January 24, 2024 • 19 mins
Join the DIVAS as we take a deep dive into the world of tea with Brenda Meyers. She'll recount transforming her humble kitchen endeavor into a thriving tea empire. Strategic moves, pinpointing her ideal customer, and constructing a sustainable business model were major contributors to her success. Brenda is now committed to mentoring blossoming entrepreneurs through her latest partnership, E-Success Network which supports them through the power of community and education.
Our chat with Brenda is a masterclass in leveraging personal passions into professional triumphs. She imparts wisdom from the likes of Napoleon Hill and Tony Robbins, illustrating the profound influence that motivation and a supportive network can have on one's entrepreneurial path. Brenda's narrative is rich with anecdotes, such as the cherished memory of her Auntie's introduction to tea, which became the bedrock for her business. This episode is a call to those yearning to brew their own success story.
Check out E-Success Network and get on the waitlist for the launch! https://esuccessnetwork.com/
You can connect with Brenda on the links below:
W: esuccessnetwork.com
E: brenda@esuccesnetwork.com
Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendasterlingmeyers
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, there we are the 90 day divas, and I'm Carol,
lucy and Jen.
Our mission is to impact thelives and businesses of people
who want to break free ofoverwhelm, get their business
back on track and receive moremoney in their bank account in
90 days.
We're going, diying it, gettingfrustrated, losing momentum or
wasting time and money.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Connect, collaborate and conquer with us and we take
you through relevant businesstopics and show case interesting
entrepreneurs from around theworld On the Diva Deep Dive.
We're going deep on businesstopics that we know, build life
valuable.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Plus, we're going to ask those questions that are on
your mind from entrepreneurs whohave been there and done that.
Let's start the show.
Hey there, welcome to thisepisode of the Diva Deep Dive,
and today we are talking toBrenda Myers.
(00:52):
Now that's the last name, aftermy own heart spelled slightly
differently.
She has an extra E in Myers,but there you go.
Brenda Myers is a successfulentrepreneur with over 18 years
of experience in the teamanufacturing industry.
So she started her tea businessin her kitchen and built it
into a full service tea blendingplant that now supplies over
200 tea products to businessesacross the US.
(01:15):
Now Brenda is a dedicatedproduct launch business coach
who loves to encourage beginningstage entrepreneurs.
Brenda's passion for helpingothers succeed in her commitment
to sharing her knowledge andexpertise makes her an
invaluable resource for anyonelooking to start, grow and
sustain the business of theirdreams.
So welcome, brenda.
We're so glad to have you.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Thank you, I really appreciate your all this time.
My name is actually BrendaSterling Myers, which is the
name of the company.
From you know, I knew my sonand I just like the name
Sterling, love it.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
The tea is an interesting industry to be in,
so the actual name of thecompany is Sterling Myers tea.
Is that right?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Sterling tea.
Sterling tea.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
It's brilliant and taking it out of your kitchen.
That must have been quite thejourney to get it to move
through, and some of those earlydays you might have been
feeling like, can I do this, Isit worth it?
Because a lot of our audienceis sitting out there and they
might be sitting in a corporaterole wondering about what might
start with sideline.
Hustle a little bit more and,you know, make it a full-time
(02:15):
gig.
So who is your ideal client?
In the beginning, and maybethat even morphed as you went
along.
How did that all start it?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
absolutely morphed.
So when I first started I justwanted to get my tea in
everybody's mouth, like anybodywho liked tea or even thought
about liking tea, especiallythose that didn't understand
good tea.
Because I was living in Texas,sweet tea was all the rage and I
came from Michigan and I was,you know, more of a.
I understood tea a little bitbetter than a lot of people in
(02:44):
Texas who were drinking sweettea.
So I said they can go a stepfurther.
After several years I reallyhoned in on my perfect customer
and the one that was reallyfinancially beneficial, because
you really have to go that routeeventually.
Yes, it's great to pleaseeverybody, but you have to keep
your business going, especiallywhen you start having employees
(03:04):
and warehouses and you know allof that good stuff Inventory.
It changed a lot and I got realfocused and I created my dream
customer in my head on paper,and that's when my business
really changed.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
You are pretty into the converted here with the 90
day divas, maybe not so much ofour audience.
So it's actually getting ouraudience to really understand
that niching is where the moneyis right, Is where you create
what you need to do with yourbusiness to move forward.
The scaling side and all thatsort of stuff needs to scale in
a lot of ways.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Absolutely, Brenda.
Give us just a little bit of aclue in, because our discussion
today is going to be a littlebit more around kind of what
you're doing now that teabusiness is now running itself.
You kind of pop in and out whenyou want to right Pretty much
and or when you're needed.
