We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Salceda and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The path to success is not a straight line and for me personally, it’s failure that has brought me to where I am now. In taking risks and not always achieving a perfect outcome, I have learned that I can accomplish anything. As long as I pick myself back up and try again, I gain a new sense of confidence each time.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
J. Isabel Designs started in my backyard in 2016. I was glittering wine bottles for a bridal shower I was attending and decided to add one to a gift basket. A friend saw it, loved it, and suggested that it would be a great business idea. I had no idea that it would become anything and really didn’t have a plan, but fast forward almost 5 years and I am living my dream of getting to do what I love and be creative everyday! Just this last year, I have expanded to offering new products and product packaging in the form of custom wood boxes, and it has given me so many fun opportunities to work with some amazing individuals and companies. I would be lying if I said some of those experiences weren’t intimidating, but I grew so much from each one. From learning new skills, to understanding how to take a client’s ideas and transform them into a gorgeous gift, to growing both personally and professionally, J. Isabel Designs has been a wild ride! The most rewarding part is the moment I finish a job that presented a lot of obstacles and receive amazing feedback from the client. Things don’t always go right, and figuring out how to fix your mistakes is an important factor in success. You have to learn from each experience and not let it discourage you from moving forward and taking on bigger and more intimidating jobs. The stress can be high for someone like me who is a bit of a perfectionist, but the beautiful outcome is so worth it!! Also, the confidence you gain from overcoming each failure is incredible. The week of Thanksgiving, a motor on my laser engraving machine decided to give out in the middle of a large project, and I went into panic mode. I only had it for a year and had no idea how to fix it. Instead of breaking down, I called the company, ordered a new one, and had to learn on the fly how to install it. Had it up and running in under an hour. Thanks to Youtube and a will to never give up, I knew I could always get myself out of a sticky situation! Another challenge and another lesson learned. That’s how you achieve success. Keep going no matter what gets thrown at you! 😉

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Los Angeles is one of my favorite places to take friends who have never really experienced it! Some of my favorite spots are Alfred Coffee, Carrera Cafe, Sprinkles cupcakes in Beverly Hills, Carneys on Sunset Blvd for hamburgers, the Getty Museum, the Santa Monica Pier, and Studio City for amazing small businesses! So many places and so many unique experiences!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Being your own boss comes with stresses you can’t imagine when you’re first starting out, but having a supportive people behind you really makes the difference. I’m lucky to have a loving family, a supportive boyfriend, and friends who always encourage and motivate me. Also, two very sweet neighbors who’s advice and love mean the world to me!

Website: www.jisabeldesigns.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/j.isabeldesigns

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jisabeldesigns

Other: pinterest.com/jessicaisabeld

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