually back in high school. I was in the marketing classes. I was in Deca.
I was, I was a deca girly too. Oh my gosh. Yes. So yes, girl marketing. Yeah. Sales, even sales. Yep. Yeah. And confidence building too. Mm-hmm. You know, putting yourself like in a negotiation or having to come up with business plans, like very valuable. Presenting. Absolutely. What were some of these conversations that you can recall or some of these moments when you were going to the beauty salon and you were taking all this in and even working there yourself, like you said, like the transformation in women.
Bridjet: Yeah. And how they felt more confident. And obviously this podcast is all about worthiness and self-worth, but like what do you remember like seeing those transformations and like the empowerment piece that that women felt through their beauty and getting pampered and receiving? You know, what it was?
Jessica: It's about 50% of like the actual service, right? Like [00:05:00] the service you get makes you feel good, it makes you feel pretty, it makes you feel pampered. Mm-hmm. But then the other 50% is that vulnerable time with another woman? Oh, like truly, I, I get chills even saying that because so much of what I do, I give spray tans and spray tans are.
Temporary confidence temporary con. Like they will you get, as soon as you get over getting undressed in front of someone. Exactly. You have to break through that first level of insecurity you do. The courage it takes to get one is step one, but then when you are in the bronze bar and you are getting a service specifically with me and my team, like we truly, we forget you're naked.
Like we're just sitting there chatting. We're chatting, we wanna get to know you. It's, you know, that's what I experience now. But to your question about back in the day, it's like. Witnessing these women have create these relationships with their stylist or their aesthetician. It was really amazing to see like how close you get.
Within that, you know, our service, because you share, you share, you connect. Mm-hmm. [00:06:00] And that really is like a special bond and a relationship that really, I think, aids in women's confidence, truly like being able to confide in another woman. Mm-hmm. Absolutely. So I think it's two parts. I think it's the service itself.
Taking the time to pamper yourself and to take care of your appearance really is a. Big piece of what makes me feel confident. Mm-hmm. Um, but then the second part is like that authentic connection with another person. Mm-hmm. Absolutely. It's beautiful. What made you decide on spray tanning from being a hairstylist?
Bridjet: 'cause you could have easily said, I'm gonna set up a salon. Like all, there's so many avenues you could have went and like hair, but instead you went like, skin. Skin. Yes. And so spray tanning. I am a natural redhead. Always, I've always been fair skinned. I spent so many years in the tanning bed trying to be tan, right.
Jessica: Because I would see all these examples of tanned women and they were beautiful. They were beautiful. And I felt confident when I had a little tan. Mm-hmm. So, and I was at working at Chrysler at the time, and I got my first spray [00:07:00] tan and I was like, oh my gosh. So you're how old-ish I was. This was back in.
Like 2014. Okay. So young twenties. Okay. And you were like, whoa. Game changer. What just happened? Yes, because tanning beds, by then, we all knew tanning beds are a no-no. Yes. So Spray tan was like, you, you, oh, you If you know, you know, if you know, you know. Yeah. And. Game changer. Instant confidence boost. I felt like a brand new bee.
Bridjet: And how often were you spray tanning when you were, like, when you were getting your spray tan on? I would spray tan very often. Okay. I would spray tan whenever I could. And for special events, honestly, like definitely a lot in the summer because you're showing more skin. Mm-hmm. Um, so I would spray tan every chance that I could get and I fell in love with it.
Jessica: And one specific. Spray tan I got for a trip to Nashville for a bachelorette party in 2015. Okay. And I so vividly remember being outside of one of the bars and thinking, oh my gosh, I could do this. I could do this. [00:08:00] Why not me? What in Nashville dropped in at a girl's, girl's like party weekend and you're just, were you just feeling yourself in Nashville was, and you're like, literally, the world is my oyster.
Bridjet: Look at me like I'm hot in Nashville and yeah. I'm about to walk into my like entrepreneur. Wow. It was wild. Truly. I felt so good. I felt so pretty. I felt confident, and it was that spray tan, and so I'd never looked back that year. I started the bronze bar in 2015. Did you start mobile first? Yeah. Okay. Yep.
