Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emily Spiers. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Emily, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
I define my own success. When I started my business, my goal was to create a simple product that anyone could use. I love hearing the individual stories of people who have started using my products and notice how much better their skin feels or how much healthier their hair is. In order to be successful, I started looking at the individual person and not the whole. I wanted each person who used my product to have a success with my products and be happy with their purchase. As time has gone on, I’ve been able to build a momentum of personal happy stories which, in turn, gives me a group of successful stories. Because I focus on the individual, I am able to engage in a way that gives people the opportunity to share their story in a meaningful way.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
As a business, we are intentional about the quality of our products as well as the availability to the general public. We take pride in having a lineup of artisinal soap, skin care, and beeswax candles that are thoughtfully created by hand and made with care. We’ve got a couple of new collections in the pipeline, one of which will be released to the public at the Made in Ohio Festival at Hale Farm & Village in Bath Ohio on Labor Day weekend!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Deciding to have a farm and homeschool our kids opened up a world of learning for the whole family. I was able to explore my own interests and curiosities alongside our kids. As they were learning about the flora and fauna of our area, I was learning about medicinal plants and creating an apothecary. As they were learning about animal care for 4H, I was learning about animal husbandry for our personal farm animals. As they were learning life skills, I was settling into a lifestyle that was based on the rhythms and cycles of nature, the goodness of the land, and the benefits of leaning into time-honored ways of producing and creating products. It helps that I am insatiably curious. I never want to feel as though there is nothing more to learn, nothing more to know, nothing more to uncover.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents ever did for me was encouraging me to be me. They might have had ideas of what I should do or who I should become, but their heartbeat was for me to grow into the person I was created to be.
I learned to be inquisitive from my dad. I learned to love learning because my dad made the simple idea of learning fun. Both of my parents were noticers of details. As we would be driving, my dad would always point out a hawk on the power lines, or a deer out in the field, or something else that he noticed. He was always watchful and curious about the world.
I learned to be observant from my mom. She was very detail-oriented. She loved to take photos- of people, places, and things. But what she really loved was nature. She loved the birds, trees, flowers, and a beautiful sunrise or sunset. She loved to capture that moment in time on film that captured her imagination. She knew the Latin names of plants and flowers, and was always eager to share her wisdom about all things in nature.
When you combine those life lessons, it naturally leads to a life of appreciation and a desire to enjoy the simple and the everyday.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.livesimplesoap.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/live.simple.soap
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/livesimplesoap
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-spiers-915aa014/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
