December 30, 2024 • 50 mins
Founder and visionary Alizah Josette struggled to find a pillow that would allow her unrestricted movement, but prevent harmful twists and strains of her head and neck muscles.
Through her persistence, dedication and numerous prototypes over several years, and now leaving behind a successful, 16-year Paralegal career, Alizah has developed the Spherehead Pillow, which cradles and supports the head and neck, promotes alignment of the spine, and allows flexibility of sleeping positions.
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Through her persistence, dedication and numerous prototypes over several years, and now leaving behind a successful, 16-year Paralegal career, Alizah has developed the Spherehead Pillow, which cradles and supports the head and neck, promotes alignment of the spine, and allows flexibility of sleeping positions.
Winning Business Radio is broadcast live Mondays at 4PM ET and Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com). Winning Business Radio is viewed on Talk 4 TV (www.talk4tv.com).
Winning Business Radio Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Media (www.talk4media.com), Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/winning-business-radio--3075598/support.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The topics and opinions expressed in the following show are
solely those of the hosts and their guests, and not
those of W FOURCY Radio. It's employees are affiliates. We
make no recommendations or endorsements for radio show programs, services,
or products mentioned on air or on our web. No
liability explicitor implies shall be extended to W four CY
Radio or it's employees are affiliates. Any questions or comments
should be directed to those show hosts. Thank you for
(00:20):
choosing W four CY Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Churchill said, those who failed to learn from history are
condemned to repeat it. Kevin Helen n believes that certainly
applies to business. Welcome to Winning Business Radio here at
W four CY Radio. That's W four cy dot com
and now your host, Kevin Helenn.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Thanks everybody for joining in once again today. I am
Kevin Hallanan and welcome back to Winning Business TV and
Radio on W four c Y dot com. We're streaming
live on talkfour tv dot com in addition to Facebook,
and that's at Winning Business Radio. And of course you
can listen in podcast form after the live show in
all kinds on all kinds of platforms. Pretty much wherever
(01:14):
you get your content. That's YouTube, by Heart, radio, Spotify, Apple,
and the list goes on the mission of winning business
radio and TV. As regular listeners and viewers know, is
to offer insights and advice to help people avoid the
mistakes of others, right to learn best practices. That's the
how tos, the what tos, the what not tos, to
(01:34):
be challenged, and I hope to be inspired by the
successes of others. Those are consultants, coaches, advisors, authors, founders
and owners, entrepreneurs, people with expertise. But you know, virtually
every successful person that I've ever had a chance to
talk to has had some form of failure in their
lives and careers. So I say it every week. While
(01:55):
we all have to get our knee skinned once in
a while, I'm driven to keep those scrapes from needing
major surgery. Let's endeavor to learn from history so we
don't repeat it. I've spent the better part of my
career equipping businesses to grow from solopreneurs to small and
medium sized companies all the way up to the fortune fifty.
I've seen some of those companies win, and to varying degrees,
I've seen some fail I've had the opportunity to rub
(02:17):
elbows with some of the highest performing people around and
with some who probably should have found other professions. In
my own businesses, I've had lots of success, but some
failures too. I like to think I've learned a lot
from those experiences. So yeah, you're going to hear from
me my opinions and insights, but anybody who knows me,
because rather anybody who knows me will tell you I
have a hard time staying quiet. But more importantly, together
(02:39):
we'll hear from experts, those consultants, coaches, advisors, authors, founders
and owners, entrepreneurs. Today Inventor and this week, by the way,
is our two hundredth episode. We're not doing anything special
other than mentioning it. It actually sort of snuck up
on me. But I'm really appreciative of you, the viewers
and listeners, so thank you very much. Today my guest
is Eliza jail Set, inventor of the Spherehead, the Spherehead pillow,
(03:03):
and founder and owner of Spherehead LLC. Here's her bio
founder and visionary. Eliza Jassett struggled to find an adequate
pillow that would allow unrestricted movement but prevent harmful twists
and strains of the head and neck muscles. Through her persistence, dedication,
and numerous prototypes, she unlocked the secret to a soothing
night's sleep. A pillow that cradles and supports the head
(03:26):
and neck, promotes alignment of the spine, and offers flexibility
of sleeping positions. Fueled by the excitement of this discovery,
in a deep determination to help others improve their quality
of rest, Elijah is pioneering the revolutionary design Spherehead, the
Dream Pillow, meticulously crafted for those seeking comfortable and meaningful rest.
Eliza's as a degree in paralegal studies, a sixteen year
(03:49):
year career, she actually has moved away from to focus
on her new passion. She resides in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Eliza,
Welcome to Winning Business Radio Heaven.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Thank you so much for having me on and congratulations
on two hundred shows.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
And it really did. I mean, I knew I was
getting there, but uh, you know, I have the I
have the best guest. How about that, I have the
best guest for the two hundred episode.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
Oh well, I hope I can slip up to that.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Yeah, no, no, no, just the same any other episodes.
So thank you for being here. Let's start with your background,
as you know. I you know, I've told you I
liked for listeners and viewers to get a sense of
someone's background, sort of their progression, how they got to
where they are. So where did you grow up?
Speaker 4 (04:36):
I actually grew up in South Kings Sound, Rhode Island,
where I am currently residing is a small little town
in Rhode Island, which is a small little state, yeap.
And every time I try to get out, it pulls
me back in. So I have lived across the state
of Rhode Island, tried to move to me in a
couple of times, but like I said, something always brings
(04:57):
me back here to this quaint little village, and that's
where I currently am too.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
So tell us what it was like to grow up there,
quaint and little. What was it like?
Speaker 4 (05:07):
Well, there's no anonymity, so forget about going through yes
and not running into five people you know, including the
pharmacist who you went to high school with and now
knows that you're like on antidepressants or something or a
very god asthma like myself. So it really is everyone
knows everyone and their business. It's a very small town. Specifically,
(05:30):
it's five villages, and I've lived in one of those
villages that make up stuff Thinkstown for nearly thirty six
years consecutively, and yeah, I mean it's lovely in a
lot of ways, and lock your door, you can just
walk out into town. It's a very friendly, community, community
oriented place, and I feel very blessed and fortunate i've
(05:52):
lived here. But I am definitely called to experience something new.
In general, it's very tiny, so there's really no street
I have n't gone down, and so I'd love to
just go to a place where I don't know what's
around the bend. And I feel like it helps to
grow and evolved, live somewhere new, in a different culture,
experience a new place. So I look forward to that
(06:13):
challenge someday.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Well, I have the sense of that probably will happen.
What were your early interests growing up?
Speaker 4 (06:21):
Well, I really I loved acting. That was a huge
passion of mine. Honestly, just debating. Both my parents were attorneys,
and the stretch into the paralegal career wasn't that great
for me. But I definitely love a good debate, especially
if I take the counter position of what I actually
(06:42):
believe in. I think it's even more fun.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
That's yeah, right, yeah, And then of course it's it's
a lot of It's a little walking town, so I
was always outside walking around.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
I didn't need a bike. It's very easy to get
around pre driver's license.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
And did you go to school or college after high
school or was there a break there?
Speaker 4 (07:05):
I did take a break, yea. So that was actually
one of the greatest decisions I've made in my life.
I was the first one in my family to not
go to a university directly out of high school, and
that didn't not go over well my little family. It
was so when I was a senior in high school,
(07:26):
my parents basically said, well, you don't have to go
to college, but you can't stay here. And I'm so
grateful for that because I've been on my own since
eighteen and I was already working two jobs when I
was a senior, so I could financially support myself and
that really set me up for life. So when I
was twenty three, all my friends were moving back home
(07:50):
from school, moving back in with their parents and had
a lot of debt, and I was buying my first
home because I had been able to save money. I
just started going to school at that point because I
finally realized what I wanted to do with my life
was to become a paralegal. But I went for a
dedicated at that point. It really just put me such
a step ahead. And then I was able to REFI
(08:11):
that home because I had equity, so I was allowed
to you know, that afforded me great opportunities in my
twenties when I, like I said, other people were struggling
and paying off debts, and so I'm really fortunate that
I became so financially independent at such a young age.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
I just read an article today that's talking about decreased
college enrollments because of massive costs and debt and all that. So, yeah,
you were an early, early embracer of that, right. What
were some of those earlier jobs before you decided on
the law.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
Oh gosh, I mean, so I started working at thirteen
as a busser in a restaurant.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
That's great experience. Yep, it really was.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
And then even though I, like, I know, technically not
supposed to work under a certain age, but he was
a family friend and it was only in the summers,
and I just spent all my money on like CDs. Yeah.
Then I was a cashier at Benny's when I was
at fifteen to sixteen, a housekeeper. I worked at Subway,
I worked in retail. I worked at this nonprofit that
(09:10):
really changed my life. That's when I decided I want
to become a paralegal. It was to enter Initially, it
was to be in public interest law, and it was
really working at the nonprofit that inspired that in me
and I realized that was my direction. It's not the
path my career ended up taaking. I ended up in
probate in estates. But I do feel that we have
(09:32):
these paths for a reason. So that introduced me. But
going into this other direction in my paralegal career into
the proviate in estates is what afforded me the income
to start my business and self fund my invention, which
probably wouldn't have happened if I went that other route.
So hopefully the invention is going to contribute and help people.
(09:52):
So the goal is still the same, but the path
there varied from my intentions.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
What was the nature of the nonprofit.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
It was called Clean Water Action, So basically we went,
we canvassed, we went door to door knocking for people
to sign petitions. They're responsible for PLAT passing the Clean
Water Act and the Clean Air Act of the nineteen seventies,
so definitely anyone listening out there. I think Clean Order
Action is a great organization. I still support them today.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Where did you end up going to school and why
did you choose that school?
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Well, when I realized I wanted to be a pair
of legal, I had actually started working in a little
law firm for my mom. She was a solo practitioner
right around thirteen, answering phones and doing really simple documents,
drafting deeds and very simple wills. So I already kind
of had a little bit of a foundation there, and
then I really wanted to be a pair of legal
(10:46):
and so I went to the CCRI Community College, Rhode Island,
good just to get an associate. It did take me
four years because at that point I had to get
a third job to put myself through school. So I
had three jobs and was going to school part time.
