The Jamie Kern Lima Show - How to Turn Dreams Into Destiny! Incredible Underdog Story of Anastasia Beverly Hills Founder & Her Billion Dollar Beauty Empire

Episode Date: October 22, 2025

Imagine turning your dreams into your destiny! And believing you have what it takes to figure out how to do that, no matter what obstacles might be holding you back! Today’s the day to ignite you...r dreams, and know they’re possible, and I want you to share this episode with everyone in your life who needs a jolt of inspiration in theirs too - because we’re joined by someone who’s underdog to billion-dollar-beauty empire story is living proof that your goals and dreams are possible – the amazing and inspiring Anastasia Soare, founder and CEO of Anastasia Beverly Hills!   Anastasia is one of the world’s most successful self-made women and is often referred to as the "Queen of eyebrows." And now, for the very first time, she’s sharing her incredible journey in her brand new book, Raising Brows: My Story of Building a Billion-Dollar Beauty Empire - which is not only a behind-the-scenes look at building a global brand from nothing, it’s packed with tools on how you can achieve your own big dreams too!   Anastasia is such a powerful testament to courage, persistence, and believing in yourself when others might not. I am so excited for us all to learn from and be inspired by her grit, talent, passion and wisdom today! Full Video Available on YouTube ⁠⁠@JamieKernLimaOfficial⁠⁠. Are You Ready to believe in YOU?🙌⁠⁠ jamiekernlima.com⁠⁠ 👈 Sign up for my FREE Inspirational Newsletter here and you’ll ALSO get special prompt questions to help you grow in your self-worth-building that pair with each episode!🩷  Make sure to click the “Follow” button for the show on your favorite podcast app, so you’ll be the first to get each episode!  Episode Reflection Questions for YOU: Jamie writes prompt questions each episode to spark revelations in your self-worth journey and help you apply the tools and lessons from each episode into your real life right now. Please make sure you’re signed up for Jamie’s free inspirational newsletter ⁠ jamiekernlima.com⁠ 👈 Get my new book WORTHY plus FREE Bonus gifts including a 95+ page Worthy Workbook and more at ⁠WorthyBook.com⁠  For more resources related to today’s episode, click here ⁠https://jamiekernlima.com/show/⁠ for the podcast episode page. Chapters: 0:00 Welcome to The Jamie Kern Lima Show  13:10 Ways To Launch Your Dream…Finally! 16:10 Got A “NO”? Do THIS! 24:00 Immigrant to Billion $ America Dream 29:05 Stop Caring What Others Think About You! 47:50 Eyebrows & Your Most Beautiful You! 50:10 The Secret to Not Giving Up 54:30 “Stay Focused On Your Dream!” It’s such an honor to share this podcast together with you. And please note: I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Click⁠ Here⁠ to Subscribe to the YouTube Channel Follow me here:  ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Website⁠ —  Sign up for my inspirational newsletter for YOU at:⁠ jamiekernlima.com⁠  —  Looking for my books on Amazon? Here they are!  ⁠WORTHY⁠ ⁠Believe IT

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Starting point is 00:00:00 When you were a little girl, did you ever have a feeling like you were destined for great things? Yes, I did. I'm the perfect poster child of American dream. I came here with nothing. I didn't speak the language, but I saw the opportunities which this country really offers you. And I achieve my wildest dream. Imagine turning your dreams into your destiny and believing you have what it takes to figure out how to do that no matter what obstacles might be holding you back. Today's the day to ignite your
Starting point is 00:00:36 dreams and know they're possible. And I want you to share this episode with everyone in your life who needs a jolt of inspiration and theirs too, because we're joined by someone who's underdog to a billion-dollar beauty empire story is living proof that your goals and dreams are possible. The amazing and inspiring Anastasia Sware, founder and CEO, of Anastasia Beverly Hills. Anastasia is one of the world's most successful self-made women and is often referred to as the queen of eyebrows. And now for the very first time,
Starting point is 00:01:11 she's sharing her incredible journey in her brand new book, Raising Brows. My story of building a billion-dollar beauty empire, which is not only a behind-the-scenes look at building a global brand from nothing, it's packed with tools on how you can achieve your own big dreams too. As an esthetician and single mother
Starting point is 00:01:30 with no connections at the time, Anastasia risked her life, escaping communist Romania to come to America. Raising brows tells the remarkable story of how she built a billion-dollar beauty brand and went from watching Oprah's TV show to learn English to then shaping Oprah's eyebrows, along with building a glittering roster of clients,
Starting point is 00:01:50 including Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, Haley Beaver, Cindy Crawford, and pretty much all of Hollywood. But beneath the glossy exterior, Anastasia's path wasn't easy. From landlords and bank managers laughing at her dreams, she learned to ignore the naysayers and turn her dreams into her destiny anyways. Anastasia is such a powerful testament to courage, persistence, and believing in yourself when others might not.
Starting point is 00:02:20 I am so excited for us all to learn from and be inspired by her grit, talent, passion, and wisdom, today. And whether today you're listening for yourself or because someone that you love shared this episode with you, I want to welcome you to the Jamie Kernlema Show podcast family. Thank you so much for being here. And if you have two seconds and can do me a favor, hit the subscribe or follow button on the app you're listening or watching on. It truly means so much to me. And you can also get free inspiration right into your inbox from me for free. Just join my newsletter community at jamie karnelima.com. In this incredible podcast episode today, it's not just for you and me, please share this
Starting point is 00:03:03 with every person that you know who might need some inspiration today, or perhaps a little boost in their self-belief, because what you are about to hear can truly impact mine, yours, and their life too. I am so excited for this conversation. Welcome to the Jamie Kernelima show. Oprah, how have you defied the odds? Her show is unlike any I've ever done. A revelation.
