We recently had the chance to connect with Essence Easley and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Essence, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Something outside of work that brings me joy is being a mother. It is a title that I didn’t always know that I would have and I’m so grateful to hear Ezra call me Mommy. Being his mom and doing all the things bring me more joy than I could have imagined. I love the way he motivates me, pushes me and keeps me on my toes. Makes me laugh. I get joy from hearing his laugh and seeing his face. I get joy from involving him in our businesses, taking him with us to the Ronald McDonald House to donate tea. I see joy in his face when he’s at our tea events and he gets to say hi to our customers. He fills my home with so much joy, and because of that my husband and I can take that out into the world with us and hopefully pour it into each cup.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Essence unique the founder and executive director of Enduring Minds the foundation. I am also the co-owner of E&E tea Co. In Columbus, Ohio. I run that business with my husband Shane. Most importantly I am a mama to a beautiful 3-year-old little boy named Ezra. My entrepreneur journey started when I was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition called pseudotumor cerebri. During the diagnosis and beginning stages of my illness, I started writing to deal with those health issues and I wanted to do something positive with this condition that had no cure. So I turned my journal writings into my first book God Must Think I’m A Bad Ass. That book funded my nonprofit Enduring Minds the Foundation. A few years later, being intentional about our wellness, my husband & I got into loose-leaf tea. That turned into our for profit business E &E Tea Co. E&E Tea Co. Is an online retailer and distributor of loose-leaf and herbal tea, with a focus on wellness and giving back to the community. We have 50+ selections, wellness blends, custom gifts and made with tea products. E&E Tea Co. Is a certified Minority owned, Women-owned, Disability owned, EDGE Small business that takes pride in a difference you can see & taste.
What my businesses have in common are the core values of compassion for people and for the world. Transparency, transparency should be in everything we do in life not just in business. It’s how you build trust, connection, relationships. Core values of Knowledge and being sure to always share it. Each of us knows something, someone else needs and vice versa. We can do better in business, as a people if we always strive and share knowledge. Lastly, living well. I want to be well, even in daily pain, I want to be well and I want our customers to live well. That means positivity, being intentional about what we drink and eat. Being intentional about how we treat the environment, our bodies, our community. That’s my brand and the values I hope my writings and my businesses exude.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that shaped how I see the world was when my house was set on fire when I was a little girl. My mom and I were victims of arson in 2004. When the fire happened, it taught me so much. One. It taught me that anything could happen at any time. We were at my grandparents’ house celebrating the new year, my grandfather’s birthday and in an instant with one phone call my home and everything in it was gone. I had no place to stay. I had no clothes. No toys. Nothing but my life and my family’s life. Secondly, it taught me that you can lose everything and get it back, you can lose everything and still have everything. I was still alive. I still have my mom. We lost everything but we got everything back and more. Our house was rebuilt. We were blessed with people who gave to us and supported us. My school gave me clothing and space to be sad and do all of the things that kids go through. Nothing changed but our address for the four months that our house was being rebuilt. And most importantly, that’s the third thing that that moment taught me about the world. I had never seen people outside of my mom give to anyone the way people gave to us during the fire. As I said, my school donated clothes. My mom’s job donated clothes and items for our house. Our church gathered items for us. Everything that we lost we got back and more and so many people that gave to us in so many ways that I will forever be grateful for that moment taught me to give and to be grateful. From that moment, I know that the world can be scary and that bad things happen, but that you’ll be okay in the end and you’ll meet some good people along the way.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I endure pseudotumor cerebri, epilepsy and chiari malformation. I have a shunt in my brain. I’ve had 21 surgeries in 10 years. I say that to say I know suffering and pain. However, I don’t think of it as suffering anymore or that suffering is a negative thing. I think of it as necessary pain . What that suffering taught me that success never could, is that you need one to appreciate the other. Just like you can’t appreciate the sunshine without having a little rain. You need the pain( suffering) to appreciate the success. Pain and suffering are going to happen no matter what. No matter your industry, no matter your business, there are going to be hard times. There’s going to be struggles. It’s going to be a battle. You’re going to put in your blood, sweat, tears, and all the pain into this journey. But nothing in life is happening to you. It’s happening for you. Ride the wave of the pain and suffering ,Turn it into power then enjoy and be grateful when the success comes.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
In my opinion, the biggest lie that my industry or any industry tells people is that you should be in competition instead of collaboration. Collaboration should be a part of your business plan. It’s the best way to reach new people, to try new ways to test your product to expand your product line offerings and services. So often people are worried about being in competition. We can’t collaborate because I don’t want them to take my idea or I don’t want someone to think that I’m stealing or we’re both selling tea so we can’t work together. That’s just not true. There is room enough for all of us to service our clients, to make money and grow our businesses.
If I didn’t collaborate the wholesale side of E&E Tea Co. never happens, our Sip for a cause Program never happens, The Ohio Tea Festival that we are sponsoring this year never happens. Don’t listen to the lies collaborate and whether your in the same industry or not. Collaborate, let’s change the world together.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I’m no longer here, I hope people tell a story of perseverance and enduring. I hope they tell a story of a girl that took everything thrown at her and strived to turn it into a positive. I hope that the stories told of me, are stories of a person who cared about her community and the world. I hope stories are told about the type of mother I am and how deeply I loved my husband. I hope that stories of my desire to always be of service are the legacy that I leave behind.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.eeteaco.com, www.enduringminds.com
- Instagram: @eetea1
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/essence-unique-easley/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnduringMinds
Image Credits
Toi Tucker Photography
Boydston Productions
