Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder?

Did you know that there are literally hundreds, thousands of toxic chemicals that you are being exposed to on a daily basis? I really hate being the bearer of bad news, but in everything from air fresheners to cosmetics to bath and body products to cleaning products, there are so many chemicals we are exposing ourselves to, often without even knowing it. Our cleaning products are some of the worst offenders. From phthalates to triclosans to parabens and sulfates to ammonia and... words of chemicals I literally cannot pronounce. When we are exposed to these chemicals, they cause everything from hormone disruption to respiratory issues. They’re irritating to the skin, and at worst, they are cancer-causing. So many of these ingredients are unregulated and are causing incredible harm to people. My guest today saw this serious issue and wanted to do something about it herself. My guest this week is Michelle Smith, the founder and CEO of MamaSuds--an all-natural, safe, non-toxic, environmentally-conscious household cleaning products brand. I discovered MamaSuds this year and have personally fallen in love with their products. I knew I had to have Michelle come on the show so I could hear her story of how she started this phenomenal company. Hey, P.S. you can use the code SBM15 for 15% off your purchase from Mama Suds.

WHAT IS THIS MADE OF?

Michelle started her career as a teacher, but realized as she began having children that she wanted to do something else with her life (through she didn’t immediately know what). She did know that, despite not being very artistic, she always loved making new things. Then, one day during her pregnancy with her second daughter, she noticed a small bottle of baby soap lying on its side on the dresser. It had leaked. She went to wipe it off, and to her astonishment, the dresser’s finish came off with it. This sparked the question in her head: “What in the world is this made out of?” It was that question that changed her whole life.

MORE THAN A HOBBY

Michelle began doing research and realized that this “soap” she was using on her family, was not really soap at all. After much searching, she finally found an actual soap that she could use on her family safely. This new Castile soap could be used for so many different purposes--from bath time, to washing the bathroom, to washing the floors and walls. Michelle decided to make her own. She and her husband loved the first batch, and just kept on making it. From there, she began making laundry detergents, skincare products, cleaners, and more. Her husband suggested she try selling her goods, and they set up a site--starting a small hobby that grew into a full-fledged business that allowed her to leave her full-time job as a teacher.

A BIG SCARE

Things took a terrifying turn when Michelle received a phone call informing her that her husband had collapsed. When she joined him at the hospital, they learned a large mass had been discovered in his brain. The timing was even more terrifying considering she had just left her full-time teaching job. Amazingly, everything turned out wonderfully. The mass turned out not to be cancerous, and they count themselves to be extremely lucky. However, it was a huge wake-up call that she needed to make this business profitable so if anything ever did happen, they would be okay. Their health became their top priority, and her passion for her business was turned up a notch. She began networking, emailing, and teaching herself how to do everything necessary to run a business--turning it into the successful, sustainable company it is today.

About Michelle Smith, Founder & CEO of MamaSuds:

Researching and learning is at the core of Michelle's soul and after learning about the ingredients in products she used on her family and home, Michelle taught herself how to make liquid soap. This new addiction turned into formulating a laundry soap that would clean her daughter's cloth diapers. Friends, family, and co-workers enjoyed her soaps so much her husband built her a website and kept encouraging her to make it a business. Officially opening in January 2012, Michelle spent the next year and a half working full time as a teacher and making/selling her products in her spare time. After a life-altering health scare with her husband, who had a large brain tumor removed in August 2013, Michelle decided to stay home with her family and concentrate on MamaSuds; something that made her happy and fulfilled. This is when MamaSuds really started gaining traction. Michelle created lines of products that had simple ingredients that were safe and made from scratch in small batches. Today MamaSuds has been sold to customers in all 50 states, and over 9 countries.

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE

• Website: www.MamaSuds.com - use code SBM15 for 15% off
• Facebook: /mamasuds
• Twitter: @mamasuds
• Instagram: @mamasudsllc
• Email: [email protected]

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Visit http://stillbeingmolly.com/giftguide to get all the shownotes and details on all the products and coupon codes mentioned in the episode!

Thank you to Cultivate What Matters for sponsoring this episode. Thank you to Emily Sexton of The Flourish Market for being my co-host!

