Empower Women with Holistic Health

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TRANSCRIPTION WITH SPEAKERS
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[00:00] SPEAKER_01: Welcome to Canada's Podcast.
[00:05] SPEAKER_00: Hello, this is Cynthia Lockery and welcome to Canada's podcast where we talk to
[00:11] SPEAKER_00: entrepreneurs who are thinking making things happen right here in BC. Today I'm
[00:17] SPEAKER_00: joined by Aaron Ashley. Aaron is the founder of Aaron Wellness Support Supplements
[00:24] SPEAKER_00: with a mission to empower women with holistic health. Aaron Wellness is a place where women
[00:30] SPEAKER_00: are supported throughout their journey to sustainable health and wellness. This is such an important
[00:36] SPEAKER_00: topic, women's health and I'm just so looking forward to hearing about your journey and how you
[00:44] SPEAKER_00: got to where you are today. So welcome Aaron and let's just jump in and you tell us a bit about
[00:50] SPEAKER_01: yourself and your business. Sure. Well thank you Cynthia for having me and for that lovely intro
[00:55] SPEAKER_01: and thank you, Canada's podcast for having me on as well. Yeah, as you said, basically I own
[01:00] SPEAKER_01: Wellness Company, a supplement company based out of BC here and I really started, I mean I
[01:05] SPEAKER_01: know how far back you want to go when I was five. But growing up my parents, my mom was a figure
[01:13] SPEAKER_01: skating coach, my dad was kind of an amateur bodybuilder guy so athletics and aesthetics were
[01:17] SPEAKER_01: always really important in our household. And as I grew older and I think a lot of women will resonate
[01:23] SPEAKER_01: with this and men too is that health and wellness was really dictated by the size of my clothing.
[01:28] SPEAKER_01: It wasn't necessarily dictated by how I felt or how I was operated in my body. And I struggled for
[01:34] SPEAKER_01: another year's number of years with bulimia and I wrote in a book about that as well. In about 10
[01:39] SPEAKER_01: years I kind of had my aha moment. I was overtired, overworked, overstressed. I had no libido and I had
[01:46] SPEAKER_01: cute boyfriend so it wasn't him. And I was starting to end the early paramedic paws and I really began
[01:54] SPEAKER_01: to look and ironically enough I was a holistic nutritionist at the time. I had a successful career
[01:59] SPEAKER_01: in supplement sales. So I knew what to do. I wasn't necessarily putting those habits in place
[02:04] SPEAKER_01: and I really stepped back and took a look at what I wanted to create in my life going forward,
[02:09] SPEAKER_01: especially as I age and how I was feeling then would impact my journey into menopause and paramedic
[02:15] SPEAKER_01: paws and so on and so forth. So I really took a step back and looked at five pillars that became my
[02:21] SPEAKER_01: brands five pillars but I also used when I coached women and they are the thoughts you think, the
[02:26] SPEAKER_01: friends you keep, daily movement, nutrition and supplementation. And I used those to really kind
[02:32] SPEAKER_01: of pull myself out of my unhealthy state I was in. I began to look at my conversations I was having
[02:37] SPEAKER_01: with myself, the people that are in my support network who are encouraging me to be my best self for
[02:42] SPEAKER_01: those who weren't. I began to look at my relationship with food and really began to look at the
[02:46] SPEAKER_01: nutrition I was eating because we are what we eat and there's so much truth to that. I looked at my
[02:51] SPEAKER_01: relationship with movement and then of course I looked at supplementation and at the time there
[02:55] SPEAKER_01: was really nothing on the market that appealed to me that had the clinical doses that I was looking for
[03:00] SPEAKER_01: without having to take six to ten pills a day and that's really where Erin Wellness came from.