But what was this nextiteration for you in business
and how did you come around toit?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
I have a huge passion for startup businesses,
obviously, especially in theproduct space and especially in
the food space, because it'shard.
It's probably, I think, one ofthe harder spaces for a small
business owner to stay in and dowell and grow.
My good friend, Mary Jo, whichyou have met, we decided to
(04:13):
start E-Success Network and itis a place for new business
owners women business owners tobe part of a community and a
network, get the help they needin some of the areas that
they're not strong at.
So I'm a huge proponent increating a business plan, a
success plan, especially whenyou're launching a products and
to really understand the manypillars that are involved in
(04:37):
starting a successful business.
And you have to go beyond justwhat your comfort zone is and
when you don't know something,you have to learn and you have
to ask for help.
After several years of luncheswith she and I just you know
talking about our heart and whowe wanna give back to at this
stage of our life, E-SuccessNetwork was born in the pool,
drinking a glass of wine, and westarted writing it down and
(05:00):
like this is what we're doing.
So here we are, we're takingour time.
I mean, that is a reallyimportant thing is you need to
take your time and you need tohave it on paper before you even
launch, because if you just getinto it cause you're super
excited but you don't have aplan, chances are it'll either
take longer to be successful orit'll never happen, cause you'll
unfortunately give up, and thatwould be sad.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
So so we wouldn't have nearly as many wonderful
new people entering the businessworld as?
Yeah, exactly, and there are alot.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
It's very, very big right now to small business
owners, especially women insmall business.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
So it's really nice to hear, cause I suppose it's
really your passion, causeyou've walked that, you've done
it yourself and now you reallywanna support people to have it
Way easier than I suppose youdid.
So what do you think were like?
Lots of like, yeah, steppingstones, or like problems you
came across when you startedyour business, and especially
also with the focus on theproduct business, like we don't
(06:01):
have a lot of time.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
I would have to say that my big problem was I didn't
have, I had a very small planand it was really just my dream.
You know, I want to serve andmake these tea products for
everyone to enjoy.
But as I got more into it andrealized all the different
issues that come up and how Icouldn't do it alone and
eventually, as I was growing, Iwas gonna need some help.
(06:24):
How do I get those help?
How can I pay for the help?
I needed to get my own help,learn from people and take
courses and you know strategize.
And really it was more than justa hobby.
And actually my accountant saidthat to me one year.
She's like, brenda, if youdon't start making some money,
it's gonna be a hobby.
And I'm like, oh okay, I betterget going.
(06:45):
So it really her saying thatmade me realize.
You know, I'm not taking myselfseriously.
I've got a great business hereand people like it, so how do I
take myself more seriously andput it out there in a way that
will be worth all the time I'vespent on it?
Speaker 1 (07:00):
So I think that's just awesome.
I think that's just awesomeBecause you're speaking again to
people that don't necessarilytake themselves seriously on
what they want to achieve.
So when you had that littleepiphany, it would have been
like a little light bulb, right.
So you're like, oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Well, it takes time.
You know, because you have apassion and you love it Most
people are really good at, inthe case of a product,
understanding how to make theirproduct.
People have complimented like acookie.
You know you've got these greatcookies, but you don't
understand all the other partsof it.
You know the operational part,the people, your finances, your.
You know your marketing, yoursales, even your exit strategy.
What do you want to do?
(07:35):
You know, 18 years from now,all of those pieces of the
puzzle fit in.
And when you get, when you kickoff and you really start
getting in front of people, youstart thinking Well, you know,
does anybody really care?
Like, what am I doing this for?
And you know, am I making anymoney?
So that's all part of it thatyou don't think about when
you're first excited.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Exactly, yeah, totally.
So those would be some of thepitfalls.
And even in that exit strategything, I remember starting my
business too and being the samething and like people were
saying, have you got an exitstrategy?
I'm like I'm so excited, Idon't want to have an exit
strategy.
I can't I don't want to leavethis right, but things do change
and it is really good withbeginning with the end in mind,
and good, I'll just leave themto the principles.
(08:14):
Begin with the end in mind.
What would you say is onesimple free action or something
that someone could do that wouldstart them off in the right
kind of framework.
So what would you say that they?
We talked about getting a coach.
I mean, that's one of the nobrainers too, but again, we try
to round around, trying to DIYit, do it ourself right, rather
than trying to get a coach in.
(08:34):
But are there any other littletips or ideas that you could
give people who are sitting outthere thinking about it?
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Well, I've been pretty much saying at the whole
time you start with a plan, youcreate a plan, even if it's only
a couple of pages, even ifyou're not sure and don't worry,
it's probably going to changebut at least you've got
something concrete.
And you'll look at those areasand say, ok, which area is my
good at, which do I even like,which do I need to hand off?
