The real reason why I disappeared for a year.

No matter what your Black Friday plan was… this episode will change what you buy. Today, I’m giving you some serious tough love about the difference between spending money and investing money, especially if you’ve been feeling stuck, unfulfilled, stressed or terrified to start the business you know you want. Most people will spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on things they don’t need this weekend… but you need to hear this episode before you follow suit. In this episode, I’m sharing:  The uncomfortable truth about why investing in yourself feels so scary  How I used to buy everything except the thing that would actually change my life  Why college debt feels “normal,” but a $500 investment in yourself feels “risky”  The real cost of staying exactly where you are for another year  How inaction creates a ripple effect you can’t see yet  And a few of the student transformations that prove what’s possible when you finally say yes to yourself If you’ve been sitting on the fence, scared of spending money, scared of making the wrong decision, or scared of repeating the same year again… this episode is exactly what you need. Grab my 40-75% off Black Friday deals here: https://itsjessicahawks.com/blackfriday2025

After an unexpected year-long break from the podcast, I’m finally back and today I’m sharing exactly why I disappeared. This episode is a full behind-the-scenes life update: the weird mindset blocks I've had to work through, our whirlwind move to another state, what’s been happening inside my business, why I decided to change things and a few very exciting updates... If you’ve been wondering where I’ve been, this is the episode that fills in all the blanks. Resources: - From Jessica's Home on IG (For all of you home decor lovers!): https://www.instagram.com/fromjessicashome/ - Stay in the loop on our Black Friday deals by following me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjessicahawks/ - Learn more about starting your online business: https://itsjessicahawks.com - If you're a past DCA student, you can join us in DCA Live to fast track your results: https://itsjessicahawks.com/dca-live

Podcast Title: Digital State of Mind Episode Title: The Message you Need to Hear Right Now Host: Jessica Hawks Release Date: November 13th, 2024 Summary: In this episode of Digital State of Mind, Jessica shares a powerful message on comparison, growth, and the journey of self-discovery. She dives into the way we often admire others’ skills and confidence while doubting our own, reminding us that online personas are curated and don’t reflect the full story. Through personal reflections, she explores the concept of a knowledge baseline, or how we are constantly learning and expanding in ways that make today’s “impossible” feel achievable tomorrow. Jessica opens up about her own moments of insecurity, despite her successes, and how embracing a beginner mindset allowed her to grow her business from zero to $9k in just four months. She encourages listeners to recognize the value in being a novice again, to embrace new challenges, and to give themselves the grace to learn and evolve. She touches on the importance of surrounding yourself with people who believe in your potential and emphasizing that true growth happens when we allow ourselves the freedom to actually try. In this episode, you’ll hear about: A Life Update and Major Black Friday Plans: Jessica shares details of an upcoming vacation for her third anniversary, along with a hint about an exclusive Black Friday pre-sale, starting November 18th! Comparison and Perception: Jessica reflects on how seeing the curated highlights of others can lead us to question our own intelligence, creativity, and worth. She shares her insights on how to shift your focus from comparison to appreciating your unique journey. Understanding and Shifting Your Knowledge Baseline: Jessica delves into the importance of recognizing your knowledge journey. Just as she grew her business rapidly, she explains how anyone can reshape their “knowledge baseline” to feel more confident and empowered. Embracing New Challenges: Jessica recently took on a new experience as a beginner photographer and found the process both humbling and rewarding. This reminder to be open to new learning experiences is central to her growth philosophy. Surrounding Yourself with Supportive People: Jessica emphasizes the importance of having people around you who believe in your goals and inspire you to reach for more, but also reminds listeners that taking the leap is ultimately up to you. Resources: Email List Sign-Up for Black Friday Pre-Sale Digital Creatives Academy LAB Membership Connect with Jessica: Instagram Website Submit Your Questions: Submit an anonymous question for a future Q&A episode! Submit here.  

Podcast Title: Digital State of Mind Episode Title: Building a Sustainable Team Host: Jessica Hawks Release Date: October 22nd, 2024 Summary: In this episode of the Digital State of Mind podcast, host Jessica Hawks dives deep into her journey of building a team and shares actionable advice for other business owners looking to expand their team in a thoughtful and sustainable way. She emphasizes that building a team is not only a significant responsibility but also a motivator to show up daily for the people you lead. Whether you’re hiring your first subcontractor or thinking about growing into a larger company, Jessica provides valuable insights into how to approach leadership, hiring, and the nuances of business culture. Topics Covered: Times Square Billboard with Kajabi Following your passion in business Deciding when to expand your team Balancing freedom and structure in team dynamics Tips for starting with subcontractors Leadership and creating a healthy business culture Setting rates for team members Incorporating a “CEO Day” for business growth Delegating tasks to focus on higher-level work Business model choices: agency vs. small team Scaling and soul-searching: choosing your business model and team size Showing up for your team and the rewards of leadership Navigating challenges and hard conversations as a leader Resources: Kajabi Digital Creatives Academy LAB Membership Connect with Jessica: Instagram Website Submit Your Questions:  Submit an anonymous question for a future Q&A episode! Submit here. Next Episode: Don’t miss the next episode where Jessica dives deeper into scaling your business and shares more tips for creating a sustainable business model. Stay tuned!

