Jaime Schmidt @jaimeschmidt Twitter profile

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

The average age of a successful startup founder is 45. Time is on your side, kids.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Chasing investor money isn’t for everyone. I bootstrapped my business to $25M in revenue and a $100M+ acquisition. Here’s how you can build from nothing, too. A thread 🧵

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

4 years

When my company was acquired by Unilever, I learned they’d been closely watching the brand for years. They could’ve spent those years building their own competing product. But brand equity can’t be recreated in a lab. Your greatest competitive advantage is you. Keep building.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

1 year

5 yrs ago today I was in a roomful of attorneys, signing a $100M+ deal to sell my biz. Still so surreal. I didn’t come from a family of entrepreneurs. I had no credentials to my name. Money was tight af. Most saw my idea as a cute hobby. The best bet you’ll ever make is on you.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Venture capital gets all the attention yet provides only 0.05% of startup funding. Meanwhile, big wins are happening every day in loans, grants, crowdfunding, angel investments & bootstrapping to profitability. 🎉

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

10 yrs ago I started a business that, as a VC, I probably wouldn’t have invested in. As a founder I was all in, but as an outsider there was good reason to be skeptical. 7 yrs later the company sold for $100M+. The rejection you might see today is no indicator of your potential.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

I bootstrapped my startup & spent every dollar with care so I could later spend $200,000 on a digital ape

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

left: R&D lab where my biz was born right: R&D lab of competitor who paid $100M+ for my biz Never underestimate what you’re capable of.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

You'll never forget the ones who took a bet on you early.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

4 years

How it started How it’s going

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

We talked about leadership, web3, & brand building. Thanks for hosting me @garyvee . 🥂

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Forget marrying into money. Find a partner you can build generational wealth with together. That’s way more fun.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Startup life is feeling like a badass half the time & a fool the other half

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

Less “Women in Web3” panels. More women on web3 panels.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

An acquisition was never in my thinking. Yet, I caught the attention of Unilever who paid $100M+ for my brand. Here are 10 overlooked truths about getting acquired. 🧵

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

“Just raise a friends & family round,” they say. Not everyone has friends & family with money.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

4 years

Lots of talk about bootstrapping vs raising capital. I bootstrapped my way to a successful biz, no investors. Now, I’m an investor. AMA.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

3 years ago today, when I pulled an all nighter negotiating an acquisition deal with Unilever. Putting that pen to paper was the most surreal moment of my life.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

1/ If you're thinking about monetizing your hobby or side hustle, 2022 is your year. Growing my startup from my kitchen to $25M in revenue in 7 years, I’ve learned what it really takes to turn your passion into profit. 🧵👇

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

What I’ve learned my first 2 yrs as a VC: -Sometimes the best thing I can do for a founder is talk them out of funding -I can’t be everything to everyone, investment thesis is important -Pitch decks offer an invaluable education -Founder experience is no indicator of potential

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Things that went wrong when building my business: -hiring friends I had to fire -legal notices from competitors challenging our claims -being ripped off by a trusted distributor -recall of mislabeled products -& so much more Normalize the non-sexy side of entrepreneurship.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

🧵 Why every brand should consider NFTs as part of their 2022 strategy:

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Focus less on making money, more on solving problems. This is how you will make money.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

6 months

6 years ago today, I signed a deal that forever changed my family’s lives. The business I’d started in my kitchen and bootstrapped over 7 years sold for $100M+ 🤯 This was beyond my wildest expectations and not something I had set out to accomplish. I simply had an idea I…

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Celebrating 44 years of life today! 🥳 It's been a wild ride—job hopping, bootstrapping my business at 7 months pregnant, selling the business for $100M+ & unlocking new opportunities post acquisition. Here are 44 things I’ve learned for career success (so far). 🧵👇

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

4 years

Smartest thing I ever did for my business was start before I felt ready.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Founders worry that building slowly & sustainably would scare off VC’s. But by building slowly & sustainably maybe you don’t need VC’s.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Ditch the hustle mentality. Grow at a speed that works for you & your own circumstances. Don’t obsess over competitors landing big investments. You are laying the groundwork for growth that is manageable and sustainable.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Validating founder moments: -Meeting a stranger who’s heard of your brand -Paying yourself a salary -Landing your dream retailer or client -Your parents begin to understand what you’re doing -Receiving a legal notice from a competitor What others?