And then get some help, ask forhelp or Google it or do
(09:01):
something.
But don't just go in and boom.
You know, here's my newbusiness.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Everybody buy because that can, that could work out,
but doesn't always so yeah, ifyou're not ready to accept new
customers and if you don't havethe foundations in place, and
absolutely you've got to havethose foundational systems
sorted.
As you know, we've learneddivas too, because we've each
been in business for quite along time.
But then, even coming togetheras the 90 day divas, setting up
(09:26):
a whole new set of systems, andhow do we want this to look
Otherwise, you get people in andyou kind of you know the
service falls over, doesn't it?
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Well, you figure out what's next, like you know that,
when you're in this business togrow and decide how big you
want to be, and then what'sgoing to happen, especially in
product-based businesses again,I'm sorry I keep going back to
that, but to know what's thenext level, because for me the
worst thing is not being able toservice what I promised.
(09:52):
And if I can't service what Ipromised because I don't have
the inventory or I don't haveenough staff to do it, that's a
whole different problem and it'sa real problem and I see it
happen quite often.
You set your sites big butyou're not prepared
operationally to do it.
This goes along with exactlywhat you said.
You guys, as you're growingyour own business, will find
that you're going to need morehelp.
You know how are you going todo that.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Yeah, and it's really deciding in the beginning.
You have that plan, yeah, is ita service-based, is it
product-based and then reallybased on those two strategies.
It is a bit of a different way,but also knowing that it will
always adjust and we have toadjust, and even looking at the
last three years, we know a lothas changed.
So in business, things dochange, so we have to be the
ones who will really succeed,are the ones who are willing to
(10:36):
change and to make those changesoften and fast.
So what is one free, simpleresource that you could direct
people to that might help themwith their problems?
Like to really maybe even startthat plan.
Have you got any ideas there?
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Well, you know there are several places you can turn
to to get support and help inyour own community.
I guess scores one there's.
There's several.
I mean we've Mary Jo and I,like we said earlier, we created
E-Success Network.
We're going to be launching inthe next few months.
We do have a free takeaway.
I would be happy to share thatif you guys are interested.
Okay, so it's, you just go toE-SuccessNetworkcom for slash 90
(11:16):
day diva.
It's a starter.
There's so many pitfalls and somany things that will come up.
These are seven areas, sevenfears people go through and how
to get over them, and it willalso give you an opportunity to
get on a list so that when we'reready to start putting more
information out, you will be thefirst ones to know.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
That's brilliant.
Thanks for sharing.
After having chatted to Mary Jo, your friend and partner in
this endeavor, we are just soexcited about what you're
building because we're so on thesame wavelength which providing
resources, community andsupport so that people don't
feel like they're alone in thiswhole thing, because nobody can
do this alone.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
You really can't, and to have women helping women is
super important, and I know thatwhen I started I didn't have a
lot of help.
I was in a very uniqueeverything I would go to nobody
was manufacturing products andso I really wanted help so badly
and I think it's great that youguys are doing what you're
doing and getting out there andhelping women, so it's so fun to
(12:16):
collaborate too, isn't it?
Speaker 4 (12:18):
It's just Absolutely yeah, I think, when people open
up their minds and their brainsto collaborating with other
people who have different skillsets, because what you're
pulling together is gonna be areally interesting hub of
support in all different areas,which is quite cool.
So, yes, would highly recommendpeople go out and check out
that free download.
So what book, podcast, concepttheory class training has really
(12:39):
had an impact on you that youcan pull up and go?
Wow, this was a game changerfor me as I was going through my
entrepreneurial journey.
What was it for you that reallyimpacted you and helped you
along?
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Yeah, the Napoleon Hill book, of course, was a big
one for me.
When I was starting I did a lotof CDs and tapes you know, tony
Robbins, all that kind of stuff, just to get myself psyched up
about having my own business andgoing at it alone.
But honestly, I'm gonna go backto the business plan because I
just I cannot stress enough howimportant that is to have a plan
(13:11):
.
There's a lot of places you canfind to formulate plans.
I did my own.
That's a big part of what I dowith this product launching and
helping others.
But I truly believe thatthere's tons of books out there.
But I liked community.
I'm a big believer in communityand getting involved in
networking and things like that.
To just be around like-mindedpeople and I think that's huge,
(13:33):
just being around people whothink like I do.
And you know I have my goodfriends, but not all of them are
entrepreneurs.
So I've got those friends andthen I have my entrepreneurial
friends and it's just like boom,boom, boom, boom, boom.
We just talk, talk, talk.
Like we're a joe when we justtalk like crazy, and I can't get
enough of it.
It's exciting, you know, fillsme.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Great Tony Robbins saying proximity is power.