Starting point is 00:03:31 When you listen, it feels like a hug, but your brain and your spirit and your heart is like, wow. Melinda French Gates. When I look into Jamie's eyes, I feel like I am on some other cosmic level with her. I could see the light around her. She's infused with light. Imagine overcoming self-doubt,
Starting point is 00:03:52 learning to believe in yourself and trust yourself. and know you are enough. Welcome to the Jamie Kern-Lima show. Jamie Kern-Lima's her name. Everybody needs Jamie Kron-Lima in their life. Jamie Kern-Lima. Jamie, you're so inspiring.
Starting point is 00:04:12 Jamie Kern-Lima. Anastasia Sware, welcome to the Jamie Kern-Curne-Lema show. Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited to be here today. I'm so excited. Your story's incredible, and I'm so excited for your new book. I read it cover to cover every word. It is so good.
Starting point is 00:04:32 I love when we connect with other people's stories. And then by the end of the book, we're like rooting for ourselves, and we believe in ourselves again. And I want to ask you just right off the top, there's so many people who, you know, want to turn their dreams into their destiny, but maybe they feel like it's too late, or they don't have the right connections, or they're too old. And I know with you, you worked in your first salon when you were around 30 and then opened your first one when you were around 40. Now today, you're on Forbes, America's richest, self-made women's list and have built this billion-dollar brand. What would you say to the person who's going, Anastasa, I want to turn my dreams into my destiny too, but, you know, do I have what it takes? It's never too late. Never too late.
Starting point is 00:05:21 Yeah. But I think you need to know exactly what do you want. What exactly you want? What are you passionate about? Because as you know, it's not easy. So if you don't love what you do and if you are not passionate, it's very difficult. You will give up sooner or later. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Starting point is 00:05:42 There was a moment you talk about in the book where you were working in the salon and as an esthetician. And it was when you started shaping eyebrows that you had this sort of like just ignited passion inside of you. Did you feel like there is a moment for you where you're like, oh, this is something I need to do, like kind of an aha moment as Oprah would say. When I started working as an aesthetician doing facial and bodywalking, it was I started with that feeling of doing something for somebody else, making her beautiful or at least
Starting point is 00:06:19 doing something that will give her confidence, making her feel beautiful, I think you get that energy back, and I start liking. Then later on, I bought a disposable camera, and I start taking pictures of myself with my family and my friends. And I realized that my eye, I look surprised. So I remember my art teacher talking about eyebrows, how important eyebrows are. and if you want to draw a portrait and change an emotion, you change the eyebrow shape. And I realized looking at the pictures of myself that I look surprised in the pictures. So I thought, oh, it's my eyebrows. Let me go back to the library and start studying the golden ratio technique that we used to
Starting point is 00:07:10 apply in our classes. And I fixed my eyebrows and I start doing that to my clients because I think. thought that. It's incredible. Changes your entire look, well-shaped eyebrows. And I think that was a moment when I really fell in love with. I thought, oh, my God, I could transform somebody's face. It was such a moment of an aha moment, number one, but two, I felt so good that I was able to do that for somebody. Yeah. Isn't it so interesting when we look back at like the things that we go through and then we have this experience that sort of like sparks this idea. I think a lot about this idea of are our steps ordered in life. Because there's a lot of people right now who might be listening
Starting point is 00:08:04 or watching us right now and they have a dream or something they're passionate about. But then they're in a job that maybe feels like it has nothing to do with it or it's not helping them. But I actually, I think so often the things we go through sort of can set us up. And I think about the days I was waitressing at Denny's. And Anastasia, I worked at Denny's. I love the job. I love the job. But at the particular location I was in, the kitchen had major operational problems.
Starting point is 00:08:33 So they would take like an hour to get pancakes out. And I'm waitressing and people would get so upset. They'd get up and leave. And so I became really good at talking to people and just trying to, because I was like a poor, broke student trying to pay my bills. But I'll never forget, you know, in that moment in time, you know, I had a lot of dreams, but a lot of self-doubt. I never knew I'd be building a company one day. But what I learned was like, oh, you've got to get your operations right if you want to have a successful brand, right? And so later when I'm building it cosmetics, I was like,
Starting point is 00:09:04 oh, we've got to get our operations right. We've got to get our, you know. And for you, I, I, I, oh, my gosh, I loved, I loved reading your book so much, raising brows. It's out now. Because we go on this journey with you. When you spent your days growing up in Romania and you were in, you know, with your mom who was designing dresses and you got to watch patterns and watch women just be like delighted when when the outcome helped make them feel their most beautiful. Do you think that planted seeds in you for what you're doing now? Absolutely. Absolutely. I think in my mom's attelier, the seed was planted because I could witness my mom's. My mom's. mother showing and giving her clients so much love and making them feel so important and so
Starting point is 00:09:53 beautiful. And I think that was the seed. And exactly how you just said about you working at Denny's, you realized that was the seed that was implanted in you. Like, I have to do something. And operation is the most important thing. how I will plan this A to Z and execute. Not only I have a dream.
Starting point is 00:10:17 Yes, there are many people that are super smart and they have dreams and they are talented. But from that to putting in practice and deliver and do it every day and every day you should do it better and better to master your craft, I think that's the magic in everything you do. Yeah, and I think when I, you know, when I was reading so many different pieces of your journey along the way. I just think of everyone who's listening or watching going, okay, I'm in this job right now or I had this different type of way I was
Starting point is 00:10:51 raised, but those things were exposed to one day can really be these seeds that blossom in unexpected ways that become really valuable. Absolutely. Absolutely. I want to talk about knows and rejection because they stop a whole lot of people from trying or from thinking that they have what it takes. And when you were working in a salon with owners, bosses that you loved and you were doing, working as an esthetician, and you came to them
Starting point is 00:11:22 and you said, I want to do a standalone brow service and like a whole brow thing. And that was a big moment and a big no. Yes. And can you talk about that for a moment? Well, in 1990, eyebrow shaping wasn't a service. People didn't believe that you have to charge for shaping eyebrows. So it used to take me maybe half an hour to shape eyebrow at the beginning because I was just building my technique, trying to perfect my technique.