Jessica: So I started doing it on the side, so after my nine to five, I would drive across Metro Detroit and pop up and vacation. Yeah, I loved it. It was fun. I remember trying to book some mobile spray tans, and it was like, well wait, Aaron. Clinton Township and I am in Birmingham, like that's gonna be like 45 minutes.
Bridjet: Like that doesn't work for me. Yeah. But you were dedicated to go see your clients here, there, and everywhere. Oh my gosh, yes. Wow. Yes. I think that's such a part of that like ambition and like hustle. But also it was fun. I never did it out of desperation. I did it out of scratching that. My own itch of the beauty industry.
Jessica: Love that. I loved it. Love that. Yeah. [00:09:00] It never came from a place of like scarcity, which I think is huge. You could actually like have some flexibility in your marketing or your path or your creativity. Yes. How did you market yourself to begin with? Back in 2015? It was really just referrals. Okay. Because at that point I never knew, I mean, I dreamed of the day if or when that I would, you know, go full time.
I never really thought that that was in my reach at that point. So it was just referrals. I started my Instagram Okay. Back in 2015 and I still have the same one, um, called The Bronze Bar. The Bronze bar okay. Of Michigan. MI. Mm-hmm. And yeah, I started Instagram and I would post here and there, but it was really referrals.
Wow. And so that was, so you started getting more referrals? Yes. And then like, so then corporate life obviously came to There was at some point, yeah. There was a switch. There was a switch. So really important to note that I, um, left Chrysler voluntarily. Okay. I was really feeling like capped creatively. I was really trying to get into marketing because I was the girl coming out of college.
I thought I would get my dream job, like mm-hmm. [00:10:00] News flash, that doesn't happen. Right. So I was really in a very operational role for a long time and I tried to get into marketing there, but I realized they outsource all of their marketing. Okay. So I left Chrysler and went to an agency and ugh. Had the most amazing work experiences at, at this agency.
Traveling with them and working like very high profile events for actually fiat in Chrysler. They became my client. Awesome. Yeah. Did you love this? I loved it. Okay. I loved it. Oh my gosh. And you were still spray tanning on the side? Yes. Wow. And mind you, that agency was in Ann Arbor. So I was driving from Ann Arbor and I bought a condo in Shelby.
Wow. So I was driving, oh. Every goodness day. But I loved it. Oh my God. The energy of your twenties, right? A hundred percent. Yeah. So I did that for years. So from 2015 through 2020. Mm-hmm. I just did it on the side. Gotcha. 2020 came around. And lovely COVID. Mm-hmm. I was furloughed. Okay. From my corporate job, well, corporate.
Mm-hmm. But it was at the agency. Yep. I was furloughed and I found myself at home with time, time and [00:11:00] space and capacity to think. And with that time I was asking myself like, wow, like what, what do I really want to do? And I would see these businesses on Instagram, like all across the world. These small businesses popping up.
And I was like, I could do that. I could do that, but I could do it better. Mm-hmm. And so I took a leap of faith and in July of 2020 I opened up my first brick and mortar, which was a very, very small space. Mm-hmm. In Washington Township. Lovely Washington. Washington Township. Yeah. So small. Such a cute town.
Yes. What gift to give those ladies over there. Yes. And you know that they're into all their beauty. Oh yeah. In that area. Oh yeah. Always. Um, so you get your brick and mortar, you go for it. That, so I go for it. And like, how was the, the get finding, the spot dealing with the realtor? Like the, like, like this is happening.
Bridjet: Oh, this is happening. Like, how much did you, like, were you crying at night going home over these business plans, or were you like, this is all just like done and done. The latter. I, one day I made the decision that I was going to do it. [00:12:00] I found the space. I, I am a manifester. I am, and I lead with intuition.