Right, being in proximity withthe people that I might have to
be able to move forward.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
And, like you say, you do get quite isolated, so
it's really important.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Isolation is the killer.
It really is.
It can really kill you as faras your business goes, because
you feel like giving up, youknow, and having good support.
Family support is reallyimportant too.
I know, with me when I wasstarting, there were days where
I just didn't want to.
I was like, oh, what am I doing?
My husband was just constantlyyou're doing this, you're
awesome, it's gonna happen.
(14:22):
So that was huge, you know.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Having family support , that's one of the things that
we cover in our program with ourclients right Is who are you
surrounding yourself with?
You know, set yourself up forsuccess by having that inner
circle of people who are lifters, not leaners, right, who are,
and you know, not Pollyannasupporters, where they're kind
of fluffing, you know and notgonna tell you the truth, but
really those people who arehonestly supportive of what
(14:47):
you're doing and will doanything to help you.
And gosh, that's so powerful.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Because we all know we have good and bad days in
business and they come, and theycome when you least expect them
.
So we really need to have thatsystem in place to know, yeah, I
am cool and I can reach out topeople whenever I need it, and
whenever I need it most, andespecially entrepreneurship.
We know it can be very lonely,so what is the one question that
you think we should have askedyou and we didn't ask you?
Speaker 2 (15:13):
I don't know.
We're struggling with that one.
You know, I think that my go to, I guess, is just don't be
afraid to ask for help.
Don't think you have to go toloan.
Don't think people don'tunderstand what my I guess you
could have asked me what my goto thing is Write a business
plan and don't be afraid to askfor help, brenda should we write
(15:33):
a business plan I?
Speaker 1 (15:36):
love that.
It's up to you.
Just on that turn, Brenda, youknow, like your, why must have
been quite strong for you tokeep going.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Oh, yes, and honestly , my reasons for getting into
tea are very strong.
Plus, I have a wonderful storyfrom when I was a young, a young
girl, and I always think that'sreally important when you're
selling your product, to haveyour story ready to go.
Because I got that question,Number one question I would
guess what you know, why did youget into tea?
And then my second question isdo you grow at your backyard?
(16:07):
I always enjoyed those two, butthat's what I got over the
years.
So I told my story a milliontimes of how I got into tea and
you know, and, and it touchedpeople's hearts and it obviously
touched my heart enough toreally making a business out of
it after you know, years ofworking corporately and raising
kids and all that.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
We'd love to hear your story.
Tell us the story, Brenda.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Do we have time?
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
So when I was eight years old, I had my parents were
Maxwell House coffee drinkers,you know and my aunt her name
was Auntie Reen, and she wasjust a lovely woman with a
lovely home and everything wasperfect.
I mean had the plastic on theseats and couldn't touch
anything, and everything wasantique, you know.
And she didn't have anychildren.
(16:54):
So her house was just beautifuland I loved going over there
because she had all the finechina and all the cool stuff.
And so one day, when I wasabout eight years old, she sent
me down on the couch and thenshe brought over this little
tray and it had a teapot, abeautiful china porcelain cup,
and she said you know, you'reready for this.
And so she poured just thisbeautiful amber hue into the,
(17:16):
this beautiful cup.
And then there was a couplelike sugar cubes next to them
that I got to drop in and I wasjust like I'd never seen
anything more beautiful, youknow.
I just I knew it tasted greateven before I tasted it, because
it was so unlike what Iexperienced in my own home.
And so this was so special andunique and everything about it
was just beautiful and pretty.
(17:37):
And so I was a tea drinker.
You know, from then on, nomatter, you know, I was with my
friends, they were all drinkingcoax and coffee and I would have
my hot tea, and, you know, witha little bit of lemon or sweet
and lower whatever I would putin it.
And it just stayed with me, youknow, until I got more
sophisticated and starteddrinking jasmine, pearls, and.
But I never thought of it as abusiness until the day I did,
(18:00):
and that just changed everythingfor me.
So, yeah, that's, that's mystory.
I just started up with my auntIrene and she lived till she was
92.
I took care of her at the veryend, I wrote a book about it and
she's in there.
You know, at the very beginning, the whole thing's dedicated to
her.
So when I tell that story, alot of my customers would say,
oh my gosh, my grandmother, ohmy aunt, my mother, my sister,
(18:21):
and they'd all start tellingtheir stories about how they
first got introduced to tea andthe whole tea party.
And so it was just, you know, alovely time.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
I want a lovely tribute to her.
So, even though she's no longerhere, you still honor her every
time you tell her a story.
That's so cool.
I love it, aww.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Beautiful woman so.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Nice.
Well, thank you so much, Brenda, for being on with us and going
deep with us.