Starting point is 00:11:57 So it used to take me half an hour, 40 minutes. Well, I used to have a block for a facial, block for an hour to get a facial finish. for my client. So the charge for a facial was way more than the charge for an eyebrow because at the beginning they said, okay, how much we could charge $10? So it didn't make sense for the business, which I understood at that time. Didn't make sense for their business, the owner. And because I really believed in that magic, the science combined with beauty, I really believed
Starting point is 00:12:37 in that. I thought that I could rent a room in a salon and I could do facial and body waxing. I would work extra hour, but I would still try to build eyebrow business because I really believed in that. And it wasn't easy to make that decision because my husband didn't work. I had a little kid. I was the breadwinner in the family. But still, I thought, this is the reason why I came in this country. I need to do something. I believe in this. Even so, nobody believed, including my husband, in my dream. But I thought, what do I have to lose? If I don't make it in six months, I could go and work as an aesthetician in another place. And it's very interesting that when I used to work in the salon and shape eyebrows or to facials or body waxing, I used to have
Starting point is 00:13:35 clients that used to ask me, you know, I'm an accountant or I work in a bank or they were in a job that they were not happy. But my dream is to do something else. And I used to tell them like, okay, you need to have a plan. Okay. Don't give up your job because you have a family to raise. Try slowly to build whatever you believe in it. If you want another business, don't give your daytime job. And when you feel like you could make the money, that were equal with your salary, then slowly you could switch because it's scary to start something so drastic and so, you know, important in your life that if you cannot make it, then what are going to do?
Starting point is 00:14:23 So there are moments definitely when you feel like, okay, I want, I have this dream, I want to build, I don't know what, but you have to have a strategy. or go to a company that you could work for and you could learn because it's so easier to look at things from outside. Yes. But when you are inside, you know very well. It's cosmetics. You feel like, oh my God, I love beauty products.
Starting point is 00:14:52 I want to start a beauty brand. And then when you start a beauty brand and you start dealing with the operation, with the warehouse, with shipping, with everything that takes to do that, you feel like, okay, I don't know what I got myself into. Yes, yes. I know. Sometimes I think there were moments.
Starting point is 00:15:12 I was like, if I knew it was this hard. Yes. I don't know if I would have done. I'm glad I didn't know. I'm glad I didn't know. No, that's another thing. If I knew how difficult it was, I would never do it. But it's exactly like when you have a baby, you feel like,
Starting point is 00:15:26 oh, if she had the baby and was able to do it, I could do it too. And then you have the baby, you think like, oh, my God, this is way harder than I thought. Yes. With the business is the same. Yes, yes. It's so true. And like we almost have to do it ourselves, though, to figure that out. You know, someone can tell us.
Starting point is 00:15:45 For sure. And it's so hard. You know, I wonder if the owners of the salon at the time, who I know you love dearly, had they said, yes, yes, we'll add the service in the salon. Do you think that would have changed the course of things at all? Like was that no, we don't want to add it, was that like a huge gift? Because then you were like, okay, I'm going to bet on myself. I'm going to do my own thing.
Starting point is 00:16:07 I'm going to go for it. Absolutely. Absolutely was a gift for me. Yeah. Because in all the knows that I always got was a reason for me to push even harder. Yeah. You know, like I'm going to do it. I'm going to work twice as much.
Starting point is 00:16:24 I'm going to make it because I know I'm going to succeed. I'm not going to give up. Yeah. I want everyone to hear this because we need to pause for a super brief break. And while we do, take a moment to share this episode with every single person that you know who this could inspire. Because this conversation can truly be the words and inspiration they need to hear today to keep going, to remember that they matter and to feel less alone and more enough, more connected, more inspired, and more worthy. in life you don't soar to the level of your hopes and dreams you stay stuck at the level of your
Starting point is 00:17:02 self-worth when you build your self-worth you change your entire life and that's exactly why I wrote my new book worthy how to believe you are enough and transform your life for you if you have some self-doubt to destroy and a destiny to fulfill worthy is for you in worthy you'll learn proven tools and simple steps that bring life-changing results, like how to get unstuck from the things holding you back. Build unshakable self-love. Unlearn the lies that lead to self-doubt and embrace the truths that wake up worthiness. Overcome limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome. Achieve your hopes and dreams by believing you are worthy of them and so much more. Are you ready to unleash your greatness and step in to the person you were born to be?
Starting point is 00:18:01 Imagine a life with zero self-doubt and unshakable self-worth. Get your copy of Worthy, plus some amazing thank you bonus gifts for you at Worthybook.com or the link in the show notes below. Imagine what you do if you fully believed in you. It's time to find out with Worthy. Who you spend time around is so important as energy is contagious and so is self-belief. And I'd love to hang out with you even more, especially if you could use an extra dose of inspiration, which is exactly why I've created my free weekly newsletter that's also
Starting point is 00:18:45 a love letter to you delivered straight to your inbox each and every Tuesday morning from me. If you haven't signed up to make sure that you get it each week, just go to jamiecernlema.com to make sure you're on the list and you'll get your one-on-one with Jamie weekly newsletter and get ready to believe in you. If you're tired of hearing the bad news every single day and need some inspiration, some tips, tools, joy, and love hitting your inbox, I'm your girl. Subscribe at jamiekernlima.com or in the link in the show notes. Do you struggle with negative self-talk? Living with a constant mental narrative that you're not good enough is exhausting.
Starting point is 00:19:34 I know because I spent most of my life in that habit. The words you say to yourself about yourself are so powerful. And when you learn to take control over your self-talk, it's life-changing. And I wanted to give you a free resource that I created for you if this is something that could benefit your life. It's called Five Ways to Overcome Negative Self-Talk and Build Self-Love. And it's a free how-to guide to overcome that negative self-talk to build confidence and develop unshakable self-love so that you can dream big and keep going in the pursuit of your
Starting point is 00:20:13 goals. Don't let self-sabotaging thoughts hinder your progress any longer. It's time to rewrite the script of your life when filled with self-love, resilience, and unwavering belief. If you're ready to take charge of your narrative, build unwavering confidence, and empower yourself to persevere on the path to your dreams, you can grab your free guide to stop overthinking and learn to trust yourself at jamiekernlima.com slash resources or click the link in the show notes below.