Jessica: And I, I toured a few different spaces. I would just drive around. I was like, okay, like. What spaces are available in the area that I, I knew where I wanted to be and I happened to drive by a space, so this is the number. So Summer 2020. Summer 2020. Okay. I called the number that was listed Uhhuh on the window.
Were you just like, ah, this is happening? Yes. I couldn't believe it. I thought, okay, if it's meant to be, it will be. Yeah. And I met with the landlord. I didn't even involve a realtor. Met with the landlord and he, it actually, the space was his office. Okay. His original office. So it was, it needed some love.
It had old, nasty carpet. So he came in, he redid the floor for me. Wow. Painted. So I negotiated that on my own. That was like, wow. That's very proud moment. Incredible. Yeah. Yeah. Were you consulting your parents? Did you have a business coach? Like, who was kind of like guiding you on these like big life decisions?
Bridjet: Decisions? Wow. And also like these. Beginnings and ends that are like you're going through and also [00:13:00] just being going and like going through your twenties is like a crazy time. It is, it is. I definitely just had a, the decision making was definitely mine. It's like I knew it was like a no brainer. I wasn't scared of that.
Jessica: And I also knew that I had my corporate salary still. You know, I eventually did get called back to work and I knew that like no matter what. I could afford this rent. Looking back, I like would die for that rent. Oh my God. But looking back, I knew like if I didn't get any clients, if I had none, I could still pay my mortgage and pay this rent.
Amazing. So I knew that. But also I have to say, like my parents, I call them my consultants because I love this. I, they're two people that I trust. Inherently. Mm-hmm. Like they are just unconditional love of and trust, and I really do lean on them. I pick their brain often. You know, even a gut check sometimes.
Mm-hmm. Yep. It's nice to be validated by your parents. Still amazing. And that support is just priceless. It really, really is. Yeah. So you went all in. You got your first space. So I got my space. [00:14:00] Business. Did it take off or, so I was, so I got get the space and then I was called back to work, so everyone was remote at that point.
So I would work remotely outta my studio during the day and then spray tan at night. And so pretty quickly. Word was getting out that people were loving their spray tan people were organically posting on social media. I never, and still to this day, I don't really ask people to post a review or a photo.
Do you still do mobile at this point? I do. Oh, I do. Wow. Okay. But it's changed. The mobile appointments that we take are based on our availability of course. And the price point is very different because it is a luxury service. Yeah. And so that's, the models changed a little bit. Mm-hmm. Yep. But yeah, so it started to grow and then eventually I was like, wow, I'm at capacity.
I hired my first team member. That's awesome. And she's still with me today. Wow. I love her so much, Gianna. And um, yeah, eventually fast forward. [00:15:00] To 2022, I was able to leave my corporate job. I like made up my salary. And left corporate and it was the scariest Wow. Scariest decision. Wow. Now talk to me about like when you actually made that decision.
Bridjet: 'cause you really had to, obviously you had to have the income and the revenue, but you had to have that business plan and to know that you were gonna able be able to sustain and move forward. So what types of moves were you making during like the first few years to enable you to get there? And also just thinking ahead, like.
How are you also like strategically thinking about that growth? Like, I know I'm jumping ahead, but, oh yeah, that's fine. I'm so curious. Yeah, I, so not really a popular opinion, but I, I'd say I'm like type A, but like kind of type BI knew my marketing plan, I knew my business plan. Just because he was working already, right?
Jessica: Like the things that I was doing was working and that was giving me confidence to move forward. And so the things that [00:16:00] I did to prepare me for that big decision was, number one, hiring support. At that point I had. An additional spray team artist as well as a virtual assistant who is helping me manage just the influx of dms.
Calls. Texts, totally. All the ways. Yep. So having the support there. And also at that point, I had a major personal life change. I got divorced. Wow. Okay. And like the shedding of that relationship changed my life for the better. And it's so relevant to this conversation and for many different reasons we'll get to, I'm sure.
But, um, yeah, I think the shedding of that relationship, I had sold my condo, so I made a few like financial decisions that gave me the additional confidence mm-hmm. And support that I knew I needed to move forward with these big steps. In a comfortable, safe way. Mm-hmm. You know, it's always gonna be scary, but like [00:17:00] making reason, you know, having strategic decisions along the way are very helpful.