When I open up an episode, my goal is to give you a personal connection--some type of fact or interesting tidbit--that is kind of a general statement, but is loosely or directly related to the upcoming conversation. But this week, as I sat down to work on the post-production for this episode, there was not a phrase or a catchy saying or a fact (or anything like that), that could really put into perspective the conversation that I had with my guest today. No fancy intro or statement of facts, could possibly give you any real indication as to what today's episode is about. So I'm doing things a little differently, and we're just going to dive right in. My guest this week is Antonio T. Smith, Jr.. He is a self-made millionaire who started off as a 6-year-old homeless kid, living in a dumpster, and is now a celebrity business advisor, running several multi-million dollar businesses. You heard that right. He's a self-made millionaire, who was homeless, as a six-year-old, living in a dumpster. Antonio is also the business advisor to Les Brown, the Les Brown. Antonio an entrepreneur, he's a business consultant, a 3-time best-selling author, and has 4 top-ranked podcasts in the top 30 on iTunes and is also ranked in the top on podomatic. Antonio travels the country helping celebrities and businesses develop multi-million dollar companies using the system that took him years to master. Not only that, he has given away hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of information and product because he genuinely desires to help others grow personally and financially.

A TOUGH BEGINNING + A DUMPSTER

Antonio grew up in a difficult situation, to say the least. His parents did the very best with what they had. However, when Antonio was 6-years-old, they became addicted to the drugs that plagued their urban projects neighborhood. One year later, in 1987, his parents were no longer able to keep him--legally or financially. They gave Antonio up with good intentions but each situation proved more toxic than the last. He started suffering--wondering who would love him if his own parents didn't love him. This is where his story really began. He found a dumpster outside of a paper company, which became his home from ages 6 to 14. He put himself through school by forging his mother's signature, subsisting on four bags of chips per day and a public water fountain. Despite failing twice due to lack of resources and support, he kept going back. Antonio became a powerful prose and poetry speaker, recognized state-wide. This qualified him for every single school in Texas, but he decided to enlist in the army instead. His testing for the army came back off-the-charts, with his IQ coming in at 134. Antonio was told he would be a spy for the US Army.

ADJUSTING TO CIVILIAN LIFE

Antonio spent 95% of his 4-year military career in the field. After returning home, he had a very difficult time returning to civilian life. After many psychotherapy sessions, he asked himself what he knew how to do well, and two things came to mind: he knew how to program people in the masses (through marketing and public relations) and he knew how to speak. He thus started a lot of businesses to keep himself speaking, and now does marketing and public relations all over the world.

INCORPORATING CULTURE & FAMILY INTO BUSINESS

Today, Antonio helps celebrities understand how to make money in the digital age. First, by finding their "congregation"--people who have an important thing in common. Second, by finding their congregation's attention, following that attention, and then jumping in front of it. Last, by converting their energy into income. Antonio also started the ATS Business University, which is his pride and joy. He takes lower-class to middle-class people, wherever they are, and he teaches them how to become millionaires. The university does 9 trainings a week--from business, to marketing, to sales, to cold-calls. He helps these individuals grow their companies and has created 8 millionaires so far. Antonio believes that abundance is meant to be shared, and he is a shining example of how exactly to do that.

About Antonio T. Smith, Jr.:

Antonio T. Smith, Jr. is the C.E.O. of The ATS JR Companies, a top personal development and training company that offers people from small business owners, to managers, to entrepreneurs, to stay-at-home moms, and college students reliable, high-quality resources through coaching, motivational speaking, and free and paid resources, and the active CEO of The ATS JR Business University, a university developed to guide you through broke to profitable.

In the early 2000's, after identifying "the internet" as a land-grab opportunity, Antonio studied and master the trade of Business to build his businesses and moving to help other businesses in dying markets revive themselves.

During his growth season and learning and mastering the art of Business, he started several podcasts to share his wealth of knowledge to help others master the art of business. These podcasts include Brick By Brick, The Secret to Success, Overcoming Low Self Esteem and his most recent and quickly growing podcast, Awareness TV.

Not only has Antonio leveraged content creation and the rise of social media for his personal brand, but it was the seed which would become the pillar to his now 10-year path to adding value and sharing his wealth of knowledge of business through The ATS JR Companies and the ATS Business University.

Outside of being the CEO of his own companies, Antonio is a highly sought after public speaker, a 3-time Amazon Bestselling Author, as well as a prolific Business Advisor with clients that range from Les Brown to Chase Bank and several other major companies.

Antonio is currently the subject of the Plant Better Vlog, an online documentary series highlighting what it's like to be a young CEO and public figure in today's world, as well the host of The Plant Better Mindset Calls, a weekly call to give his audience the tools needed to better themselves, and host of Awareness TV, a show exposes the untruths that have kept society unaware, blind and oblivious to what is going on around them. Combining metaphysics, science, theology, history and alternative science, Rediscover our world through a new awakening.