Vastivas, and yeah, we'll belinking all your details
E-Success and we'll be puttingin the link for the freebie as
well.
Thank you so much for creatingthat and for sharing it with our
audience, Sharing your story.
Thank you so much.
It's been really inspiring, andthank you.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Alrighty Well, thank you guys for your time.
I really appreciate it.
I wish you the best success inyour 90 day diva adventure.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Hey, hope you enjoyed this.
If you'd like to know more,check out our other podcast, the
Freebies on our website.
Well, if you're ready to takeaction, pop on a chat with us.
Simply follow the links in theshow notes.
Hi, there we are the 90 day divas, and I'm Carol,
lucy and Jen.
Our mission is to impact thelives and businesses of people
who want to break free ofoverwhelm, get their business
back on track and receive moremoney in their bank account in
90 days.
We're going, diying it, gettingfrustrated, losing momentum or
wasting time and money.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Connect, collaborate and conquer with us and we take
you through relevant businesstopics and show case interesting
entrepreneurs from around theworld On the Diva Deep Dive.
We're going deep on businesstopics that we know, build life
valuable.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Plus, we're going to ask those questions that are on
your mind from entrepreneurs whohave been there and done that.
Let's start the show.
Hey there, welcome to thisepisode of the Diva Deep Dive,
and today we are talking toBrenda Myers.
(00:52):
Now that's the last name, aftermy own heart spelled slightly
differently.
She has an extra E in Myers,but there you go.
Brenda Myers is a successfulentrepreneur with over 18 years
of experience in the teamanufacturing industry.
So she started her tea businessin her kitchen and built it
into a full service tea blendingplant that now supplies over
200 tea products to businessesacross the US.
(01:15):
Now Brenda is a dedicatedproduct launch business coach
who loves to encourage beginningstage entrepreneurs.
Brenda's passion for helpingothers succeed in her commitment
to sharing her knowledge andexpertise makes her an
invaluable resource for anyonelooking to start, grow and
sustain the business of theirdreams.
So welcome, brenda.
We're so glad to have you.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Thank you, I really appreciate your all this time.
My name is actually BrendaSterling Myers, which is the
name of the company.
From you know, I knew my sonand I just like the name
Sterling, love it.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
The tea is an interesting industry to be in,
so the actual name of thecompany is Sterling Myers tea.
Is that right?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Sterling tea.
Sterling tea.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
It's brilliant and taking it out of your kitchen.
That must have been quite thejourney to get it to move
through, and some of those earlydays you might have been
feeling like, can I do this, Isit worth it?
Because a lot of our audienceis sitting out there and they
might be sitting in a corporaterole wondering about what might
start with sideline.
Hustle a little bit more and,you know, make it a full-time
(02:15):
gig.
So who is your ideal client?
In the beginning, and maybethat even morphed as you went
along.
How did that all start it?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
absolutely morphed.
So when I first started I justwanted to get my tea in
everybody's mouth, like anybodywho liked tea or even thought
about liking tea, especiallythose that didn't understand
good tea.
Because I was living in Texas,sweet tea was all the rage and I
came from Michigan and I was,you know, more of a.
I understood tea a little bitbetter than a lot of people in
(02:44):
Texas who were drinking sweettea.
So I said they can go a stepfurther.
After several years I reallyhoned in on my perfect customer
and the one that was reallyfinancially beneficial, because
you really have to go that routeeventually.
Yes, it's great to pleaseeverybody, but you have to keep
your business going, especiallywhen you start having employees
(03:04):
and warehouses and you know allof that good stuff Inventory.
It changed a lot and I got realfocused and I created my dream
customer in my head on paper,and that's when my business
really changed.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
You are pretty into the converted here with the 90
day divas, maybe not so much ofour audience.
So it's actually getting ouraudience to really understand
that niching is where the moneyis right, Is where you create
what you need to do with yourbusiness to move forward.
The scaling side and all thatsort of stuff needs to scale in
a lot of ways.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Absolutely, Brenda.
Give us just a little bit of aclue in, because our discussion
today is going to be a littlebit more around kind of what
you're doing now that teabusiness is now running itself.
You kind of pop in and out whenyou want to right Pretty much
and or when you're needed.
But what was this nextiteration for you in business
and how did you come around toit?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
I have a huge passion for startup businesses,
obviously, especially in theproduct space and especially in
the food space, because it'shard.
It's probably, I think, one ofthe harder spaces for a small
business owner to stay in and dowell and grow.
My good friend, Mary Jo, whichyou have met, we decided to
(04:13):
start E-Success Network and itis a place for new business
owners women business owners tobe part of a community and a
network, get the help they needin some of the areas that
they're not strong at.
So I'm a huge proponent increating a business plan, a
success plan, especially whenyou're launching a products and
to really understand the manypillars that are involved in
(04:37):
starting a successful business.
