Human by Design
Note from Jamie
I like to share things that light me up, fill me with joy, and make my life easier. Nothing is sponsored. These are just things that are helping me along my journey.
Human by Design
Last week, I had the honor of being a panelist at University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee’s Innovation Expo. The theme was Human by Design, and I knew right away it was a conversation I wanted to be part of.
The room was filled with students, professionals, and curious minds. We talked about careers that didn’t follow a straight path. We shared failures, pivots, cringe moments, and unexpected turns.
As I looked around the room, I kept thinking how important it was for those students to hear:
Not everything goes according to plan. And that can be a gift.
I shared that years ago, I was laid off from Corporate America.
And truthfully, while there was uncertainty about what would come next, I also knew it was going to be a blessing.
I didn’t know exactly what the next chapter would look like, but I knew I wanted it to be filled with passion, purpose, and meaning.
That ending felt less like rejection and more like a permission slip to finally step onto the path that was meant for me.
It created space for something new.
Without that layoff, there may never have been Nourish.
I also shared how, during the pandemic, when shelves were empty and hand sanitizer was hard to find, we were still making it.
Orders poured in from across the country. We were featured in the news. During one of the hardest seasons in recent history, Nourish had our two strongest revenue years.
That season reminded me that growth doesn’t always come from perfectly crafted plans.
Sometimes it comes from listening closely, adapting quickly, and serving people well.
I also told them about some of our product flops.
Our PAWS Collection for dogs was a total flop.
We did the research. Customers said they wanted it. It seemed like a smart idea.
But if I’m being honest… I don’t even have a dog.
And if I’m being extra honest… dogs make me nervous. I don't particularly like being around them.
That product line taught me such an important lesson:
Just because something looks good on paper doesn’t mean it’s aligned with you.
We also launched a sunscreen years ago that simply wasn’t great. It was oily. It didn’t feel luxurious. It never took off.
Looking back, sunscreen is such a highly regulated category that it may have been protective that it didn’t succeed.
Sometimes what doesn’t work out is doing you a favor.
For many years, I thought success meant becoming a polished version of myself.
Say the right thing.
Look the part.
Please people.
Appear impressive.
I thought being polished would make me successful.
Instead, it often made me tired.
Over time, I started taking slow, steady steps back toward myself.
I became more honest in my writing. More vulnerable in this newsletter. Less interested in sounding impressive and more interested in sounding true.
And something beautiful happened.
You responded.
You wrote back. You shared your own stories. You told me you felt seen.
The more real I became, the stronger our community became.
People don’t connect with perfection. They connect with truth.
One of the greatest tools I’ve learned through all of this is mindful self-compassion.
When something goes wrong, when I make a mistake, when life feels hard, I pause and come back to these words:
This is hard.
I am not alone.
May I be kind to myself in this moment.
That small practice has changed my life.
It helps me recover faster. It helps me learn without shame. It helps me keep going.
To be human by design means we were never meant to be flawless.
We were meant to try.
To fail.
To adjust.
To repair.
To laugh at ourselves.
To keep becoming.
And when I look back on my own path, I can see it clearly now:
The mistakes, detours, and imperfect moments were not interruptions to the journey.
They were the journey.
xoxo,
Jamie
Inspiration
Nourish Pick of the Week
Roller Blends for Stress Relief & Calm
This week’s featured products feel especially fitting after reflecting on self-compassion and navigating life’s imperfect moments.
Our Stress Relief Roller Blend and Calm Roller Blend are gentle companions for those times when worry, anxiety, or overwhelm arise.
Roll on, take a deep breath, and remind yourself:
This is hard.
I am not alone.
May I be kind to myself in this moment.
Recipe of the Week
Easy Sheet-Pan Shrimp with Crispy Rice
My friend Grace shared this recipe and said it absolutely “knocked my socks off!”
This Easy Sheet-Pan Shrimp with Crispy Rice has all the cozy flavors of shrimp fried rice, with rice that turns wonderfully crispy on the edges and tender in the middle.
Simple, satisfying, and full of bright flavors from ginger, garlic, lime, and scallions — this one might just knock your socks off, too.
Live well. Be kind.
Jamie