In addition to ATS Business University, The ATS JR Companies also houses ATS Publishing, a new publishing company started to benefit the writer and allow them to make a true profit on their dreams. In addition to running The ATS JR Companies, Antonio also has Kode Inc. Tech, a graphic and website design company, ATS Media and several other companies that add value to the lives of the over 500,000 followers world wide that believe in what Antonio T. Smith Jr does.

Antonio is also the COO and Director of Business Development and Operations of the Les Brown University, Business Advisor for the NAACP, Missouri City Chapter, and Business Advisor for the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce.

Antonio T. Smith, Jr. was born on the island of Galveston, TX. At the age of six, Antonio had to overcame abandonment, homelessness, brokenness and living in a dumpster until the age of 14. Antonio's childhood help build him to become the person that he is today because he had to teach himself the same "Plant Better" Principles that he teaches us today.

CONNECT WITH ANTONIO

• Website: ATS Jr. Companies
• Facebook: Antonio T. Smith Jr.
• Email: [email protected]

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Whether we realize it or not, our culture, our background, our upbringing, our childhood, the way we have lived our life up until this point, influences how we make choices on a daily basis. Maybe we realize it--or not, maybe it is conscious--or not, but those things that we have experienced in our life, they impact the decisions that we make today, and tomorrow, and going forward. I love when I connect with a business that has used their culture, or their family, or something in their belief system, to influence how they run their business. I love hearing inspiration from stories of generations past, that have helped to influence decision making, or design, or branding, or intentionality, or even something just as simple as the name of a business. I love how those factors play into how a business moves forward. Today, my guest took her passion for art, and culture, and fashion, and a great pair of shoes, and she created something incredible. My guest this week is Bebe Mehr, the founder of Cult of Coquette, a vegan and cruelty-free ethical shoe brand that creates gorgeous, designer-like shoes for women. Bebe was so much fun to chat with and it really was just like sitting down and chatting with a best girlfriend about life, work, and so much more. TWO PASSIONS, ONE PATH Bebe's father is an entrepreneur and her mother is an artist, so she has always had equal parts business and design in her. She always had a sense of fashion and dreamed of one day working for Versace when she was a kid. At the same time, Bebe also always had an interest in business--as a child she would make and sell things on the side of the street. She even had her own cash register! She always knew that she wanted to marry these two passions and go into a field related to both fashion and business. Eventually, she went to the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she studied fashion merchandising. She lasted two winters in New York before the cold weather steered her back to warmer parts of the country. This led her to opening a boutique in Arizona. She ran the boutique for 8 years, and then moved back to LA (where she was born) to start her line of vegan, cruelty-free footwear: Cult of Coquette. OPERATING BY A MORAL COMPASS Often, the definition of "ethical" can be very blurry. Vegan goods can be made of cruelty-free materials, while still being hard on the planet or people who made them. Bebe has been building her company by following her moral compass. She tries to do as much good as she can, but simultaneously recognizes that making these changes is a process. As a relatively new company, they are still learning and making improvements all of the time. A perfect example can be seen in their new factory, which in contrast to their first, is fully female-owned. Bebe also works to employ women whenever she can because she believes that women working together is important. INCORPORATING CULTURE & FAMILY INTO BUSINESS Bebe has always drawn from her Persian culture and what her family has taught her. Honesty and her strong moral compass are two things that she attributes to her father--a selfless man who always stops to help others. She also seeks to honor the women who have inspired her--family members, celebrities, and even historical figures--by naming her shoes after them. Bebe hopes this will lead her customers to look into these inspiring women's legacies. The name of her business, Cult of Coquette, is tied to her passion for French culture, which is largely entwined with her own Persian culture. Coquette means a flirty, sexy woman--a strong woman--and this word choice is a testament to the strong women who have inspired Bebe along the way. About Bebe Mehr, Founder of Cult of Coquette: By combining designs that are fashion forward with materials that are cruelty free, Cult of Coquette is filling the void in a market that provides few options for the growing number of women who are both socially conscious and stylish. Started in late 2013 by Bebe Mehr, Cult of Coquette was born out her frustrations in finding the perfect Louboutin style pumps in animal friendly materials. She found that either the design was wrong or the quality was poor, or what she calls "unintentionally vegan". Having just launched the second collection in August, Cult of Coquette has built a strong "cult" following through social media and among vegan celebs. The third collection is already in the early stages of design, and will be launched before the end of the year! Use the code "PURPOSE" for 20% off at http://www.cultofcoquette.com/! CONNECT WITH BEBE MEHR

• Website: http://www.cultofcoquette.com/ - Use promo code PURPOSE for 20% off!
• Instagram: @cultofcoquette
• Facebook: Cult of Coquette
• Twitter: @cultofcoquette
• Pinterest: Cult of Coquette
• Youtube: Cult of Coquette
• Email: [email protected]

