Have you ever felt like you don’t belong in your program/job/activity?  Do you ever question whether you earned your accomplishments on your own merit, or do you attribute them to pure luck?  Do you attribute your high grades to innate intelligence, or chalk it up to hard work? These are classic signs of Imposter Syndrome, a theory to explain why certain high-achieving individuals persist in believing that they are really not bright and have fooled anyone who thinks otherwise, despite earning outstanding academic and professional accomplishments.  If you have, you're not alone. I've been there too - every day for 2.5 years, to be specific. In this episode, I get raw and real about the internal Imposter Syndrome I was facing when I hid my Major Scholarship for half of my degree. Why am I sharing? Certainly not to brag. I share for the young leaders that come after me in hopes that YOU have the confidence to own up to your accomplishments - no matter what size they are. If you're interested in learning more, please check out the links below! As always, please remember to send me a message if you listened! I LOVE hearing your feedback.Xoxo,Your Biggest CheerleaderJess_______Resources/References:Imposter Syndrome Self-Quiz (I HIGHLY recommend doing this - even if you don't think it will apply to you; chances are it will to someone you know)Original Georgia State University Paper on IP (hopefully this works)HBR: Overcoming Imposter SyndromeTedTalk: What Is Imposter Syndrome and how can you combat it?The Atlantic: Yes Imposter Syndrome is Real. Here's How to Deal With It

Confession: I've been putting off this episode for months. Not because I don't care, but because I do. I care about the Confidence Gap SO MUCH that it's hard to put into words. It's the why behind everything I do.I hope that between all my stories, explanations, stats, and ideas, you can follow along. If you like this episode, please remember to subscribe and share a screenshot to your Insta story.If you want to learn more, check out the awesome links below! Xoxo,Jess____________Articles(The Atlantic) The Confidence Gap(Forbes) The Confidence Gap In Men And Women: Why It Matters And How To Overcome It(The Atlantic) Why The Confidence Gap is a Myth(DoSomething.Org) 11 Facts About Body Image(Money and Mental Health Policy Institute) Young women in mental health crisisBooksLean In by Sheryl SandbergThe Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

Welcome to a special episode! On today's show I interview Nicole Baranowski, who is the Founder of my favourite athletic scrunchie company Hairstrong. If you haven't seen me sporting my Hairstrongs on Instagram before, they are adjustable scrunchies that don't pull and hold you hair in place during any workout - plus they come in all sorts of fun colours!We chat about Nicole's journey as a Kinesiology student and Varsity Athlete on the Rowing team to how she started her company, as well as some of the challenges along the way.You will leave feeling SO inspired and ready to take on anything - I am so excited for you to listen!Please remember to Subscribe to the show to get updates when new episodes come out & send me an Insta dm if you liked this episode!Xoxo,JessPS. You can use code JESS15 to save money on orders at hairstrong.ca. Want to learn more? You can also check them out on Instagram here. 

Welcome to another Weekly Update of the behind-behind-the-scenes of my life & business. Exciting things:We're incorporated! (the royal "we")Going Clubbing mid-Covid?Instructor training updateThis week's theme: passion.Spoiler alert: Being passionate about something is a really, really good thing. That's the REAL YOU!I really hope you like this episode! Please let me know your thoughts  and as always, please remember to Subscribe & Share!  Xoxo, Jess  LINKS: Send me an Insta message: @jesstakimotofitness

Last week I expressed my frustrations about the collision of the academic entrepreneurship world and the actual real-life entrepreneurship reality. It didn't go over so well when I got my grades back (go figure).  So today’s episode is the raw and the real... it's a weekly update of all things Behind-the-Scenes, including:Wins: Delegating work & taking a breakAccepting that I won't get everything done Instructor Training crazinessTrying to convince you to give yourself permission to ask for help, take breaks, and say no more oftenIf you like this revised format of what my life is ACTUALLY like with a full-time business (and school as the side-hustle, as I like to joke), please let me know! An insta message goes a long way :)And as always, please remember to Subscribe & Share!  Xoxo, Jess  LINKS: Send me an Insta message: @jesstakimotofitnessThe School of Fitness: Website