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Credentials required to run a successful business: 1. happy customers

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

11 years ago I didn’t look like most startup founders. I was 7 months pregnant & 31 years old. I had no money, proof of concept, or Twitter account. But I had a product I knew the world needed. And here we are. Happy Birthday to @SchmidtsNatural ! 🎈

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Every founder should keep 2 running lists: A list of customer testimonials to stay motivated A list of customer complaints to stay humble

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

A random dude on LinkedIn told me my bootstrapped experience would be “heavily criticized by startup purists.” Growing a business from humble origins while supporting oneself with side jobs—can’t get more “purist” than that, buddy.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

I co-founded two of the most hyped communities in web3: @MyBFF and @CPGclub . How & why I got here:

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

We airdropped 8,444 free Friendship Bracelet NFTs to welcome more friends into crypto. The market cap on these @MyBFF Bracelets is now $45M. This is the power of web3.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

One reason I chose to bootstrap is I didn’t think investors would get it. And there was no time to lose trying to convince them. Instead, I put everything I had into convincing my customers.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

If you think you need certain credentials to qualify you as an entrepreneur, I’m here to tell you that no customer has ever asked about my education or work experience.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Super Bowl 2017: our competitor runs a huge commercial buy 📺 Us: let’s buy all the search keywords around Super Bowl deodorant commercial 😈 Our website traffic that day 📈😅 @chriscantino

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Bootstrap as long as you can. And when that investor money hits the bank, you’ll have the skill to spend it wisely.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

4 years

Founders, document everything, take too many pictures, relish in all of it. No matter what the end reward looks like, looking back and remembering the thrill of building something you believe in is priceless.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

We are serious about wanting more representation in web3. So we airdropped thousands of free NFTs to say thanks for standing behind our mission & being part of the @mybff community. 💖 Who’s in? Show off your bracelets below!

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

The secret to building a brand into a household name isn’t about catering to the masses. It’s being rooted in a niche that slowly catches on to the mainstream.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Revenue trajectory from my kitchen to $100M+ acquisition by Unilever Patience is underrated.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

“My mom’s first NFT” “My partner’s first NFT” “My daughter’s first NFT” “My skeptical friend’s first NFT” 😭 ❤️ The emotions run deep tonight. Ready to take our next steps together, friends.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

A lil about me Maker turned entrepreneur, bootstrapped to 9-figure exit. Now supporting the next gen of creators Author of Supermaker—the “anti-playbook playbook” for building a biz Investing where consumer meets web3 💫 Partner at @colorcapital , cofounder @CPGclub ☺️ wagmi

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Fundraising is not a desperate plea for money—it’s an offering for a select few to buy ownership in your business. Any investor should feel honored to be pitched.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Founders, the only validation you need is from your customers.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

There are 2 types of founders—the visionaries, and those not afraid to do the work. When you’re both, you are unstoppable.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Entrepreneurship requires being your own biggest fan.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Avoid hiring a team right out the gate. Working solo or with a select few not only saves you money but allows you to refine your own vision for the business. Be eager to learn as you go, and DIY everything you can. Find creative ways to trade for services.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

I don’t see enough pitch decks with “founder salary” in use of funds. If you have a working product with proven demand and clear priorities for the money, it’s ok to want to pay yourself a living wage.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

4 years

One reason I chose to bootstrap is I didn’t think investors would get it. And there was no time to lose trying to convince them. Instead, I put everything I had into convincing my customers.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

Nice to meet You 💕

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

4 years

You are not above any of the work that your business requires of you. No room for ego in entrepreneurship.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

4 years

Working for a startup & hiring for a startup both require a leap of faith. But the payoffs can be huge on both sides. My first employee started in my garage, packing orders on an old diaper changing table. One year later, he was leading our full-scale manufacturing operations.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

How it started How it’s going Good luck out there 😅 @verified

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Entrepreneurship can be lonely. Making space in my DM’s today for any founder who needs a cheerleader. Share your wins, let me know what’s weighing you down—I’ve got you!

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

I was 31 yrs old and 8 mos pregnant when I started my business. There’s no formula.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

New art 😎 I want to share the fun! Drop a comment if you’re a holder of a @MyBFF bracelet NFT. I’ll send a custom acrylic print to 3 winners chosen at random. Will contact winners on 3/28 (U.S. shipping only). Made by @portalframes_ , check them out!

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

Smartest thing I ever did for my career was jump in before I felt ready.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

4 years

It’s ok to be in it for the money. Not every business can save the world. Save yourself first, the philanthropy can follow.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Build something that’s an extension of you, and you’ll always have a competitive edge.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

Chatted w/ a reporter from a major women's publication who's trying to pitch her team a story on NFTs. I want to help her land this feature. What are your favorite women's projects w/ compelling utility or great community? I'll present to her a killer list. Let's get this story!

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

I spent too much time searching for opportunities, Life changed once I realized I could create them myself.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Be smart with your money. You must be both frugal & willing to spend—the trick is knowing where. Prioritize expenses that have a direct impact on sales. Pay attention to what’s working & cut out what’s not. Make space to pay yourself a humble salary. And don’t forget taxes.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

It’s easy to say “Here’s how I did it” after the fact. But not every success story is as calculated as it sounds. My playbook was just to survive each day.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

Too many founders get stuck because they’re looking at their competition the wrong way. I built a successful brand in one of the most crowded categories. Here’s the perspective that got me ahead. 🧵

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

4 years

Bootstrapping basics: Instead of a C-suite, hire hustlers. Instead of 1st class tix & Patrón, go coach & Cuervo. Instead of pay-to-play, try networking. Instead of a PR firm, pitch yourself. Instead of settling on terms, negotiate everything.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