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Global poverty is at the root of so many things. So many things. From hunger, to the orphan crisis, to human trafficking, to drug trafficking, to homelessness, to disease and HIV/AIDS - global poverty is at the root. Reducing or even eliminating global poverty is the key to reducing and eliminating so much hurt and pain in the world. But this issue is so complicated, as most issues are. But it is one that is incredibly important. My guest today left a life of comfort and security, working in the area of technology startups, to pursue a deeper calling. My guest this week is Ann Mei Chang, the Executive Director of Lean Impact at the Lean Startup Company and author of the book Lean Startup that will be released soon! Previously, she was the Chief Innovation Officer USAID and Mercy Corps, and served the U.S. Department of State as Senior Advisor for Women in Technology in the office of Global Women's Issues. Prior to her pivot to the public sector, Ann Mei had more than 20 years experience as a technology executive at leading companies such as, you know, Google and Apple. Heard of them? This was such an incredible and interesting conversation and I learned so much from it! SILICON VALLEY & A QUEST FOR DEEPER MEANING From early on, Ann Mei was fascinated by computers. When they first came out when she was 12-years-old, she taught herself how to program and went she went to college in California, she studied computer science. Her career for the first 23 years after college was in Silicon Valley in the tech industry working for both big and small companies, and having a lot of fun with it. At the same time, she always felt a yearning to do something more meaningful. Ann Mei donated and volunteered, but her work was very consuming at there were limits to how much she was able to do on the side. She was inspired by the idea of spending the first half of her career in Silicon Valley and the second half of her career in the public or social sector - trying to find some way to do some good in the world. It was in her early 40's during her time at Google that she decided to make that shift. Ann Mei decided to take a leave of absence from Google and she ended up going to the State Department through a fellowship program. She calls it her "custom Masters in Public Policy." Rather than going back to school and spending her time in the classroom, she learned by doing. AT THE ROOT OF IT ALL: GLOBAL POVERTY Ann Mei realized during her time at the State Department that Global Poverty was at the root of the majority of the issues she cared about. She firmly believes that talent is evenly distributed and opportunity is not - that many of the ills in the world arise because people do not have better options. The good news is that we have made dramatic progress in global poverty - the number of people in extreme poverty has been cut almost in half. The bad news is that where poverty remains, it is becoming even more entrenched. LOVING EVERY SECOND Michelle went back to school to focus on communications and public relations. As an extroverted and analytical individual, she excelled and fell in love with the industry. Upon graduating, she worked at a major PR firm and spent time in the nonprofit world. She began searching for what kind of business she could create where she could do what she loved, while escaping the 9-5 work life. It was during a midnight breastfeeding session that, while on Instagram, she first stumbled upon the world of business coaching. She was incredibly inspired by this concept, and pulled on all of her past experiences in deciding what the business would look like. Today, Brandmerry is a business that is all about branding and business mentoring. Michelle works with female entrepreneurs at every stage of the business, from coming up with the idea and launching, to running and scaling it successfully--and she loves every second of it. About Ann Mei Chang, Executive Director at Lean Impact: Ann Mei Chang is a leading advocate for social innovation and author of LEAN IMPACT: How to Innovate for Radically Greater Social Good (Wiley, Oct. 30, 2018). As Chief Innovation Officer at USAID, Ann Mei served as the first Executive Director of the US Global Development Lab, engaging the best practices for innovation from Silicon Valley to accelerate the impact and scale of solutions to the world's most intractable challenges. She was previously the Chief Innovation Officer at Mercy Corps and served the US Department of State as Senior Advisor for Women and Technology in the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues. Prior to her pivot to the public and social sector, Ann Mei was a seasoned technology executive, with more than 20 years' experience at such leading companies as Google, Apple, and Intuit, as well as at a range of startups. As Senior Engineering Director at Google, she led worldwide engineering for mobile applications and services, delivering 20x growth to $1 billion in annual revenues in just three years. Ann Mei currently serves on the boards of BRAC USA and IREX, is a nonresident fellow at the Brookings Institution, and is a visiting fellow at the Center for Global Development. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Stanford University, is a member of the Aspen Institute's Henry Crown Fellows' class of 2011, and was recognized as one of the "Women In the World: 125 Women of Impact" by Newsweek/The Daily Beast in 2013. Ann Mei is a keynote speaker who has been featured at TEDx MidAtlantic, SxSW, Social Good Summit, SOCAP, and Lean Startup Week, as well as numerous nonprofits, foundations, and government agencies. CONNECT WITH ANN MEI