And it did take me four years round the clock,
you know, when summer's and everything, to get my two
year degree. But very worth it, and I remember when
(11:10):
I was finally able to support myself with just one job,
and I worked my way up the ladder into a
very prominent firm here in Rhode Island, and my salary
very exceeded my expectations and necessities in life. So I
was able to give a lot more financially to charities
and realized that I was very fortunate with how everything
(11:31):
worked out in my life. In hindsight, when you look back,
it's like, oh, you know, these decisions actually turned out
to be quite wise for me in my little path.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Totally with you. One of the questions, I'm trying to
reword it because you kind of said it. What are
some of the most important lessons you learned? I want
to reward that slightly too. Maybe what are your biggest
takeaways from that time period?
Speaker 4 (11:57):
Well? I think do it you can in your twenties,
you know. Now. I try to think back on how
did I have the energy to have a full time job,
two part time jobs, and go to school part time
for four years? And I don't think at thirty six
today that is something that I'm sure I could because
I saw that fire in that passion to succeed in
(12:19):
my goals. But I think, really we should appreciate where
we are in life and any sort of challenges that
are so time demanding. Do it when a lack of
sleep is less impactful on your waking life.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Oh great, segue into the work you're doing. Hey, we're
going to take our first break. We'll be back in
just a minute. Everybody will be back with Eliza just said.
If you're listening to Winning Business Radio with Kevin Helene
on W four Ceedy Radio, that's W four Cedy dot.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Com, don't go away. More helpful information is coming right
up right here on Winning Business Radio.
Speaker 6 (13:02):
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Speaker 2 (13:35):
And now back to Winning Business Radio with Kevin Helene,
presenting exciting topics and expert guests with one goal in
mind to help you succeed in business. Here once again
is Kevin Helene.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
We're back with Elijahjassett, founder and owner of Spherehead ll Spearehead, Yes,
Spearhead LLC, inventor of the Spearhead pillow, which we're going
to get into in a couple of minutes. Here. Uh,
my monitors give me a problem. Sorry about that? All right?
You didn't initially set set out to invent a product,
(14:15):
did you?
Speaker 4 (14:16):
No?
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Not at all. That was tell us about the desire.
I mean, not the desire that the initial idea, not
the product, but the pillow itself. Why you know, what's
the backstory?
Speaker 4 (14:28):
Sure? Well, while I was working three jobs and in school,
I was I was stressed out. And it turns out
I learned that I hold the stress in my neck
muscles and they went as I was eventually diagnosed to
the thoracic outlet syndrome in my left shoulder as a
result of the stress. And that really is the beginning
(14:51):
of this Yearhead pillow. So that started me on about
an eight year run of trying the pillows that were
available on the market to help me and keep my
neck muscles relaxed, stop my migraines, and just be able
to attain a good night's sleep without having so much
neck and shoulder pain. And over the course of these
(15:12):
eight years, I was not able to find anything that
really worked for me on a long term basis, And
that is really why that's the inspiration for inventing a pillow.
It was out of desperation and needing to get a
good night's sleep. So I really just took it into
my own hands and decided to invent something for myself
(15:32):
with never the intention of coming to market for any reason.
I mean, I was very happy in my paralegal career
at this point and had no desire inkling to make
a switch into the entrepreneur realm.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
What are some of the styles of pillows you tried
that didn't work well?
Speaker 4 (15:48):
I truly tried probably all the big ones that are
out there, and I don't want to call out certain names.
That's why would say, right for me, the pillow that
was the most helpful. It's marketed as a wrinkle free pillow,
referring to your skin. Because my issue was that I
had to start sleeping on my back and my head
(16:09):
kept rotating over my shoulder in the middle of the night,
and that continued to strain my neck muscles. So this
wrinkle free pillow, what it did is it bordered my
face and it kept it at this ninety degree angle,
so I couldn't twist my head over and so that
actually helped me the most, but it was very restricting.
It was hot. I am a person who does like
(16:31):
to roll on my side the middle of the night,
and of course I couldn't. You're prevented from any other
You're locked into. Sleeping on your back is very certain position.
So a lot of things in life have pros and cons,
and I did find that was the most helpful, but
the cons just turned out to be too much for
me to handle.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Yeah, my wife tells me if I sleep on my back,
I snore. Otherwise I don't. I'm normally sleeping on my side.
Sometimes on my belly is good radio and TV sleep talk.
I generally don't tell people that, not that I care.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
But.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
It's having a one sided conversation because I normally would
love to say, well, what were your childhood hobbies and
where did you grow up? So I appreciate the personal tibots.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
You talk about comfortable and meaningful rest. What do you
mean by that? I mean, I know what it sounds like.
But I go beyond the obvious. What do you mean
by that?
Speaker 4 (17:27):
Well, I think that we can use sleep to our advantage.
Obviously in a lot of ways, so of course mentally,
but also physically. So we are in a position for
a certain amount of time, and we're very cognizantly aware
of our posture during our waking life, and we can
sense when we're in pain. But when we're sleeping, we're
(17:50):
using a chunk of time where we are just in
a different state of rest. And honestly, I think that
if we turn our sleep into more productive manners for
our physical well being while we're in this state of rest,
it just helps benefit us when we wake up in
the morning. So for me, I think meaningful rest is
(18:11):
really utilizing that time that you're in bed to help
your muscles relax, to not just regenerate your mind and
rejuvenate and heal psychologically, but physically too.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
You must know a bunch of sleep stats, and I don't.
We don't have the rattles off. I'm simply asking you're,
as you always hear, eight hours of sleep, but how
realistic is that?
Speaker 4 (18:36):
Well, So I'll be honest with you, I think that
the amount of sleep a person needs is very dependent
on the individual, so I actually don't recommend. I feel
like if someone needs eight hours. So my life partner
he likes to get nine hours of sleep every night,
and he feels it if he doesn't. I like to
(18:57):
get six. And there are some people out there who
are brilliant geniuses who like to get four hours in
sleep because they use their time laying in bed to
contemplate and think and solve their own personal issues or
mysteries of the universe. So I really think it depends
on the person. For me, six hours is convenient. I
(19:19):
feel great, I get a nice little rem cycle in there,
and any more than that sometimes I feel overtired and drowsy.
So I personally do the sixth.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Can you give a sense of give us a sense
of I don't know how sleep deprived the world is,
the nation is, I mean, what are? It seems like
a ubiquitous problem to me.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
It really is, And I think that's because we try
to pile so much into our lives. So I think
that we get a lack of sleep overall as a
nation for a couple reasons. I think that stress is
a huge right. I mean a lot of people can
set the time to go to bed, but they can't
(20:03):
shut off their brains. And the stress in general can
keep us awake. But then there's also the reality of life.
So a lot of people have one job or two,
have children. Where is their personal time for them? So
if you take just an average person, you know, they
get home from work, they have to make dinner, they
(20:24):
have to get the kids bathe, and bedtime and dinner
and whatever it may be. You know, it's a dinner twice,
but eating is important. But you know, then let's say
that you do your bedtime routine and you know that
you have to wake up at you know, six am
or something. Right now is ten o'clock at night, whatever
it may be, And so health you should start your
bedtime prep for yourself. But human beings, we need our relaxation,
(20:47):
we need our mindless time. We need to let go.
And so some people scroll on their phones. I personally meditate,
you know, listen to music, watch the evening news. And
I think that's an overall lack of sleep too, because
is we have to trade off. There's only so many
hours in a day, and where do we find the
personal me time in that day? When you have so
(21:09):
many other obligations and responsibilities. So I try to rework
sleep in my mind. And I talked to my partner
about this, the one who likes to get yeah, over
nine hours. That's really hard for him. He's a nurse
and works twelve hour shifts. Oh yeah, And I try
to tell him, you know what, how about you get
eight hours of sleep, but you spend one hour stretching
(21:31):
and doing yoga or reading. Because I think that there's
other ways we can benefit our bodies besides going into
a rim cycle. But to each their own, I haven't
won that battle.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
Yet, so it sounds like a good argument to me.
All right, tell us or rather take us through the
early process. You said, I can't find the right pillow,
like from day one when the idea popped in your head.
I got to do this on my own. What did
that look like? Did you have to find raw materials?
Did you have to form a pillow? I mean, walk
(22:05):
us through that.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Well, so it took me years after the idea came
to me of the shape that I needed this.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
And again, this is just not a necessity, not out
of this brilliance that you had this product right.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
And I had it in my mind for a really
long time. But because I said, it's a completely unique,
revolutionary shape, so I kept searching for something similar, I
couldn't find it, And honestly, I never I was putting
it off because I didn't want to deal with the hassle.
Like I said, I had a very busy life too. Yeah.
But finally when I decided to bite the bullet and
(22:40):
I needed to invent a pillow for me so I
could sleep in a litle bit more productive life. It
started really with me just sketching it out, and I
had to find an engineer who could do a CAD
file for me. We get into this three D model
so we could send it to a manufacturing plant to
build a mold, and after that it really just became
(23:02):
about I did change the mold a few times.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
This is again still yeah just for yourself. Wow.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
Right, So this wasn't to go to market, but it
was such a new design that it did take me
about three maybe four tries before I found the exact
mold that I wanted for myself, which I have tweaked
since to go to market because it's very tailored to me.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
But also it was the.
Speaker 4 (23:22):
Foam consistency that I was playing around with too. So
the spearhead pillow is memory foam, and that is tricky
because you can have some that are very, very firm,
or some that are so machine soft that they cannot
help you support the neck muscles and cradle the head
the way that I specifically needed. So that was a
big part of my redoing. It was really just to
(23:46):
figure out the exact sort of consistency in the foam
that I wanted.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Wow, how did you know when you had it?
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Honestly, I felt it and I was like, this is perfect.
And my first night, I'm not going to the first night,
I did not make it through. So it's all about
spine alignment. And so for me on that first night,
my feet were going into spasm. So my COEs, we're
going crazy. And so about halfway through the night, I
tossed the spearhead pillow and I went back to my
(24:15):
pillow I was using at the time. But by second
night I laid down on it and I had muscle
memory and I've been sleeping on it ever since.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
And I know you said this pillow is like a
health aid, right, So it's something that takes a little
bit of time to get used to. But the benefit
is there, but people should expect to feel some discomfort.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
Right absolutely, So I do compare as much new sleep position.
