Networking is key. Establishing relationships with people in your industry will foster trust and credibility. It can also provide a support system, as well as mentorship opportunities. Networking also builds brand visibility and that’s what we all want.
Today, more than ever, wellness is at the forefront of societal discussions. From mental health to physical well-being, women are making significant strides in bringing about change, introducing innovative solutions, and setting new standards. Despite facing unique challenges, they break barriers, inspire communities, and are reshaping the very definition of health and wellness. In this series called women in wellness we are talking to women doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, fitness trainers, researchers, health experts, coaches, and other wellness professionals to share their stories and insights. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Tammy Nevin.
Tammy Nevin founded Happy Sol Wellness with a vision to provide affordable wellness products that could be used conveniently at home and on one’s own schedule. Driven by the belief that health should be a pleasurable and lifelong journey, Tammy embarked on a mission to make wellness accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
Ofcourse! During the pandemic, I reached a complete point of burnout in my real estate career. As the world shut down, the real estate market did not. I started searching for high quality, affordable wellness products that I could use at home and on my own time. I just wasn’t finding what I was looking for. Then, I came across red light therapy and I was amazed at all of the benefits. This new passion inspired me to start Happy Sol. My aim has been to spread awareness about red light therapy and the importance of self-care. I always used to think that self-care was selfish. However, it is a necessary investment in yourself to sustain a good quality of life.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
I was chosen to speak at the Top 100 Women In Power Summit this summer. This was interesting, as well as impactful. I was 1 of 100 speakers sharing strategies to enhance your business. My Master Class was about starting an Amazon business, while practicing self-care. It took me way out of my comfort zone. I had never done a video where millions of people may be watching. It may not have been perfect, but I did it and that’s the main thing. Stepping out of your comfort zone is important and essential to growth.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
There have been many! One big mistake is that I did not thoroughly research Amazon’s stringent requirements for selling red light therapy products. I hastily listed my products without understanding the specific documentation and compliance standards that Amazon requires. This oversight led to my listings being flagged and removed, causing a long delay in the process. It was a hard lesson to learn. However, they say the only real mistake we make is when we don’t learn from our mistakes. I now thoroughly do market research, as well as due diligence on all of the compliance needed for the marketplace..
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
We are raising awareness and educating people about the importance of holistic self-care and red light therapy by making it accessible to a wide audience. By offering innovative products, we are enabling people to enhance their wellness routines from the comfort of their homes. This contributes to a healthier, more informed society, fostering a culture of holistic self-care and health management.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing?
1 . The number one would be to get enough sleep for your body. Some people do well on 6 hours of sleep, however some people need at least 8 hours. Sleep is the most important thing for your physical and mental health. It also supports your brain function, repairs your body and boosts your immune system.
2 . Incorporate red light therapy and infrared heat into your daily routine. The benefits are immense. They both boost energy, reduce pain, and reduce inflammation. Red light therapy also enhances cell regeneration. I could write a book on the benefits of these simple techniques.
3 . Practice grounding techniques, or earthing as some people call it. This is a must in my wellness journey. Go outside and touch the earth with your skin. Whether it be lying on the ground, walking in the grass with your bare feet or getting in the ocean. Grounding has been studied to reduce inflammation, support immune function, and improve heart health. Grounding also reduces electromagnetic radiation from all of the electrical devices we use. If you can’t get outside, they sell grounding mats. I do have an informative blog post about grounding.
4 . Stay connected to people that make you feel happy. Get rid of the people that drain your soul. This will enhance your wellbeing two fold. Being around people who inspire you increases your resilience, motivation, physical health, mental health and overall longevity.
5 . Eat your veggies! We do not get enough fiber in our typical American diet. The more veggies you eat, the better you will feel. Many people don’t realize how important vegetables are. They reduce inflammation, boost your immune system, improve skin health and overall longevity.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
I would love to start a movement to bring mindfulness and meditation classes into every school in every grade, beginning in kindergarten. I think this would be so impactful for our society. I think the suicide rates would drop among teens. I believe this would help with emotional regulation, improve self esteem, improve focus and concentration, reduce stress and anxiety, improve physical health and give children better social skills. I think if we had this in our society, so many problems would be gone.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
- Continuously pivot. If something is not working properly, it needs to be tweaked or changed altogether. This will help the business stay ahead of the industry trends. This will also help with the changing pain points in our customers.
- Networking is key. Establishing relationships with people in your industry will foster trust and credibility. It can also provide a support system, as well as mentorship opportunities. Networking also builds brand visibility and that’s what we all want.
- Understanding cash flow and financial planning of the business. When I first started my company, I wanted to grow fast. Sometimes growing fast isn’t the answer. I hired many companies to help me grow. I threw a lot of money away. I put the cart before the horse and that just set me back. You need to have a solid foundation set before you take your growth to the next level.
- Legal and patent understanding. When I started my company I thought I knew all that I needed to know about the legal aspects, as well as patent and trademark laws. My suggestion is to hire an attorney who specializes in this type of business. It will save you a lot of money and headaches down the road.
- Customer happiness and support is the most important aspect of your business. If the customers aren’t satisfied, your business will not last. Actively listening to your customers is invaluable for your growth as well as product development. Happy customers are your best advocates for your company.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
I think these causes are all very important in their own way. I tried being vegan at one time. However, it just wasn’t sustainable for me. I live in rural Wisconsin and at the time, there just weren’t a lot of options to sustain that lifestyle. I believe mental health is a cause that we all need to advocate for. I have personal family members that struggle with this issue. I believe we need more testing done for mental health issues. Some mental health issues stem from a lack of a certain vitamin or mineral. We need to cure the problem, just not mask the symptoms with pills.
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
We would love to connect with your readers! They can visit our website at https://happysolwellness.com where we have many informative blog posts all about health and wellness. They can also sign up to be put on our e-mail list to receive a discount code, as well as other product drops. They can also follow us on Instagram @happysolwi and Facebook at Happysolwellness.
Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.