Starting point is 00:20:47 And now more of this incredible conversation together. I want everyone to hear this because I get, I mean, emails, DMs, letters every day from people saying like I just got my fourth rejection from a publisher or I just got another no on my business. I feel like it's, I feel like I don't have what it takes. And I think that, I think that, you know, we always hear about cancel culture, which of course is a real thing. But I think the biggest form of cancel culture that a lot of people don't realize is
Starting point is 00:21:14 us canceling ourselves before we even try. or before we keep going. And everyone knows your outcome, right? If they Google your name, they're going to see Anastasios Sori, builds a billion-dollar beauty empire, you know, but really understanding, oh, wow, she had nose too. She had setbacks. She had hardships. And how did she handle them?
Starting point is 00:21:34 Right? Because we both, you and I both have had a million nose. Yes. Yeah. And I have to say that every time I will get to know, I wanted to know why I got rejected. okay, because I was thinking, okay, I need to use a totally different avenue. So why they don't like my idea or what they don't want me to do this and then use that for my next pitch.
Starting point is 00:22:04 You know what I mean? And sometimes maybe it's not the right time when you want to start something or they are not the right people. Yes. Always, you know, timing is everything. think. Yes, yes. Yeah, there's so many reasons why it could happen. And so often it's not an indication that you don't have what it takes or that your idea is not going to make it. And I just love the meanings that you assign to no and rejection because I always talk about how success
Starting point is 00:22:31 leaves clues. And I think that, you know, we can all just take, save ourselves so many nights, crying ourselves asleep and so much self-doubt if we connect and understand stories like yours. And how did you handle the nose? And how did you, oh, how you went through? through that too, but wait, you didn't let it stop you. And so I love that so much. I wonder when you were a little girl, did you ever have a feeling like you were destined for great things? Yes, I did. You did. Yes, I did. I always wanted to be significant to do something that would be different than my life in Romania. I mean, I lived in a communist regime. It was very difficult. But in a way, think that made me resilient, made me resourceful, made me who I am today. And I'm really
Starting point is 00:23:26 thankful for, you know. You always had to adapt every day because you didn't know tomorrow if you could survive, you know, you were in a survivor mood. Yeah. And it I think was important for me to realize that it's always another answer. I'm thinking of of, and obviously I can only imagine, but I'm thinking of all of the little kids, your same age, going through similar situations in Romania or any part of the country or the world right now. And a lot of them might handle things different. Where do you think that knowing of I want to do great things? Where do you think that came from when you're a little girl? I think came from my grandfather. He was an emigrant in Romania and he constantly used to
Starting point is 00:24:18 tell me that he made a mistake leaving Macedonia and coming to Romania instead of going to United States. And I was in a room with him and we had a tiny little radio and we used to close the window and drapes and the doors and listening to Voice of America because it was the only way for us to know what was happening everywhere. And he used to tell me, like, I made a huge mistake not going to America, but you should go because this is what freedom is. This is where freedom is, not here. I made a mistake.
Starting point is 00:24:58 And I think he installed that in me. Like, I have to go to America. I mean, now I look back and even when I came here, I thought, wow, what the hell I was thinking. didn't speak the language. I didn't know anyone. I didn't have one penny to make a phone call. And I don't know. I was just my grandfather voice was in my mind. You have to go there. And he planted a seed. He planted the seed. Then you trusted it. You went for it. Yes. I was the only one in the family that wanted to come here. Nobody wanted to help. I love the pattern of you betting on yourself and believing yourself.
Starting point is 00:25:45 I want to ask you about being in school and getting and the red boots that you wore. Tell us about the red boots because I fell in love with you again reading the story about the red boots in school. Can you talk about what happened? You really read the book. So of course in a communist regime, everybody had to wear that. the same uniform and we had like flats black shoes and I really didn't like them. I felt like they were not sexy enough or not sexy but like not feminine enough. And my mother bought me a
Starting point is 00:26:26 pair of red boots from Italy. They were platform exactly how the fashion is right now, believe it or not. And I went to school with wearing those boots. and pull my uniform and make it a little shorter because you always had to have it below the knee. And I felt like I was breaking the rules. And of course, the teacher were not happy, but I wanted to kind of make my point, and I wanted to feel like I am going to do something
Starting point is 00:27:01 breaking a rule that I wanted to feel, or at least dream, that this is what people in the West are wearing, you know, that kind of, I mean, I used to get some Vogue magazines, and it was not easy because everything was black market. We couldn't buy anything from the West. And, of course, looking at the fashion was incredible for me, and I wanted to feel like I am like all those girls in the West. You mentioned knowing that some of the other kids at school, like may judge you for it and have a problem with it and you might feel like a little bit. Yes, but I never really paid attention to, I wasn't really, I didn't care if people will judge me.
Starting point is 00:27:58 I mean, everything was, in a communist Romania, everybody will judge you, okay? And I thought I want to go in a country where nobody is going to judge me for what I want to do, what I want to be, who I want to be. And probably that's why I picked Los Angeles. I felt like this is the freedom. Yeah. Do you, where do you think that strength came from? Because a lot of us going through especially school years, whether it's elementary school, junior high, high school, I mean, people are plagued by trying to fit in and worrying about like not fitting in and what. do people think? Where do you think that strength came from? I don't know. I never had that.
Starting point is 00:28:38 Growing up, I never wanted to be like somebody else. And I was the shortest in the class because I was a gymnast and I was so skinny. But I never really, it didn't matter to me. I had my own agenda. I wanted to go to art classes. I want to be the best gymnast. I wanted to paint the best the paintings, that was more important for me that being like somebody else. Do you care what people think now? Never. I never care. Never.