• Lean Impact: https://leanstartup.co/social-good/
• Lean Impact Book: https://www.annmei.com/
• https://amzn.to/2qjUjAw
• Facebook: Lean Startup Co.
• Contact: Lean Startup Co.
• Linkedin: Lean Startup Co.
• Twitter: @leanstartup

• Subscribe on iTunes**
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   3. Enter "Business with Purpose"
   4. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
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We know life is short. We say life is short but, do we really believe it? Do we live that out? Do we make the most of every single day? You know, that cliché? For many of us, we go through the motions--we go through the daily grind of life, not realizing what's happening. Then, when all of a sudden we are struck with a tragedy or hardship, we're reminded of the preciousness of life. Those moments are often when we stop to take inventory of our lives and we decide if we're going to pursue that dream, or go for that goal, or spend more meaningful time with our friends and family. Whatever it is, my guest today took her own experience with loss and used it as fuel, to go after her dream. My guest this week is Michelle Knight, the founder of Brandmerry, a branding and business consulting business that she started after a tragic loss she experienced. WANDERING Michelle has always been a super driven person. She was graduated second in her class and considered herself a perfectionist. It therefore threw her friends and family for a loop when she decided not to go to college, and instead to move to California to join a performing arts group. She subsequently traveled the world, and the combination of these "wandering" experiences opened her up to tons of possibilities aside from the routine of college and a 9-5 job. TRAGIC LOSS, TRANSFORMATION & THE MEANING OF IT ALL Tragically, her life changed nearly overnight when her younger brother was diagnosed with cancer. She moved home and stayed with her family for about a year-and-a-half while her brother battled this terrible disease. 9 years ago, her brother passed away. She realized from this tragedy that our time is incredibly limited. Michelle began looking at what she loved, who she wanted to be around, and who it was that she truly wanted to be. She subsequently got married, went into public relations/communications, and began a family. Right after her baby was born, she decided to go all-in on creating a career that she loved. She became an entrepreneur. LOVING EVERY SECOND Michelle went back to school to focus on communications and public relations. As an extroverted and analytical individual, she excelled and fell in love with the industry. Upon graduating, she worked at a major PR firm and spent time in the nonprofit world. She began searching for what kind of business she could create where she could do what she loved, while escaping the 9-5 work life. It was during a midnight breastfeeding session that, while on Instagram, she first stumbled upon the world of business coaching. She was incredibly inspired by this concept, and pulled on all of her past experiences in deciding what the business would look like. Today, Brandmerry is a business that is all about branding and business mentoring. Michelle works with female entrepreneurs at every stage of the business, from coming up with the idea and launching, to running and scaling it successfully--and she loves every second of it. About Michelle Knight, Founder of Brandmerry: Michelle Knight is a mother, wife, world traveler and storyteller. She is also a Branding and Business Mentor and the founder of Brandmerry.com and The Free to Be Podcast. She works with female entrepreneurs to create an authentic, captivating and money-making brand through the power of story. Michelle supports women at various stages of their business who share one common goal - creating an authentic brand that allows them to show up as they are, build a loyal community and experience time, financial and location freedom as a result of their work. In just 9 months, Michelle launched her freedom-based business and left her 9 to 5, while raising a new baby. Just one year into her coaching business, Michelle created a 6-figure business and thriving community of women ready to share their story. Now she spends her time supporting women to achieve time, financial and location freedom while traveling the world with her little family of three and exploring life with her son. CONNECT WITH Michelle

• Website: https://www.brandmerry.com/
• Instagram: @brandmerrycoaching
• Facebook: Brandmerry
• Email: [email protected]
• Youtube: Brandmerry
• Pinterest: Michelle Knight | Branding & Business Coach
• The Free to Be Podcast: http://brandmerry.com/podcast
• Roadmap to Freedom: http://brandmerry.com/freedom

Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/

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We love rags-to-riches Cinderella stories. They inspire us. Personally, I love learning about people. I mean really learning about them. What makes them tick? What drives them? What fuels their fire? What's their why? What's their reason for doing what they do? How do they work so hard to get where they are? Are they an actual overnight success or are they an overnight success that actually took like 10-15-25-35 years of hard work to become an overnight success? Have they left behind a faster-paced, all-about-profit lifestyle to pursue a dream that impacts the world in a positive way? That's what I love to hear about, and today's guest is the epitome of that. My guest this week is Susan Correa, the founder of art & eden--a remarkable, organic kids clothing line that is made responsibly. It's eco-friendly, ethically-made, and affordable. Susan's passion for what she does and her backstory for how she got started and how she overcame incredible odds had me, honestly, nearly in tears. This is an incredible episode, friend, and I cannot wait for you to hear it. MORE THAN A CAREER - A CALLING Throughout Susan's journey, she has had the joy of living out more than just a career. She has been able to live out her calling. She got her start in fashion, but began looking for deeper meaning in her life--searching for a way to bring in more purpose. She was deeply moved by the work of her friends and family who worked in impact, and she began questioning whether success should be measured monetarily, or by the amount of good a person does in their life. All of this questioning culminated when she was introduced to a school in Bangalore through a blog post. This school was nestled in a densely-populated slum district. The school served a hot, nutritious meal to the children, and for most of the kids, it was the only meal they would eat all day. Within 23 days of reading this blog post, Susan had signed all of the papers with Hope Foundation India. She was there to launch and support that meal program, and for every garment that was sold in one of their businesses, one meal was given out. Susan and her team helped provide nearly 200,000 meals. August 18, 2014, Susan went into the school fired-up to make a difference for the kids, but the day ended with her life changing. She recognized the power of business to be used as a force for good. She began to wonder how we could move from business being transactional to transformative. AN ORIGIN STORY - The "Art" and The "Eden" Fashion is a $2.4 trillion industry. It touches every human's life. When you think of fashion, you think of beauty and perfection. Susan conducted her whole career loving every moment she experienced in the business of fashion, but never once stopping to think at what cost this beauty was coming at and what burden it was placing on the earth. The whole journey started from a book was ready on her way to India--Linchpin by Seth Godin. This book wanted people to use art in a way that asks nothing in return. She began to wonder what was best for the world in the business of fashion? 'Art' is thus where art & eden's journey began. 'Eden,' then is a reflection of Susan's quest to leave the world as a sustainable place that our children can enjoy and thrive in. 'Art' is where she started, and 'Eden' is the intended destination. ICE CREAM & WHAT IS BEST FOR THE WORLD: FROM SEED TO SHELF Susan spent the first two years immersed in documents and research papers and libraries, trying to understand the impact of fashion from seed to shelf. She wanted to understand how we choose the seeds to grow our crops to make the fabric, how we treat the farmers that harvest them, how we dye the fabric, and how we care for the communities we work in. She tried to look at business wholistically--not just looking product, but also at purpose. Susan became enamored with Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream and how they do business in the world. She decided to reach out to the CEO on Linkedin and explained what she was trying to do. She was so surprised when he got back to her! He made time to see her in person and walked her through the story. It was a beautiful unfolding of a business model that cares for everyone and everything along the product's process. Susan was incredibly inspired and committed herself to slowing down--focusing on building a better business with art & eden, and she has succeeded wildly. About Susan Correa, Founder of Art & Eden:

CONNECT WITH SUSAN

• Website: https://www.artandeden.com/
• Instagram: @artandeden
• Facebook: Art & Eden
• Pinterest: Art & Eden
• Twitter: @artandeden
• Youtube: Art & Eden
• LinkedIn: Art & Eden

Special thanks to CAUSEBOX for sponsoring this week's Business with Purpose podcast. Use coupon code MOLLY for $15 off! Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/

