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Praise for Imperfect Courage “Jessica’s perspective of global sisterhood and the power of lifting one another up in the midst of fear and scarcity is exactly what we need today. This book is both an invitation and a challenge to bravely show up for ourselves, for the people we love, and for the strangers we will one day call family. I say, ‘Amen! ’ ” — Brené Brown, PhD, #1 New York Times best- selling author of Braving the Wilderness “I absolutely love this book. Jessica is smart, brave, honest, and funny, and this book is the perfect mix of listening- ear and kick- in- the- pants. Equal parts compassion and challenge, this is a must- read for all of us who want to make a difference with our lives but sometimes find fear and anxiety standing in the way.” — Shauna Niequist, New York Times best- selling author of Present Over Perfect and Bread and Wine “Sometimes a desperate need creates an opportunity to transform the world. Jessica’s story provides a beautifully imperfect tapestry for under- standing what surrender and courage can look like when unexpected need tests our faith. She shows us that stepping into our stories can build a path to change someone else’s story. Learn how to harness your fear and transform it into courage that will change the world.” — Latasha Morrison, founder and president of Be the Bridge “Pick your reason to read this book: you care about the world, you are an entrepreneur, you love fashion, you love women, you have big ideas, you have a global mind-se t, you are a builder, a dreamer, a visionary, a Texan (there is plenty of Texas in Jessica’s story). Imperfect Courage is fuel for all of these. It is as generous and adventurous as Jessica, who is the greatest leader, creator, and friend I’ve ever known.” — Jen Hatmaker, New York Times best- selling author of Of Mess and Moxie and host of the For the Love podcast Imperfect Courage_blueline 6.25.18.indd 1 6/25/18 10:54 AM “Jessica Honegger has written a must- read account of how the work of justice goes hand in hand with women’s empowerment. And it all starts with steps of imperfect courage.” — Melissa Russell, chief advancement officer for International Justice Mission “Jessica is such an incredible example of what a leader in business should be. Not only because she’s had the courage to push herself to create a company from the ground up, but because she made her way down the road to success and then turned around and held a lantern up to light the way for the rest of us. This is a must- read for anyone who’s chasing big dreams on a road that feels unsteady!” —Rachel Hollis, New York Times best- selling author of Girl, Wash Your Face “As the CEO of Noonday Collection, Jessica—with her lack of pretense and commitment to transparency—has earned the trust of artisans and consumers alike. She brings that same approach to Imperfect Cour- age; each chapter feels like a personal invitation to ride alongside Jessica as she recounts memories that tell of her infectious passion for using entrepreneurship to empower women all over the globe. Her deep con- viction for equality and justice is contagious and will change the lives of so many.” — Mica May, founder and CEO of May Designs “Jessica Honegger will captivate you with her adventure of building a company that is shaping and changing the world. You will find yourself crying, laughing, and wondering why you’ve played it so safe in life. She makes you want to risk it all for the good of people and the world, because doing so doesn’t just make life more meaningful; it makes it more fun!” — Jennie Allen, author of Nothing to Prove and founder and visionary of IF:Gathering Imperfect Courage_blcx.indd 2 6/26/18 3:31 PM “Jessica inspires me to think so much bigger than my own two hands. I’m so moved by her heart and tenacity as an entrepreneur and by her commitment to connecting, empowering, and motivating women around the world!” — Emily Ley, founder of Simplified and best- selling author of Grace, Not Perfection and A Simplified Life “This book is your road map to uncovering and pursuing your big dream. Jessica teaches us all how to get past the lies that keep us from living our full potential in the world. As Imperfect Courage illustrates, the more each of us broadens our circle of compassion and embraces the entire globe, the faster the love of God makes it to every corner of the world.” — Amy Brown, co- host of The Bobby Bones Show “In this lovely book, Jessica opens up about the rocky journey of start- ing Noonday