Starting point is 00:29:10 Never. I wanted to do the right thing for me. Yeah. But I never care what other people think of me. In this day and age, now being such a global, well-known person, I feel like now in 2025, I mean everybody, no matter who it is, with social media and everything going on there's a million people that love you and every person and and and they have something to say yeah this and that and when you are aware of any of that stuff that comes with everybody
Starting point is 00:29:41 nowadays do you you don't care you know this I like myself yeah and if you don't like me it's okay that's you are entitled to your opinion yeah but I like myself yeah I try to be a good person I try to do the right thing in life I try to do good for other people, to help other people. And again, if you don't like what I do or how I look or what I wear, it's okay. You are entitled to your opinion. It doesn't mean that it's going to affect me. Don't you think?
Starting point is 00:30:17 How are you strong enough not to let it affect you? You just don't. I mean, no, I don't. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I do not spend the time. Yes. I don't waste my time. because my time is so precious.
Starting point is 00:30:33 I want to use my time in things that I could grow, I could learn, I could do amazing things for other people. Yes. If I will focus on the negative, then it pushes me back. And I can't do that. I just want to call this out because I'm about to jump out of my chair because I'm so excited because you are going to free. There's going to be someone that just heard,
Starting point is 00:30:59 I'm going to cry. There'd be someone that just heard what you shared in the last two minutes and it's going to change their life for two reasons. So many people right now are so scared to put themselves out there or to, you know, post how they are authentically on social media or to raise their hand in a meeting and share an idea or to bet on themselves because they're scared of what other people will think. They're scared of they won't fit in anymore. And why I'm so excited right now on Assacia is like when you share you know even in school you know you were you know you share that you were maybe yourself fully you didn't need to fit in you were a gymnast and really skinny and wanted to wear red shoes and wanted to go to art class and and look at you look at when success
Starting point is 00:31:44 leaves clues I think one of the keys for every single person to living their greatest life is when they fully are all of who they are and you are talking about how you know you've been all of who you are and like that's your superpower right like if you were like oh let me fit in in school let me try to make sure everyone likes me or oh now let me care what everyone thinks that kind of stuff will we'll doubt ourselves out of our own destiny so fast when we do that and i love that you're sitting here as somebody who you know was a mom with no connections trying to figure out how do i make money betting on yourself starting with nothing and you're sitting here having built a billion plus dollar beauty empire, having almost every single person I can
Starting point is 00:32:33 think of who loves you and has been impacted by your work and the impact you have every single day. And you look at that pattern and everyone right now can decide, you know what, I'm going to stop freaking caring about all this. I'm going to be who I fully am. And if someone says something against me, I'm not going to care. No. I'm going to give you another example. So when I came, I had $200 and I bought myself a fourth station wagon that it was as big as this room. And the car was so bad.
Starting point is 00:33:09 I mean, the hood was open and the exhaust was a tube coming out of the hood in front. The windows in the back didn't close. properly, so it was open like in a diagonal. It was a bad car, but I didn't care. My daughter used to say, Mom, we can't even go to park or to valet the car because this is such a bad car. Now you make enough money where I was working, renting. I was making decent money, but to me was important to save those money because I had a bigger dream. And she used to say, Mom, just like, can you buy a lot?
Starting point is 00:33:51 another car? Like, no? Like what people will say, you work in Beverly Hills. Like, I don't care what they say. I don't need to get in debt and drive a Mercedes because I want to save the money and build something. To me, I always think of the, in the long run. Now, I don't care what. I really didn't matter to me what other people thought, what the valet parking the gentleman thought of my car or it wasn't important. It's important who I am. It doesn't matter what car I drive. This is what I think.
Starting point is 00:34:32 Yeah, yeah. Well, and it's so beautiful because I feel like even with so many people now that start businesses, they see what's going on all over social media and they prioritize sort of like flash over cash and making sure that they're like thinking long term. You say in the book that there were some valets that refused to park your car. Yeah, they didn't want to park my car. Yeah, yeah. You know, one other thing you said, I just want to highlight because it's so good. And I want everyone at home to think of their own time this way as well. But you mentioned your time's so precious. You can be doing
Starting point is 00:35:04 so many things to impact, to help other people. And so it's like anything we do comes at the price of what we could be doing. Anytime we're spending focusing on what this person thinks about me or this person said that, that comes at the price of our time and energy that we could be doing something completely different. And sometimes what will happen, you will spend so much time on focusing on that negative instead of putting your whole persona into, let me see how I could grow. Let me see how I could learn something else. Let me think of me. What else? What else? I could do to prosper, to do better for my family, to do better for other people, for my customers, for my friends, to meet. I mean, always stay positive and look at the bright, look at the half full
Starting point is 00:36:03 glass, not half empty glass. Yeah, so good. You know, a lot of us are in loving families, well-intended families. We have great friends. But when we share a big idea, they don't get it or we get laughed at you you were laughed at by potential landlords not given loans by the bank and you chose to bet on yourself anyway and you know now you've been at the white house being celebrated by the most powerful people in the country you've been you know celebrated by so many people but to go from that moment of being in that spot which so many of us can relate to where we had this idea, but in your case, the landlord thinks it's ridiculous. Like, it's not going to, like, that's not a real business doing brows.
