27 December 2022

The Exercise that Changed My Business

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7Insights

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Business Scaling Premortem

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Insights & moments

The myth-busts, hot takes, explainers, and tools worth keeping.

Hot Take· 1

Hot Take22:49

Scaling Is Not One Universal Revenue Target

Jasmine closes by arguing that every founder must define what scaling means for their own business. The destination might range from thousands to billions, but growth should include a larger dream and the people who travel with the founder.

Scaling targets differ substantially between businesses.
A founder should define growth rather than inherit someone else's benchmark.
Business expansion can be paired with personal aspiration.
Sharing the journey lets other people participate in the growth.

“when we look back at what it means to scale our business, we must all define our version of scaling.”
Jasmine Star · 22:49

“I hope you also remember to scale your dream and bring people along with you.”
Jasmine Star · 23:01

#scaling#growth#entrepreneurship#vision

Story· 3

Story02:20

One Instagram Message Led to a Stanford Scaling Program

Jasmine explains that she discovered the Latino Business Action Network program through a loose Instagram connection rather than a formal search. A woman who had occasionally messaged her recommended the program, supplied a link, and introduced a contact, demonstrating how lightweight social connections can surface significant opportunities.

Social media can connect entrepreneurs with relevant educational opportunities.
Weak ties may provide high-value recommendations even without regular contact.
Jasmine followed up by requesting a link and emailing the program.
The application path emerged only after repeated outreach and a delayed response.

“How do you connect with other people who are doing the thing that you want?”
Jasmine Star · 02:25

“I know this answer is not gonna suffice, but it's the only one I have y'all social media.”
Jasmine Star · 02:28

#networking#social media#education#opportunity

Story06:10

Why Jasmine Brought Her Family to Stanford

Although Jasmine knew she would spend little time with her husband and daughter during the program, she wanted them physically close to the transformation. Her husband later watched recordings of her mentor sessions and saw both his wife and business partner change over the course of the program.

Jasmine's husband was also her business partner.
The family adapted its routine around classes and childcare.
Recorded mentoring sessions let her husband follow her development.
They recognized a substantial personal change between September and December.

“I knew I wasn't going to be seeing them very much, but just their proximity to who I was becoming meant something to me.”
Jasmine Star · 06:10

“And he said it was a really unique experience to be able to see his wife and business partner learn and become a different person.”
Jasmine Star · 17:56

#family#transformation#partnership#mentorship

Story18:33

A Quiet Hotel Celebration Beat the Graduation Party

Graduation celebrations collided with a two-year-old's nap schedule, prompting Jasmine and her husband to return to their hotel rather than join the crowd. Flowers, candles, champagne, and a quiet conversation by the fireplace created a more meaningful celebration centered on family and their dreams for the coming year.

Parenting constraints changed the expected graduation celebration.
Jasmine realized she preferred being with her husband and daughter.
Her husband created an intimate hotel-room surprise.
They used the quiet evening to discuss their hopes for 2023.

“And then I realized, wait, there's actually nowhere else in the world I want to be than with my husband and my daughter.”
Jasmine Star · 18:48

“And so the two of us sat in an entirely empty hotel lounge next to a fire, and he popped open a bottle of champagne…”
Jasmine Star · 19:53

#celebration#family#graduation#reflection

Takeaway· 3

Takeaway07:14

The Hidden Cost of an Intensive Business Program

The advertised eight-to-ten-hour weekly commitment became early mornings, weekend work, compressed reading, mentor calls, and deadlines alongside parenting and a full workload. Jasmine emphasizes that completing the program also depended on her team taking responsibilities from her, shifting rather than eliminating the cost.

Knowing a time estimate is different from living through the workload.
Assignments competed with parenting, meals, and existing business responsibilities.
Jasmine used early mornings and weekends to complete the work.
Team support made participation possible by redistributing work.

“And I am telling you, I was like, oh my God, I got hit by Mack Truck.”
Jasmine Star · 07:19

“When somebody takes something off your plate, it means that they're doing that thing.”
Jasmine Star · 08:12

#time management#adult education#teamwork#parenting

Takeaway16:00

Authenticity Was Jasmine's Core Contribution

During the final keynote, participants reflected on three things they brought to their businesses. Jasmine identified authenticity as a central contribution, expressed through content that combines what she creates with firsthand experience.

The closing keynote focused on the founders rather than scaling tactics.
Participants considered the personal qualities they contribute to their companies.
Jasmine named authenticity as one of her defining strengths.
Her content draws credibility from lived experience.

“The three things we felt we brought to the table, to the table of our business.”
Jasmine Star · 16:23

“I strongly believe that I am bringing a level of authenticity to what it is I do.”
Jasmine Star · 16:32

#authenticity#founder identity#content#business

Takeaway20:10

Transformation Required More Than Business Education

Looking back, Jasmine attributes her transformation to a timely combination of support, education, conversation, accountability, and discomfort. The program arrived during one of her hardest business seasons and provided external structure that helped her move through it.

The program coincided with a difficult personal and professional period.
Education alone was not the only source of change.
Supportive conversations and accountability reinforced the learning.
Leaving her comfort zone helped push her through the season.

“I needed the additional support and I needed the education and I needed the conversations and I needed the accountability.”
Jasmine Star · 20:26

“I needed something so far out of my comfort zone to push me through one of the hardest seasons in my business.”
Jasmine Star · 20:51

#accountability#support#transformation#growth