[03:05] SPEAKER_01: And in that being able to use those five pillars one of the things I also wanted to do is not just
[03:10] SPEAKER_01: provide a vitamin or a supplement but really give women the building blocks and the tools to create
[03:16] SPEAKER_01: the habits to create sustainable health and wellness. The things I was looking for all those years
[03:20] SPEAKER_01: ago and that's really what we've done with Erin Wellness using QR codes and creating we have 11
[03:25] SPEAKER_01: products in the market right now we have three more coming out and it's been I'm doing exactly what
[03:31] SPEAKER_01: I'm supposed to do which is really awesome. I know but every morning when I wake up I'm like I am doing
[03:35] SPEAKER_01: what I'm supposed to do and it's really stressful at times because it's up and down but I'm doing what
[03:39] SPEAKER_00: I'm supposed to be doing. And I really love that holistic approach and and looking at women
[03:46] SPEAKER_00: the complete package of the challenges we go through at different stages of life and and really
[03:53] SPEAKER_00: looking to support women. So is there any piece of information or knowledge about your industry
[04:02] SPEAKER_00: in particular that might be of interest to listeners today? Oh well the big thing I always like to
[04:09] SPEAKER_01: reiterate to people is you know Canadian supplements are very different than anywhere else. We are the
[04:15] SPEAKER_01: most highly regarded supplements in the world. The reason being is we have a regulatory body here
[04:20] SPEAKER_01: health Canada obviously is in charge of that and they really look we have a thing called NPN's. So
[04:25] SPEAKER_01: on every single product that you buy supplemented to buy that is legally sold in Canada there's an NPN
[04:31] SPEAKER_01: number on the front. What that means is all of the claims we are making we have we've been given
[04:36] SPEAKER_01: permission to say that we've given scientific data to prove this product will do what it says it's
[04:41] SPEAKER_01: going to do. So for the border there is no regulation like that I've had conversations with people who
[04:47] SPEAKER_01: believe that the US has better supplements I will argue that hands down because I know what I have to
[04:52] SPEAKER_01: go through to bring a product to market. But I think what that does is really reassure us that what
[04:57] SPEAKER_01: we're paying for what we're getting is exactly what's on that bottle. And I think that is something
[05:02] SPEAKER_01: most people really need to understand and I think most people need to understand to support
[05:07] SPEAKER_01: Canadian supplements even more and support the companies that are here. I know that we can see a
[05:12] SPEAKER_01: lot of flashy advertising that looks like and making claims that seem like too good to be true and
[05:18] SPEAKER_01: if they are too good to be true there's that saying it probably is not truth. And that's the thing I
[05:24] SPEAKER_01: think with Canadian supplements is you can trust that everything that they say they're going to do
[05:27] SPEAKER_01: is going to do. And so if you're going to buy something look for that NPN number and make sure it's
[05:32] SPEAKER_01: a Canadian company or a company that's coming into Canada and it's abiding by our regulation.
[05:36] SPEAKER_01: So that's something I really think it's important for people to understand and how much work
[05:39] SPEAKER_01: and it takes years to get NPNs. It's so much work to get them and we do all that work so we can protect
[05:45] SPEAKER_01: Canadians and the Canadians get exactly what they're paying for. I think that's such a great insight
[05:51] SPEAKER_00: because I think some of us just grab stuff off the shelf and really just trust that those claims.
[06:00] SPEAKER_00: That's a nugget that I'm going to take with me as I go into my health food store.
[06:06] SPEAKER_01: Where's the NPNs? They should always be right on the front and most companies that are on
[06:11] SPEAKER_01: health food stores all have NPNs. You can usually pretty well guarantee that because it's actually
[06:14] SPEAKER_01: illegal to be sold in Canada without them. So it's great. What is it that you're most...
[06:21] SPEAKER_00: There's a lot of things I can hear that you're proud of. Is there anything that you're most
[06:26] SPEAKER_00: proud of in the work that you do? I think it is the supporting of women. I've had so many women
[06:33] SPEAKER_01: reach out to me and tell me that a lot of the times they thought the way I did a little bit lost
[06:38] SPEAKER_01: and that's something that is part of my mission statement when I look at empowering women with
[06:42] SPEAKER_01: holistic health, it's giving them the tools to make the changes. And so so many women use the QR
[06:48] SPEAKER_01: codes that are on each bottle. We have a QR code. You can scan that. I actually got on Dragon's
[06:52] SPEAKER_01: Dan with that QR code technology. Walked away with three offers. So there's a complete program.
[06:57] SPEAKER_01: Two meal plans. There's a video explained. Everything in that product. You understand fully what
[07:02] SPEAKER_01: you're buying. There we have affirmations in there. The phone lines are the thoughts you think. We
[07:06] SPEAKER_01: have education. We have workouts. There's so much in each QR code that we're giving people to
[07:12] SPEAKER_01: support them. And the feedback I've received from women who have utilized those QR codes effectively
[07:17] SPEAKER_01: has been phenomenal. So that's been really amazing. And even from my retailers as well,
[07:22] SPEAKER_01: having them have that support for them. So if they're busy in their store, they can simply tell the
[07:27] SPEAKER_01: customer you can scan that QR code. We back in a minute. You can watch the video and learn about
[07:30] SPEAKER_01: the product. So it helps them as well in the sale process. And also when they're on the floor
[07:35] SPEAKER_01: and things are busy. So that's something I'm really proud of. And my daughter, I mean, I have to,
[07:39] SPEAKER_01: she would actually be first. So my gets the bread. But no, so my Caleb be first is what I'm most proud of.
[07:45] SPEAKER_01: But then, you know, this would be as close as second.
