Julia and Cornelia Gibson

Age || JG: 35 + CG: 31

Company Name || BaggedEm

Job Title || Co-Owners

Years Living In New York || Whole Life

Social Handles || IG: @tonedbybaggedem; FB: tonedbybaggedem

Company Website || BaggedEm

What did you want to be while growing up?

JG: Honestly I cannot remember what I wanted to be. I was told I could be anything! My mom always suggested I become a lawyer. After college, motherhood, and as I began to work “jobs,” I realized that I didn’t want to work so hard, sometimes being mistreated, for others’ agendas. I wanted to find a way to create and work on a goal of my own. My own dream. My own company.

CG: When I was growing up I wanted to be a pediatrician. I always felt compelled to help other people. Later in life that changed to wanting to become a writer.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

JG: “Get it in writing.” As novice business owners this is an EXTREMELY important piece of advice.

CG: “Your chance as good as the next.” - My great-grandmother.

How do you define success?

JG: Success is different from being successful. Society may see someone as successful if they have lots of money or if they are popular. But success is defined by each person individually. Success to me is defined by family and legacy. I want to be an example and set precedence for my children to be self-sufficient and forward thinking. That will be MY success.

CG: Success is defined by the amount of love you’re surrounded by and the amount of people you are able to positively affect.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned since starting out?

JG: You never know what tomorrow brings! You can be having the worst day ever today and tomorrow could be the best or vice-versa!

CG: Learning to push through adversity. To keep your goals in mind and never give up!

What is your go-to motivational quote?

JG: “Excuses are tools of the incompetent. Those who excel in them RARELY excel in anything else.”

CG: “This too shall pass.”

What made you interested in starting Toned by BaggedEm?

JG: I came up with BaggedEm the day I decided to start my own business. We’re from NYC and there were sayings out at the time like “Throw it in the bag” or if you picked up a cute lady or gent you would say you “Bagged Them.” I was selling pocketbooks so I came up with BaggedEm. When my sister joined me, our next venture was bedazzling and we kept the name. Toned is our line of exercise mats. Designed by us, drawn by our mother.

CG: Toned was created from an idea I had to create a product that was our own. We were bedazzling other companies’ products and I wanted something that was ours.

Which women inspire you?

JG: I am inspired by so many women like our mom, Taraji, Oprah, and Michelle Obama. All the women that came from humble beginnings. The ones that weren’t offered all the glitzs and glams from the beginning, but they overcame adversity and excelled, pioneered and changed the world. Women that have the ability to provoke creativity and prove that you can be whatever you want to be!

CG: I am inspired by all the women in our family. They are strong and resilient women.

How do you overcome moments of self-doubt?

JG: I have to remember that I have an evolutionary mind. That the things I create and manifest are necessary. That other people feel like I do, love what I love, and want to see change in the world the same way that I do.

CG: I use positive affirmations and music. Anything that reminds me that my purpose is connected to making the world a better place.

How do you handle situations where you feel creatively blocked?

JG: With our Toned mats I have yet to hit that brick wall. We started this with so many ideas! We get comments and suggestions from people all day. Our supporters keep our creativity flowing with their ideas.

CG: Sometimes it helps to take a break and allow your mind to relax. Getting out to do things I love re-sparks my inspiration.

What has been the most rewarding thing since starting out?

JG: The responses from our customers have been most rewarding to me. I love the feedback. Women feel inspired and included when they see our mats and that is the reward!

CG: The same.

What advice would you give to other women trying to create their own business or follow their passion?

JG: Do it! Don’t think twice. Research, trial and error, get all the info you can, look for resources. BEG for help if you have to but don’t have a dream and not act on it. Don’t get discouraged because it seems difficult!

CG: Take the first step! Sometimes the hardest part is often just getting started. Kicking things off helps build momentum and that will get you the results you desire.

What are some of your goals moving forward with the brand?

JG: We want to grow our line of mats. We want to include so many more people. We want to represent for so many more people! We want to try and fulfill all the requests that people have given us!

CG: We want to create other motivational products that people can bring into their homes. We want to establish brand recognition and continue to foster the relationship and trust we are building.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.