Collection, what she has learned along the way, and how she’s better because of the people she’s met. I’m so excited for you to read this story not just so you’ll know more about Jessica and Noonday but so you’ll know more about yourself and how you, too, can do big things— even if you are scared.” — Jamie Ivey, author of If You Only Knew and host of The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey podcast “Jessica Honegger’s journey is an inspiration not just to entrepre- neurs and business leaders but to anyone seeking to pursue the dreams God puts in their hearts. Imperfect Courage is living proof that fashion can play an important part in changing the world and business can be an incredible force for good. The world needs more businesses like Noonday Collection and more mindfully ambitious leaders like Jessica Honegger.” — Megan Tamte, founder and co- CEO of Evereve Imperfect Courage_blueline 6.25.18.indd 3 6/25/18 10:54 AM LIVE A LIFE OF PURPOSE BY LEAVING COMFORT AND GOING SCARED This book is both an invitation and a challenge to bravely show up for ourselves, for the people we love, and for the strangers that we will one day call family. —BRENÉ BROWN FOUNDERFOUNDER ANDAND CO-CEOCO-CEO OF NOONDAY COLLECTIONCOLLECTION Imperfect Courage_final.indd 5 6/10/18 8:34 PM Imperfect Courage All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Details in some anecdotes and stories have been changed to protect the identities of the persons involved. Details have been recalled to the best of the author’s memory. Hardcover ISBN 978- 0- 7352- 9129- 4 eBook ISBN 978- 0- 7352- 9130- 0 Copyright © 2018 by Jessica Honegger Cover design by Joy Gallagher All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Published in the United States by WaterBrook, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York. WaterBrook® and its deer colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC. Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data Names: Honegger, Jessica, author. Title: Imperfect courage : live a life of purpose by leaving comfort and going scared / Jessica Honegger, founder & co- CEO, Noonday Collection. Description: First Edition. | Colorado Springs : WaterBrook, 2018. | Includes bibliographical references. Identifiers: LCCN 2017058595| ISBN 9780735291294 (hardcover) | ISBN 9780735291300 (electronic) Subjects: LCSH: Honegger, Jessica. | Businesswomen— Religious life. | Businesswomen— Biography. | Entrepreneurship— Religious aspects— Christianity. | Business— Religious aspects— Christianity. | Christian biography. Classification: LCC BV4596.B8 H66 2018 | DDC 248.4— dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017058595 Printed in the United States of America 2018— First Edition 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Special Sales Most WaterBrook books are available at special quantity discounts when purchased in bulk by corporations, organizations, and special- interest groups. Custom imprinting or excerpting can also be done to fit special needs. For information, please email [email protected] or call 1- 800- 603- 7051. Imperfect Courage_final.indd 6 6/10/18 8:34 PM For Joe, who made me a promise once that changed the world. Imperfect Courage_final.indd 7 6/10/18 8:34 PM CONTENTS Introduction: Give It a Go . 1 PART ONE: THE FIRST STEP 1. Choose Courage . 13 2. Stand Up. 21 3. Step into Your Story . 38 4. Own Your Worth . 61 PART TWO: BETTER TOGETHER 5. Embrace Vulnerability . 83 6. Create Compassionate Spaces . 95 7. Discover the Sisterhood Effect . 116 8. Commit to Collaboration . 134 PART THREE: A WORLD CHANGED 9. Widen Your Circle . 153 10. Leverage Your Power . 169 11. Quit Trying. 190 12. Build a Flourishing World . 207 Acknowledgments . 221 Notes . 225 Imperfect Courage_final.indd 9 6/10/18 8:34 PM The path to success is straight, and the experience of walking it is marked by both confidence and clarity. No One, ever Imperfect Courage_final.indd 10 6/10/18 8:34 PM INTRODUCTION GIVE IT A GO ash is king when you own a business,” my entrepreneurial Cdad has always liked to say, and here I was standing at the counter of an Austin pawnshop living out this truth. After visiting several dif- ferent pawnshops, I settled on the most promising one, clutching a fistful of precious gold jewelry that my mom and grandmother had given me over the years— my confirmation cross, my sixteenth birthday ring, my middle school graduation necklace— and prepared myself to sell off all of it to keep my dream of my homegrown business, Noonday Collection, alive.