Jessica Honegger is an award-winning social entrepreneur with a passion for catalyzing others to step outside their comfort zones and live a life of purpose.
Jessica is the founder and co-CEO of Noonday Collection, a fast-growing company dedicated to designing and selling an inspired collection of jewelry and accessories made by Artisans across the globe. In a few short years, Noonday Collection partners with Artisan Businesses in 11 countries and holds a passion for building a flourishing world that helps to develop them through fair trade.
Noonday Collection was featured in Inc. magazine’s 2015 list of the 5,000 fastest growing companies in America at number 45. Inc. also listed Noonday Collection as the third-fastest-growing American business owned by a woman.
But Jessica’s path wasn’t always clear… there was never an MBA or capital investment or clear path. Instead, there was a real estate stint, a master’s degree in education, travels, and mostly, a lot of dreams and grit. This path wasn’t straightforward, but it was full of passion, strategy, and a beautiful social entrepreneurship mission. If you’re wondering about product development, importing, dignified sourcing, and distribution models, you’re in the right place.
EMBRACING THE TWISTS AND TURNS:
One thing in particular that I loved about Jessica’s story was her ability to let life unfold… She adapted, she was flexible, she took opportunities when it made sense, and she never put herself in a “box”. I think this is easy to do as entrepreneurs— to label ourselves as our title and close our eyes to evolution. Jess’s particular story ricocheted from education to real estate to jewelry and I loved that she fully embraced each of these life stages. How has your journey unfolded? I think this episode provides a beautiful chance to pause and look at our own paths, and all the little “twists and turns” that were pointing us in the right direction all along!
FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY:
When you listen to this episode, you’ll hear a fiery tenacity in Jess’s voice— a sense of fearlessness and ambition. I challenge you to approach your dreams with the same tenacity. There will always be doubt, risk, and choices to make, but at some point, you just have to leap into the unknown. Do your homework, make lists, get organized, but just leap. If Jess wouldn’t have taken her travels, thought outside the box with her business, and just gone for it, Noonday wouldn’t be here. While you have to take calculated risks, there is a point where you have to listen to your gut more than your head. If you are in the start-up phase of a business or in the process of pivoting in your career, listen to your instincts. Like we mentioned above, don’t “box yourself in”— there are many forms of limiting beliefs and fear plays a large role in stagnant energy, and I want you to evaluate where fear is holding YOU back, today.
PUT IT INTO THE UNIVERSE:
Jess spoke a lot about how she had intense moments of “clarity” and goal setting that allowed her to dream boldly for Noonday Collection. She spoke to one particular time when she woke up in the middle of the night and just blatantly wrote down “I want Noonday to be the biggest fair-trade, direct sales company in the world”. She wrote this before it was technically plausible but she just felt that desire to dream big and truly shoot for it. And guess what, she did it. Reflecting on this, “it’s been a wild, wild ride. Nothing that I ever could’ve predicted… but on the other side of that, I completely did dream it would happen…” Today, I challenge you to listen to this episode, hear Jessica’s specific, measurable goals, and write down your one “big, scary” dream that you’ve never said out loud! Goal Diggers, I want you to ask yourself, if you’re not willing to bet on yourself— who else will?
There are so many reasons to listen to this episode— not only is her story full of ups and downs and surprising turns, but it teaches us all to live with intention and dream body. Jessica has the most incredible story filled with genuine heart, innovative thinking, brilliant strategy, that has resulted in *the* most successful sustainable fair trade jewelry business in the WORLD. And today you get to hear the full story! Tune on in below!
TO HEAR JESSICA’S SINGLE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH YOUR BUSINESS, TUNE IN HERE.
PSST: Hey, YOU! WANT MORE JESSICA?
Amazing episode. Love how wise and honest this guest was. Noonday is a terrific company that I just heard about this Spring; it made me happy to know its’ leader is just as intentional and wonderful as I hoped she’d be. Thank you for this, Jenna! Feeling SO encouraged by this one especially.
Hi Jenna,
First of all, you are awesome I would just like to say, a ray of sunshine. Second, I have always wanted to give up my 9-5 to pursue my side hustle but it is tough because I’m the breadwinner and I don’t think we can do it financially. Hard to build the side hustle when you do have to work 9-5 as well. Also, I find social media actually demotivating. There’s so many people out there doing it that are much more talented, intelligent, educated and attractive than I am… so what do I really have to offer anyways. It’s a big gamble. Anyhow, if you were looking for ideas I’d like to hear/read something about when you are the breadwinner of the family but want to make your side hustle full time.
Thanks