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April 24, 2013. That's the day that the Rana Plaza Building in Bangladesh collapsed. 1,138 people died and another 2,500 were injured. It was the fourth-largest industrial disaster in history. There were actually five garment factories in the Rana Plaza--all manufacturing clothing for big, global brands, and the victims were mostly young women. The thing is, is that the fashion industry is actually the second-largest global industry after oil. People and the environment are suffering as a result of the way that fashion is made, sourced, and consumed. So back in the '40s and '50s and '60s, back when our parents, or our grandparents, or maybe you listening--when you were growing up, you owned maybe 20 to 30 articles of clothing. There were 4 seasons of clothing: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. Brands that were manufacturing (and 98% of clothing was made here in the United States at that time) were coming out with new things once a season. Well sometime in the '90s, let's say early to mid '90s, that began to change. Over time, brands started coming out with 52 seasons of clothing. Yes, that is new clothing every single week. When you think about it, when you go from 4 seasons of clothing to 52 seasons of clothing, obviously the amount of clothing that is being produced every year, is a whole lot more than it used to be. Then on January 1, 1994, NAFTA, or the North American Free Trade Agreement, came into effect, and that basically began an outflux (if you will) of production of our clothing leaving the United States. So it kind of reversed, where as 98% of our clothing was made here in the United States, it flipped and now about 90-98% of our clothing is now made overseas. I'm not going to get political, I'm not going to go too much into the whether I think NAFTA was good or bad or anything like that, but, these are just facts. These are just facts about our clothing production and how it's impacted people and the environment. Because let's think about it, the way our society is now, we want fast, cheap fashion. And that comes at a price. That comes at a price of the people who make it, and the environment that it's made in. This week is a little different. This is something that I am introducing to the podcast: Solo Episodes! This week your host and guest is, me. No, I'm not going to be weird and interview myself. After my 100th episode, I got a lot of questions. As a result, every 10 episodes I will be doing a solo episode: content you really want to hear and things you really want to know. For this first episode, I wanted to answer the most common questions I get from bloggers and readers: Why I started shopping ethically? Why I think shopping ethically is important? And how do I make the choice to purchase from a brand (how can I tell if a brand is ethical or not)? A GATEWAY TO ETHICAL FASHION In 2011, I took my first trip to Kenya for a missions trip. As an activity, the group I was with stopped at the Kazuri Bead Factory for a tour. It was here that I was able to see firsthand what stable employment could do for a community and for a person. This group works to hire primarily single mothers--a group that really struggles, everywhere, but even more so in the developing word. It was really eye-opening for me. I started to think more about where the things I bought were made, so I started to do research. I had heard the term "fair trade" before but had only thought of it in the context of coffee or tea--not in terms of anything else. That was the catalyst that got me interested in ethical fashion. MY CONSCIOUS CHECKLIST -Are they a member of the Fair Trade Federation? The Fair Trade Federation has a set of standards and requirements that their member companies must meet. You can pretty much guarantee that if they are a member, this is a company you want to buy from. -Are they a Certified B Corporation? These are socially conscious, social good organizations that have, again, met a set of standards and requirements. -Do they have their Global Organic Textile Standard certification? This means that their fabric is composed of at least 70% organic fibers. -Do they market themselves as an ethical brand? Here, you have to use your judgement! Some smaller ethical brands choose not to be members of these groups or receive these certifications because of the fees involved. One great example is Elegantees. At the smaller level, these businesses will take the expense they would be putting towards these memberships and certifications, and they'll invest it back into their business and their makers. -Are they a small business? I love to support small businesses! It helps lift up local employees and economies. -Are they manufactured in the USA? This doesn't necessarily mean that they are an ethical company, but it is a good indicator. Look at their costs and how they are marketing themselves! -Do they state anywhere on their website about their manufacturing company? Is this something that they are proud of? I don't fault companies that don't meet this qualification. It may not be something they want to market front and center, even if it is something that is important to themselves as a brand. ASK: WHO MADE MY CLOTHES? If you can't find these qualifications anywhere on their website - email them! You can find out for yourself if your favorites companies are ethical by reaching out to them directly to find out about their manufacturing processes. What measures are they taking to make sure that their workers are treated fairly and like human beings? Here is the link to the blog post I wrote with the Letter to Lilly Pulitzer that I mentioned in the podcast.

Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/

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   2. Tap the Search tab.
   3. Enter "Business with Purpose"
   4. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
   5. Tap the Blue album art for the podcast.
   6. Tap the Reviews tab.
   7. Tap Write a Review at the bottom.
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We all love a deal. You know what I'm talking about. When you walk into a store, and you see something on sale, and you're like "It's only $4.50! Yes! What a deal!" Or if you're in a thrift shop and you find a designer handbag, or a pair of designer shoes for like, $3.00, you think you won the lottery. We get a thrill out of a deal. It's that hit of adrenaline. It's exciting. But for others, maybe the idea of second-hand shopping is overwhelming and taxing. Maybe you just like the idea of it, but actually doing it? Not so much. My guest today took her passion for finding a deal, and made it into a sustainable business. Liz Funk is the co-founder of And We Evolve, a subscription box styling service for shopping high-quality, second-hand clothing. ANSWERING A NEED WITH EXISTING RESOURCES: A FLASHBULB IDEA Liz loves a phrase that her co-founder coined: "The world does not need another dress." She was inspired by the book "Overdressed" and recognized that every woman has clothes in her closet that she doesn't wear, but at the same time, also would like to freshen-up her wardrobe. It was then that she became what she calls a "want-trepreneur"--she found herself waiting to feel ready and waiting to have the idea for her business crystalized. Liz moved to Philadelphia from New York City and took a visual design class where she shared her idea. In this class, Liz met her co-founder and business partner, Alisha. She finally felt she had the support system she needed to launch their venture--And We Evolve. THE SUBSCRIPTION BOX MODEL Liz and Alisha recognized that there were plenty of second-hand clothing websites, and there were subscription boxes, but there were no existing second-hand clothing subscription boxes. They decided to close the gap. Liz asked her network to share their gently-used clothing and was overwhelmed by the response. Today, And We Evolve still operates on the donation model. This allows women to have an alternate option to dropping their clothes off at Goodwill--ultimately a pit stop on their clothing's journey to a landfill. Liz and Alisha work to salvage and repair pieces that are in need of some love, and reuse them to their full potential. A DREAM JOB, AN ARTFORM If Liz had to choose one word to describe her job, it would be "FUN!" If she had to decide what to do with a free Saturday, this would be it. Her job allows her to help women to approach their wardrobe as a design challenge--not anonymous things bought, but a collection that is curated. She believes that there should be a relationship with every item in your wardrobe. As And We Evolve grows, the company strives to pour as much intimate attention into each box as they have since the very beginning, ensuring that those relationships happen. About Liz Funk, Co-Founder of And We Evolve: Liz Funk is the co-founder of And We Evolve, a style club and subscription box service for secondhand clothing in like-new condition. She lives in Philadelphia, PA-- a city that is great for growing companies, with its low rents for big warehouse lofts and tight-knit startup scene. Before launching And We Evolve, she wrote about entrepreneurship, business, and women's issues for publications like Fast Company, the Washington Post, USA Today, Newsday, and the Economist. CONNECT WITH SYDNEY