Let's say, well exactly. I mean, you may need insoles
in your shoes, you may need an adjustment by a chiropractor,
you may need to go to the gym. I mean,
there's a lot of things that we need to do
for our overall physical well being our body that can
be uncomfortable at first. But if we stick with, we
(25:01):
get through the discomfort, we stick with these health aids
and practices, it's ultimately beneficial for us. And I do
feel that a lot of people who suffer the way
that I did with next shoulder, even lower back or
hit pain, they've probably have tried several things out there,
so they're really willing to give something a fair shot
and not just try it for a couple hours and
(25:22):
toss it aside. So I think that's why so your
Head has been successful because even though there is this
adjustment period, the market of those who are purchasing it,
those consumers they've usually been They're not this isn't the
first pillow they're trying. You know, it's really out there.
So they've been down the road, they're desperate. This invention
gives them hope. That's what I hear all the time,
(25:43):
especially from doctors, chylepractors and physical therapists get a severearhead
pillow and it's such a unique revolutionary design that they
say it inspires hope in them that maybe this is
something that can work. And I think the individuals out
there who suffer from these sort of pain, they reckon
that too, and so they're willing to give it a
fair shot.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
When did you realize you were creating something marketable?
Speaker 4 (26:08):
Well, actually, so, the manufacturing plant that I ordered my
prototype from, they wouldn't let me just order one. It
was a minimum of four. So I had some extras
and I ended up giving them out to people who
needed them over the course of some time less than
a year. But I was handing them out just realizing
that it was helping me and it could help others.
(26:31):
And the people who were using them really did find
relief and they loved it. And that's when I realized, Okay,
I did it at desperation. There was this hole in
the market for me. Obviously, there's this hole in the
market for others. So although it may not be for everyone,
it definitely is helping a demographic out there, and that's
really what inspired me to take on the stress and
(26:53):
take the leap and become an entrepreneur, just so I
can help other people who are also suffering the way
I was.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
And you hold three patents, yes, yeah, tell us about
the patents, and then I want to know about that
process as well. Oh sure.
Speaker 4 (27:07):
That was actually the easiest process of the whole thing,
mainly because I had I hired a firm to do
the patents for me, So for me, it was just
a waiting game. I just had to sit back and
pay the bill. But the work wise, besides reviewing what
the brilliant attorneys at Bold did. That's the firm that
(27:27):
I worked with, and they were phenomenal. And yeah, so
at first I did my utility patent, and that is
a parent and child patent, so that's two separate patents. Basically,
the parent is just very overarching, so it just shows
the design of the pillow, even though that's not my
(27:49):
design patent, but still it just kind of lays it
out in really simplistic terms. And then the child of
that utility patent is more specific details and the design
patent is really not talking about how the pillow is
used at all, but it just shows exactly the shape
of it and exactly what it sounds like. It's a
(28:11):
design patent.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
All right. I want to get more into the pillow
and the process in another minute. We'll be back in
about sixty seconds with Eliza J said.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
You're listening to Winning Business Radio with Kevin Helenet on
W four CY Radio. That's W four cy dot com.
Don't go away, More helpful information is coming right up
right here on Winning Business Radio.
Speaker 7 (28:41):
The yp dot com website is your local search engine.
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Speaker 2 (29:15):
And now back to Winning Business Radio with Kevin Helen
in presenting exciting topics and expert guests with one goal
in mind to help you succeed in business. Here once
again is Kevin Helenet.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
All right, we're back. The company is Sphearhead LLC. The
product is the Spherehead Pillow, the invention and she's ELIZAHJ. Sett,
founder inventor, brilliant entrepreneur. We'll come up with a whole
bunch of adjectives we can. I like brilliant too. I
want to try something? Do you? And this is if
you're listening in a podcast, go to the website and
(29:57):
take a look at it. Do you happen to have
one nearby? Oh?
Speaker 1 (29:59):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (30:00):
All right, just show us.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
So this is the Spearhead pillow. It's hard with the
camera and the lighting.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
I'm sorry about that.
Speaker 4 (30:10):
This is the spherical side. This is the side you
would not sleep on, and then this is the side
that you do. So this is where it cradles and
supports the head and then this neck indent it mirrors
the curve of the cervical spine. So the way that
it works is with the head resting in the center concave,
the cervical section in the back that's what lets it
(30:33):
roll with the user during the night, so they can
transition from back to side sleeping seamlessly. The pillow will
stay under their head, keeping them supported and comfortable. And
I just like, if I'm showing the pill I just
want to say it's squeeze so people will always see it.
And when I go to trade shows and expos and
when they just see it from far away, they feel
like it's going to be very firm, and it's actually
(30:55):
very soft and comfortable. So I like to show people's memory.
Boam isn't exactly how it looks, is.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
How it feelds, and it's in a I don't know
how do you describe the material. It looks like a
kind of sheen to it looks like it's very comfortable.
Speaker 4 (31:10):
It is, so it does come with a charmuse fabric pillowcase,
so that's like a silk satin material. I am working
right now on a cotton pillowcase as well. That's the
only negative feedback that I've received about the Spearhead is
actually about the pillowcase, which is wonderful because that has
nothing to do with the foam. But right now, for
(31:32):
anyone who does not like the Sharmuse fabric. I picked
it because it's wonderful overall hair types, but for those.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Yeh, talk pause on that. What do you mean by that?
Speaker 4 (31:42):
Oh? Well, so that sort of fabric, it just helps
prevent breakage. It keeps hair smooth and shiny. A lot
of people use that satin or silk charmus fabric as
bonnets for their hair when they sleep, just because it
really is so beneficial regardless of your type of hair.
(32:05):
And I needed an initial pillowcase to go to market,
so I picked that one just because it was universal.
But it does fit in any pillowcase in your home.
So I tell people if they don't like the Sharmous fabric,
the Spearhead pillow will fit any standard pillowcase as well.
But hopefully the cotton one will be coming out early
in twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
Five, so it is sleep aid friendly.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
Talk about that, yes, So I say that because for me,
I sleep with a padded imask, and the pillows that
I have tried, especially the one that I referenced in
our first segment, that wrinkle free pillow, it dug it
into my face. So every morning I woke up with
a crease that took hours to go away. And I
know a lot of people who sleep with those really
(32:49):
invasive seat pat machines, even the ones that are just
in the nose, they're more difficult when you want to
sleep on your side. A lot of pillows can dig
in too, so the spearhead pillow, whether you're on your
back or side, it rests along the outer curve of
the face and so therefore it just doesn't interfere with
(33:10):
any sort of facial sleep apparatus. And that's why I
try to say a sleep ape friendly. I will be
having a sleep study done hopefully by next summer that
My goal is for insurance companies to cover the spearhead
pillow for those have sleep APMEA. I want doctors to
be able to write scripts for it because I do
think it will help that market significantly. But it just
(33:33):
takes time to meet all the levels that the insurance
company requires for that authorization.
Speaker 3 (33:40):
So that's awesome, good luck with that. And this can
be used alone or with another pillow or pillows.
Speaker 4 (33:47):
Yes, so for people who like to sleep that more
elevated position on two or three pillows, because there's an
adjustment period with the sphearhead pillow already. I always recommend
just put it on top of a standard pill You'll
still get the spine alignment. It'll still move with your
head during the night. It just may help with that
transition because it is right now. It is load to
(34:09):
the mattress in and of itself, because that's the ideal
spine alignment. But I do know several customers now who
use the pillow and they on top of another pillow,
and they say that it still helps, especially their lower
back and hit pain. They say they still feel relief,
so it carries on through.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
Well, that's the next thing I want to ask. What
are some of the users or customers saying about the
pillow itself and their experience.
Speaker 4 (34:36):
Well, so it seems that it just my period is
greatly varied. So some love it from night one, some
night two, some need two weeks. So that is what
I'm noticing the most is really everyone is very different
in terms of their comfort level with.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
It, their body type, their size, their weight, all kinds
of things. Right.
Speaker 4 (34:57):
Sure, absolutely it's a type of bed so that I
haven't heard yet, But I've been curious because I know those,
especially those beds that raise up. Yeah, so I was
wondering about that, but I know that there are some
customers who use the spearhead pillow in a recliner, so
I feel like it will work with that sort of
mattress too. That also goes into that you know, inclined position.
(35:21):
But I have a soft mattress and that does not
affect me in any sort of negative way with this
cearhead pillow. So just because there's something soft on top
of something soft, I'm not sinking in anymore. It's still
making sure that I'm supported, So I don't think a
mattress makes much of it. I haven't heard yet, so
(35:42):
the problem is I've only been on market for about
seven months now, and so I haven't sold hundreds of thousands.
So I'm sure i'll have more feedback maybe next time,
if I get the opportunity to talk with you again,
I'll have more information, But as of right now, I
haven't heard any sort of complaints in that area.
Speaker 3 (35:59):
Well reach out when that happens, or let Joe reach out,
because I'd love to follow up with you and have
you on again. So you're partnering with doctors, what kind
of doctors.
Speaker 4 (36:09):
Specifically chiopractors and physical therapists, but I'm branking out now
to try to work with massage therapists as well. But
it's very been very easy for chiropractors and physical therapists.
As I said before, they see the pillow and it
gives them hope, and so it makes it simple for
me to have them try it. So as a new
(36:31):
startup business, especially with something that's such a revolutionary design,
it can be a little bit of an uphill battle,
but not with the doctors, not with the chiropractors or
the pts. So they're much easier and willing to give
it a try, and I greatly appreciate that. And yes,
I have an affiliate partnership program where I work with
the doctors. They use it themselves and they recommend it
(36:52):
to their patients.
Speaker 3 (36:54):
So what is that If somebody wanted to partner with
the affiliate program, what does that look like?
Speaker 4 (36:59):
So they can contact me through the website. I have
a form right on there, and then I have different programs.
So sometimes I'll just give it to them for free.
Sometimes I sell it to them for the wholesale price.
But regardless of how they would like to acquire the pillow,
I do have them use it for one month before
(37:19):
they form an opinion.
Speaker 3 (37:20):
Okay, okay, what is the retail.