[07:49] SPEAKER_00: Well, and I just love that you're that you're really helping women because you're right. You get home,
[07:54] SPEAKER_00: you get this product and you're trying to figure it out. So if somebody was to talk to you or
[08:01] SPEAKER_00: somebody was listening today thinking, I want to start out being an entrepreneur. How do I get started?
[08:08] SPEAKER_00: Is there any advice that you give them? You know, I was talking with my entrepreneur group
[08:15] SPEAKER_01: roller skating. I was there tonight, which was fun. And one of the things we're kind of talking about
[08:20] SPEAKER_01: is this not as glorification of entrepreneurship, which is really on social media where people make
[08:25] SPEAKER_01: it look so easy. You know, you see them in cars and travel. You know, you're just showing the
[08:30] SPEAKER_01: highlight reel, which I get. And some of them, it's a highlight reel that's really non-existent too.
[08:34] SPEAKER_01: So I will say that. But it is, it's really hard. It's hard. It's not for the fainted heart. It's not
[08:40] SPEAKER_01: an easy road. I mean, it is, you know, you see those pictures and it's entrepreneurship and it
[08:45] SPEAKER_01: goes like all up and down in the graph and all over the place. And that really is it than you're at the
[08:48] SPEAKER_01: end. But I think the big piece of advice, and this is something I've encountered recently with
[08:54] SPEAKER_01: another company, is if you have a name, do a trademark search, that's a big one. Buy your website.
[09:02] SPEAKER_01: That's a second one. Because I've met a company now who has 71 products. They don't own their
[09:09] SPEAKER_01: trademark and don't own their website. So that is a huge thing that can really cause a pain in the
[09:16] SPEAKER_01: butt when you're at, when you're that far long. So trademark, do a website search by both of them.
[09:23] SPEAKER_01: And then also listen, take advice. Have some great mentors around you. Have some people join some
[09:28] SPEAKER_01: organizations if you don't have a mentorship group, Innovation Guelph, the forum. There's many
[09:33] SPEAKER_01: different entrepreneur groups that can support you, as especially in a woman in business, per say.
[09:38] SPEAKER_01: But get some good mentors and then most importantly, listen to your mentors. Because if somebody gives
[09:44] SPEAKER_01: you advice and you go into the exact same opposite and you don't take it into that, you really need to
[09:48] SPEAKER_01: listen to what people are telling you. Because if they're if they're your mentor and if they've gone
[09:52] SPEAKER_01: through it, they're telling you certain things for a reason. So I really, I have a great group of
[09:58] SPEAKER_01: mentors I rely on, but then I also really listen to them. When they tell me no or when they tell me I
[10:02] SPEAKER_01: would not do that, which they rarely do, I usually stop and take stock and give myself a couple of
[10:07] SPEAKER_01: things and then see it from their point of view. So those would be some things, I think. It's great
[10:12] SPEAKER_00: advice and I have to add on the website piece. I have worked with companies that want to do branding
[10:18] SPEAKER_00: or really want to get their marketing in place. And like you, I have been shocked that they haven't
[10:26] SPEAKER_00: first seen if the domain is available. Right? And so I assume that anymore, I ask. And sometimes
[10:36] SPEAKER_00: they'll say, well, it's a thousand dollars to buy. And I'm like, well, if that then buy it, spend
[10:42] SPEAKER_01: the thousand dollars so that you own it. So you own it. I know years ago I had Aaron, I own
[10:47] SPEAKER_01: Aaron Ashley.com, but I had Aaron Ashley.com and I let it go and I had to rebuy it back so I
[10:52] SPEAKER_01: owned it again, but I had to pay 12 hundred bucks for it. And then even what another thing that I
[10:56] SPEAKER_01: got from Gary Vaynerchuk back in the day, I'm a Kayla, I own my daughters, all her domain names. I've
[11:01] SPEAKER_01: been paying for them for months. So when she becomes an adult, any business she has, she'll own
[11:06] SPEAKER_01: her own domain names. That's something else interesting. You've got some parents out there who
[11:10] SPEAKER_01: have some young ones, buy your kids know, naming names. It's like what, I think it's 40 bucks a year
[11:15] SPEAKER_01: or something like that. It's not really that much, but their kid will have their own domain name as
[11:19] SPEAKER_00: they get older. That is great advice. Yes, it is not that expensive people that aren't listening.
[11:26] SPEAKER_00: Let's talk about BC. So we're both based on BC. Yes. And you're in Vancouver. So what are some of
[11:34] SPEAKER_01: the benefits of being based here on the West Coast? I think for sure. I mean, there is more of a
[11:41] SPEAKER_01: healthy outdoor attitude out here. So that's definitely something. I was in Toronto for about 15
[11:47] SPEAKER_01: years. And part of me still always love the go get and lifestyle of Toronto. I was really able to
[11:53] SPEAKER_01: take that and bring it here, which some people thought I was a little intense when I first landed.