And you have to go beyond justwhat your comfort zone is and
when you don't know something,you have to learn and you have
to ask for help.
After several years of luncheswith she and I just you know
talking about our heart and whowe wanna give back to at this
stage of our life, E-SuccessNetwork was born in the pool,
drinking a glass of wine, and westarted writing it down and
(05:00):
like this is what we're doing.
So here we are, we're takingour time.
I mean, that is a reallyimportant thing is you need to
take your time and you need tohave it on paper before you even
launch, because if you just getinto it cause you're super
excited but you don't have aplan, chances are it'll either
take longer to be successful orit'll never happen, cause you'll
unfortunately give up, and thatwould be sad.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
So so we wouldn't have nearly as many wonderful
new people entering the businessworld as?
Yeah, exactly, and there are alot.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
It's very, very big right now to small business
owners, especially women insmall business.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
So it's really nice to hear, cause I suppose it's
really your passion, causeyou've walked that, you've done
it yourself and now you reallywanna support people to have it
Way easier than I suppose youdid.
So what do you think were like?
Lots of like, yeah, steppingstones, or like problems you
came across when you startedyour business, and especially
also with the focus on theproduct business, like we don't
(06:01):
have a lot of time.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
I would have to say that my big problem was I didn't
have, I had a very small planand it was really just my dream.
You know, I want to serve andmake these tea products for
everyone to enjoy.
But as I got more into it andrealized all the different
issues that come up and how Icouldn't do it alone and
eventually, as I was growing, Iwas gonna need some help.
(06:24):
How do I get those help?
How can I pay for the help?
I needed to get my own help,learn from people and take
courses and you know strategize.
And really it was more than justa hobby.
And actually my accountant saidthat to me one year.
She's like, brenda, if youdon't start making some money,
it's gonna be a hobby.
And I'm like, oh okay, I betterget going.
(06:45):
So it really her saying thatmade me realize.
You know, I'm not taking myselfseriously.
I've got a great business hereand people like it, so how do I
take myself more seriously andput it out there in a way that
will be worth all the time I'vespent on it?
Speaker 1 (07:00):
So I think that's just awesome.
I think that's just awesomeBecause you're speaking again to
people that don't necessarilytake themselves seriously on
what they want to achieve.
So when you had that littleepiphany, it would have been
like a little light bulb, right.
So you're like, oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Well, it takes time.
You know, because you have apassion and you love it Most
people are really good at, inthe case of a product,
understanding how to make theirproduct.
People have complimented like acookie.
You know you've got these greatcookies, but you don't
understand all the other partsof it.
You know the operational part,the people, your finances, your.
You know your marketing, yoursales, even your exit strategy.
What do you want to do?
(07:35):
You know, 18 years from now,all of those pieces of the
puzzle fit in.
And when you get, when you kickoff and you really start
getting in front of people, youstart thinking Well, you know,
does anybody really care?
Like, what am I doing this for?
And you know, am I making anymoney?
So that's all part of it thatyou don't think about when
you're first excited.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Exactly, yeah, totally.
So those would be some of thepitfalls.
And even in that exit strategything, I remember starting my
business too and being the samething and like people were
saying, have you got an exitstrategy?
I'm like I'm so excited, Idon't want to have an exit
strategy.
I can't I don't want to leavethis right, but things do change
and it is really good withbeginning with the end in mind,
and good, I'll just leave themto the principles.
(08:14):
Begin with the end in mind.
What would you say is onesimple free action or something
that someone could do that wouldstart them off in the right
kind of framework.
So what would you say that they?
We talked about getting a coach.
I mean, that's one of the nobrainers too, but again, we try
to round around, trying to DIYit, do it ourself right, rather
than trying to get a coach in.
(08:34):
But are there any other littletips or ideas that you could
give people who are sitting outthere thinking about it?
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Well, I've been pretty much saying at the whole
time you start with a plan, youcreate a plan, even if it's only
a couple of pages, even ifyou're not sure and don't worry,
it's probably going to changebut at least you've got
something concrete.
And you'll look at those areasand say, ok, which area is my
good at, which do I even like,which do I need to hand off?
And then get some help, ask forhelp or Google it or do
(09:01):
something.
But don't just go in and boom.
You know, here's my newbusiness.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Everybody buy because that can, that could work out,
but doesn't always so yeah, ifyou're not ready to accept new
customers and if you don't havethe foundations in place, and
absolutely you've got to havethose foundational systems
sorted.
As you know, we've learneddivas too, because we've each
been in business for quite along time.
But then, even coming togetheras the 90 day divas, setting up
(09:26):
a whole new set of systems, andhow do we want this to look
Otherwise, you get people in andyou kind of you know the
service falls over, doesn't it?