Speaker 4 (37:24):
It retails for fifty nine to ninety nine.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
Okay, let's see. Where was I going to go? Oh?
When when did you? Did you slide? Okay? So you
found a market, you realized you had a marketable product,
You've done a lot of work to get there. When
did you realize you needed to form a company? And
you chose an LLC?
Speaker 4 (37:41):
So I chose an LLC because part of my paralegal
background was doing corporations, and so I knew just a
soul proprietor was perfect for me for starting off.
Speaker 3 (37:52):
I am as an r C.
Speaker 4 (37:54):
Yes, and I'm at the point now where I'm starting
to look for investors. So eventually I will be changing
your over into a C corp. But for right now,
the LLC suit's just fine. And I realized I had
to do that for a few reasons. The first is
really protection, and also I wanted to be upfront. I
(38:16):
want to be able to file a tax return in
the state of Rhode Island for my business, and I
did want to protect my home and my personal assets
as well. But it really is about starting a company.
The company is what is pursuing this pillow and putting
it out there, and so I would advise anyone who
(38:38):
is the paralegal background, right, It never occurred to me
to not form an LLC, just to be honest. I
mean if I would advise a client the exact same.
Speaker 3 (38:46):
So they should check with their advisors, their CPA, their lawyers.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
Yes, well, I think that estate planning is all encompassing,
so you really want to make sure that your home
is held properly. However, you want that get your healthcare
documents done, especially that will or trust and companies are
right in there. It's in that ball as well. And
so I'm very fortunate that I have such an extensive
background in that field because it definitely gives me an
(39:13):
insight onto how I should hold different assets going forward.
Speaker 3 (39:17):
That's excellent and your bootstrapping, right, you're funding this yourself
up to this point.
Speaker 4 (39:22):
Yes, yes, I'm completely self funded up till now, but
I am looking to expand in twenty twenty five, and
so that's why for the first time I'm out there
looking for investors so I can really take the company
to the next level.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
So if you're an investor, you might want to reach
out as well. Did this feel like a risky process?
In other words, when you decided, all right, I'm going
to quit my job, leave my career behind, you also
left your income behind. Talk about that. Those emotions and
that set of decisions there.
Speaker 4 (39:55):
So yes, it was a huge risk, but I will
be on that. From the time I was very little
in single digits, I knew that my purpose in life
was to contribute and help people, and I do meditate
on a regular basis, and I just knew that my
(40:18):
path was to bring the Searhead pillow to the public.
I keep the price as low as I can and
so it stays affordable so it can help people down
the road. As I expand, I most likely will raise
the price ten dollars, but give an option to contribute
ten percent to three separate charities at checkout, so that
(40:40):
money is not going to be coming to me. It's
just more to keep it in circulation. I also want
to open my own manufacturing plant in three to five years,
so this way I can help and give jobs to
those in that field. And then yes, I do want
to financially contribute as much as I can if it's
a successful company. So these are my goals, and I
had faith I knew that that's that was my path forward,
(41:01):
and so I just followed that passion and that intuition
that in our voice. I know not everyone's very spiritual.
I have not always been, but I am now, and
I definitely I heard it loud and clear that this
is what I was meant to be doing. So I
was really just having that faith and trust that this
was my purpose to help and contribute. Was through this
(41:23):
company that gave me the courage to make the transition.
Speaker 3 (41:28):
That's so cool, And how are you going to market now?
I know they can be purchased on the website, which
again is Fearheadpillow dot com. Excuse me, spearhead Pillow dot
com through chiropractors.
Speaker 4 (41:42):
Yes, and I'll be adding a link on the website too.
This says all the affiliates. I have eleven right now,
so it'll say the doctors you can purchase them with
as well. And then it is also available on Amazon.
Speaker 3 (41:55):
Oh cool.
Speaker 4 (41:56):
And then I try to go to as many trade
shows and exos and conventions as I can within driving
distance too. I always find that is where I sell
them post and I can interact with the public, and
they can feel the pillow. That makes a huge difference
when they can see it and feel it, and it's
not just in a photograph on their screen. Photograph is
(42:18):
hard to envision that this is a pillow because it
doesn't look like one. But when you actually hold it
in your hands, I find that that is really where
people can make that leap and see that, oh, yes,
this would be comfortable. I can see the mechanics and
how it's crafted to work, and so I really try
to go to as many shows as I can and
get the exposures so people can actually physically touch it
(42:40):
before they order.
Speaker 3 (42:41):
Do you bring like a therapy table with you to
people so they can actually lay down on it? Or
what do you do?
Speaker 4 (42:45):
So I will be I have to yet, but I
get that all the time, and I always talk to myself,
you know, because then I have to purchase a second space.
So once again when you're self funding, oh right, right right,
These conventions can cost thousands of dollars too. But in
twenty twenty five, yes, I have purchased two spaces, two booths,
will say for all the conventions I've signed up for
(43:09):
so far, and that is yes, so I can bring
a massage table with me so people can lay down.
Because I get asked that all the time when I'm
at these conventions. I always well, where can I test
it out? And so I think that that's definitely going
to help. It will be worth the.
Speaker 3 (43:21):
Cost, yeah, versus on the rug.
Speaker 4 (43:24):
Right. Well, so they hold it up and they'll be like,
you know, they take the pill and they're like, oh, okay,
I can see.
Speaker 3 (43:31):
Yeah. What's been your biggest challenge so far? Are your
toughest part.
Speaker 4 (43:37):
Finding people to trust that I work with. I think
that's actually been the most challenged. I have been really
fortunate as of late that I vet people very well
and I feel so grateful for everyone that I am
currently working with who is on my team. But along
the way, I mean this has been about five six
years in the making, I had to learn that lesson
(43:58):
the hard way, and I didn't vet as well as
I should have, and I think that's been the greatest
challenge for me. I'm a very trusting per person, and
I don't see the purpose in saying you can do
things you can't, leading someone will say, or misrepresenting yourself.
(44:18):
So I never questioned anyone in their ethics in that
sort of way. But the truth is, in an entrepreneurial role,
there's a lot of people who can say certain things
that doesn't necessarily mean that they can perform or live
up to that. And so that was definitely my greatest
lessons today. I had to learn that more than once.
Speaker 3 (44:42):
So what do you advise the next person who's listening?
What questions or how would you knowing now what you
didn't know? Then? What are the different questions or different
ways you'd vet somebody?
Speaker 4 (44:53):
Mainly personal recommendations. Yeah, find someone that you trust in
your network. Yes, someone who has worked with someone prior,
so it's not just a name you're getting off the internet,
or someone who's heard of someone. Maybe they mess sort
of event, but they haven't worked with themselves personally. Those
(45:13):
are not relationships to pursue. I am sure that there
are wonderful people on the internet and three parties introductions. However,
for me, I now only work with people who are
personally recommended by someone else I trust, and they can
say I've worked with this person, I trust them they
can deliver. That is someone I will take seriously excellent.
Speaker 3 (45:35):
All right, You've been on a number of podcasts, number
of shows. What's something that you haven't shared yet, or
you know something maybe unique you want people to know.
Speaker 4 (45:47):
Ooh, that's a great question uppertaining to the company.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
Yeah, company or the product yet?
Speaker 4 (45:55):
Sure, something I haven't shared yet. You're right, that's a challenge.
You know, what I haven't shared is that I don't
necessarily know if I would do it again. Interesting, knowing
what I know now and being through this process, right,
I don't know if I would have had the courage
(46:17):
to take the risk if I had already been there,
done that and I knew really what it entailed. Great,
and I think that's right. I mean, I don't know
how many people come out and really say that, but
there's several of us in this world who take risks.
And really, if we could go back in time knowing
what that risk entails, would we make that same decision
or go an alternative path? And I cannot say with
(46:39):
any sort of certainty that I would be here today
if I knew ahead of time what it really looked
like to be an entrepreneur, because it's a lot to
tiend than I had intended.
Speaker 3 (46:51):
In fact, my next question was what advice chef or
others with a design or an idea, maybe that's it.
You want to add to that.
Speaker 4 (47:00):
Well, I think that it depends what your passion is.
So for me, the passion is to get, intribute and
give back, and I'm sure that that drive would have
brought me to this place eventually, regardless if I knew
or not. But I think you need I would say
to anyone out there with an idea, make sure that
(47:20):
know where your goals a lie, know where your passions lie,
and what your real motivation behind it. If your motivation
is pure and strong and it can give you the
strength to persevere through all the challenges, then go for
it wisely, with open eyes and know it's going to
be a very big, uphill battle. But if the motivation
(47:44):
is not as strong and secure, then go ahead and
patent it, but maybe think about selling the patents and
letting someone else take it over. Because honestly, if my
convictions weren't so strong and the purpose of my company,
I don't like I said, I just don't know if
I would still be here doing.
Speaker 3 (48:00):
This bowl cool, very good advice. What's the best way
for people to get in touch with you? Is it
just through the website?
Speaker 4 (48:09):
I'll through the website. My email address is right on there,
and there's also a form that people can contact me
on there.
Speaker 3 (48:14):
As well, and there it is in the Girl.
Speaker 4 (48:16):
Yeah, so I would say definitely through the website, I'm
very easy to reach. So I put on my direct
email right there. I'll come right to me.
Speaker 3 (48:25):
And it's fhearhead Pillow dot com. Eliza, thank you so much.
I really appreciate the time.
Speaker 4 (48:31):
Well, thank you, Kevin, and I appreciating your two hundredth guests.
Speaker 3 (48:35):
Yeah, that's pretty cool.
Speaker 4 (48:36):
Much.
Speaker 3 (48:36):
You'll remember that, but I'll remember it too, And thank
you everybody for watching and listening. This is a show
about business and business. Just if you've got concerns about
the sales effectiveness or growth of your company, whether your
sales team is you or small, or it's large, feel
free to reach out to me on Facebook or LinkedIn
at Winning Business Radio you can drop me a note,
and that's Kevin at Winning Business Radio dot com. Our
(49:00):
company is Winning Incorporated. We're part of Sandler Training. We
develop sales teams and too high achievers and sales leaders
into true coaches and mentors. Listen, I say every week
We're not right for everybody, but hey, maybe we should
have a conversation. Thank you as always to producer and
engineer one, Thank you one for another job well done.