[11:58] SPEAKER_01: They're like, you're not from here already. I'm like, why? What's happening? I'm like working
[12:02] SPEAKER_01: at crazy. So I was able to kind of marry that quite well. But I think, obviously because we have
[12:08] SPEAKER_01: a beautiful outdoors, I think especially with my line of work being in supplementation and health
[12:12] SPEAKER_01: and wellness, there already is a push to want to be healthy. We tend to be, we're a little bit more
[12:17] SPEAKER_01: outdoorsy. I mean, look at all the dating apps and guys holding fish. I mean, it's a thing.
[12:23] SPEAKER_01: They're more hiking and camping and fishing. That's what they're doing out here. So I think that's
[12:28] SPEAKER_01: definitely a blessing at least with my industry. That's definitely helped people a little bit more
[12:32] SPEAKER_01: acutely aware of supplementation. They're more open to that conversation because there tends to be
[12:35] SPEAKER_01: a little bit more of that out here. So I would say that for sure. And I think we have a closer knit
[12:40] SPEAKER_01: community. I mean, Ontario's a very big place. Obviously Toronto's even bigger. So when you look at
[12:47] SPEAKER_01: these entrepreneur groups or women in business, you tend to kind of get to know people a little
[12:52] SPEAKER_01: easier here, I think, because it's smaller in scale, opposed to being so big with so many women
[12:57] SPEAKER_01: in business where you might not come in pathways of others. And so I think that's also a blessing as
[13:02] SPEAKER_01: well being out here. And I mean, besides the rain today, I mean, we can't really complain. We have a
[13:09] SPEAKER_00: pretty incredible province every time I come home. I'm like, gosh, it's pretty here. So
[13:14] SPEAKER_00: and no shortage of health food stores on. In no shortage of health food stores like every half
[13:20] SPEAKER_00: a block. You can find my products. Yes, I was looking at your website and I was like, wow,
[13:25] SPEAKER_00: there's a lot near my house. So what is some of the challenges? So you're based in BC, but your
[13:32] SPEAKER_00: products are sold across Canada. What are, well, not just Canada outside of Canada. So what are some
[13:38] SPEAKER_00: of the challenges of operating in BC? I try to travel a lot. So I am this next year. I mean,
[13:46] SPEAKER_01: I'm speaking every other week in different provinces. So I do travel a lot to go out and talk.
[13:53] SPEAKER_01: And because I was in sales for so many years in the supplement industry, I have, I'm an
[14:00] SPEAKER_01: account manager at heart. I guess you could say I like being in stores. I love connecting with
[14:04] SPEAKER_01: the retailers. So that would be one thing that's challenging is Ontario has, I mean, the most
[14:09] SPEAKER_01: supplement stores are some vitamin stores than anywhere really. And so it's harder for me to connect
[14:14] SPEAKER_01: with those retailers and the people working in the stores to kind of share what my mission is
[14:18] SPEAKER_01: and have them get on board. So that's been a little challenging. But I think it's just time and
[14:22] SPEAKER_01: going into each territory and spending time and visiting stores and going and doing trainings.
[14:27] SPEAKER_01: So I think that's one of the things that would kind of make it a little bit more challenging. And
[14:31] SPEAKER_01: now I'm on tune to the US, which is a whole other beast. I mean, you kind of, you think,
[14:37] SPEAKER_01: I'll put it on Amazon. It will be great. And then you're like, Oh, okay, there's like way more.
[14:42] SPEAKER_01: It's like with anything. You think it just get it. I just start the product line and then it will
[14:45] SPEAKER_01: sell. And you're like, no, wait a minute. There's way more things I have to do now. What? You know,
[14:49] SPEAKER_01: so it was the same thing with the US. We've launched into the States. We now have four. We're
[14:53] SPEAKER_01: going to aim to have all products down in the US on Amazon.com by the end of the year. And in that,
[14:59] SPEAKER_01: there's now it's creating brand awareness down there. So it's digital marketing, advertising,
[15:03] SPEAKER_01: and influencers. Because up here, I have worked in Canada across Canada as an account manager.
[15:08] SPEAKER_01: I have relationships with a lot of retailers that have supported me and brought it into store.
[15:13] SPEAKER_01: And then with my online presence, it's married quite well. When the States, nobody has any idea
[15:17] SPEAKER_01: who I am. So it's starting from beyond scratch because it's such a huge place. So, yeah,
[15:24] SPEAKER_01: that's one of the things I'm really working on right now is really trying to create more
[15:28] SPEAKER_01: brand awareness in the States and continue creating brand awareness in Canada.
[15:32] SPEAKER_00: And so how do you define success? And more importantly, how do you celebrate your successes?