Starting point is 00:36:54 You're not going to be able to pay rent for me, doing brows. You have banks not wanting to give you a loan. In those kind of moments, can you share how you handled them? Yes. So we need to pause for a super brief break. And while we do, take a moment to share this episode with every single person that you know who this could inspire because this conversation can truly be the words and inspiration they need to hear today to keep going, to remember that they matter and to feel less alone and more
Starting point is 00:37:25 enough, more connected, more inspired, and more worthy. Who you spend time around is so important as energy is contagious and so is self-belief. And I'd love to hang out with you even more, especially if you could use an extra dose of inspiration, which is exactly why I've created my free weekly newsletter. That's also a love letter to you delivered straight to your inbox each and every Tuesday morning from me. If you haven't signed up to make sure that you get it each week, just go to jamie karlima.com to make sure you're on the list
Starting point is 00:38:03 and you'll get your one-on-one with Jamie weekly newsletter and get ready to believe in you. If you're tired of hearing the bad news every single day and need some inspiration, some tips, tools, joy, and love hitting your inbox, I'm your girl. Subscribe at jamiekernlima.com or in the link in the show notes. I am so excited for this book. You know why? Because it's going to save so many.
Starting point is 00:38:36 It's going to save you. Worthy your new beautiful book. Get this book. This book? I'm telling you. It's a book that can change anybody's life who picks it up. Anybody who's ever felt that they were not good enough, didn't measure up, something's missing in your life. I have to tell you.
Starting point is 00:38:56 It's powerful. It's happening. It's worthy. Imagine what would you do if you fully believed in you. I went from struggling waitress facing non-stop rejection to founder of ItCon. founder of It Cosmetics, a billion dollar company by learning how to overcome self-doubt and believe I'm worthy of my hopes and dreams. And I'm sharing how you can too and my new book Worthy, How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life. If you're ready to truly trust
Starting point is 00:39:30 yourself and break through that barrier of self-doubt and know that where you come from or even where you are right now doesn't determine where you're going than worthy is for you. It's time to go from doubting you're enough to knowing you're enough. It's time to step into all of who you are and into the person you were born to be.
Starting point is 00:39:53 And it's time to believe that you are worthy of it because in life, we don't become what we want. We become what we believe we're worthy of. Join the Worthy Movement today by grabbing your copy of Worthy, anywhere books are sold, then head to Worthybook.com now for free gifts, including my five-part course on becoming unstoppable and my 95-page Worthy Workbook Action Plan that teaches you how to implement the tools from the book into your real life right now. Worthy is groundbreaking.
Starting point is 00:40:30 Yo. My God! Worthy, you are always. This book is going to change lives. This book literally will teach you how to actually feel worthy so that you can have the strength. You can have the confidence. The lessons in this book and the strategies will change your life. You will never be the same again after you read this book.
Starting point is 00:40:48 Jamie's Bookworthy is a must read. It is going to inspire you, empower you, give you the hope that you need and the kick in the rear end that you deserve. Jamie's Bookworthy is incredible. The gifts are going away, but they're all. All free right now on worthybook.com. And now more of this incredible conversation together. You have banks not wanting to give you a loan. In those kind of moments, can you share how you handle them?
Starting point is 00:41:20 Yes. So I wanted to rent the spot that I have the salon, even today, believe it or not, is still there for 38 note bed for drive. And I went to the landlord, and I told him that I want to, of course, he asked me, what's your business? I said, well, I shape eyebrows, and I'm working with the biggest celebrity in Hollywood. So the gentleman looked at me and said, you do eyebrows? I was like, lady, this is Beverly Hills. You can pay rent in Beverly Hills, shaping eyebrows.
Starting point is 00:41:57 He didn't even know what that service was. and I he didn't want to rent me the space so the space I knew for sure because I used to work around the corner was empty for two years in 96 97 the economy was not that great in US and especially Los Angeles so there were a lot of empty spots
Starting point is 00:42:20 and I stay there for two hours trying to convince the landlord that he needs to needs to give me the space. I tried every avenue. If you will say, oh, no, no, I brought it's impossible. You cannot pay the rent. Then I use something else.
Starting point is 00:42:39 I said, well, you know, the space, it's empty for two years. Give me six months. Give me the space for six months. And if I don't make it, I'm going to leave. I'm going to rent or go again and rent a tiny little room. But give me the space for six months. Still, he wasn't convinced. Then I used my last card.
Starting point is 00:43:04 I said, well, I'm sure your parents, your grandparents, or grand-grandparents were immigrants in this country. It's like, I'm an immigrant. Give me a chance. Somebody gave them a chance. And you know what? He said, okay, I will give you for six months. The space.
Starting point is 00:43:23 Is everyone recognizing a pattern here? Because, again, a lot of people would hear no. And they will leave. Or they might get offended or they might, I mean, who knows? Or they would hear no for an hour and then leave. And you're just like unremitting and you keep going. And then you connect at that heart level. Yes.
Starting point is 00:43:42 I tried every card. Actually, the broker, Dembo, I will never forget, was there. After like half an hour, a no, no, no. He looked at me and was like, let's leave. He's not going to give you the space. Like, I'm not leaving. We don't leave this place until. I'm going to get an yes.
Starting point is 00:44:01 And I did. I love it. So you created the iconic, the iconic golden ratio for eyebrows. And I love, which just brings out someone's most beautiful face. And I love when you say that for you and one of your many talents is like, I think you say in the movie The Sixth Sense, but instead of them seeing I see dead people, you're like, I see eyebrows. When you look at someone's face, can you talk about that? I know you shared that you were studying the Golden Race Show in libraries and with art and then how you brought that to life because this is so good because we can get inspiration
Starting point is 00:44:40 from so many places. You brought that into an industry first ever and you transformed a beauty industry. Yes. Can you talk about that? So in art school, I studied, of course, the Golden Racial technique. Leonardo da Vinci used this technique in all his art. And when I realized that my eyebrows made me look surprised, I wanted to create a technique that will shape the perfect eyebrow according to my bone structure and my natural shape.
