AF307 - Being Authentic in your Business w/ Christina Passmore
In this episode of the Amazon Files podcast, host Kristin Ostrander welcomes guest Christina Passmore to discuss the personal side of business. They delve into the challenges faced by women in a male-dominated industry and share their experiences as entrepreneurs. Christina shares her journey of building a successful e-commerce business and starting a copywriting agency. They touch on topics such as digital marketing, age not being a barrier to entrepreneurship, and finding fulfillment in one's career. The conversation emphasizes the importance of authenticity, self-motivation, and the value of learning from challenges. They also discuss the need for inclusivity and support among women in the e-commerce industry.
The Unseen Side of Business
As the host of the Amazon Files podcast, I believe it's crucial to discuss the behind-the-scenes work that goes into running a business, rather than just focusing on the polished image presented to the public. Christina's journey is a testament to this. She built her first e-commerce business to six figures in under eight months and started a successful copywriting agency. Her story is a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by driven entrepreneurs and the demands of working with different brands.
Breaking the Glass Ceiling
Being a woman in a male-dominated industry like e-commerce is not without its challenges. Christina and I discussed the importance of nurturing your brand, regardless of its size, and the need for women to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams at any age and with any background. Christina's transition from a flight attendant to selling on Amazon and eventually starting her own agency is a testament to this.
The Power of Passion and Persistence
In our conversation, we emphasized the importance of using your skills and passion to build a successful business. We discussed the value of learning from negative experiences and how challenges can lead to personal growth and opportunity. Christina shared her experiences of personal growth and self-empowerment, particularly when she started her content marketing agency and had to figure things out on her own.
Authenticity in Business
We touched on the importance of authenticity and being true to oneself in business. We acknowledged the male-dominated nature of the Amazon industry and how it has influenced our own journeys as women entrepreneurs. Christina shared her experiences of judgment based on her appearance and the need for more inclusivity and representation of women in e-commerce events and conferences.
Empowering Women in Business
We discussed the importance of aligning oneself with a supportive community of women who can provide empowerment and guidance along the entrepreneurial journey. I shared my own experiences of discrimination and judgment in the industry, particularly as a smaller seller. We both encouraged women to push past failures, have confidence in their abilities, and advocate for themselves in the business world.
Building Confidence and Resilience
We emphasized that building confidence requires consistency and the ability to persevere through challenges. We highlighted the fact that defeat is optional and quitting is a choice, encouraging listeners to pivot and find alternative paths instead of giving up.
The Future of Women in E-commerce
The conversation shifted to the idea of empowerment and supporting one another. I suggested the possibility of a future women of Amazon conference where women can come together to empower and uplift each other, regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances.
Connecting with Christina
Christina shared her contact information, including her email and website, and mentioned her social media presence and YouTube channel where she shares content on branding and marketing.
A Call to Action
I expressed my gratitude for the open and honest conversation, emphasizing the importance of discussing these topics and acknowledging the reality of biases and challenges faced by women. I encourage both men and women to reconsider dismissing others based on appearance or experience, as embracing diverse perspectives strengthens teams and brings more value to the table.
In conclusion, our conversation with Christina Passmore was a powerful reminder of the challenges and opportunities that come with being a woman in the e-commerce industry. It's a call to action for all of us to support and empower each other in our entrepreneurial journeys.
WATCH:
LISTEN:
QUOTE:
"When you show up as your genuine self, you can't fake that. People will see right through it." - Kristin Ostrander
TIME STAMPS:
The personal side of business [00:00:02]
Discussion about the behind-the-scenes work in business and the challenges faced by women in a male-dominated industry.
Building a successful e-commerce business [00:01:59]
Christina Passmore shares her journey of building a six-figure e-commerce business in under eight months.
Starting a copywriting agency [00:02:27]
Christina Passmore talks about her decision to start a copywriting agency and how she helps other Amazon sellers with their content needs.
The challenges of entrepreneurship [00:08:33]
Discussion on the difficulties of being an entrepreneur, including the need for self-motivation and the responsibility of shouldering all the tasks and decisions.
Finding growth in challenges [00:09:23]
Exploration of how negative experiences and challenges in e-commerce can lead to personal growth and opportunities for change.
Personal growth and self-empowerment [00:11:05]
Conversation about personal growth and self-discovery as women entrepreneurs, including the shift from suppressing certain aspects of oneself to embracing authenticity and setting boundaries.
The challenges faced by women in e-commerce [00:16:44]
Christina Passmore discusses the difficulties and judgments she has faced as a woman in the male-dominated e-commerce industry.
The need for inclusivity in the Amazon community [00:18:20]
Christina Passmore highlights the importance of making Amazon events and conferences more inclusive and attracting the female market.
Empowering women in business [00:19:13]
Kristin Ostrander emphasizes the value and worth of women in business, regardless of the size of their ventures, and encourages them to have confidence and advocate for themselves.
The importance of saying no [00:25:17]
Christina discusses the importance of getting comfortable with saying no and how it builds confidence.
Challenges are inevitable, defeat is optional [00:25:52]
Kristin talks about how challenges are inevitable but defeat is optional, emphasizing the importance of not giving up.
Embracing diverse outlooks [00:27:50]
Kristin discusses the importance of embracing diverse outlooks and how it strengthens a team.
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