We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jen Rivera a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jen, appreciate you joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
Growing up, both my parents worked hard to provide a good life for my siblings and I. My Dad passed away in 2005, I was 21 at the time. One of the many lessons he taught us, and my favorite that I still hold close to my heart to this day, is that knowledge is power. This has been a huge impact on my journey and fuels my want to learn & try new things. Along with both my parents telling us to “dream big!” I feel these little sayings have been a big part of our lives. I know he would be proud! My Mom is also a great support in my life, I lean on her for advice and very much value her opinion about things I do with my life. While she may not agree on some things, she still shows her support and curiosity. Her willingness to learn about my journey makes me feel loved and I know she will always be there for me. Love you MamaBear!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Well I’m Jen Rivera and I’ve lived in the DFW area for about 18 years. Getting to where I am today has not been a complete walk in the park. There have definitely been some obstacles and heartbreak, but overall I stay strong with the help of my amazing family and friends. I try to keep a positive outlook and just keep working & pushing towards my goals.
My small business and professional career are on complete opposite ends of the spectrum. When it comes to Potions by Jen, I’m very curious and childlike, sometimes immature even lol. I like for my mind to stumble upon new ideas and find inspiration in the smallest of things. Meanwhile, the HR professional in me is very calculated and mindful, I deal with a lot of sensitive information in my day-to-day career, which I love by the way.
PBJ started with the intent to make oil based perfumes, all natural and I wanted to create something for everyone. It was during a time I was coming into my spirituality and learning all I could to help me grow. It was all perfect timing really and so while I was blooming, PBJ bloomed and I was able to incorporate my spiritual work in this journey. It all felt so magical! Learning and reading about oils & flower essences and their potential benefits fascinated me. I’m very proud of my little business as it continues to grow and my hope is that people like it too! There’s a potion for everyone!
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I feel like most of the time we’re in this social media driven world and I think the best thing society can do to show support is super simple. A share here & there. A comment or two. Like and repost creatives work. It truly goes a long way. These simple things mean the world to small business owners like myself.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative person is seeing my hard work and heart out there in the world. This is a passion of mine and though it may be small to some, it’s huge to me! I love when people post their potions and tag me, truly makes me happy and yes I do the little happy dance!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pbjpotionsbyjen.com
- Instagram: @pbj_potionsbyjen
- Facebook: PBJ Potions By Jen
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/jendenriv
Image Credits
Jen Rivera