Starting point is 00:45:13 And I start going to the library and kind of revisit the work that Leonardo da Vinci did. He studied the entire body, the face, as you know, the only thing he didn't was the eyebrows. And of course it took me hours and hours to kind of create that perfect shape or the technique. And once I started doing it was so much easier. Another important element was that working in Beverly Hills, I had clients from everywhere, every ethnicity because it was important. We all have different bone structure, different hair in our eyebrows, different length of the eyebrows
Starting point is 00:45:56 and was so good that I was able to kind of compare every bone structure and kind of create the stencils and then there were not eyebrow products and I was mixing eye shadow with aloe vera and Vaseline to create the opomade and from art store I used to buy the brushes because there were no brushes for eyebrows and this is how I used to finish the perfect arch
Starting point is 00:46:25 when my client would leave. And then they will come back after three weeks and they will say, well, Anastasia, my eyebrow looked great when I left, but after I took a shower, my eyebrow still was missing hairs. And that was the moment when I thought, okay, I have to create products.
Starting point is 00:46:43 I went to Cosmoprop in Bologna and I started working on the products. And the beauty of that was, I couldn't find a, the products to copy or to be inspired, I created every product based on the need of my clients. So I would give them the samples and ask them, okay, text me or not text me, call me and tell me how do you like it. It's too soft.
Starting point is 00:47:09 It's too dark. It's just to create the perfect arch, the perfect product. And this is how the products were created. And you gave the golden ratio. like you named it, you owned it, you claimed it, and you created this whole shift in an industry. And, you know, what I love is it applies to everybody. So every person listening right now can figure out the golden ratio for them. You have a chart in the book, right?
Starting point is 00:47:38 So when you get your copy of Raising Brow's brand new book that's out now, so good, there's even a chart in there that can show you exactly how to do that for your face shape, no matter what age you are or ethnicity or bone structure. Or, yeah, and tell everyone maybe if they're hearing this for the first time, when they do their braves with the golden ratio, what happens to them? What happens to their face? Well, the perfect eyebrow shape brings balance and proportion a harmony within all their features. And the human eyes encoded to recognize that harmony. And it's all of a sudden, even if you are not an expert, and that.
Starting point is 00:48:21 was probably the reason why was worth of mouth, because when I started, didn't exist social media and was worth of mouth, the client will walk on the street and somebody was, wow, it's something different about you. And they will, of course, proudly, they will say, well, I just got my eyebrows at Anastasia. Yeah. And it was wonderful to get that. And I, at the beginning, I remember how hard I worked and so many hours because I wanted to do the perfect eyebrows. I wanted to master my skill. And I think it was very important for me. I think, of course, I wanted to be successful.
Starting point is 00:49:10 I wanted to make money. But that wasn't my primal objective. I wanted to do the best eyebrows. Yeah. And you have. And I did. for pretty much half the world now. You say when you feel beautiful, you feel powerful.
Starting point is 00:49:31 And what do you say? Because you've had so many people who you've met throughout the years. Now there's millions of women and people impacted by your work who love your products, who love your message. When you say you feel, when you feel beautiful, you feel powerful. What do you say to the woman who's like, Anastasia, I've not felt beautiful. ever or in a very long time.
Starting point is 00:49:56 What I will tell her, she needs to get her eyebrows done. But I worked in the salon for many years. And every five minutes I used to have another client. I used to have three hours waiting list. So working nonstop. But every single time when I finish the eyebrow and my client, we give my client the mirror
Starting point is 00:50:20 and she will look in the mirror, you could see her face was lit. She would feel like a million bucks. I thought, wow, the effect that an eyebrow, you could see, I could feel it, I could see it. Her energy, that explosive energy kind of gave me so much power to keep doing this. And many times, I have to say this,
Starting point is 00:50:49 I think my clients were the one that will keep me going because I had days and nights when I would go home and think, like, I can't do this anymore. This is hard. This is difficult. Yeah. But they will keep that fire in me. And I felt like they were the ones that it will keep me going.
Starting point is 00:51:11 You know what I love about that. I think about, you know, for anyone who's maybe an entrepreneur now are putting their art out in the world and their ideas. or anything, who's having those days where you're just like, am I even supposed to do this? Is that you know? And I think one thing you just shared is so powerful that I think is a big key to success that we can all sort of like lean on when times are tough. I think we all have to have a reason or more than one that we're doing it that's bigger than ourselves. And I remember there were, there were, I was going to say days, but honestly years that I spent
Starting point is 00:51:49 in the QVC Green Room, where I was so grateful to be on, but I was absolutely utterly burnt out working 100-hour weeks going, is my business going to make it? It was just, it was so much, and there were days that were so hard. And I would have emails and messages printed out from customers in a stack. And if I was having a really bad day, I would go through those. And I'd like, okay, this is why I'm doing what I'm doing. This is why I'm doing what I'm doing. And when you just shared that there were days that were so hard, but you'd have, you know,
Starting point is 00:52:18 somebody in your salon who's like, wow. And then you just saw them come alive. And that's sort of something bigger than yourself. And I want to call that out because I think that's important. I think a lot of people maybe haven't thought of that in what they're doing. And I think we've all got to have something that we can lean on on those hard days. You have to find an anchor that will keep you going. Yeah. I mean, I remember those QVC. That's Sheraton. I mean, even right now, if you You tell me about QVC, I think the smell of the carpet that was 20 years ago, Sheraton, the only hotel close to QVC. And I used to go there at 2 o'clock in the morning and being on the show and then fly back
Starting point is 00:53:06 and the next morning I will be in the salon. I mean, working seven days a week, non-stop. But again, you have those moments where you have people that you have to stay anchor to the people that at least they will keep you going. Could be one, could be 10, could be 100, but you have to keep those people that will believe in you because that's the way you keep going and not give up. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:53:36 You know, one of the things I love so much amongst many with Raising Brow's, your new book that's out now, I'm excited for everyone to get this in their hands because we can see ourselves and what's possible for us in someone else's story. and there's so much that you share. You talk a lot about how even to this day you check every batch of product. I mean, there's so much that you share and hear that I think we can all think about
Starting point is 00:54:02 our own situation and learn from or recognize clues as to why you're so successful now. But if you were to think of maybe a couple of the big needle movers for anyone listening that really make a difference in building a business, that, you know, that whole, you know, you're so glad you did or continue to do now that you would tell everyone else to do. What would you say those are that are sort of the keys to success? Well, first, I think you need to be authentically who you are. What do you want? Do you believe in it?