Be sure to join us next week that's Monday, January sixth.
(49:21):
My guest will be Attorney nick La Presty of Lapresty Law.
Until then, this is Kevin Helenan.
Speaker 2 (49:28):
You've been listening to Winning Business Radio with your host
Kevin Helena. If you missed any part of this episode,
The podcast is available on Top four Podcasting and iHeartRadio.
For more information and questions, go to Winning Business Radio
dot com or check us out on social media. Tune
in again next week and every Monday at four pm
Eastern Time to listen live to Winning Business Radio on
(49:52):
W four CY Radio W fourcy dot com. Until then,
let's succeed where others have failed and win in business
with Kevin helen In and Winning Business Radio m
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(00:20):
choosing W four CY Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Churchill said, those who failed to learn from history are
condemned to repeat it. Kevin Helen n believes that certainly
applies to business. Welcome to Winning Business Radio here at
W four CY Radio. That's W four cy dot com
and now your host, Kevin Helenn.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Thanks everybody for joining in once again today. I am
Kevin Hallanan and welcome back to Winning Business TV and
Radio on W four c Y dot com. We're streaming
live on talkfour tv dot com in addition to Facebook,
and that's at Winning Business Radio. And of course you
can listen in podcast form after the live show in
all kinds on all kinds of platforms. Pretty much wherever
(01:14):
you get your content. That's YouTube, by Heart, radio, Spotify, Apple,
and the list goes on the mission of winning business
radio and TV. As regular listeners and viewers know, is
to offer insights and advice to help people avoid the
mistakes of others, right to learn best practices. That's the
how tos, the what tos, the what not tos, to
(01:34):
be challenged, and I hope to be inspired by the
successes of others. Those are consultants, coaches, advisors, authors, founders
and owners, entrepreneurs, people with expertise. But you know, virtually
every successful person that I've ever had a chance to
talk to has had some form of failure in their
lives and careers. So I say it every week. While
(01:55):
we all have to get our knee skinned once in
a while, I'm driven to keep those scrapes from needing
major surgery. Let's endeavor to learn from history so we
don't repeat it. I've spent the better part of my
career equipping businesses to grow from solopreneurs to small and
medium sized companies all the way up to the fortune fifty.
I've seen some of those companies win, and to varying degrees,
I've seen some fail I've had the opportunity to rub
(02:17):
elbows with some of the highest performing people around and
with some who probably should have found other professions. In
my own businesses, I've had lots of success, but some
failures too. I like to think I've learned a lot
from those experiences. So yeah, you're going to hear from
me my opinions and insights, but anybody who knows me,
because rather anybody who knows me will tell you I
have a hard time staying quiet. But more importantly, together
(02:39):
we'll hear from experts, those consultants, coaches, advisors, authors, founders
and owners, entrepreneurs. Today Inventor and this week, by the way,
is our two hundredth episode. We're not doing anything special
other than mentioning it. It actually sort of snuck up
on me. But I'm really appreciative of you, the viewers
and listeners, so thank you very much. Today my guest
is Eliza jail Set, inventor of the Spherehead, the Spherehead pillow,
(03:03):
and founder and owner of Spherehead LLC. Here's her bio
founder and visionary. Eliza Jassett struggled to find an adequate
pillow that would allow unrestricted movement but prevent harmful twists
and strains of the head and neck muscles. Through her persistence, dedication,
and numerous prototypes, she unlocked the secret to a soothing
night's sleep. A pillow that cradles and supports the head
(03:26):
and neck, promotes alignment of the spine, and offers flexibility
of sleeping positions. Fueled by the excitement of this discovery,
in a deep determination to help others improve their quality
of rest, Elijah is pioneering the revolutionary design Spherehead, the
Dream Pillow, meticulously crafted for those seeking comfortable and meaningful rest.
Eliza's as a degree in paralegal studies, a sixteen year
(03:49):
year career, she actually has moved away from to focus
on her new passion. She resides in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Eliza,
Welcome to Winning Business Radio Heaven.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Thank you so much for having me on and congratulations
on two hundred shows.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
And it really did. I mean, I knew I was
getting there, but uh, you know, I have the I
have the best guest. How about that, I have the
best guest for the two hundred episode.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
Oh well, I hope I can slip up to that.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Yeah, no, no, no, just the same any other episodes.
So thank you for being here. Let's start with your background,
as you know. I you know, I've told you I
liked for listeners and viewers to get a sense of
someone's background, sort of their progression, how they got to
where they are. So where did you grow up?
Speaker 4 (04:36):
I actually grew up in South Kings Sound, Rhode Island,
where I am currently residing is a small little town
in Rhode Island, which is a small little state, yeap.
And every time I try to get out, it pulls
me back in. So I have lived across the state
of Rhode Island, tried to move to me in a
couple of times, but like I said, something always brings
(04:57):
me back here to this quaint little village, and that's
where I currently am too.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
So tell us what it was like to grow up there,
quaint and little. What was it like?
Speaker 4 (05:07):
Well, there's no anonymity, so forget about going through yes
and not running into five people you know, including the
pharmacist who you went to high school with and now
knows that you're like on antidepressants or something or a
very god asthma like myself. So it really is everyone
knows everyone and their business. It's a very small town. Specifically,
(05:30):
it's five villages, and I've lived in one of those
villages that make up stuff Thinkstown for nearly thirty six
years consecutively, and yeah, I mean it's lovely in a
lot of ways, and lock your door, you can just
walk out into town. It's a very friendly, community, community
oriented place, and I feel very blessed and fortunate i've
(05:52):
lived here. But I am definitely called to experience something new.
In general, it's very tiny, so there's really no street
I have n't gone down, and so I'd love to
just go to a place where I don't know what's
around the bend. And I feel like it helps to
grow and evolved, live somewhere new, in a different culture,
experience a new place. So I look forward to that
(06:13):
challenge someday.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Well, I have the sense of that probably will happen.
What were your early interests growing up?
Speaker 4 (06:21):
Well, I really I loved acting. That was a huge
passion of mine. Honestly, just debating. Both my parents were attorneys,
and the stretch into the paralegal career wasn't that great
for me. But I definitely love a good debate, especially
if I take the counter position of what I actually
(06:42):
believe in. I think it's even more fun.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
That's yeah, right, yeah, And then of course it's it's
a lot of It's a little walking town, so I
was always outside walking around.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
I didn't need a bike. It's very easy to get
around pre driver's license.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
And did you go to school or college after high
school or was there a break there?
Speaker 4 (07:05):
I did take a break, yea. So that was actually
one of the greatest decisions I've made in my life.
I was the first one in my family to not
go to a university directly out of high school, and
that didn't not go over well my little family. It
was so when I was a senior in high school,
(07:26):
my parents basically said, well, you don't have to go
to college, but you can't stay here. And I'm so
grateful for that because I've been on my own since
eighteen and I was already working two jobs when I
was a senior, so I could financially support myself and
that really set me up for life. So when I
was twenty three, all my friends were moving back home
(07:50):
from school, moving back in with their parents and had
a lot of debt, and I was buying my first
home because I had been able to save money. I
just started going to school at that point because I
finally realized what I wanted to do with my life
was to become a paralegal. But I went for a
dedicated at that point. It really just put me such
a step ahead. And then I was able to REFI
(08:11):
that home because I had equity, so I was allowed
to you know, that afforded me great opportunities in my
twenties when I, like I said, other people were struggling
and paying off debts, and so I'm really fortunate that
I became so financially independent at such a young age.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
I just read an article today that's talking about decreased
college enrollments because of massive costs and debt and all that. So, yeah,
you were an early, early embracer of that, right. What
were some of those earlier jobs before you decided on
the law.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
Oh gosh, I mean, so I started working at thirteen
as a busser in a restaurant.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
That's great experience. Yep, it really was.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
And then even though I, like, I know, technically not
supposed to work under a certain age, but he was
a family friend and it was only in the summers,
and I just spent all my money on like CDs. Yeah.
Then I was a cashier at Benny's when I was
at fifteen to sixteen, a housekeeper. I worked at Subway,
I worked in retail. I worked at this nonprofit that
(09:10):
really changed my life. That's when I decided I want
to become a paralegal. It was to enter Initially, it
was to be in public interest law, and it was
really working at the nonprofit that inspired that in me
and I realized that was my direction. It's not the
path my career ended up taaking. I ended up in
probate in estates. But I do feel that we have
(09:32):
these paths for a reason. So that introduced me. But
going into this other direction in my paralegal career into
the proviate in estates is what afforded me the income
to start my business and self fund my invention, which
probably wouldn't have happened if I went that other route.
So hopefully the invention is going to contribute and help people.
(09:52):
So the goal is still the same, but the path
there varied from my intentions.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
What was the nature of the nonprofit.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
It was called Clean Water Action, So basically we went,
we canvassed, we went door to door knocking for people
to sign petitions. They're responsible for PLAT passing the Clean
Water Act and the Clean Air Act of the nineteen seventies,
so definitely anyone listening out there. I think Clean Order
Action is a great organization. I still support them today.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Where did you end up going to school and why
did you choose that school?
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Well, when I realized I wanted to be a pair
of legal, I had actually started working in a little
law firm for my mom. She was a solo practitioner
right around thirteen, answering phones and doing really simple documents,
drafting deeds and very simple wills. So I already kind
of had a little bit of a foundation there, and
then I really wanted to be a pair of legal
(10:46):
and so I went to the CCRI Community College, Rhode Island,
good just to get an associate. It did take me
four years because at that point I had to get
a third job to put myself through school. So I
had three jobs and was going to school part time.
And it did take me four years round the clock,
you know, when summer's and everything, to get my two
year degree. But very worth it, and I remember when
(11:10):
I was finally able to support myself with just one job,
and I worked my way up the ladder into a
very prominent firm here in Rhode Island, and my salary
very exceeded my expectations and necessities in life. So I
was able to give a lot more financially to charities
and realized that I was very fortunate with how everything
(11:31):
worked out in my life. In hindsight, when you look back,
it's like, oh, you know, these decisions actually turned out
to be quite wise for me in my little path.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Totally with you. One of the questions, I'm trying to
reword it because you kind of said it. What are
some of the most important lessons you learned? I want
to reward that slightly too. Maybe what are your biggest
takeaways from that time period?