Um, yeah, so I had the financial safety in a way. Like even though the future was unknown, I still knew like, okay, at the end of the day, I know I can pay my mortgage with what I've saved from the sale of my condo. So it sounds like you've been really smart financially. You know, even through big. Life changes.
Bridjet: Yeah. Like are you, do you invest now? Do you, how do you manage like, you know, your wealth essentially. Yeah. So it's definitely something I'm learning. I'm learning because you are not taught that in school. Right. You know, and even through my MBA, we don't take a personal finance class. Mm-hmm. You know, so, um, I have hired the people who know how to do it.
Jessica: That's the trick. It's like, who, so you're a master delegator? Yes. I'm sure. Yes. That's like another muscle I'm really working on. Who, not how. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Love that, honestly. Mm-hmm. So I have an amazing bookkeeper. I have an amazing accountant. Amazing. And just having that support. So investing is also [00:18:00] new to me.
And as an entrepreneur, it's a whole different world in corporate. You're guided, you know? Right. Um, but being an entrepreneur, it's, and also where do you draw that line? Like between, like, everything's gonna be about my business, but then like, also like, what's left for you? Right. That's something I'm still figuring out because you could easily take it all and just go all in on merch and all in on another off, like all the things.
Yes. Yeah. Let's talk a little bit about your branding. Sure. I love your branding. Thank you. I, you have your merch, you have your parties. You have like, oh, you know, you have your own little community. Yeah. Which is not little, but Yeah. It's a whole, if you're, if you're in the bronze bar, like you are, like the girlies, you post their names.
Bridjet: You've been obviously very intentional about like making that. Your brand. Yes. You know, your brand is your brand, but talk to me about like, just how do you like maintain that integrity and, and also be like ahead of the, of the curve a little bit. Oh my gosh, great question. So maintaining brand integrity is so key to brand value and having a recognizable brand, [00:19:00] honestly.
Jessica: So truly to me. I maintain it like through all of the senses, if you will. So from the minute you walk into the bronze bar, there's a smell, right? Okay. There's a smell. You hear very high BPM, high energy music. Um, what you feel is that energy. Mm-hmm. Truly. And I really think that that's what sets us apart.
And that's through of course, the music and the smell and the lighting and the decor, the aesthetic, but also in how we make you feel and. The key to that is that it's authentic. Yeah. And it's genuine. Yeah. And not for a second does it feel fake, because if it did mm-hmm. It wouldn't work. Right. It wouldn't work.
So that's when it comes to like how it feels and so much of a brand is how it makes you feel. Absolutely. And then of course you have brand colors and fonts and keeping that integrity. And so I am learning a little bit as I go when it comes to scaling my business, how that translates to making sure my team.[00:20:00]
Maintains our brand, right? Mm-hmm. Absolutely. Setting in place process and guidelines and what that looks like, whether that's posting on social mm-hmm. Or how they, you know, behave in a public setting because that they're always a reflection of the bronze bar. Absolutely. That is so important and you really.
Bridjet: So many businesses. I think just the longer they're open people, I hate to say it like this, but care less because they're just, they get comfortable. Yes, yes. But you're right there, it's more important than ever as you continue to grow and become even more well recognized that people are like, you know, really tight with all of that.
Jessica: Yes. Wow. Yeah. I love that. Thank you. Um, okay, so let's talk a little bit about like this big life change that you mentioned. Oh yeah. Like going through. Like the divorce and having to pick up the pieces and go all in again on yourself. Yeah. And just like when you knew it was over, but like life wasn't ending.
Yeah, so I really haven't publicly talked about this very much, but I was in a relationship for, oh my [00:21:00] gosh, like seven years off and on. And that relationship was, you know, it started in my twenties, right? And. You are such a different person in your twenties than you are in your thirties, and the relationship was toxic, like pure definition, toxic, abusive, and I found the courage to leave that relationship and you were married.
