Unique Genius Superhero Interview - Jessica Ross of Bond Girl Bootcamp

Hey, it's Aaron Ross, CEO of Pebble Storm. I'm here doing a unique genius superhero interview today with Jessica Ross of a really exciting company called Bond Girl Boot Camp. Welcome, Jessica.

Hi, Aaron.

I'd love for you to share a bit about you and your new business.

My name is Jessica Ross. I'm a 29-year-old business owner with soon-to-be 3 children. I run a company called Bond Girl Boot Camp. It's a one-day experience for women where they can really channel their inner Bond girl through different activities like stunt car driving, helicopter flying, jumping out of an airplane, gun shooting, poker, pole dancing, everything. We've got it all to really help you get in touch with who you are as a woman and empower you.

Sounds awesome. It is awesome. 007.

Big time, but for the females.

Thanks for coming out. We're here at the Santa Monica Park. It's a beautiful day, and there's a whole bunch of kids playing with water fountains in the background. Yeah, lovely. Fun.

Great, great place.

So where did the idea of Bond Girl Boot Camp come from? How did you start it?

Well, the idea for Bond Girl Boot Camp came from an experience I had about 4 years ago where I was kidnapped and raped and got tied into a network of incredible people, whether it was Secret Service, FBI, INS, police, people who really became my family at that time and provided me with various experiences and training that I then wanted to offer to other women. To get a taste of what it's like to have those experiences and what it's like to feel that empowered and have some of those resources and tools at hand.

Shooting guns?

Well, yeah, I mean, most women, I mean, on average, don't feel comfortable with a gun in their hand, you know. I know I didn't until I had the proper training and had someone really show me how to do it, you know. So it's just, it's that experience, but I didn't have that opportunity and I didn't have a safe place as a female to go and do it in a male-dominated kind of world in that regard.

So did it take a lot of money or time to start the company?

No.

Don't you need, well, you know, it's like your website looks professional and—

Sure, I mean, it took some time, but look, as a single mom, I didn't have really any money, had next to no time. I started off with nothing and just slowly built it up a little bit at a time, built my audience up, built my resources up, really tying into people that were around me. So you don't have to have all this stuff, all these perfectly branded t-shirts, the perfect website right when you start out. Start small and build because I'm going to tell you right now, your company is going to evolve and it's going to change and morph as it should. So don't get yourself locked into something and we're going to spend thousands of dollars. It's silly.

Actually, what are you doing? Are you doing much with internet marketing? Is that something that has been helpful?

You know, honestly, the only marketing I've done right now is Facebook and Twitter, and then I have my website. The rest of it's been word of mouth. So I really haven't spent anything on, you know, fancy internet marketing, you know, programs or anything like that. No.

Actually, so speaking of that, you mentioned— so before, when you were starting it, how did you think you were going to make money with it?

How did I think I was going to make money with it?

You said events, right?

Well, yeah, through events. You know, I thought I was going to hit the ground running and all of a sudden begin this great cash flow coming right at me, and that's not really the way it worked.

It's a really exciting company idea.

It is, yeah, it is.

Thank you.

But, you know, my first event, I didn't make any money. You know, I was in the hole, and then slowly but surely, through word of mouth and more people coming out, money started coming in, but honestly my biggest generator right now hasn't even been through the events, it's actually been through, oddly enough, reality shows contacting me, building a reality show around Bong Girl Boot Camp. So I didn't really quite suspect my revenue to come from there, but that's where it's coming. So be open to the idea that your money might come from a different place than when you originally start.

You mentioned you were a single parent when you started the company. I was. So someone who feels, for people who really feel like there's no time or money, what advice would you give them, or how did you do it? Do that?

You can do it if you really want to. That's what I'm going to say hands down. I know being a single parent or even just maybe a CEO who has no extra time, who has a family and they're working, you have to carve out time. It's the only thing I can say. Maybe it's to shave time off the gym, don't watch that TV show, don't go out with your friends, even 15 minutes a night just to dedicate toward your business, which in fact is you. It will be worth it. And take baby steps. I know it's a huge huge word you use, Aaron. A little bit at a time.

Baby steps. How can baby— you're crazy.

It's not going to happen overnight, people. I'm going to tell you that right now. Like building a baby, it's not going to happen overnight. It takes some gestation, some time. Um, so be comfortable with that. Be okay with that.

What— so when you were starting Bongo Boot Camp, how did you— was this like the first company or idea you started with? You just Did it just hit you out of the blue?

No. BombGirl came from, like I said, obviously from that experience, but it wasn't fully formed in my brain what exactly I wanted to do with all my resources. I mean, I did a kids' yoga company, a fitness program specified toward women. I did a baking company. They all had to do with health or wellness or giving back, but they weren't exactly that niche I wanted to hit that BombGirl really hit for me and makes me feel good, you know, driving to work every day, whether it's in a helicopter or stunt car. That's what makes me feel good.

And so, okay, out of the Unique Genius, because you've been around it for quite a while now, what's one thing that really changed the way you thought about business or belief around business or was really helpful?

Well, there's like the patience factor. You really learn that in Unique Genius that, like I said, stuff doesn't happen overnight. You can have an idea, but it's not going to all of a sudden morph into this company that's going to be on the COVID of Time magazine tomorrow. It doesn't happen that way. And you learn patience with yourself as well. So I think that's one of the things, and that ties into baby steps as well. Does that answer your question?

Sure. Speaking of which, how long did it take from when you started trying to start a company in the first place to now?

I started my first company like 4 years ago.

Okay, so it's been years.

It's been years, years before I'm even getting to this place, but my idea took that long to form to where it's a company that I am absolutely in love with and I get up every morning and I'm so excited. To go to work. I'm like, yes! And people are excited to attend and be a part of it.

So for the Jessica that was a few years ago just starting companies or thinking about it, what would be a piece of advice you'd share with her, your past self?

It doesn't have to be perfect. It's okay. Don't be perfect.

Don't worry, be crappy?

Yes, exactly. Brilliant. Don't worry, be crappy. Take your time. It's not gonna happen instantly. Baby step at a time. Don't spend a lot of money and don't stress. You're going to get some stuff wrong, but it may be the best thing for you in the end.

How do people find out more about you?

Go to bombgirlbootcamp.com. We're heavily on Facebook and Twitter as well. Or just better yet, come out to a mission and try it on for yourself. If you're female.

Sorry boys. Sorry. Thanks, Jessica. You're welcome.

Thanks, Aaron. Bye guys.