Speaker 4 (11:57):
Well? I think do it you can in your twenties,
you know. Now. I try to think back on how
did I have the energy to have a full time job,
two part time jobs, and go to school part time
for four years? And I don't think at thirty six
today that is something that I'm sure I could because
I saw that fire in that passion to succeed in
(12:19):
my goals. But I think, really we should appreciate where
we are in life and any sort of challenges that
are so time demanding. Do it when a lack of
sleep is less impactful on your waking life.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Oh great, segue into the work you're doing. Hey, we're
going to take our first break. We'll be back in
just a minute. Everybody will be back with Eliza just said.
If you're listening to Winning Business Radio with Kevin Helene
on W four Ceedy Radio, that's W four Cedy dot.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Com, don't go away. More helpful information is coming right
up right here on Winning Business Radio.
Speaker 6 (13:02):
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Speaker 2 (13:35):
And now back to Winning Business Radio with Kevin Helene,
presenting exciting topics and expert guests with one goal in
mind to help you succeed in business. Here once again
is Kevin Helene.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
We're back with Elijahjassett, founder and owner of Spherehead ll Spearehead, Yes,
Spearhead LLC, inventor of the Spearhead pillow, which we're going
to get into in a couple of minutes. Here. Uh,
my monitors give me a problem. Sorry about that? All right?
You didn't initially set set out to invent a product,
(14:15):
did you?
Speaker 4 (14:16):
No?
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Not at all. That was tell us about the desire.
I mean, not the desire that the initial idea, not
the product, but the pillow itself. Why you know, what's
the backstory?
Speaker 4 (14:28):
Sure? Well, while I was working three jobs and in school,
I was I was stressed out. And it turns out
I learned that I hold the stress in my neck
muscles and they went as I was eventually diagnosed to
the thoracic outlet syndrome in my left shoulder as a
result of the stress. And that really is the beginning
(14:51):
of this Yearhead pillow. So that started me on about
an eight year run of trying the pillows that were
available on the market to help me and keep my
neck muscles relaxed, stop my migraines, and just be able
to attain a good night's sleep without having so much
neck and shoulder pain. And over the course of these
(15:12):
eight years, I was not able to find anything that
really worked for me on a long term basis, And
that is really why that's the inspiration for inventing a pillow.
It was out of desperation and needing to get a
good night's sleep. So I really just took it into
my own hands and decided to invent something for myself
(15:32):
with never the intention of coming to market for any reason.
I mean, I was very happy in my paralegal career
at this point and had no desire inkling to make
a switch into the entrepreneur realm.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
What are some of the styles of pillows you tried
that didn't work well?
Speaker 4 (15:48):
I truly tried probably all the big ones that are
out there, and I don't want to call out certain names.
That's why would say, right for me, the pillow that
was the most helpful. It's marketed as a wrinkle free pillow,
referring to your skin. Because my issue was that I
had to start sleeping on my back and my head
(16:09):
kept rotating over my shoulder in the middle of the night,
and that continued to strain my neck muscles. So this
wrinkle free pillow, what it did is it bordered my
face and it kept it at this ninety degree angle,
so I couldn't twist my head over and so that
actually helped me the most, but it was very restricting.
It was hot. I am a person who does like
(16:31):
to roll on my side the middle of the night,
and of course I couldn't. You're prevented from any other
You're locked into. Sleeping on your back is very certain position.
So a lot of things in life have pros and cons,
and I did find that was the most helpful, but
the cons just turned out to be too much for
me to handle.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Yeah, my wife tells me if I sleep on my back,
I snore. Otherwise I don't. I'm normally sleeping on my side.
Sometimes on my belly is good radio and TV sleep talk.
I generally don't tell people that, not that I care.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
But.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
It's having a one sided conversation because I normally would
love to say, well, what were your childhood hobbies and
where did you grow up? So I appreciate the personal tibots.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
You talk about comfortable and meaningful rest. What do you
mean by that? I mean, I know what it sounds like.
But I go beyond the obvious. What do you mean
by that?
Speaker 4 (17:27):
Well, I think that we can use sleep to our advantage.
Obviously in a lot of ways, so of course mentally,
but also physically. So we are in a position for
a certain amount of time, and we're very cognizantly aware
of our posture during our waking life, and we can
sense when we're in pain. But when we're sleeping, we're
(17:50):
using a chunk of time where we are just in
a different state of rest. And honestly, I think that
if we turn our sleep into more productive manners for
our physical well being while we're in this state of rest,
it just helps benefit us when we wake up in
the morning. So for me, I think meaningful rest is
(18:11):
really utilizing that time that you're in bed to help
your muscles relax, to not just regenerate your mind and
rejuvenate and heal psychologically, but physically too.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
You must know a bunch of sleep stats, and I don't.
We don't have the rattles off. I'm simply asking you're,
as you always hear, eight hours of sleep, but how
realistic is that?
Speaker 4 (18:36):
Well, So I'll be honest with you, I think that
the amount of sleep a person needs is very dependent
on the individual, so I actually don't recommend. I feel
like if someone needs eight hours. So my life partner
he likes to get nine hours of sleep every night,
and he feels it if he doesn't. I like to
(18:57):
get six. And there are some people out there who
are brilliant geniuses who like to get four hours in
sleep because they use their time laying in bed to
contemplate and think and solve their own personal issues or
mysteries of the universe. So I really think it depends
on the person. For me, six hours is convenient. I
(19:19):
feel great, I get a nice little rem cycle in there,
and any more than that sometimes I feel overtired and drowsy.
So I personally do the sixth.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Can you give a sense of give us a sense
of I don't know how sleep deprived the world is,
the nation is, I mean, what are? It seems like
a ubiquitous problem to me.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
It really is, And I think that's because we try
to pile so much into our lives. So I think
that we get a lack of sleep overall as a
nation for a couple reasons. I think that stress is
a huge right. I mean a lot of people can
set the time to go to bed, but they can't
(20:03):
shut off their brains. And the stress in general can
keep us awake. But then there's also the reality of life.
So a lot of people have one job or two,
have children. Where is their personal time for them? So
if you take just an average person, you know, they
get home from work, they have to make dinner, they
(20:24):
have to get the kids bathe, and bedtime and dinner
and whatever it may be. You know, it's a dinner twice,
but eating is important. But you know, then let's say
that you do your bedtime routine and you know that
you have to wake up at you know, six am
or something. Right now is ten o'clock at night, whatever
it may be, And so health you should start your
bedtime prep for yourself. But human beings, we need our relaxation,
(20:47):
we need our mindless time. We need to let go.
And so some people scroll on their phones. I personally meditate,
you know, listen to music, watch the evening news. And
I think that's an overall lack of sleep too, because
is we have to trade off. There's only so many
hours in a day, and where do we find the
personal me time in that day? When you have so
(21:09):
many other obligations and responsibilities. So I try to rework
sleep in my mind. And I talked to my partner
about this, the one who likes to get yeah, over
nine hours. That's really hard for him. He's a nurse
and works twelve hour shifts. Oh yeah, And I try
to tell him, you know what, how about you get
eight hours of sleep, but you spend one hour stretching
(21:31):
and doing yoga or reading. Because I think that there's
other ways we can benefit our bodies besides going into
a rim cycle. But to each their own, I haven't
won that battle.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
Yet, so it sounds like a good argument to me.
All right, tell us or rather take us through the
early process. You said, I can't find the right pillow,
like from day one when the idea popped in your head.
I got to do this on my own. What did
that look like? Did you have to find raw materials?
Did you have to form a pillow? I mean, walk
(22:05):
us through that.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Well, so it took me years after the idea came
to me of the shape that I needed this.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
And again, this is just not a necessity, not out
of this brilliance that you had this product right.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
And I had it in my mind for a really
long time. But because I said, it's a completely unique,
revolutionary shape, so I kept searching for something similar, I
couldn't find it, And honestly, I never I was putting
it off because I didn't want to deal with the hassle.
Like I said, I had a very busy life too. Yeah.
But finally when I decided to bite the bullet and
(22:40):
I needed to invent a pillow for me so I
could sleep in a litle bit more productive life. It
started really with me just sketching it out, and I
had to find an engineer who could do a CAD
file for me. We get into this three D model
so we could send it to a manufacturing plant to
build a mold, and after that it really just became
(23:02):
about I did change the mold a few times.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
This is again still yeah just for yourself. Wow.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
Right, So this wasn't to go to market, but it
was such a new design that it did take me
about three maybe four tries before I found the exact
mold that I wanted for myself, which I have tweaked
since to go to market because it's very tailored to me.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
But also it was the.
Speaker 4 (23:22):
Foam consistency that I was playing around with too. So
the spearhead pillow is memory foam, and that is tricky
because you can have some that are very, very firm,
or some that are so machine soft that they cannot
help you support the neck muscles and cradle the head
the way that I specifically needed. So that was a
big part of my redoing. It was really just to
(23:46):
figure out the exact sort of consistency in the foam
that I wanted.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Wow, how did you know when you had it?
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Honestly, I felt it and I was like, this is perfect.
And my first night, I'm not going to the first night,
I did not make it through. So it's all about
spine alignment. And so for me on that first night,
my feet were going into spasm. So my COEs, we're
going crazy. And so about halfway through the night, I
tossed the spearhead pillow and I went back to my
(24:15):
pillow I was using at the time. But by second
night I laid down on it and I had muscle
memory and I've been sleeping on it ever since.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
And I know you said this pillow is like a
health aid, right, So it's something that takes a little
bit of time to get used to. But the benefit
is there, but people should expect to feel some discomfort.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
Right absolutely, So I do compare as much new sleep position.
Let's say, well exactly. I mean, you may need insoles
in your shoes, you may need an adjustment by a chiropractor,
you may need to go to the gym. I mean,
there's a lot of things that we need to do
for our overall physical well being our body that can
be uncomfortable at first. But if we stick with, we
(25:01):
get through the discomfort, we stick with these health aids
and practices, it's ultimately beneficial for us. And I do
feel that a lot of people who suffer the way
that I did with next shoulder, even lower back or
hit pain, they've probably have tried several things out there,
so they're really willing to give something a fair shot
and not just try it for a couple hours and
(25:22):
toss it aside. So I think that's why so your
Head has been successful because even though there is this
adjustment period, the market of those who are purchasing it,
those consumers they've usually been They're not this isn't the
first pillow they're trying. You know, it's really out there.