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Well, you figure out what's next, like you know that,
when you're in this business togrow and decide how big you
want to be, and then what'sgoing to happen, especially in
product-based businesses again,I'm sorry I keep going back to
that, but to know what's thenext level, because for me the
worst thing is not being able toservice what I promised.
(09:52):
And if I can't service what Ipromised because I don't have
the inventory or I don't haveenough staff to do it, that's a
whole different problem and it'sa real problem and I see it
happen quite often.
You set your sites big butyou're not prepared
operationally to do it.
This goes along with exactlywhat you said.
You guys, as you're growingyour own business, will find
that you're going to need morehelp.
You know how are you going todo that.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Yeah, and it's really deciding in the beginning.
You have that plan, yeah, is ita service-based, is it
product-based and then reallybased on those two strategies.
It is a bit of a different way,but also knowing that it will
always adjust and we have toadjust, and even looking at the
last three years, we know a lothas changed.
So in business, things dochange, so we have to be the
ones who will really succeed,are the ones who are willing to
(10:36):
change and to make those changesoften and fast.
So what is one free, simpleresource that you could direct
people to that might help themwith their problems?
Like to really maybe even startthat plan.
Have you got any ideas there?
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Well, you know there are several places you can turn
to to get support and help inyour own community.
I guess scores one there's.
There's several.
I mean we've Mary Jo and I,like we said earlier, we created
E-Success Network.
We're going to be launching inthe next few months.
We do have a free takeaway.
I would be happy to share thatif you guys are interested.
Okay, so it's, you just go toE-SuccessNetworkcom for slash 90
(11:16):
day diva.
It's a starter.
There's so many pitfalls and somany things that will come up.
These are seven areas, sevenfears people go through and how
to get over them, and it willalso give you an opportunity to
get on a list so that when we'reready to start putting more
information out, you will be thefirst ones to know.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
That's brilliant.
Thanks for sharing.
After having chatted to Mary Jo, your friend and partner in
this endeavor, we are just soexcited about what you're
building because we're so on thesame wavelength which providing
resources, community andsupport so that people don't
feel like they're alone in thiswhole thing, because nobody can
do this alone.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
You really can't, and to have women helping women is
super important, and I know thatwhen I started I didn't have a
lot of help.
I was in a very uniqueeverything I would go to nobody
was manufacturing products andso I really wanted help so badly
and I think it's great that youguys are doing what you're
doing and getting out there andhelping women, so it's so fun to
(12:16):
collaborate too, isn't it?
Speaker 4 (12:18):
It's just Absolutely yeah, I think, when people open
up their minds and their brainsto collaborating with other
people who have different skillsets, because what you're
pulling together is gonna be areally interesting hub of
support in all different areas,which is quite cool.
So, yes, would highly recommendpeople go out and check out
that free download.
So what book, podcast, concepttheory class training has really
(12:39):
had an impact on you that youcan pull up and go?
Wow, this was a game changerfor me as I was going through my
entrepreneurial journey.
What was it for you that reallyimpacted you and helped you
along?
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Yeah, the Napoleon Hill book, of course, was a big
one for me.
When I was starting I did a lotof CDs and tapes you know, tony
Robbins, all that kind of stuff, just to get myself psyched up
about having my own business andgoing at it alone.
But honestly, I'm gonna go backto the business plan because I
just I cannot stress enough howimportant that is to have a plan
(13:11):
.
There's a lot of places you canfind to formulate plans.
I did my own.
That's a big part of what I dowith this product launching and
helping others.
But I truly believe thatthere's tons of books out there.
But I liked community.
I'm a big believer in communityand getting involved in
networking and things like that.
To just be around like-mindedpeople and I think that's huge,
(13:33):
just being around people whothink like I do.
And you know I have my goodfriends, but not all of them are
entrepreneurs.
So I've got those friends andthen I have my entrepreneurial
friends and it's just like boom,boom, boom, boom, boom.
We just talk, talk, talk.
Like we're a joe when we justtalk like crazy, and I can't get
enough of it.
It's exciting, you know, fillsme.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Great Tony Robbins saying proximity is power.
Right, being in proximity withthe people that I might have to
be able to move forward.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
And, like you say, you do get quite isolated, so
it's really important.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Isolation is the killer.
It really is.
It can really kill you as faras your business goes, because
you feel like giving up, youknow, and having good support.
Family support is reallyimportant too.
I know, with me when I wasstarting, there were days where
I just didn't want to.
I was like, oh, what am I doing?
My husband was just constantlyyou're doing this, you're
awesome, it's gonna happen.
(14:22):
So that was huge, you know.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Having family support , that's one of the things that
we cover in our program with ourclients right Is who are you
surrounding yourself with?