[15:40] SPEAKER_01: Celebrating, I probably need to do more of. You know, I'm kind of the person. I'm a very much a
[15:45] SPEAKER_01: list person. So the second I get something crossed off and I've done something, I'm like,
[15:50] SPEAKER_01: came back to get the next one, right? So I don't celebrate probably as much as I should. So I'm
[15:55] SPEAKER_01: going to try to get better at that. So I'm going to take a note of it. And what was the first part
[16:00] SPEAKER_00: of the question? You have to tell the one more time. Just thought about success there. How do you
[16:03] SPEAKER_00: define success? What does success look like to you? I think success looks like to me is having
[16:12] SPEAKER_01: my products make a difference. Having my daughter see that I'm making a difference as well in people's
[16:17] SPEAKER_01: lives. Having her see that I am following my dreams and that I'm not scared to take the jump,
[16:24] SPEAKER_01: even though it is terrified at times. And being able to wake up every day with my,
[16:30] SPEAKER_01: with just a jump in my step to get to do what I want to do. And every day when I wake up,
[16:35] SPEAKER_01: as I said, I know this is what I'm supposed to be doing. So it can be hard at times,
[16:39] SPEAKER_01: but that really keeps me aligned in going towards what my vision is for the brand.
[16:45] SPEAKER_00: And I find that celebrating your successes, like you said, is a challenge for a lot of entrepreneurs
[16:52] SPEAKER_00: because we have so much on our plate. And it's like, oh, good, that like you said, that's done
[16:58] SPEAKER_00: onto the next, but there is that power in hitting pause and really letting that sink in.
[17:05] SPEAKER_00: So that it becomes part of who you are. Because we spend a lot of time and we'll talk about this
[17:13] SPEAKER_00: next on those fear and doubts. We spend a lot of time dwelling in that space, but not
[17:18] SPEAKER_00: enough time dwelling in the celebrations. So fear and doubt. How do you, how do you deal with the
[17:26] SPEAKER_01: fear and doubt that creeps in? Oh, and it happens on a day to day basis. I think it's constantly
[17:34] SPEAKER_01: something that's there, right? And I think it's for everybody. I think that's the thing is
[17:37] SPEAKER_01: understanding we all have it that is not even the people who portray that you think everything's
[17:43] SPEAKER_01: fine and they are fully secure. They still deal with it too. I've had people reach out to me and
[17:48] SPEAKER_01: they say you just seem so confident. You see like you're just like taking on the world. I'm like,
[17:52] SPEAKER_01: oh, my God, give me times in my head. I'm like, okay, you can do this. Recently, I was giving a talk.
[18:00] SPEAKER_01: And even to this day, I mean, I've been talking about health and wellness and
[18:03] SPEAKER_01: pairing met up all of this stuff for years. But every time I go to get the talk, I still have
[18:07] SPEAKER_01: these moments of like, I don't know enough. What if I'm not the person that should be doing this?
[18:11] SPEAKER_01: It's still, it's still connected. It's still there for me. And I think that's a good thing because
[18:15] SPEAKER_01: then it constantly makes me want to be better and do better. So it's actually a good thing to have
[18:19] SPEAKER_01: a little bit of that doubt. I think if we're completely arrogant and like, I know everything,
[18:23] SPEAKER_01: that's me at like 16 years old. As we get older, we realize we don't know anything.
[18:29] SPEAKER_01: So I think there's a good part to have a little bit of fear and doubt, but then also learning to land
[18:34] SPEAKER_01: in the fact that you're doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing and that it is going to be okay.
[18:40] SPEAKER_01: And even if you mess that, that's when you learn the most. That's when it becomes lessons,
[18:45] SPEAKER_01: right? So I think there's a little bit of that in there too. But it's always going to be there.
[18:50] SPEAKER_00: So a two-part question. How did COVID impact your business and where do you see your business in
[18:59] SPEAKER_00: five years? Has there been any positive changes that have, because we know a lot about the negative,
[19:05] SPEAKER_00: but if there are any positive changes that have come about from COVID and how is that going to
[19:10] SPEAKER_01: direct you for the next five years? Well, luckily in Martin, in my industry, we were health
[19:15] SPEAKER_01: and central services. And also too, I mean, we experienced a very different experience than people
[19:21] SPEAKER_01: have used, right? I went out east last year to go do talks and people were still very
[19:25] SPEAKER_01: lazy about coming out for talks. And I was like, okay, you guys had a very different experience than
[19:30] SPEAKER_01: us. Like, we were kind of, I mean, it wasn't as normal, but still we were, I mean, I went to
[19:36] SPEAKER_01: restaurants. We went out, we'd take from our cautions, but we weren't, you know, I didn't homeschool
[19:40] SPEAKER_01: my daughter for a year and a half to you. Like, right? So we really were lucky in that sense,
[19:45] SPEAKER_01: but we were essential service with vitamins. So with vitamins and supplements,
[19:50] SPEAKER_01: sales increased dramatically. Of course, people wanted to get in better shape. They were all shopping
[19:55] SPEAKER_01: online. Nobody was going to work. What also did was really shifted our industry. In our industry,
[20:01] SPEAKER_01: it's always been very much, we sell to retailers, retailers sell to customers. And it's always been
[20:07] SPEAKER_01: that way. And you just had to hope to hack that that retailer liked your product, right? And you
[20:11] SPEAKER_01: bought enough marketing spend with them that they would then support you. And you know, you could
[20:15] SPEAKER_01: actually have your product bring brought to life. And your website would never sell direct.