Starting point is 00:54:34 Don't try to be like somebody else. Yeah. Because at the end of the day is going to come out. You have to be authentically you. You don't need to make yourself like somebody else thinking that they will like you more. No. You are perfect the way you are. Just you will shine. Just show us who you are. That's the most important thing when you start doing a business. You need to really be passionate about because it's very easy to give up. Then you have to be resilient and stay focused. Don't lose your focus.
Starting point is 00:55:11 I mean, during my career, there were many days when maybe I wanted to do something else. My apartheid job to get money and to invest in the company was flipping houses. I used to buy a house, remodel, and sell them. And I became so good at it. And I had moments when I, and I was thinking, oh, maybe I should do this, not eyebrows, because this is difficult. But no, I stayed focused on eyebrows. I used that money and that business just to be able to have the revenue to put into
Starting point is 00:55:46 the business. Stay constantly in your dream because it's going to take long time. Or if you are lucky to take you just a year or two, that's a different story. But most of the time, every overnight success takes at least 10 years. Yeah. Yeah. That's so good to stay focused on your dream because especially nowadays, you know, we scroll Instagram for five minutes and we could be like, oh, right? There's everything out there that can distract us or make us think that we're, you know, on the wrong track or that someone else has it easier and better. Or maybe I should do that thing. That's really good. Yeah. Yeah. Because it's not easy. For you, you know, you talk about, you talk about the words your grandpa shared when you were little and listening to the radio
Starting point is 00:56:34 with the drapes closed and then being the one from your family. The only one who's like, I'm going to America. How, what is the American dream? mean to you? Do you feel like you've, do you feel like you've created the American dream? And do you think it's still alive and well today? Well, I think I'm, I'm the perfect, the poster child of American dream. I came here with nothing. I didn't speak the language, but I saw the opportunities which this country really offers you. And I achieve my wildest dream. I ever thought that I would achieve that much, but I work really hard, and I still work really hard because I love it. And I still believe that the American dream is still alive. I think people need to see the
Starting point is 00:57:29 opportunities. I think opportunities are everywhere. It will be different. Now, today, the AIs, social media, when I started, the opportunities were different, you know. But I still believe this country offers so many opportunities. And you still work so hard because you do not need to work at all. And I have people say to me, like, because I work a lot right now. I actually work too much right now. But I love it. Like, I love this show.
Starting point is 00:58:07 I want to. I'm so honored to share your story with so many people. So I love it. I'm curious for you because you don't have to do nothing, right? So why is it right now? You still work. I love it. I love to be, to be, I'm so competitive.
Starting point is 00:58:22 I love to be involved. I love to win. This conversation with Anastasia is so incredible. We made it into more than one part. If you want to gain stories, insights, and true inspiration to turn your dreams into your destiny, you are not going to want to miss this incredible part two of our conversation. with Anastasia Swaree coming up in the next episode of the Jamie Kern Lema Show. Remember, this episode's not just for you and me.
Starting point is 00:58:52 Please share this with every single person that you know because it can impact and change their life too. And if you love today's episode, please click the follow or subscribe button for the show on the app that you're listening to it on or washing it on. And if it added value to your life, if you could please give it a five-star rating a review, I would be so grateful. and again, share it with everyone you believe in. Maybe it's another person in your life who could benefit from it who's building something of their own or facing a season of setback or just needs a boost
Starting point is 00:59:24 of inspiration. And please post the episode and share it with others online or in your community who just might need the words and tools and lessons in this episode today. You never know whose life you're meant to change today by sharing this episode. Thank you so much for joining me today. Before you go, I want to share some words with you that couldn't be more true. You, right now, exactly as you are, are enough and fully worthy. You're worthy of your greatest hopes, your wildest dreams, and all the unconditional love in the world. And it's an honor to welcome you to each and every episode of the Jamie Kernlema show. Here, I hope you'll come as you are and heal where you need, blossom what you choose.
Starting point is 01:00:12 journey toward your calling and stay as long as you'd like because you belong here. You are worthy. You are loved. You are love. And I love you. And I cannot wait to join you on the next episode of the Jamie Kern-Lima Show. In life, you don't soar to the level of your hopes and dreams. You stay stuck at the level of your self-worth. When you build your self-worth, you change your entire life. And that's exactly why I wrote my new book, Worthy, how to believe you are enough and transform your life for you. If you have some self-doubt to destroy and a destiny to fulfill, worthy is for you. In Worthy, you'll learn proven tools and simple steps that bring life-changing results,
Starting point is 01:01:04 like how to get unstuck from the things holding you back, build unshakable self-love, Unlearn the lies that lead to self-doubt and embrace the truths that wake up worthiness. Overcome limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome. Achieve your hopes and dreams by believing you are worthy of them and so much more. Are you ready to unleash your greatness and step in to the person you were born to be? Imagine a life with zero self-doubt and unshakable self-worth. Get your copy of Worthy, plus some amazing thank you bonus gifts for you at worthybook.com or the link in the show notes below.
Starting point is 01:01:52 Imagine what you do if you fully believed in you. It's time to find out with Worthy. Who you spend time around is so important as energy is contagious and so is self-belief. and I'd love to hang out with you even more, especially if you could use an extra dose of inspiration, which is exactly why I've created my free weekly newsletter that's also a love letter to you delivered straight to your inbox from me. If you haven't signed up to make sure that you get it each week, just go to jamie kernlima.com to make sure you're on the list and you'll get your one-on-one with Jamie weekly newsletter and get ready to believe in you.
Starting point is 01:02:39 If you're tired of hearing the bad news every single day and need some inspiration, some tips, tools, joy, and love hitting your inbox, I'm your girl. Subscribe at jamiekernlima.com or in the link in the show notes. And please note, I'm not a licensed therapist and this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional.

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