New Business Development Part 3… with a twist.Based on YOUR feedback, it sounds like you are loving this behind the scenes look into running a business. Based on feedback from my professor/TA’s, my stories are great, but I need to connect more to the academic content.  This episode was born out of the frustration of my academic world and real world not working in tandem. Today’s episode covers very little about my readings from last week, and very much about the real-life behind-the-scenes of running a business, including:Incorporation challenges – we need to change our business name!Instructor Training pilot program (starting this week!)Creating a choreography library in one weekendUsing social media to create community, and avoiding being “another pretty feed”Teaser for something very big and very exciting… can you guess what it might be?If you like this revised format of what my life is ACTUALLY like with a full-time business (and school as the side-hustle, as I like to joke), please let me know! An insta message goes a long way! And as always, please remember to Subscribe & Share!  Xoxo, Jess  LINKS: Send me an Insta message: @jesstakimotofitness The School of Fitness: Website

If you are a competitive athlete or retired competitive athlete, this episode is for you! Listen in on this special interview with Emily Coffman, who is a former D1 Rowing Coxswain and now founder of the GirlsGoneHealthy podcast.We chat about:The (sometimes rough) transition from strict athletic training to exercising for health and fitness maintenanceHow to exercise that is enjoyable for YOU, plus Emily's goal of becoming a group fitness instructor Starting a podcast on healthy habits as someone who is passionate about it, but not yet a professional in the fieldBalancing a social media side hustle with a full-time job in finance!This episode is filled with goodness, and I can't wait for you to listen. Please remember to Subscribe, share this episode on your Instagram story, and tag me @jesstakimotofitness so I can thank you personally! xoxo,Jess________LINKS:Send me an Insta message: @jesstakimotofitnessEmily's Instagram: @GirlsGoneHealthyListen to GirlsGoneHealthy Podcast: on Apple, or on SpotifyGirlsGoneHealthy Podcast Website

This episode is brought to you by COMM405... yes, that means I am submitting this as a deliverable for my New Business Development class. Talk about making the system work for you - shoutout to my Professor, Kelley, you rock!  Every week we have to create "Learning Diaries" where we reflect on that week's topic, and this week's theme was Ideation Strategies Tune in to hear about how I believed I wasn’t creative, started thinking about creativity as a skill not a natural-born talent, and how I’ve innovated/ideated within The School of Fitness. If you like this episode and want to hear more Weekly Diaries about my entrepreneurial journey starting & growing The School of Fitness, send me a message! If you don't want to hear more of these, I will pick another format to submit my diaries in!  And as always, please remember to Subscribe & Share!  Xoxo, Jess  LINKS: Send me an Insta message: @jesstakimotofitness The School of Fitness: Website COMM405: Course Description

SPECIAL EDITION EPISODEThis episode is brought to you by COMM405... yes, that means I am submitting this as the first deliverable for my New Business Development class. Talk about making the system work for you - shoutout to my Professor, Kelley, you rock!Every week we have to create "Learning Diaries" where we reflect on that week's topic, and this week's theme was Who is an entrepreneur?This is a topic very near and dear to my heart seeing as A. I am an (accidental) entrepreneur and B. I never thought I could beIf you like this episode and want to hear more Weekly Diaries about my entrepreneurial journey starting & growing The School of Fitness, send me a message! If you don't want to hear more of these, I will pick another format to submit my diaries in!And as always, please remember to Subscribe & Share!Xoxo,JessLINKS:Send me an Insta message: @jesstakimotofitnessThe School of Fitness: WebsiteUnderdog Entrepreneur: ArticleCOMM405: Course Description

Tune in for an AWESOME interview with the one and only Jenna Hushka! You may know Jenna from some of her recent viral TikToks (like my personal favourite, "If we talked like corporate emails in real life"), but she does so much more! She not only works in corporate America, but is also an active columnist on ThoughtCatalogue and has been publishing her writing online since College. One day, her goal is to publish her own book!When I read her articles about living life on your own terms, finding the courage to be your most authentic self, and general personal development/life advice, I was so inspired. I reached out and invited her on the podcast on a whim, and was honestly starstruck when she said yes! You are going to leave this episode feeling SO inspired, and I can't wait for you to hear all the little nuggets of wisdom she shares. Remember to Subscribe, share this episode on your Instagram story, and tag me @jesstakimotofitness so I can thank you personally! Xoxo,Jess_________________Jenna's LinksInstagram: @jennahushkaTikTok: @jennahushkaThought Catalogue: https://thoughtcatalog.com/jenna-hushka/ We Are Fredi: https://blog.wearefredi.com/authors/jenna-hushka-fredi-blog-author/