Three Things I Wish I Had Known in My 20’s: Sonia Kanner

1. Full name?: Sonia Kanner

2. Position / Job title?: CEO/Founder hipS-sister

3. Why did you seek out this particular job / start your company? I came up with an idea, a hip modern day fanny pack. The idea caught on very quickly. I realized I needed to form a company in order to stay in business. I brought in the right people and hipS-sister the brand was born.

4. How has life changed (hopefully for the better 😉 since you landed this job / launched this company?  My life has changed in every way possible. Mainly due to the journey I have had to take with myself. Owning a company will bring up every fear, hope, desire, insecurity to the surface. You are forced to “deal” with those feelings/emotions, while maintaining a “business” mindset. Not easy, In fact, almost impossible if you are not prepared to look at oneself. Through the process I have learned what my strengths are, weaknesses are and how I can grow and improve. Business is just another area of your life in which you “show up”.

5. And now: WHAT 3 THINGS DID YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN IN YOUR 20’S?
The three things that I wish I would have known in my 20’s would have to do mostly with how I feel about myself.

The first being, you must take care of yourself before you can take care of anyone else. If you are running on empty. If your tank isn’t full, you have nothing to give to others. Self care is about doing the things in our lives that fill up our tanks, so that we have something to give. Self care is not selfish. Self care is a very giving act in fact.

The second thing I wish I had known in my 20s is, people’s opinions of me don’t matter. I have spent far too much of my time and energy trying to figure out how other people feel. It’s a waste of time and energy. I have learned that people’s feelings are more based upon themselves and where they are at , then it being a true reflection on who I am. Other people’s opinions are important , but they don’t define you.

The third thing I wish I would have known in my 20’s is, the importance of mindfulness. By that I mean living in the moment. I currently meditate 40 minutes a day and it has changed my life. I wish I would have started this years ago (I am now 44). I am a better listener, I am more present, I have less worry, am even more creative, and I literally feel the stress leave my body every time I practice meditation.