Nationally recognized motivational speaker, mental health advocate and author, Jordan Corcoran, founder of Listen, Lucy, is a Mercyhurst College graduate with a story to share. During her freshman year, she was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder. After going through a difficult struggle with coming to terms and learning to cope, Jordan created an outlet where people can openly and candidly share their own personal challenges and struggles- an outlet where she can also use her lived experiences to end the stigma surrounding mental health.
Now Jordan’s time is spent touring around the country speaking to college, high school and middle school students about her story and the importance of acceptance – of others and of yourself. She is the author of Listen Lucy Volume 1 and Write It Out, and Little Lucy and the Little Butterflies, has been featured on Today.com and UpWorthy for her self-love campaigns and was a keynote speaker at NAMI and other mental health organizations. Her mission is simple: she wants to create a less judgmental and more accepting world.
Please tell us a little bit about your company – what is Listen, Lucy all about?
Listen, Lucy is a mental health organization that features Creator Jordan Corcoran’s lived experience with mental illness. Through books, assemblies and workshops, Listen, Lucy aims to end the stigma surrounding mental health and create a kinder, less judgmental world.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company?
Listen, Lucy was inspired by my own battle with mental illness. I was officially diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic disorder when I was a freshman in college, but looking back now I was struggling for about two years prior to the diagnosis. The stigma surrounding mental illness was so strong when I was young that I refused to get help, making a difficult battle that much worse. When dreaming up Listen, Lucy, I knew I wanted to create a community where people felt accepted and unafraid to share their struggles. At the time, I didn’t realize how important my story would be to the success of this organization, but I have seen how me sharing my story gives others permission to do the same. The assemblies and workshops were a natural evolution that helped grow Listen, Lucy to what it is today.
What are your plans, how do you plan to grow this company?
Months prior to the pandemic shutting down, I launched Listen, Lucy Presents — a speaker agency that would act as a pub for schools and organizations to find important and impactful speakers to help end the stigma surrounding these issues. The shutdown wiped out that branch of my business for the time being and I started focusing on doing PR for other mental health organizations to keep my brand relevant during this time. While the PR side of my business is continuing to grow, I do plan on relaunching Listen, Lucy Presents and becoming the premier mental health speaker agency in the United States. COVID-19 tried to break my spirit, it ended up making me stronger and more determined.
How do you separate yourself from your competitors?
This is a really interesting question because while I understand that other organizations like mine are my competitors, I don’t view them as that. Because my mission is to create a less judgmental, more accepting world, I really believe the more of us the better. There is room for everyone. I separate myself from others by using my own story. It can’t be duplicated because I can’t be duplicated.
What is one thing that you do daily to grow as an entrepreneur?
Ask for help. I can’t emphasize this enough. I ask for help from people who know more than me. I learn. I ask questions and I accept that I am still figuring it out and that there are people out there that can help my dreams a reality.
What is the one thing you wish you knew before starting your business?
Because your idea is great and your message is connecting with people, doesn’t mean the world is ready to pay attention immediately. Keep finding different ways to say it until they are ready to listen.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
Being authentic, vulnerable and open when sharing my story. At the beginning of Listen, Lucy I was constantly comparing my organization to others doing a similar thing as me. I would see what they were doing and how well it worked for them and want that same success. It didn’t work well for me because so much of my businesscomes from my heart. When I stopped trying to be so curated, I found my own voice and then authenticity started to connect and grow my community. The more I spoke, the more I was asked to speak. My voice is the best marketing tactic for me.
What’s your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
There is no such thing as an overnight success. Work hard– harder than you ever worked and understand that nothing is handed to you. Running a small business is a lifestyle. It can be heartbreaking and draining. It challenges you and pushes you and bends you until you almost break. This isn’t meant to scare anyone or deter anyone from starting their business. I share this to tell you something I wish I understood better before diving in head first. It may be one of the hardest, most difficult things you ever do– but it will also be the most rewarding and beautiful. You can do it.
What is your favorite quote?
I have so many that I love, that speaks to me, and that makes me feel seen and heard. The one I have been reading over and over again as of recent is by R.M. Drake.
“You’re beautiful because you know your own darkness and still, that alone doesn’t stop you from finding your own light.”
– R.M. Drake
How can we get in touch with you?
Check us out on Instagram @listenlucy. Also, feel free to email me any time at jordan@listenlucy.org.
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