Welcome back to another enriching episode! I’m your host, Glenn Bryan, and today we’re thrilled to have with us the inspiring Essence Unique, founder and CEO of E&E Tea Company, back on the podcast!
Seeing the Bigger Picture
Glenn Bryan kicks off the discussion by emphasizing the importance of periodically stepping back from the daily grind to see the broader scope of your business objectives. This practice is crucial, especially for initiatives like the Spark Awards, where businesses must detail their adherence to ethical practices, leadership, and community outreach. Essence Unique concurs, sharing her experience of winning the 2023 Spark Award. The application process required her to reflect on E&E Tea Company‘s achievements and enabled her to reinforce the core values embedded in her company. By documenting and celebrating these milestones, businesses not only validate their approach but also carve a path for sustained success.
Balancing Work and Life
One of the episode’s standout segments is Essence’s insights into balancing the constant demands of running a home-based e-commerce business. The lines between work and personal life can blur easily, leading to burnout. Essence advocates for setting clear goals and celebrating both successes and failures. To maintain this balance, she has implemented several strategies, such as separating business and personal phone lines, not working during family time, and establishing set schedules for personal activities like meditation and reflection. For Essence, putting these activities into a calendar is essential; if it’s not scheduled, it won’t happen. Glenn supports this notion, encouraging business owners to take deliberate steps toward intentional living.
Community Engagement
The episode underscores the importance of giving back to the community, a principle that Essence has integrated into both her nonprofit organization, Enduring Minds, and her tea company. Established in 2018, Enduring Minds supports individuals with chronic or rare neurological conditions through programs like wig donations and scholarships. Even before launching her tea business, Essence was committed to community support, showcasing her fundamental belief in corporate social responsibility. Businesses, regardless of their size, can find creative ways to contribute—donating surplus products to food shelters, for example, reduces waste and supports those in need. Glenn adds that involving employees in these efforts fortifies company values and enhances customer relations, creating a virtuous circle of positive impact.
The Power of Intentionality
Intentionality emerges as a crucial value in the discussion, reflecting through all aspects of Essence’s entrepreneurial journey. For Essence, being intentional means handwriting notes, providing gifts, and engaging with customers personally. This personal touch transforms customers into an extended family, participating in tea tastings and consultations. She stresses that as businesses grow, maintaining company culture and character is paramount. This requires having processes, procedures, and written core values to ensure consistency. Glenn echoes this sentiment, pointing out that the Focus 4C newsletter encourages businesses to reflect on character virtues, aligning personal traits with business success.
Conclusion
In wrapping up their enlightening conversation, Dr. Glenn Bryan and Essence Unique reiterate the importance of building better businesses rooted in trust, integrity, and community commitment. Essence’s story serves as a powerful testament to the transformative power of aligning personal values with business practices. She encourages new and experienced entrepreneurs alike to take deliberate actions, live intentionally, and never forget the importance of community engagement. The episode offers valuable insights that can inspire entrepreneurs to create more sustainable, ethical, and successful businesses.