I was married. Wow. Was this like a big public wedding and like include, and you involved everybody? Yeah. And it was like you did the whole thing. I sure did. And then you had to do the whole thing at the end. And then I had to do the whole thing. Right. And all, I mean, everyone that's close to me, everyone that supports me and my life, my friends, my family were all like, oh, okay.
She saw the light. Yeah. Do you believe that you're now like Jessica 2.0 with like this experience behind you? Obviously you're older, wiser, you've done a lot of things in your life, but like looking back on that, is there like some lessons you can say, like you could take from that? Oh my gosh. Or like it was, you know, yes.
Bridjet: Divine [00:22:00] intervention. Yes. There are so many, but I am a different woman. I'm a different, I'm the same in so many aspects, but I. Would not be who I am today without that relationship. I'm so thankful for it. It, unfortunately, I had to learn the very, very hard way, like the most unimaginable ways you can think of.
Mm-hmm. How to love myself. Mm-hmm. And that's something like, I wish I, you know, could have learned an easier way, but I wouldn't have the true understanding of what that means unless I went through that relationship and being on the other side. It's taught me so much. And truly, it's what feeds my business is my desire to help women see their worth and to show them what it's like to love themselves and to look in the mirror and love themselves.
Jessica: And now you know what's really interesting is I'm doing a lot of trauma work and really learning. And of course I spent years in therapy, but this is different than [00:23:00] that. This is like. Unlearning the stories that we tell ourselves. It's so revealing. And now I'm realizing I've had so many light bulb moments recently to understand like why I was in that relationship to begin with.
Mm-hmm. And that's a whole other layer. Um, but truly I think, you know, we could go down that rabbit hole, but, um, because there's a lot to uncover there. But truly I am such a different woman, and again, I'm so thankful for that relationship because of everything I learned about myself and how love should look and how to show up for yourself in your darkest days.
Bridjet: Yes. When you could just continue to stay and do what's easy and comfortable. Yes. But instead you, you know, had to really probably fight and claw your way out of that. I did. I had to do the hard thing now was getting out of that, like obviously legal and whatnot. Mm-hmm. But how long did it last before you were.
Truly free and like cut off. Yeah. And could start to actually live my life. Plant your own, yeah. Roots. Yeah. So the divorce was [00:24:00] pretty quick because we didn't have children and so thankfully the divorce was about two months, like 60 days about that, and I was determined to keep what was. I had very, I fought very hard and worked very hard my whole life to build a life for myself, a home, you know, my career, my business, because I had already started my business and, you know, um, I got through that.
Jessica: Not unscathed, of course, but yeah, I would say that the divorce was about 60 days. But then beyond that, I mean. At least six months to a year where I realized, okay, like there has to be a no contact situation. Mm-hmm. So, yeah. Is that when you went like really deep into your healing or did you just kind of take some time to like process?
I took the time. I did. I really took the time. I definitely did jump into therapy pretty quickly after, just based on feedback from my friends and family because. When you are so in it, you [00:25:00] sometimes it's hard to see the forest through the trees and so, oh my God, I'm so thankful for, you know, the people around me that love me.
Absolutely. Yeah. And so the strength you needed when you needed at most, you know, to, to just carry you through those times. And there's so many women probably listening that can relate to being in unhealthy situations and not feeling like there's hope and not feeling they don't have the resources. I think what makes your story amazing is that you did have those resources that you worked so hard to, you know, put in place the financial, you know, the money from the business and, and also just believe that you were worth like the freedom that that marriage didn't have to define you truly.
Bridjet: And if I did not, you know, if I did not have, of course my family, my loving family, but beyond that, like I really did have my fi own financial. Freedom. Ugh. So powerful. If I did not have that, I would've likely stayed a lot [00:26:00] longer than I did. And you know, there's this Netflix mo, I think it's a movie or a show during this time period of my life.
