Believing in Yourself with Jamie Kern Lima, Founder of IT Cosmetics

Podcast Transcript:

Amy Morin: Welcome to the Verywell Mind podcast. I'm your host, Amy Morin. I'm a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and the author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do.

On this show, I'll be interviewing inspiring people such as experts, authors, entrepreneurs, athletes, and musicians about their life strategies. We'll talk about how to cope with stress, improve relationships, and boost motivation. And we'll explore the research-backed strategies that promote mental strength, resilience, and well-being.

Jamie Kern Lima is the founder and CEO of IT Cosmetics, a billion-dollar company that she eventually sold to L'Oréal. She has also written a book titled Believe IT, which became an instant New York Times Best Seller and debuted at #1 on The Wall Street Journal Bestselling Books list.

Jamie openly discusses her struggles with mental health over the years. At the age of 24, she accidentally discovered that she was adopted (a secret that had been kept in her family). When her birth mother initially did not want to meet her, she felt rejected, depressed, and anxious. She decided to see a therapist, and she found the experience very helpful.

In this interview, Jamie shares her experience of uncovering a family secret as an adult, what to do when you feel like you don't fit in or don't belong, how to manage the fear of being unworthy, and how to start trusting your intuition.

Amy Morin: Jamie Kern Lima, welcome to the show.

Jamie Kern Lima: Thank you, Amy. I'm so excited to be here.

Amy Morin: I am so excited to talk to you. I feel like I've known you for years. Obviously, I'm a huge, huge fan of yours. I've used your products for years. But I also really respect you and your journey. Everything you've overcome. And so, I'm just really excited to have this conversation with you today.

Jamie Kern Lima: Oh, thank you so much. I am so honored to be here and to talk to you about some of the things that I've learned along the way.

Amy Morin: Absolutely. So, you are known for your incredible success as the founder and CEO of IT Cosmetics. And you have this incredible story of building this billion-dollar company. But I want to talk about some of the challenges that you've faced along the way.

You've been very open about your struggles with mental health. And I think that's really important because I think a lot of people who are successful, they're often seen as these perfect people who have it all together. And so, when they share their struggles, it's really inspiring. And it helps other people feel less alone.

So, I'm wondering if you could talk a little bit about your own journey with mental health.

Jamie Kern Lima: Sure. So, I think it's really important to talk about mental health. And I think it's especially important for people who are successful to talk about it because, like you said, people think that we have it all together. And we don't. We're just like everybody else.

I've struggled with mental health issues my whole life. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression when I was in my early 20s. And I've been on medication for it ever since.

I think the biggest challenge for me has been dealing with the stigma associated with mental health. People don't understand it. They think that you're weak or that you're crazy. And that can be really isolating.

I've also struggled with rejection. I've been rejected by retailers, by investors, by potential partners. And it's really hard. It's really hard to hear no.

But I've learned that rejection is a part of life. And it's okay to be rejected. It doesn't mean that you're not good enough. It just means that you're not right for that particular thing.

I've also learned that it's important to talk to someone if you're struggling with mental health issues. I see a therapist regularly. And she's been a huge help to me.

She's helped me to understand my anxiety and depression. She's helped me to develop coping mechanisms. And she's helped me to learn how to love and accept myself.

I think it's really important for people to know that they're not alone. If you're struggling with mental health issues, please reach out for help. There are people who care about you and want to help you.

Amy Morin: Thank you so much for sharing that. I think it's so important. And I think you're absolutely right. The stigma associated with mental health is still a huge issue. And it prevents people from getting the help that they need.

I'm also really glad that you mentioned talking to a therapist. I think that's such an important step. And I think it's something that more people should do.

So, you mentioned rejection. And I know that's something that you've faced a lot of in your life. Can you talk a little bit more about how you've dealt with rejection?

Jamie Kern Lima: Sure. So, I've been rejected a lot in my life. I've been rejected by retailers, by investors, by potential partners. And it's really hard. It's really hard to hear no. But I've learned that rejection is a part of life. And it's okay to be rejected. It doesn't mean that you're not good enough. It just means that you're not right for that particular thing.

I've also learned that it's important to not take rejection personally. It's not about you. It's about the other person or the situation.

And finally, I've learned that it's important to keep going. Even when you're facing rejection, don't give up on your dreams. Keep moving forward. Keep working hard. And eventually, you will achieve your goals.

Amy Morin: That's great advice. And I think it's something that a lot of people need to hear.

So, I want to talk a little bit about your book, Believe IT. In your book, you talk a lot about the importance of believing in yourself. And I think that's something that a lot of people struggle with. So, can you talk a little bit about how you learned to believe in yourself?

Jamie Kern Lima: Sure. So, I think it's really important to believe in yourself. If you don't believe in yourself, no one else will.

I learned to believe in myself by taking small steps. I started by setting small goals for myself and then working towards them. And as I achieved my goals, I started to believe in myself more and more.

I also learned to believe in myself by surrounding myself with positive people. People who believed in me and who encouraged me to follow my dreams.

And finally, I learned to believe in myself by trusting my intuition. I started to listen to my inner voice and to follow my gut. And the more I did that, the more I started to believe in myself.

Amy Morin: That's all great advice. And I think it's something that a lot of people can benefit from.

So, you've overcome a lot of challenges in your life. And you've achieved a lot of success. What's your advice for other people who are facing challenges in their lives?

Jamie Kern Lima: My advice