Pregnancy and motherhood expert Rosie Pope isn’t just the face of her eponymous lifestyle brand — she’s the brains behind it. In 2008, Pope established the high-end maternity clothing line to introduce stylish attire to a market that was lacking confidence.
She honed her concept to provide full-scale concierge services and classes to expectant mothers, subsequently serving as one convenient resource and hitting a welcome chord. Since then, the celebrity-coveted Rosie Pope brand has rapidly expanded and includes baby clothes and a recently launched line of accessories.
As a public figure, Pope’s always been open with her personal life, too. Her former Bravo reality show, Pregnant in Heels, documented Pope’s day-to-day coaching sessions with clientele and her own struggles with infertility. Now, Pope is the proud mother of four, and she also takes a moment to acknowledge her successful career — which she cultivated from the very beginning.
I was lucky enough to chat with Pope, who shared the realities of her own mindset, including combating self-doubt and why molding oneself like Madonna is key.
Q: When you first established Rosie Pope, you had to focus in on an entrepreneurial mindset. How did your way of thinking change?
Very quickly you realize no one else is going to do things for you, and your job description is going to include everything from sweeping the office floor to flashy business meetings. There can be no ego about what you are or are not willing to do. In my opinion, an entrepreneurial mindset truly embodies the idea of being “All In.”
Q: What specific lines of self-doubt ran through your head?
When you run your own business, it’s a roller coaster of successes and failures, but self-doubt really can’t have a place in your daily activities as it is entirely counterproductive. Sure, every one has it and a healthy amount of reality is important but, when you are pitching your business — living and breathing your ideas — you can’t doubt yourself or others will start to doubt you too.
Q: What did you tell yourself to combat and overcome these negative thoughts?
Well, there are the negative thoughts that are your instincts, telling you something is a bad idea — and you should listen to them and correct your course. But then, there are the negative thoughts that come from fear and, when you recognize these, you have to remember your goals. Letting them consume you will only ensure that you don’t achieve your goals, so you have to be mentally tough enough to clear your head of these thoughts. I think the practice of mindfulness is very helpful. Knowing you will think negative things is part of life, but let them flow through your mind — without actually hanging on to them and giving them space for contemplation.
Q: Now that you’re the leader of an internationally coveted brand and team, what mental and behavioral tactics have you learned throughout the years that you use and employ?
Mindfulness.
First impressions matter.
Fake it till you make it is a valuable tool.
Be well studied and well researched, so the “faking it” doesn’t last long.
Be action step oriented — there will be highs and lows, and you must action-step your way through all of these, rather than getting caught up in every stage.
Acknowledge that business is personal, after all, and you will feel it on an emotional level also and that’s okay.
Q: What is your daily workday like?
Every day is different. I try to focus each day on a specific thing when I can, for example: one day on design, another on sales, another on licensees, and so on but, naturally, running a complex company means that a million little things come up all the time. That’s the need for action steps — you do and keep going.
Q: What one part of your routine helps you to tackle the hardest elements of your workday?
My kids: Being with them before I start my day always reminds me why I am doing what I am doing and helps me to keep going.
Exercise: I don’t always want to do it but it always, always helps.
Q: How can business owners stay true to their mission but also adapt to product trends and market needs?
Well, a business owner’s number one mission is to be successful and have a sustainable business, which means making money. Obviously, the pathway there is having a passion and a great idea that you believe in — but if it doesn’t make money, it’s not a business. So as times change and trends change, you have to adapt and be flexible. I always think of Madonna (yes, I’m an 80s baby!). She constantly redefined herself throughout her career, but she has always been very clearly Madonna. I think that says it all really.
Q: Finally, what one mindset-strengthening tip do you recommend?
There is a book called The 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan Petersen. In the media, currently I think many of his ideas are misrepresented and, if you actually read what he has to say, I cannot think of twelve better mind-strengthening tips that will allow you to not only succeed in your life, but in business too. Perhaps the greatest is to treat yourself like someone you are responsible for — the good decision making that results is one of my favorite mind-strengthening tips.
Photo courtesy of Rosie Pope Learn more about Rosie Pope and follow her on Instagram