Podcast Title: Digital State of Mind Episode Title: Business Affecting Close Relationships Host: Jessica Hawks Release Date: October 1st, 2024 Summary: In this episode of Digital State of Mind, host Jessica Hawks discusses how personal growth and success can impact close relationships. After a thoughtful question from her Instagram followers, she reflects on maintaining friendships while navigating her business journey. Jessica shares how her experiences have changed her perspective on trust, especially as her following and financial success grew. She emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with supportive individuals and selectively engaging with those who inspire you. Jessica also highlights her love for gift-giving and how financial stability allows her to share meaningful experiences with loved ones, such as planning a surprise trip to New York for her dad. Despite the challenges of trust that come with success, she feels fortunate that her close relationships have remained positive. She discusses her supportive relationship with her husband and the importance of seeking out positive influences in both business and personal life. Key Topics: The impact of personal growth on relationships. Navigating trust issues as a business owner. The joys of financial freedom. The importance of consuming positive, mindset-oriented media. Memorable Quotes: “I started to become very selective with who I was interacting with.” “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” Connect with Jessica: Instagram TikTok Website Show Links: Submit questions about personal or business matters for  future episodes. Submit your questions here!

Podcast Title: Digital State of Mind Episode Title: Life Updates After a Year-Long Hiatus Host: Jessica Hawks Release Date: Monday, September 24th, 2024   Summary: In this episode, Jessica Hawks, a business coach and entrepreneur, returns to her podcast, Digital State of Mind, after taking a year-long break from the microphone. Jess shares life and business updates, reflecting on her personal and professional journey over the past year. She opens up about the challenges of feeling disconnected from her business and the importance of acknowledging struggles as an entrepreneur. Jess chats about her recent move into a new house, her experiences traveling in Europe, and how these life events have influenced her business mindset. She also discusses the changes she has made to her signature program, Digital Creatives Academy (DCA), which has transitioned from a live course to a self-paced model to better serve her students. She provides insights on how to find balance between running a business and maintaining personal fulfillment. Whether you're an entrepreneur or someone trying to balance work and life, this episode is packed with real talk about feeling directionless in business and how to navigate life at the same time. Key Topics: Returning to the podcast after a year-long break. Struggling with direction and mindset as a business owner. Life updates: moving into a new house and simplifying life. Reflections on her trip to Europe (England, Italy, and Switzerland). Transforming Digital Creatives Academy into a self-paced program. Realigning with personal values and finding excitement in both work and travel. Memorable Quotes: “Once you have success, it’s easy to think you need a super nice car or really big house, but I realized that’s not what I want. I want a simple, fulfilling life.” “One of the reasons I started my business was so I could travel, but I felt guilty wanting to come home. Now, I realize how fortunate I am to be excited to return home and work.” Resources Mentioned: Jessica’s Home Decor Page: Instagram TikTok Digital Creatives Academy The LAB Membership Grindelwald First, Switzerland Adventure Connect with Jessica: Instagram TikTok Website Digital Creatives Academy (DCA): Join DCA, a newly restructured, self-paced program designed to help you grow your business, even if you're working a 9-5. DCA is now more accessible than ever and packed with everything you need to start and scale your creative business. The LAB Membership: Looking for a supportive community to help you grow your business? The LAB Membership is an affordable monthly subscription that offers resources, mentorship, and a large support network of entrepreneurs at different stages of their journey. Have a Topic in Mind? Want to hear something specific on the podcast? DM me on Instagram! I love hearing from listeners about what you want to explore. Feeling Unaligned? If you're also feeling unaligned in your business or unsure of what you really want, you’re not alone. DM me! I'd love to talk more about this in future episodes and help break down the feelings of uncertainty that so many entrepreneurs experience.

Want to work online, but don't know what you're going to need to get started? In this episode, we go over which tangible and intangible things are going to be essential when starting your online business. What kind of tech do you need? Is it absolutely necessary to take an online course? What do you need to know before you start marketing yourself?   Save your spot in the upcoming round of Digital Creatives Academy Submit to our Anonymous Form

Have you ever thought about being a content creator, business owner, or building any kind of an audience online, but the cringe of putting yourself out there is stopping you? This episode is FOR YOU. We talk dealing with hate comments, my best tips for pushing through the ick of creating content, and the amazing things that can happen once you do.   Save your spot in the upcoming round of Digital Creatives Academy Submit to our Anonymous Form

Season 6 is kickin' off, and it's going to be a unique season! In this "Updates with Jess"-style episode, we chat about what it was like at VidCon 2023, facing your fears in order to grow, and ACTUALLY prioritizing New Year's Resolutions...half way through the year.   Save your spot in the upcoming round of Digital Creatives Academy Submit to our Anonymous Form

It's the last episode of Season Five! If you made it here, I can't thank you enough for listening. We kick off this episode answering one of the biggest questions I get as an online business coach: is it possible to start your online business while working a 9-5 or being a college student? We also chat books, my new kindle, shows, and some life updates. Save your spot in the next round of Digital Creatives Academy Wondering how to start your business online? Check out my IGTVs or my Fast Track to VA Guide Master marketing with the Fluent University courses