[20:20] SPEAKER_01: That really changed during COVID because all of a sudden, more stores or more settlement companies
[20:25] SPEAKER_01: began to sell direct to consumer, began to sell to Amazon. We began to create all these
[20:30] SPEAKER_01: various pathways to sell our brands or sell our brand. And so in that, that was a positive as
[20:36] SPEAKER_01: well, because you have more of a direct consumer relationship going on. In that, one of the things that
[20:42] SPEAKER_01: I've really been cognizant of is that my retailers are still the people who are educating people on
[20:49] SPEAKER_01: the storefront. I'm down the ground there in the trenches, as I call it. They're the ones with the
[20:53] SPEAKER_01: customers talking to them about what they need. So I've always really honored my margin to my
[20:58] SPEAKER_01: customers and also my map pricing, my EDLP online. So I will never break map, which is our every day,
[21:05] SPEAKER_01: the lowest price we could go to on any social, like any platform at all. So my retailers always
[21:10] SPEAKER_01: can sell and always can match my pricing. So that's something else that's always been really
[21:14] SPEAKER_01: important to me too. And then it just creates value in the brand. So you're not going to see it,
[21:19] SPEAKER_01: you know, $20 cheaper online. My retailers can always match. That's something. So that was another
[21:24] SPEAKER_01: good thing that kind of came out of this whole direct consumer selling, which also then creates more
[21:28] SPEAKER_01: relationship with consumer because they're buying directly from your site. So they get to know you
[21:32] SPEAKER_01: a little better and it creates more brand awareness that way and all kind of attaches.
[21:37] SPEAKER_00: That's great. And so where do you see your company in five years from now now that we turn
[21:43] SPEAKER_00: the corner from the pandemic and it gave you a bit of a boost? Well, the B-Heg, big Harry Adesha
[21:51] SPEAKER_01: School. I said to somebody who'd asked them that, it was what's your B-Heg? They're like, what's
[21:54] SPEAKER_01: the heck is that? And I'm like, you big Harry Adesha School. That is the $100 million company.
[22:00] SPEAKER_01: But more so than a monetary amount to be a global brand and have a B-A brand that is supporting
[22:07] SPEAKER_01: women no matter where you are. So at the end of this year, our goal is to have everything on Amazon.com
[22:12] SPEAKER_01: and really cultivate that in the next year in 2024, growing that in the States. We use
[22:18] SPEAKER_01: CanXport Grant. I'm very blessed to have an opportunity to use that CanXport Grant,
[22:22] SPEAKER_01: the government of Canada to help us grow our brand in the States. And then 2024 is we're going to
[22:27] SPEAKER_01: launch into the UK in a broad, I love England. So part of me is doing it because I can go over there,
[22:32] SPEAKER_01: visit more. So yeah, and then just continue on that way and continue creating products that
[22:40] SPEAKER_01: women need. I'm really excited that I have an opportunity to talk to so many women who tell me what
[22:45] SPEAKER_01: what they need in their day to day. And I've had some really interesting conversations about certain
[22:50] SPEAKER_01: products that I should create. So I'm just going to continue to do that and continue to kind of
[22:55] SPEAKER_00: raise the bar and support women. Oh, that's just such a powerful mission. Let's talk about routines. How do
[23:05] SPEAKER_00: how do you support yourself? What is it that you do so that you're not torn in 20 directions and
[23:12] SPEAKER_00: burned out? Because you said you had that moment. And then you had that life shifts. How do you
[23:17] SPEAKER_01: make sure that you don't go back? Yeah. I do train usually every morning working out
[23:24] SPEAKER_01: it's a big thing. When I get up first thing in the morning, I lay in bed, don't touch my phone.
[23:29] SPEAKER_01: And I do kind of just, I call it forward gratitude thinking, I just think about my day, I thought
[23:35] SPEAKER_01: about today, you and I talking, how do I want to show up in this meeting or in this conversation with
[23:40] SPEAKER_01: you? How can I be a light? How can I be the best person I possibly can? I really try to visualize
[23:46] SPEAKER_01: that. And then from that, I have my trusty list in hand. I have today's list tomorrow's list,
[23:52] SPEAKER_01: this week's list, this month's list. I have my list in hand. I make sure I move my body. I make
[23:57] SPEAKER_01: sure, you know, on Sunday, we did it. I have all the a bunch of protein that's, you know, pre cook.
