|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Despite plans of becoming an aromatherapist having been changed when she learned she was pregnant, Stephanie discovered her passion again after years, but this time on a distant continent. Aromatherapy helped her get out of difficult times. Experiencing this first-hand, she decided to make a difference in other people’s lives as well. She joined the döTERRA® family as a Wellness Advocate. Let’s read how she turned this into a serious business and started making a living as a wellness advocate.
1- Can you tell our readers about your background?
I have a Business Degree and worked for a long time on my family’s business. After my first move abroad, I started rethinking what I wanted to do with my life, so I went to Photography school. A few years later, I studied to be an Aromatherapist to guide me on a whole new path I decided to take – completely unexpected for me.
2- What inspired you to start your business?
Photography was always a passion of mine, so I thought: why not make it into a business? But soon after I finished school, I found out I was pregnant and starting a business was a dream that I put away.
A few years later, living in a whole new continent and with another little one in hand, I had a very impacting experience with these products, that I actually met about 4 years before that. I knew they worked and that they were good, but I never expected them to be able to help me go through such a rough patch, but they did. And I just felt that it was my mission of life to share these with everyone I possibly could.
3- Where is your business based?
I am a dōTERRA wellness advocate, so wherever the company ships to, there I can be! It’s over 50 countries!
4- How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?
In the beginning, it wasn’t really a business. I just started sharing my experience with the people around me. When I realized that it could actually help me make a living too, then I started organizing my actions. I watched as many presentations as I possibly could about the product and the business. I had mentor calls. I studied. Then I started an Instagram account and I’ve been using this platform to help me spread the word of what I do.
“Your “why” should be so strong that it should be able to push you when you are unsure or unmotivated.”
5- What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?
Instagram for sure. As with any other MML company, the goal is to reach as many people as possible. The internet is for sure a great tool.
6- What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
It’s usually recommended that you reach out to all of the people that you’ve ever met in your life, but I didn’t feel comfortable with this approach. I want everyone to know what I did and how impactful it is and then, if they wanted to know more, I would gladly tell them. Again here, Instagram has been helping me with that.
7- What personal sacrifices have you made throughout your career?
As a mom of two young children that have been home for the majority of the time since I started the business, my biggest compromise is having to not give them as much attention as I should.
I feel very guilty, of course. I’m not even sure I would have ventured into something had I known we’d be quarantined for such a long time. But in the end, for the sake of my own mental health, I’m glad I did.
8- How do you stay focused?
The most challenging aspect is the kid being home full-time. I pop my essential oils in the diffuser, close the door and do my best.
9- How do you differentiate your business from the competition?
So, all wellness advocates sell the exact same product. But many people approach me saying that they bought their essential oils but have no idea how to use them! This is because many advocates are only aiming for the commissions they’re going to get.
Since the beginning, my main goal has been helping people find health and well-being, so the most significant difference is for sure all the support that I give to my clients. We have weekly online free classes, platforms with tons of info, WhatsApp groups and, of course, I’m always available for any questions.
10- What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
Growing my Instagram account has been the most effective way to grow my business.
11- What’s your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
You are going to want to give up. Not once, not twice, but several times. Always remember why you started doing your business. Your “why” should be so strong that it should be able to push you when you are unsure or unmotivated. Keep this reason in mind at all times.
And have goals – both small and big goals to be achieved. Make a vision board and look at it every day. Your motivation needs to be fueled daily!
12- What’s the best work-related advice you’ve ever received?
What separates successful people from those who didn’t is the fact that the former never gave up. Some people take longer to achieve their goals, and that is okay. Just keep going, you’ll reach yours.
13- How do you manage self-doubt?
I remind myself of the quote: “You don’t have to be great at something to start, but you have to start to be great at something.” – And keep moving until I improve!
14- What’s your favourite app, blog, and book? Why?
Well, in my case, I use a lot of the apps that help me with my essential oil business, they help me find solutions to problems and uses for the oils.
For the books, I would recommend “Go Pro” by Eric Worre for everyone considering getting into MML. He’s an expert and will give you a lot of perspectives.
15- What’s your favourite business tool or resource? Why?
I have tons of books on how to use Essential Oils for all sorts of different things – on pets, to align your chakras, to support your hormones… For me, it gives me great confidence to be able to help people based on expert advice.
16- Could you name a woman who’s inspired you the most?
My grandmother, for sure. She became a widow at the age of 32, at a time when women couldn’t do much, with 5 kids in hand, one of them just a newborn. So yes, that woman knows everything about challenges and I’m not talking about business type, but survival.
She had to feed everyone and make sure that her kids followed a rightful path, all by herself. I’ve never heard her complain about a single thing. She had her goals and she never let anything or anyone deviates her from them. She’s also a woman of great faith.
17- How do you balance work and life?
I try to do as much as possible while the kids are in bed and try my best to keep my weekends free.
18- How do you unplug from work?
Put my phone in aeroplane mode. Don’t tell anyone I said that! 🙂
19- What do you have planned for the next six months?
Keep working and reach new ranks inside dōTERRA.
If you’re interested in Stephane’s products or want to learn more about her, feel free to connect with her on Instagram: @minhavidaessencial