Jessica: I watched it and I was like, oh my God, that's my life. That's my life. But she can't leave because she doesn't have the financial support, because she doesn't have the finances to leave. And I thought, how. How can I stay when I can? And so that was a very eyeopening and experience for you. That moment where you like, this is a message from the universe, this is my life.
Bridjet: Like, yes, I, the signs are there. And you talked about manifesting and so what are you manifesting right now as you, as you are in this like new, you know, free stage. You've got your second location, like yeah, you're traveling. Yeah. You're cultivating an incredible community. What are you manifesting? Like what are your big dreams?
Jessica: So, wow, I love this question. I, oh, I'm so in the manifesting space. I am manifesting you crystal spear. Yes, [00:27:00] I am manifesting financial true financial freedom. You know, I think that money is a bad word to a lot of people, but here's the thing, it's not, and you know, I'm manifesting wealth and I'm manifesting my dream man.
I am. Love that. Thank you. Thank you. How, okay, let's talk about your dream man and, and coming out of like, you know, obviously your, your ex, like, but also not carrying that Yes. That pain and that, because that changes you when you, when you carry around pain, it really changes like your openness to receiving and your open heart.
Bridjet: And so now that you're ready for that. Yeah. What, how are you like just carrying yourself around, being ready to receive that? What's really interesting is that. I am doing that trauma work and that's what's helping me doing the hard thing. Seriously, I am uncovering these subconscious stories that I've told myself since high school and let me guess, [00:28:00] they all come down to self-worth.
Yes. And being enough and, and being enough, and being chosen and through that, releasing these untrue stories. Mm-hmm. I'm then going to be at the energetic frequency to receive the man that I am meant to be with. A hundred percent. I am here for that. Yeah, absolutely. Okay. I wanna talk about, you were just in Arizona Yes.
At the Powerhouse Women's Retreat. Yeah. Talk to me about some of these things. You're intentionally doing these rooms. You're putting yourself in these communities of women that you're cultivating around you, which. Obviously are is only gonna elevate you. Yeah. But how do you go about picking which ones and who and where and where you're gonna spend your time and your resources?
Jessica: Great question. I, yes, I am such a fan of Powerhouse women and Lindsay Schwartz, she is a woman who is so strong and I always tell her, I always compliment her anytime. By the way, anytime there's a, something about a woman that I admire, I [00:29:00] really try to compliment them because we don't hear it enough. But with Lindsay, I, the way she articulates.
It's just truly impeccable. Um, but I am choosing to put myself in rooms where some others might consider them to be uncomfortable, right? Where I don't know anyone where there's women doing amazing things, and truly I'm leading with intuition. Like what calls to me, like I actually, before I signed up for the expanders retreat, I had never.
Been to a powerhouse women event, which is a lot of, you know, the, um, hype around powerhouses around this large event in August. Mm-hmm. Um, I'd never been to an event. I had seen it on Instagram and I was like, whoa, this like really calls to me. And they're always in Arizona. So you knew you were gonna Oh, okay.
No, I actually, so this was actually my third expanders retreat and the first one was in Newport, second was in Austin, and this third was in, um, Arizona. But they're always in locations. That are expansive. And so [00:30:00] this last one was at the Global Ambassador Hotel, which was absolutely stunning. The space itself was expansive.
The people who filled the space were expansive, and you're in the mountains, you've got that earthy energy. Yes, truly such a beautiful place. And the connections and relationships that I've built in these rooms is uncomparable. And so really, I'm trying to put myself in rooms where. Women are like-minded, like as different as we may be.
Mm-hmm. There's not another woman in the room who does what I do. Mm-hmm. But they, the connection is real because the things that connect us are the internal things, right? Mm-hmm. Right. Ambition. Absolutely. And the desire for more, to want more, and. Truly there's like there, I haven't experienced anything like that.
But other than that I'm also like getting involved locally. So Feminology is another group locally that I've invested in. Okay. And I am having a great time with the local women here in [00:31:00] Detroit startup mode. That's awesome. Yeah. And so are you mentoring or are you there as a student? I'm there as a student.