So they've been down the road, they're desperate. This invention
gives them hope. That's what I hear all the time,
(25:43):
especially from doctors, chylepractors and physical therapists get a severearhead
pillow and it's such a unique revolutionary design that they
say it inspires hope in them that maybe this is
something that can work. And I think the individuals out
there who suffer from these sort of pain, they reckon
that too, and so they're willing to give it a
fair shot.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
When did you realize you were creating something marketable?
Speaker 4 (26:08):
Well, actually, so, the manufacturing plant that I ordered my
prototype from, they wouldn't let me just order one. It
was a minimum of four. So I had some extras
and I ended up giving them out to people who
needed them over the course of some time less than
a year. But I was handing them out just realizing
that it was helping me and it could help others.
(26:31):
And the people who were using them really did find
relief and they loved it. And that's when I realized, Okay,
I did it at desperation. There was this hole in
the market for me. Obviously, there's this hole in the
market for others. So although it may not be for everyone,
it definitely is helping a demographic out there, and that's
really what inspired me to take on the stress and
(26:53):
take the leap and become an entrepreneur, just so I
can help other people who are also suffering the way
I was.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
And you hold three patents, yes, yeah, tell us about
the patents, and then I want to know about that
process as well. Oh sure.
Speaker 4 (27:07):
That was actually the easiest process of the whole thing,
mainly because I had I hired a firm to do
the patents for me, So for me, it was just
a waiting game. I just had to sit back and
pay the bill. But the work wise, besides reviewing what
the brilliant attorneys at Bold did. That's the firm that
(27:27):
I worked with, and they were phenomenal. And yeah, so
at first I did my utility patent, and that is
a parent and child patent, so that's two separate patents. Basically,
the parent is just very overarching, so it just shows
the design of the pillow, even though that's not my
(27:49):
design patent, but still it just kind of lays it
out in really simplistic terms. And then the child of
that utility patent is more specific details and the design
patent is really not talking about how the pillow is
used at all, but it just shows exactly the shape
of it and exactly what it sounds like. It's a
(28:11):
design patent.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
All right. I want to get more into the pillow
and the process in another minute. We'll be back in
about sixty seconds with Eliza J said.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
You're listening to Winning Business Radio with Kevin Helenet on
W four CY Radio. That's W four cy dot com.
Don't go away, More helpful information is coming right up
right here on Winning Business Radio.
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Speaker 2 (29:15):
And now back to Winning Business Radio with Kevin Helen
in presenting exciting topics and expert guests with one goal
in mind to help you succeed in business. Here once
again is Kevin Helenet.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
All right, we're back. The company is Sphearhead LLC. The
product is the Spherehead Pillow, the invention and she's ELIZAHJ. Sett,
founder inventor, brilliant entrepreneur. We'll come up with a whole
bunch of adjectives we can. I like brilliant too. I
want to try something? Do you? And this is if
you're listening in a podcast, go to the website and
(29:57):
take a look at it. Do you happen to have
one nearby? Oh?
Speaker 1 (29:59):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (30:00):
All right, just show us.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
So this is the Spearhead pillow. It's hard with the
camera and the lighting.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
I'm sorry about that.
Speaker 4 (30:10):
This is the spherical side. This is the side you
would not sleep on, and then this is the side
that you do. So this is where it cradles and
supports the head and then this neck indent it mirrors
the curve of the cervical spine. So the way that
it works is with the head resting in the center concave,
the cervical section in the back that's what lets it
(30:33):
roll with the user during the night, so they can
transition from back to side sleeping seamlessly. The pillow will
stay under their head, keeping them supported and comfortable. And
I just like, if I'm showing the pill I just
want to say it's squeeze so people will always see it.
And when I go to trade shows and expos and
when they just see it from far away, they feel
like it's going to be very firm, and it's actually
(30:55):
very soft and comfortable. So I like to show people's memory.
Boam isn't exactly how it looks, is.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
How it feelds, and it's in a I don't know
how do you describe the material. It looks like a
kind of sheen to it looks like it's very comfortable.
Speaker 4 (31:10):
It is, so it does come with a charmuse fabric pillowcase,
so that's like a silk satin material. I am working
right now on a cotton pillowcase as well. That's the
only negative feedback that I've received about the Spearhead is
actually about the pillowcase, which is wonderful because that has
nothing to do with the foam. But right now, for
(31:32):
anyone who does not like the Sharmuse fabric. I picked
it because it's wonderful overall hair types, but for those.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Yeh, talk pause on that. What do you mean by that?
Speaker 4 (31:42):
Oh? Well, so that sort of fabric, it just helps
prevent breakage. It keeps hair smooth and shiny. A lot
of people use that satin or silk charmus fabric as
bonnets for their hair when they sleep, just because it
really is so beneficial regardless of your type of hair.
(32:05):
And I needed an initial pillowcase to go to market,
so I picked that one just because it was universal.
But it does fit in any pillowcase in your home.
So I tell people if they don't like the Sharmous fabric,
the Spearhead pillow will fit any standard pillowcase as well.
But hopefully the cotton one will be coming out early
in twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
Five, so it is sleep aid friendly.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
Talk about that, yes, So I say that because for me,
I sleep with a padded imask, and the pillows that
I have tried, especially the one that I referenced in
our first segment, that wrinkle free pillow, it dug it
into my face. So every morning I woke up with
a crease that took hours to go away. And I
know a lot of people who sleep with those really
(32:49):
invasive seat pat machines, even the ones that are just
in the nose, they're more difficult when you want to
sleep on your side. A lot of pillows can dig
in too, so the spearhead pillow, whether you're on your
back or side, it rests along the outer curve of
the face and so therefore it just doesn't interfere with
(33:10):
any sort of facial sleep apparatus. And that's why I
try to say a sleep ape friendly. I will be
having a sleep study done hopefully by next summer that
My goal is for insurance companies to cover the spearhead
pillow for those have sleep APMEA. I want doctors to
be able to write scripts for it because I do
think it will help that market significantly. But it just
(33:33):
takes time to meet all the levels that the insurance
company requires for that authorization.
Speaker 3 (33:40):
So that's awesome, good luck with that. And this can
be used alone or with another pillow or pillows.
Speaker 4 (33:47):
Yes, so for people who like to sleep that more
elevated position on two or three pillows, because there's an
adjustment period with the sphearhead pillow already. I always recommend
just put it on top of a standard pill You'll
still get the spine alignment. It'll still move with your
head during the night. It just may help with that
transition because it is right now. It is load to
(34:09):
the mattress in and of itself, because that's the ideal
spine alignment. But I do know several customers now who
use the pillow and they on top of another pillow,
and they say that it still helps, especially their lower
back and hit pain. They say they still feel relief,
so it carries on through.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
Well, that's the next thing I want to ask. What
are some of the users or customers saying about the
pillow itself and their experience.
Speaker 4 (34:36):
Well, so it seems that it just my period is
greatly varied. So some love it from night one, some
night two, some need two weeks. So that is what
I'm noticing the most is really everyone is very different
in terms of their comfort level with.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
It, their body type, their size, their weight, all kinds
of things. Right.
Speaker 4 (34:57):
Sure, absolutely it's a type of bed so that I
haven't heard yet, But I've been curious because I know those,
especially those beds that raise up. Yeah, so I was
wondering about that, but I know that there are some
customers who use the spearhead pillow in a recliner, so
I feel like it will work with that sort of
mattress too. That also goes into that you know, inclined position.
(35:21):
But I have a soft mattress and that does not
affect me in any sort of negative way with this
cearhead pillow. So just because there's something soft on top
of something soft, I'm not sinking in anymore. It's still
making sure that I'm supported, So I don't think a
mattress makes much of it. I haven't heard yet, so
(35:42):
the problem is I've only been on market for about
seven months now, and so I haven't sold hundreds of thousands.
So I'm sure i'll have more feedback maybe next time,
if I get the opportunity to talk with you again,
I'll have more information, But as of right now, I
haven't heard any sort of complaints in that area.
Speaker 3 (35:59):
Well reach out when that happens, or let Joe reach out,
because I'd love to follow up with you and have
you on again. So you're partnering with doctors, what kind
of doctors.
Speaker 4 (36:09):
Specifically chiopractors and physical therapists, but I'm branking out now
to try to work with massage therapists as well. But
it's very been very easy for chiropractors and physical therapists.
As I said before, they see the pillow and it
gives them hope, and so it makes it simple for
me to have them try it. So as a new
(36:31):
startup business, especially with something that's such a revolutionary design,
it can be a little bit of an uphill battle,
but not with the doctors, not with the chiropractors or
the pts. So they're much easier and willing to give
it a try, and I greatly appreciate that. And yes,
I have an affiliate partnership program where I work with
the doctors. They use it themselves and they recommend it
(36:52):
to their patients.
Speaker 3 (36:54):
So what is that If somebody wanted to partner with
the affiliate program, what does that look like?
Speaker 4 (36:59):
So they can contact me through the website. I have
a form right on there, and then I have different programs.
So sometimes I'll just give it to them for free.
Sometimes I sell it to them for the wholesale price.
But regardless of how they would like to acquire the pillow,
I do have them use it for one month before
(37:19):
they form an opinion.
Speaker 3 (37:20):
Okay, okay, what is the retail.
Speaker 4 (37:24):
It retails for fifty nine to ninety nine.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
Okay, let's see. Where was I going to go? Oh?
When when did you? Did you slide? Okay? So you
found a market, you realized you had a marketable product,
You've done a lot of work to get there. When
did you realize you needed to form a company? And
you chose an LLC?
Speaker 4 (37:41):
So I chose an LLC because part of my paralegal
background was doing corporations, and so I knew just a
soul proprietor was perfect for me for starting off.
Speaker 3 (37:52):
I am as an r C.
Speaker 4 (37:54):
Yes, and I'm at the point now where I'm starting
to look for investors. So eventually I will be changing
your over into a C corp. But for right now,
the LLC suit's just fine. And I realized I had
to do that for a few reasons. The first is
really protection, and also I wanted to be upfront. I
(38:16):
want to be able to file a tax return in
the state of Rhode Island for my business, and I
did want to protect my home and my personal assets
as well. But it really is about starting a company.