4 years

If what you’re building can one day exist without you, then you’re building it the right way.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Small mistakes can crush the best of businesses. Here are the ones that almost killed my startup, and how to avoid them. 🧵

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Smartest hire a brand can make today is someone who is a consumer of culture

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Work side jobs while taking things slowly in the early years. This is the seed money for your business. Find gigs where you’ll learn something useful—maybe at a store where you want your products sold. This allows you to learn about the category & the inner workings of retail.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Bring on one hire at a time. Start part-time and expand their role as they prove their value. Operate with a lean but strong team—make every employee count. Don’t assume you need a C-suite. You can contract some services for cheaper.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

4 years

My postman was my hero as a startup. Look how excited he is about my opening order for Whole Foods. Save the @USPS .

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

4 years

Validating founder moments: -Meeting a stranger who’s heard of your brand -Paying yourself a salary -Landing your dream retailer or client -Your parents begin to understand what you’re doing -Receiving a legal notice from a competitor What others?

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Some companies scale so quickly! What’s their secret? They aren’t profitable 🤫

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Some founders have a way of talking about their product where you’re like damn, I need to be a part of this.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

gm to everyone waiting for the @MyBFF pfp drop 👀⏳

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

Did you hear? Only @MyBFF Friendship Bracelet holders can mint from our 10k PFP collection, 𝘠𝘰𝘶. This means no gas wars. 🚫

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

15 years ago I uprooted my life to Portland with a promise to never settle—in work, relationships, life. After countless gigs, a divorce, a new marriage, birth of my son & a biz that grew beyond my wildest dreams, today I say goodbye. Now on to SoCal with that same promise. ✌️

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Don’t let any investor tell you a category is too crowded. There’s always room to build something new.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

People ask if I ever thought my startup would fail. I mean, yah there were constant discouragements & sh*t went wrong every day. But I genuinely believed customers who didn’t try my product were missing out. And nothing can compete with a real belief in what you are building.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Let’s be real—the hardest parts of entrepreneurship aren’t always about the business. Here are the personal challenges I wasn’t prepared for and what I’ve learned. 🧵

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Being an introvert doesn’t mean being shy, unfriendly, or nervous to speak. We just need our alone time to refuel. 😌

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

2 mints 3 weeks apart Totally normal household we run here ✌️

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

If you enjoyed this thread, check out my book Supermaker. It goes deep into product development, branding, PR, sales, marketing, customer engagement, partnerships, negotiating an acquisition & more.

Supermaker: Crafting Business on Your Own Terms

www.amazon.com

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

I've been a mom for as long as I've been an entrepreneur. Literally started my first business while pregnant 12 years ago. What have I learned? You can make space to pursue your dreams and still be an amazing parent.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

Just caught up with our artist for the @MyBFF pfp collection dropping next month. All I can say is buckle up, friends. It’s GOOD. 😍🌈

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

No person or opportunity is “out of your league.” Your league is what you make it.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Be realistic about the risk and sacrifice required of you & your family. Get comfortable living with uncertainty, and have a plan B. Bootstrapping is hard as hell. But the rewards of building your business on your own terms will be a huge payoff in the end.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

I’ve read so many “how to” business books since selling my company. Greatest takeaway is how much I didn’t know when building my brand. Don’t get hung up on learning “best practices” before jumping in. You can go far with a mix of intuition, naïveté & luck.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Entrepreneurship: a lifestyle in which every expense is measured against # of products you’d have to sell to cover the cost. I never saw dollar signs, only deodorant sticks. 😅 What currency do you deal in?

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

What kind of crazy first-time founder builds a factory with no experience? Me. I did it. Electrical fires, broken machines, OSHA violations, a true sh @t show at times. But I didn’t want copackers, I wanted to stay close to my product. If it matters to you, you’ll figure it out.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

Devs just delivered the final 10k PFPs for @MyBFF and HELLO. So much thoughtfulness has gone into the layering, trait pairing rules & rarity assignments. You all are in for a treat. 🍭😋

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

You can build a business with hustle and no money. But you can’t build a business with money and no hustle.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

4 years

Entrepreneurship is hard. Settling is harder.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Negotiate everything. Shorter payment terms with retailers means faster money in the bank. Longer payment terms with suppliers allows you to sell inventory before paying for raw materials. Nurture these relationships for favorable order minimums and better pricing.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

3 years

Smartest thing I ever did for my business was start before I felt ready.

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

Blown away by the love for @MyBFF . Thank you, friends. 💖 Yes, we’ve been working hard. But the real work starts now—delivering on the rewards & fun we’ve promised our community. I am ready & fully committed to executing on all of it, plus some. But first, PFP reveal tomorrow!

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Jaime Schmidt

@jaimeschmidt

2 years

I’ll be the one at NFT NYC with a stash of bandaids for the shoes you regret wearing, CBD for the introverts, and mints for managing the close talkers. Holler if you need me!

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