You know, set yourself up forsuccess by having that inner
circle of people who are lifters, not leaners, right, who are,
and you know, not Pollyannasupporters, where they're kind
of fluffing, you know and notgonna tell you the truth, but
really those people who arehonestly supportive of what
(14:47):
you're doing and will doanything to help you.
And gosh, that's so powerful.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Because we all know we have good and bad days in
business and they come, and theycome when you least expect them
.
So we really need to have thatsystem in place to know, yeah, I
am cool and I can reach out topeople whenever I need it, and
whenever I need it most, andespecially entrepreneurship.
We know it can be very lonely,so what is the one question that
you think we should have askedyou and we didn't ask you?
Speaker 2 (15:13):
I don't know.
We're struggling with that one.
You know, I think that my go to, I guess, is just don't be
afraid to ask for help.
Don't think you have to go toloan.
Don't think people don'tunderstand what my I guess you
could have asked me what my goto thing is Write a business
plan and don't be afraid to askfor help, brenda should we write
(15:33):
a business plan I?
Speaker 1 (15:36):
love that.
It's up to you.
Just on that turn, Brenda, youknow, like your, why must have
been quite strong for you tokeep going.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Oh, yes, and honestly , my reasons for getting into
tea are very strong.
Plus, I have a wonderful storyfrom when I was a young, a young
girl, and I always think that'sreally important when you're
selling your product, to haveyour story ready to go.
Because I got that question,Number one question I would
guess what you know, why did youget into tea?
And then my second question isdo you grow at your backyard?
(16:07):
I always enjoyed those two, butthat's what I got over the
years.
So I told my story a milliontimes of how I got into tea and
you know, and, and it touchedpeople's hearts and it obviously
touched my heart enough toreally making a business out of
it after you know, years ofworking corporately and raising
kids and all that.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
We'd love to hear your story.
Tell us the story, Brenda.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Do we have time?
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
So when I was eight years old, I had my parents were
Maxwell House coffee drinkers,you know and my aunt her name
was Auntie Reen, and she wasjust a lovely woman with a
lovely home and everything wasperfect.
I mean had the plastic on theseats and couldn't touch
anything, and everything wasantique, you know.
And she didn't have anychildren.
(16:54):
So her house was just beautifuland I loved going over there
because she had all the finechina and all the cool stuff.
And so one day, when I wasabout eight years old, she sent
me down on the couch and thenshe brought over this little
tray and it had a teapot, abeautiful china porcelain cup,
and she said you know, you'reready for this.
And so she poured just thisbeautiful amber hue into the,
(17:16):
this beautiful cup.
And then there was a couplelike sugar cubes next to them
that I got to drop in and I wasjust like I'd never seen
anything more beautiful, youknow.
I just I knew it tasted greateven before I tasted it, because
it was so unlike what Iexperienced in my own home.
And so this was so special andunique and everything about it
was just beautiful and pretty.
(17:37):
And so I was a tea drinker.
You know, from then on, nomatter, you know, I was with my
friends, they were all drinkingcoax and coffee and I would have
my hot tea, and, you know, witha little bit of lemon or sweet
and lower whatever I would putin it.
And it just stayed with me, youknow, until I got more
sophisticated and starteddrinking jasmine, pearls, and.
But I never thought of it as abusiness until the day I did,
(18:00):
and that just changed everythingfor me.
So, yeah, that's, that's mystory.
I just started up with my auntIrene and she lived till she was
92.
I took care of her at the veryend, I wrote a book about it and
she's in there.
You know, at the very beginning, the whole thing's dedicated to
her.
So when I tell that story, alot of my customers would say,
oh my gosh, my grandmother, ohmy aunt, my mother, my sister,
(18:21):
and they'd all start tellingtheir stories about how they
first got introduced to tea andthe whole tea party.
And so it was just, you know, alovely time.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
I want a lovely tribute to her.
So, even though she's no longerhere, you still honor her every
time you tell her a story.
That's so cool.
I love it, aww.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Beautiful woman so.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Nice.
Well, thank you so much, Brenda, for being on with us and going
deep with us.
Vastivas, and yeah, we'll belinking all your details
E-Success and we'll be puttingin the link for the freebie as
well.
Thank you so much for creatingthat and for sharing it with our
audience, Sharing your story.
Thank you so much.
It's been really inspiring, andthank you.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Alrighty Well, thank you guys for your time.
I really appreciate it.
I wish you the best success inyour 90 day diva adventure.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Hey, hope you enjoyed this.
If you'd like to know more,check out our other podcast, the
Freebies on our website.
Well, if you're ready to takeaction, pop on a chat with us.
Simply follow the links in theshow notes.
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