The company is what is pursuing this pillow and putting
it out there, and so I would advise anyone who
(38:38):
is the paralegal background, right, It never occurred to me
to not form an LLC, just to be honest. I
mean if I would advise a client the exact same.
Speaker 3 (38:46):
So they should check with their advisors, their CPA, their lawyers.
Speaker 4 (38:52):
Yes, well, I think that estate planning is all encompassing,
so you really want to make sure that your home
is held properly. However, you want that get your healthcare
documents done, especially that will or trust and companies are
right in there. It's in that ball as well. And
so I'm very fortunate that I have such an extensive
background in that field because it definitely gives me an
(39:13):
insight onto how I should hold different assets going forward.
Speaker 3 (39:17):
That's excellent and your bootstrapping, right, you're funding this yourself
up to this point.
Speaker 4 (39:22):
Yes, yes, I'm completely self funded up till now, but
I am looking to expand in twenty twenty five, and
so that's why for the first time I'm out there
looking for investors so I can really take the company
to the next level.
Speaker 3 (39:34):
So if you're an investor, you might want to reach
out as well. Did this feel like a risky process?
In other words, when you decided, all right, I'm going
to quit my job, leave my career behind, you also
left your income behind. Talk about that. Those emotions and
that set of decisions there.
Speaker 4 (39:55):
So yes, it was a huge risk, but I will
be on that. From the time I was very little
in single digits, I knew that my purpose in life
was to contribute and help people, and I do meditate
on a regular basis, and I just knew that my
(40:18):
path was to bring the Searhead pillow to the public.
I keep the price as low as I can and
so it stays affordable so it can help people down
the road. As I expand, I most likely will raise
the price ten dollars, but give an option to contribute
ten percent to three separate charities at checkout, so that
(40:40):
money is not going to be coming to me. It's
just more to keep it in circulation. I also want
to open my own manufacturing plant in three to five years,
so this way I can help and give jobs to
those in that field. And then yes, I do want
to financially contribute as much as I can if it's
a successful company. So these are my goals, and I
had faith I knew that that's that was my path forward,
(41:01):
and so I just followed that passion and that intuition
that in our voice. I know not everyone's very spiritual.
I have not always been, but I am now, and
I definitely I heard it loud and clear that this
is what I was meant to be doing. So I
was really just having that faith and trust that this
was my purpose to help and contribute. Was through this
(41:23):
company that gave me the courage to make the transition.
Speaker 3 (41:28):
That's so cool, And how are you going to market now?
I know they can be purchased on the website, which
again is Fearheadpillow dot com. Excuse me, spearhead Pillow dot
com through chiropractors.
Speaker 4 (41:42):
Yes, and I'll be adding a link on the website too.
This says all the affiliates. I have eleven right now,
so it'll say the doctors you can purchase them with
as well. And then it is also available on Amazon.
Speaker 3 (41:55):
Oh cool.
Speaker 4 (41:56):
And then I try to go to as many trade
shows and exos and conventions as I can within driving
distance too. I always find that is where I sell
them post and I can interact with the public, and
they can feel the pillow. That makes a huge difference
when they can see it and feel it, and it's
not just in a photograph on their screen. Photograph is
(42:18):
hard to envision that this is a pillow because it
doesn't look like one. But when you actually hold it
in your hands, I find that that is really where
people can make that leap and see that, oh, yes,
this would be comfortable. I can see the mechanics and
how it's crafted to work, and so I really try
to go to as many shows as I can and
get the exposures so people can actually physically touch it
(42:40):
before they order.
Speaker 3 (42:41):
Do you bring like a therapy table with you to
people so they can actually lay down on it? Or
what do you do?
Speaker 4 (42:45):
So I will be I have to yet, but I
get that all the time, and I always talk to myself,
you know, because then I have to purchase a second space.
So once again when you're self funding, oh right, right right,
These conventions can cost thousands of dollars too. But in
twenty twenty five, yes, I have purchased two spaces, two booths,
will say for all the conventions I've signed up for
(43:09):
so far, and that is yes, so I can bring
a massage table with me so people can lay down.
Because I get asked that all the time when I'm
at these conventions. I always well, where can I test
it out? And so I think that that's definitely going
to help. It will be worth the.
Speaker 3 (43:21):
Cost, yeah, versus on the rug.
Speaker 4 (43:24):
Right. Well, so they hold it up and they'll be like,
you know, they take the pill and they're like, oh, okay,
I can see.
Speaker 3 (43:31):
Yeah. What's been your biggest challenge so far? Are your
toughest part.
Speaker 4 (43:37):
Finding people to trust that I work with. I think
that's actually been the most challenged. I have been really
fortunate as of late that I vet people very well
and I feel so grateful for everyone that I am
currently working with who is on my team. But along
the way, I mean this has been about five six
years in the making, I had to learn that lesson
(43:58):
the hard way, and I didn't vet as well as
I should have, and I think that's been the greatest
challenge for me. I'm a very trusting per person, and
I don't see the purpose in saying you can do
things you can't, leading someone will say, or misrepresenting yourself.
(44:18):
So I never questioned anyone in their ethics in that
sort of way. But the truth is, in an entrepreneurial role,
there's a lot of people who can say certain things
that doesn't necessarily mean that they can perform or live
up to that. And so that was definitely my greatest
lessons today. I had to learn that more than once.
Speaker 3 (44:42):
So what do you advise the next person who's listening?
What questions or how would you knowing now what you
didn't know? Then? What are the different questions or different
ways you'd vet somebody?
Speaker 4 (44:53):
Mainly personal recommendations. Yeah, find someone that you trust in
your network. Yes, someone who has worked with someone prior,
so it's not just a name you're getting off the internet,
or someone who's heard of someone. Maybe they mess sort
of event, but they haven't worked with themselves personally. Those
(45:13):
are not relationships to pursue. I am sure that there
are wonderful people on the internet and three parties introductions. However,
for me, I now only work with people who are
personally recommended by someone else I trust, and they can
say I've worked with this person, I trust them they
can deliver. That is someone I will take seriously excellent.
Speaker 3 (45:35):
All right, You've been on a number of podcasts, number
of shows. What's something that you haven't shared yet, or
you know something maybe unique you want people to know.
Speaker 4 (45:47):
Ooh, that's a great question uppertaining to the company.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
Yeah, company or the product yet?
Speaker 4 (45:55):
Sure, something I haven't shared yet. You're right, that's a challenge.
You know, what I haven't shared is that I don't
necessarily know if I would do it again. Interesting, knowing
what I know now and being through this process, right,
I don't know if I would have had the courage
(46:17):
to take the risk if I had already been there,
done that and I knew really what it entailed. Great,
and I think that's right. I mean, I don't know
how many people come out and really say that, but
there's several of us in this world who take risks.
And really, if we could go back in time knowing
what that risk entails, would we make that same decision
or go an alternative path? And I cannot say with
(46:39):
any sort of certainty that I would be here today
if I knew ahead of time what it really looked
like to be an entrepreneur, because it's a lot to
tiend than I had intended.
Speaker 3 (46:51):
In fact, my next question was what advice chef or
others with a design or an idea, maybe that's it.
You want to add to that.
Speaker 4 (47:00):
Well, I think that it depends what your passion is.
So for me, the passion is to get, intribute and
give back, and I'm sure that that drive would have
brought me to this place eventually, regardless if I knew
or not. But I think you need I would say
to anyone out there with an idea, make sure that
(47:20):
know where your goals a lie, know where your passions lie,
and what your real motivation behind it. If your motivation
is pure and strong and it can give you the
strength to persevere through all the challenges, then go for
it wisely, with open eyes and know it's going to
be a very big, uphill battle. But if the motivation
(47:44):
is not as strong and secure, then go ahead and
patent it, but maybe think about selling the patents and
letting someone else take it over. Because honestly, if my
convictions weren't so strong and the purpose of my company,
I don't like I said, I just don't know if
I would still be here doing.
Speaker 3 (48:00):
This bowl cool, very good advice. What's the best way
for people to get in touch with you? Is it
just through the website?
Speaker 4 (48:09):
I'll through the website. My email address is right on there,
and there's also a form that people can contact me
on there.
Speaker 3 (48:14):
As well, and there it is in the Girl.
Speaker 4 (48:16):
Yeah, so I would say definitely through the website, I'm
very easy to reach. So I put on my direct
email right there. I'll come right to me.
Speaker 3 (48:25):
And it's fhearhead Pillow dot com. Eliza, thank you so much.
I really appreciate the time.
Speaker 4 (48:31):
Well, thank you, Kevin, and I appreciating your two hundredth guests.
Speaker 3 (48:35):
Yeah, that's pretty cool.
Speaker 4 (48:36):
Much.
Speaker 3 (48:36):
You'll remember that, but I'll remember it too, And thank
you everybody for watching and listening. This is a show
about business and business. Just if you've got concerns about
the sales effectiveness or growth of your company, whether your
sales team is you or small, or it's large, feel
free to reach out to me on Facebook or LinkedIn
at Winning Business Radio you can drop me a note,
and that's Kevin at Winning Business Radio dot com. Our
(49:00):
company is Winning Incorporated. We're part of Sandler Training. We
develop sales teams and too high achievers and sales leaders
into true coaches and mentors. Listen, I say every week
We're not right for everybody, but hey, maybe we should
have a conversation. Thank you as always to producer and
engineer one, Thank you one for another job well done.
Be sure to join us next week that's Monday, January sixth.
(49:21):
My guest will be Attorney nick La Presty of Lapresty Law.
Until then, this is Kevin Helenan.
Speaker 2 (49:28):
You've been listening to Winning Business Radio with your host
Kevin Helena. If you missed any part of this episode,
The podcast is available on Top four Podcasting and iHeartRadio.
For more information and questions, go to Winning Business Radio
dot com or check us out on social media. Tune
in again next week and every Monday at four pm
Eastern Time to listen live to Winning Business Radio on
(49:52):
W four CY Radio W fourcy dot com. Until then,
let's succeed where others have failed and win in business
with Kevin helen In and Winning Business Radio m
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