Okay. Which is interesting because. You know, they're calling it female founder school. Mm-hmm. But to me it's really about like the people that I'm meeting. Right, right. Because the schooling part, like I did that. Mm-hmm. I got my MBA, but it's. Different when it's actually applied, like when theory is applied.
And the school piece is really bringing in experts who have applied those theories. Love that. So it's really, really incredible. Networking, building your, also sharpening on all those skills that in business, like you feel like you need to stay on the pulse of AI and just so many advancements like technology.
Bridjet: How, how do you stay like on the cusp of those things? Honestly. These types of groups? Yes, through the groups. Um, absolutely. I would say that's the number one way is talking to others in business, seeing what others are doing and not others in your industry, keeping it outside of your industry. That's where I [00:32:00] really learned the most and honestly, staying on top of what's happening on social.
Yeah, for sure. As taboo as it is, like TikTok. Right. You know? Do you have any like experiences or retreats that like you're looking at over the next year or anything that's totally out of the box that you know is going to push you or stretch you or? I know a lot of people are doing masterminds. Yeah. And there's so many opportunities to get in the room with.
Amazing women. For me, I am, I'm gonna be taking my show on the road and doing something overseas. So I very much think like connecting with, like you said, people that are outside of your bubble Yes. Is like priceless. It is priceless. And you mentioned overseas, putting yourself in places you have not been before mm-hmm.
Jessica: To experience different things. The inspiration comes from. Everywhere. And so for me, I, right now, I'm just coming out of expanders. That was like a week or two ago. I don't know what's next, but I can tell you that there will be something because I see the value in it. And I'm [00:33:00] so curious what you're doing overseas, because I tell you what, I went to Europe last summer for the first time, Uhhuh, where, oh my gosh.
I went to Ireland. Ooh. I went to London and Paris. So one of those three places is going to be where we're gonna be doing a two day event. Oh my gosh. Inviting women from all over the world to come together. Wow. To share business ideas, to inspire one another. We have experts, money manifesters, women's sales funnel coaches like.
Bridjet: We've got people from Australia. It's just gonna be an amazing melting pot. Wow. And I'm so excited to invite so many people together to just be in the, the, in the energy of that. Wow. Um, so if you're interested in joining us Yes. I'd love to have, oh my gosh, obviously. No brainer. No brainer. Tell me about your experience, um, on that trip.
Like just. London, Ireland, and Yeah. In Paris. Yeah. Yeah. So the, and what was that for? Okay, so the original reason for the trip was my cousin got married in Ireland at a castle. It was so dreamy. Ooh. Oh my gosh. It was so [00:34:00] beautiful. Um, truly, I, you know, it was like that, the nerves going into it of like, okay, I haven't done this before.
Jessica: I. Shopped like crazy before I'm like, I have to like fit in like the Europeans. Like the Europeans are so cool. I need to like have an entire new wardrobe. Did you pack one suitcase for all three cities? I did. Okay. So this was like the like tour. Your tour, okay. It was the tour started in the north and went south pretty much.
Bridjet: Yes. Yes. Um, but yeah, it was amazing. I definitely need more time there. I will say like, the number one place I want to go back is Paris. Yeah. Mm-hmm. So Paris is just, it has my heart. Do you feel like with your brand, you can literally scale it globally, even though you have your brick and mortar here because of your service and your offerings?
Like women all over the world could appreciate Yes. What you're doing? Absolutely. Every person, every person. No matter your sex, your race, size, shape, no matter what, you can spray tan. Mm-hmm. And confidence is like, [00:35:00] doesn't discriminate. Right. Right. Like we all deserve to feel confident and Absolutely. The, there's opportunity globally for sure.
Jessica: For the bronze bar. That is amazing. Well. The sky is the freaking limit girl. Like, yes, I, I am so grateful for your time today and your heart and just sharing so much of who you are with me and our audience, and you know, I'll be popping in soon for my spray tan. Thank you so much. Thank you everyone for tuning in.
Bridjet: We'll see you next time. Thank you.