Jamie Kern Lima

And we decided to go all in because I was like, I don't know how we're going to make it if we don't. Oh, I have chills. And we used that little extra money. We hired third-party consultants and they're amazing. They all said the same thing. They said... okay, if you want a shot at actually hitting these sales numbers and making it on KVC, here's what you need to do.

And we decided to go all in because I was like, I don't know how we're going to make it if we don't. Oh, I have chills. And we used that little extra money. We hired third-party consultants and they're amazing. They all said the same thing. They said... okay, if you want a shot at actually hitting these sales numbers and making it on KVC, here's what you need to do.

In your 10 minutes, you need to put this type of model demonstrating your product. And then, and they would tell me all the things to do, which was all like literally girls that looked like they were 12, all with the same skin tone and no skin challenges. And so I said to them, okay, Here's the thing. Here's my authentic vision for the brand.

In your 10 minutes, you need to put this type of model demonstrating your product. And then, and they would tell me all the things to do, which was all like literally girls that looked like they were 12, all with the same skin tone and no skin challenges. And so I said to them, okay, Here's the thing. Here's my authentic vision for the brand.

What if I put a model in her 70s or 80s and then I put someone who's dealing with under eye circles and someone who's struggling with acne and hyperpigmentation? And what if I take my own makeup off on national TV? I show my bright red rosacea and I prove the product works. And they were mortified. And so I'll never forget this. A week before my one big shot on QVC, we fly to Pennsylvania.

What if I put a model in her 70s or 80s and then I put someone who's dealing with under eye circles and someone who's struggling with acne and hyperpigmentation? And what if I take my own makeup off on national TV? I show my bright red rosacea and I prove the product works. And they were mortified. And so I'll never forget this. A week before my one big shot on QVC, we fly to Pennsylvania.

I go and I sit in this rental car all alone in the QVC parking lot, like watching the front doors of the building. Going the next time I go in that building, I'm going to go on air. I'm either going to leave. bankrupt or I'm going to leave with my entire life changed. And there is a moment in the car where I remember just like praying, crying.

I go and I sit in this rental car all alone in the QVC parking lot, like watching the front doors of the building. Going the next time I go in that building, I'm going to go on air. I'm either going to leave. bankrupt or I'm going to leave with my entire life changed. And there is a moment in the car where I remember just like praying, crying.

I remember I'd once seen an Oprah show like 20 years earlier where she talks about how she wanted the color purple so bad, the movie, and she wasn't getting it. And so she like ran around a track and started singing, I Surrender All and asked God to take it from her because it felt too heavy, her obsession with wanting it. I was so stressed in the car.

I remember I'd once seen an Oprah show like 20 years earlier where she talks about how she wanted the color purple so bad, the movie, and she wasn't getting it. And so she like ran around a track and started singing, I Surrender All and asked God to take it from her because it felt too heavy, her obsession with wanting it. I was so stressed in the car.

I literally was like, I'm going to try that too. I started singing. I was like, God, this feels so heavy for me. And I was like trying to ask him to take it because here's the true confession. I was so tempted in that moment. to try it their way. Because I was like, what if I do it and it works and I make money and I don't go bankrupt, then I can try it my way. Like I had all those thoughts.

I literally was like, I'm going to try that too. I started singing. I was like, God, this feels so heavy for me. And I was like trying to ask him to take it because here's the true confession. I was so tempted in that moment. to try it their way. Because I was like, what if I do it and it works and I make money and I don't go bankrupt, then I can try it my way. Like I had all those thoughts.

And it was this moment in the car that these words, like they hit me that yes, you cannot fake authenticity. Customers are smart. And while authenticity alone does not automatically guarantee success, inauthenticity guarantees failure.

And it was this moment in the car that these words, like they hit me that yes, you cannot fake authenticity. Customers are smart. And while authenticity alone does not automatically guarantee success, inauthenticity guarantees failure.

Yes. Yes, that is it. That is it right there. Because I believe your intuition is more powerful than anyone else's advice, even your greatest mentor, right? And so that moment, so I'm sitting there in the rental car crying, trying... all the things, singing, singing, being tempted to try it their way.

Yes. Yes, that is it. That is it right there. Because I believe your intuition is more powerful than anyone else's advice, even your greatest mentor, right? And so that moment, so I'm sitting there in the rental car crying, trying... all the things, singing, singing, being tempted to try it their way.

And it was like, I remember it coming to me because I was imagining who is that one person on the other end. I don't know why, but I kept imagining like a single mom in Nebraska who was like folding laundry, way too busy to remember that she's so beautiful and that she matters. I would rather her look up and see me showing women that look like her and calling them beautiful and meaning it.

And it was like, I remember it coming to me because I was imagining who is that one person on the other end. I don't know why, but I kept imagining like a single mom in Nebraska who was like folding laundry, way too busy to remember that she's so beautiful and that she matters. I would rather her look up and see me showing women that look like her and calling them beautiful and meaning it.

Even if she buys nothing, I knew in that moment I'd rather stand for something than sell a whole ton of product and stand for nothing. I remember walking into the studio and there's all these cameras and it's you and the host. And then there's this giant clock on the ground and it was set at 10 minutes. And I was like, okay, then maybe...

Even if she buys nothing, I knew in that moment I'd rather stand for something than sell a whole ton of product and stand for nothing. I remember walking into the studio and there's all these cameras and it's you and the host. And then there's this giant clock on the ground and it was set at 10 minutes. And I was like, okay, then maybe...