We were lucky to catch up with Sevahna Anderson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sevahna, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work
My grandmother has always been my muse. She was the most lovely, inventive, straightforward woman I had ever met. She was an orphan by the time she was nine, graduated from Notre Dame College, had seven children & was always starting a new small business. Ellie always encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone, to open my eyes & heart, to see the beauty in the world. She was bold and adventurous. And never left the house without wearing lipstick.
I grew up in a one-bedroom house with five people. My father worked hard to provide for his family. One day, he took a chance and quit his job; working at a local roofing company and started his own! He went to night school to get his General Contractor License & established his business. He wanted to be his own boss, to be able to set up his own successes. He never gave up!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am an Advanced Certified Advanced Fragrance Specialist with over 19 years experience in the land of scent. Crafting memorable, witchy, small batched, 100% Soy Candles. Composed of an exquisite blend of bespoke perfume oils & essential oils, which are phthalate-free and crafted with cotton wicking.
Say that three times!
I am focused on creating an experience, telling a story with everything I make. I want you close your eyes and feel like you’re a part of my world, and the olfactive tales they tell. My work is a reflection of me and therefore is the brand I represent.
Fragrance allows people to connect with one another on a very visceral and real level.
It is personal and it is my hope that when you bring my whimsical and intriguing products into your home, you feel their authenticity, you feel that they belong.
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?
Knowledge – is everything to me. I have completed Fragrance Certifications, History, Art & countless classes to learn about this incredible realm that I have been obsessed with my entire life. It took me two years of just researching who/what/where I was going to use as suppliers to create Wolfe + Juniper. I only wanted to use small businesses to support. And as a Business Manager & Store Manager in the retail industry, the experience really helped me grasp numbers, growth and setting goals.
Experiment, there will be trials & errors but that’s a part of the journey.
Do not compare yourself to others. Just be you! It’s ok to dive deep into your interests. Make sure to really do your research. Take a class, ask questions! And take your time.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
I would work on areas that I am not as strong. There needs to be a balance but also chaos.
I have struggled with ADHD my entire life. And I wasn’t properly diagnosed until I was an adult…
I’m all over the place! This leads my introverted mind into what I call my writers block. It can cause me a great deal of crippling anxiety & depression.
I cannot focus on one thing at a time. If I’m not juggling, I don’t feel normal.
To help improve myself, I started therapy. I am eating better while chasing my two year old. I put myself into a routine ( I don’t always stick to it, but it’s there), making lists, writing things down. No one is perfect. There is balance somewhere. It just takes time & consistency to get better. I’m still learning.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://msha.ke/wolfeandjuniper
- Instagram: @wolfeandjuniper