[24:02] SPEAKER_01: So I've ground beef and chicken and fish and all the things in the fridge and pasta is made and
[24:05] SPEAKER_01: rice made. So it helps my daughter as well when she comes in because at times there is busy.
[24:10] SPEAKER_01: And so she can make her own plate and do her a meal and we can have a dinner together.
[24:15] SPEAKER_01: And that, that really helps me. The working out in the morning and taking some time for me in the
[24:20] SPEAKER_01: morning really supports me. And I guess finding balance sometimes I hadn't, I had an interview with
[24:26] SPEAKER_01: a girl one day and I loved what she said. She goes, balance for me is being 100% present in what
[24:31] SPEAKER_01: I'm doing at the time. And so I really try to fall into that. I was actually pulling a camera and
[24:36] SPEAKER_01: who runs the forum. She's an incredible woman. And she said that. So I was like, kind of like so
[24:40] SPEAKER_01: much sense. She goes, so that's the way I create balance. When I'm with my kids, I'm 100% all in
[24:44] SPEAKER_01: with my kids. When I'm in my work, I'm 100% all in my work. When I'm in the gym, 100% in the,
[24:49] SPEAKER_01: and although sometimes I do do emails in the gym, but, but really trying to be present for wherever
[24:55] SPEAKER_01: you are in that moment is a great way to try and find some balance. So I really like that,
[24:59] SPEAKER_00: that analogy of hers. I love that because you're right. There's so many people that when you talk to
[25:04] SPEAKER_00: them, you know they're not listening. They know that you know that you're not the priority for them
[25:11] SPEAKER_00: right now. And how it makes you feel. And it loses any chance of connection. Yeah. I think that's
[25:21] SPEAKER_00: great. So if you were talking to an entrepreneur or somebody even in business who's moving to your
[25:28] SPEAKER_00: community and is looking to make connections, what advice would you give them? Reach out to some
[25:37] SPEAKER_01: great organizations. I know I've mentioned the forum before, especially if you're an entrepreneur
[25:40] SPEAKER_01: and you're a woman. The forums great. They have a great group. They have e-series. They have so many
[25:45] SPEAKER_01: things they do. I do mentorship with them as well. I was a mentee and I do mentoring now. So
[25:51] SPEAKER_01: that's a great way to connect with like-minded women, I find. I know there's obviously many different
[25:57] SPEAKER_01: groups you get belong to here in Vancouver and kind of join associations with. But I think especially
[26:02] SPEAKER_01: if you're a woman in business, finding a group like that is really essential. I'm still friends with
[26:06] SPEAKER_01: a lot of the girls I went through my cohort with. So that's been something for me. And then
[26:12] SPEAKER_01: finding what you're interested in. So it's not just maybe work. So finding something health-related
[26:17] SPEAKER_01: wise, if you like to spin, if you want to do yoga, if you want to find something that you love to do
[26:23] SPEAKER_01: and then join that place. Be it a gym, whatever it is for you. And usually those classes and
[26:28] SPEAKER_01: different things you can partake in where you can get to know people. But not just making it all
[26:31] SPEAKER_01: about work, but of course trying to find some balance there. I know I joined Mom's group when I
[26:35] SPEAKER_01: had Michaela. So I had a Mom's group of friends. So you can kind of help all these different groups
[26:40] SPEAKER_01: that you're able to bring in to support yourself because being human is hard. So my brother says,
[26:46] SPEAKER_01: being a human, this whole human thing is hard. I'm like, it is. It's a lot of work. So having as
[26:52] SPEAKER_01: much support as you possibly can from all facets, I think is a great way to go.
[26:56] SPEAKER_00: And I think that's so important because like you said, it's not just about business, business,
[27:01] SPEAKER_00: business, head down all the time. It's about the holistic and those of us that are parents,
[27:06] SPEAKER_00: you know, we tend to hang out with other parents that the kids that you know that your kids hang out
[27:12] SPEAKER_00: with. So is there anything that keeps you up at night? Well, if my hormones are not balanced
[27:20] SPEAKER_01: properly and I haven't had my so harmonious before I go to bed with Hops of Blood sugar,
[27:25] SPEAKER_01: then I definitely like it by the melt the night. The whole product plug there. No.
