Invest In Yourself With Cori Jacobs
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Wildpreneurs often make sacrifices and compromises in order to chase our dreams and wild ideas. Yet, many free-spirits have learned the hard way that regardless of circumstances, self care should always be a priority. Investing in ourselves is crucial, not only for health, but for the longevity of our Wildpreneur pursuits. Here’s an excerpt from Wildpreneurs Chapter 3: Financial Rollercoaster:
“Gallery owner Cori Jacobs recalls that in order to get her business started in Sayulita, Mexico, she moved out of her apartment and into the studio where she worked. For months, she didn’t have a kitchen and showered at friends’ homes in order to trim extra expenses. Though this was a necessary measure in the beginning, she has since learned the importance of having a living space that is separate from the gallery—that division between her workplace and personal space—is essential. She says: “Self-care is the best care. Investing in yourself is the best way for you to have the energy and enthusiasm to keep your business alive.” Today, the Cori Jacobs Gallery is a colorful cacophony of paintings, pottery, and clothing. As her business thrives, Cori is happy in her casita several blocks from the gallery.”
Despite the challenges of 2020, Cori has continued to make self care a priority. Cori used quarantine time to tune into her inspiration. She shares, “When everything slowed down, alone with time to wonder, I fell in love with botanical colors. I began learning about natural dyes and plant pigments during quarantine and experimenting with trees close to Sayulita. I've found the most amazing magic in a simple leaf collected along a morning walk.”
The result? Her new line of elegant silk scarves. These naturally-dyed silk scarves are made from freshly foraged leaves. Each scarf is a unique expression of a collaboration with nature and the alchemy of the plants—eucalyptus, teak, marigolds, iron and rust, roses, time, and rainwater.
Love this creative inspiration! Cruise on over to the Cori Jacobs Gallery here to do some holiday shopping. You’ll also find more wild wisdom and reflection from Cori here:
How long did you think about starting your business before you actually did it? What was the tipping point?
Even as a kid I was always selling stuff. I built towards becoming a Wildpreneur for a long time. I had the skills, worked in a gallery, dealt with customers, etc. When I finally rented a space taking the leap was quick.
When you decided to open your gallery, how did you find funding early on?
I took earnings from a previous season and threw it all towards that project. I went for the “all in” approach. It was an exciting launch but also scary, and risky.
I’d just had a big commission piece (got paid well) and had more cash than usual. That was definitely a confidence boosting project.
What has kept you going with your business in the long run? What keeps you motivated and focused?
The lifestyle. My work and life here gives me a chance to connect directly with people—it’s a bridge between me and the world. Sometimes this is uncomfortably personal. But I like that transparency. I’m really happy with it.
Have you had to adapt your business over the years? Have your original business plan/goals evolved with time?
Yes, in a way. I didn’t really have a business plan when I first opened, my work has grown organically. For example, my ceramics used to be made in Portland, driven down to Mexico. I eventually moved that production to Mexico. My experience has been gradual steps that take money and time to figure out. I’ve found the flow through repetition and practice.
What is the best piece of advice you'd give to someone looking to start their own business in a foreign country? What do you wish you’d known prior to getting started?
Be ready to work hard. It’s also important to build in supportive practices and networks. I started the gallery business after I’d already been living in Mexico for 8 years, had a lot of connections and spoke the language fluently. I knew exactly what I was getting into. Running my business hasn’t shocked and surprised me. But it has actually been more successful than I thought it would be!
Any advice for potential Wildpreneurs?
Work really hard, but allow ease for yourself. Have some kind of date night with your friends, a morning practice, do something to balance out the work. And don't be afraid to rest and recharge. Learning to trust my own intuition and allow myself to make radical decisions about what is right for my small business has taken years of practice to get comfortable with (still practicing daily). The pandemic really pushed me to give myself the permission to do exactly what i needed to do to care for my creativity and my business and that has meant digging deep into new territory and not rushing to reopen.
Start an emergency fund. Build one little by little and always have some savings set aside. I wish I'd started doing this sooner.
Self care is the best care. Investing some time in yourself is the best way for you to have the energy and enthusiasm to keep your business.
Learn the language of the country you are moving to. Maybe not perfectly, but at least make the effort to achieve conversational fluency. It will take time but the rewards of being able to communicate effectively with the people around you is priceless and will long term help in every aspect of your life and business.
Would I do it all over again?
Absolutely.