[27:31] SPEAKER_01: What keeps me up at night? I mean, I definitely can wake up and kind of get wrapped into thinking
[27:36] SPEAKER_01: about the business and is it going to be okay? And I can definitely have as we kind of talked about
[27:40] SPEAKER_01: those anxious self-depreciate, like those self-deprecating thoughts. I can definitely kind of start
[27:46] SPEAKER_01: spinning there. But just I guess the big thing is, is it going to be okay? I question that. I'm like,
[27:52] SPEAKER_01: God, I hope this is okay. I hope that I'm doing the right thing. But then I know what I'm doing
[27:55] SPEAKER_01: is the right thing. So it's like this, but yes, that might keep me up at some times, but I'll take
[28:00] SPEAKER_01: a snooze as well. That helps and count backwards from 99 and before I know it, I'm back to sleep.
[28:06] SPEAKER_00: Excellent. Now, is there any advice that you've been given or a book you've read or anything that
[28:13] SPEAKER_00: stuck with you that you really think about that helps you move forward? That's a good question.
[28:23] SPEAKER_01: I mean, I've had some really amazing mentors throughout the years. And one of them, actually,
[28:29] SPEAKER_01: this was something I've really taken to heart because I think it's entrepreneurs, especially when we
[28:33] SPEAKER_01: come at the landscape and look up people are presenting entrepreneurship, the whole selling off
[28:39] SPEAKER_01: portions of your company, right? Or like giving people 5% 10% and doing that and so you're whittled
[28:44] SPEAKER_01: right down. One of the things that one of my major business investors business mentor said to me was,
[28:51] SPEAKER_01: to own as much as you can as long as you possibly can because your value is in the fact that you own
[28:55] SPEAKER_01: 100% of your business. My own 100% of my business right now. I understand that all people can do that.
[29:00] SPEAKER_01: But he said, do it. Hold it as long as you can because the more you grow the company, the more the
[29:04] SPEAKER_01: value the company will be. And then you're going to have 100% of it. Then you'll have more, you'll have
[29:09] SPEAKER_01: more leveraging and more power when you're actually going to get funding. Eventually, like you're
[29:13] SPEAKER_01: looking to bring an investor in you own all of it is not divided because there's been many times
[29:18] SPEAKER_01: where I'm like, I'll be so nice to have somebody come in and help me and give them a portion of it.
[29:22] SPEAKER_01: And I'm so glad I didn't. So I think that's one of the things is to recognize that a lot of the
[29:27] SPEAKER_00: value is you own in 100% of that. I think that's great advice. And also it stays true to your vision
[29:35] SPEAKER_00: and your core beliefs and your passion. So exactly. So this has been a really great conversation.
[29:43] SPEAKER_00: Is there anything else you want to add before we wrap up? No, I think I think if you, one thing
[29:51] SPEAKER_01: I will say to anybody is if there's something a little voice inside of you because I had this
[29:55] SPEAKER_01: little voice for so long, it was like you should do your own, you should do your own brand, you should
[29:58] SPEAKER_01: do your own brand, a miscellaneous to it and acknowledge it. When I got packaged out all those
[30:04] SPEAKER_01: years ago, I had an opportunity to either take the money by real estate, which I might, maybe
[30:08] SPEAKER_01: I should have, I might be way richer now, but I knew that I'd always be like, what if? And I really
[30:16] SPEAKER_01: believe life is about stepping into purpose. And I believe that there's something that's whispering
[30:21] SPEAKER_01: to you. You can look, I mean, there is no way I could look at having the brand I have now when I
[30:27] SPEAKER_01: started four years ago because it was that it would just been a huge, it would have been way too
[30:31] SPEAKER_01: over, too much for me to even think about, comprehend about creating, but it's those little tiny steps
[30:35] SPEAKER_01: every day. And taking those little tiny steps towards the direction of your dreams, you will be
[30:39] SPEAKER_01: there eventually. So I think that's the big thing. It's not a manifestation, although there's a little
[30:44] SPEAKER_01: bit of that, you can create in your mind, but then you have to put the work in every single day,
[30:48] SPEAKER_01: little bit of time and eventually doors will start opening and you will start being led to where
[30:53] SPEAKER_01: you're supposed to be. So that would be the one thing. Listen to the whisper, go for it.
[30:58] SPEAKER_00: That's a great way to end. So thank you for this conversation and where can people find you?
[31:04] SPEAKER_01: You can find me on our website, erinwellness.com. So it's A-E-R-Y-O-N wellness. It's both a little
[31:10] SPEAKER_01: different. Of course, we're on Instagram, we're on YouTube, we're on TikTok, we're on Twitter,
[31:15] SPEAKER_01: all under erinwellness. And you can follow me personally. It's erin, A-E-R-Y-O-N, Bella Ashley,
[31:21] SPEAKER_01: A-S-H-L-I-E and I'm on Instagram, Facebook, all those goodies too.
[31:26] SPEAKER_01: Perfect. Well, thank you so much. Thank you so much for having me, Cynthia.