• Website: And We Evolve
• Instagram: @andweevolveco
• Facebook: And We Evolve
• Pinterest: @andweeevolveco
• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn: And We Evolve | Liz Funk

Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/

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1. 1. Launch Apple's Podcast app.
   2. Tap the Search tab.
   3. Enter "Business with Purpose"
   4. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
   5. Tap the Blue album art for the podcast.
   6. Tap the Reviews tab.
   7. Tap Write a Review at the bottom.
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   10. Enter title text and content to leave a review.
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When you hear the term "ethical," what does it mean to you? When I ask different people, different people give me different definitions. I think everyone's idea of "ethical company" may mean something different, like maybe how they treat animals, or the materials they use and how it impacts the planet, or maybe it's about how they treat the people that work for them. I think that the definition of "ethical" is ever-changing and ever-evolving, and I think that's a good thing! My guest this week is Sydney Sherman, the founder of Faire--an online marketplace that connects conscious consumers with ethical brands and artisans. I loved hearing Sydney's story and I can't wait for you to dive in with us. HEARTSTRINGS, TRAVEL, AND A BRIGHT IDEA Sydney had always wanted to travel (she has now been to over 40 countries!), and simultaneously had always felt her heartstrings pulled by impoverished individuals. It was during an around-the-world trip that she really felt herself come into her own and become who she is today. She was so interested in learning about other cultures and meeting people from the countries she visited. Of all the places she toured, it was India that struck her most. The level of poverty was incredibly disturbing to her. It was so pervasive and unlike any poverty she had ever seen. At the same time, she saw so many beautiful crafts. It struck her that there must be a more sustainable way to eradicate extreme poverty. She knew then that she wanted to use business as the tool to uplift these impoverished individuals and help them take back their own destinies. After tossing around a lot of ideas, Sydney settled on the idea of creating an ethical marketplace. WHAT ETHICAL MEANS TO ME: WRITE IT DOWN AND THEN SHARE IT Safe working conditions, fair wages, and environmentally sustainable: that is how Sydney defines the term "ethical." While coming up with her business plan after crafting her definition of "ethical," she realized the difficulty and enormity of the task at hand. She decided to write everything down, and then share it. Every individual that she spoke with helped shape her business plan, and helped increase her confidence--something that is so crucial for new entrepreneurs. THE TARGET APPROACH: NOT ABOUT PERFECTION Sydney believes that the key to becoming ethically-minded--both as a business and as a person--is not about perfection, it is about trying your best, committing, and starting small. These are the changes that count, and becoming "ethical" does not have to be a complete transformation overnight. The way to bring people into the "ethical" fold is to be compassionate, rather than judgemental. We are all on the same team as long as we are supportive and caring about one another. The definition of ethical will continue to evolve and change, and that is a good thing. She plans to help individuals achieve this by expanding their offerings on their website, allowing customers to purchase everything from toothpaste to homewares. About Sydney Sherman, Founder of Faire: Before starting Faire, Sydney built and ran a small business that linked administrative assistants with local start-ups, nonprofits and other clients in the Austin, Texas area. Before that, Sydney worked for a small advertising company, and ran Monty & Joie, a dress company she started in college. Sydney has volunteered doing environmental/wildlife conservation in Cambodia, and throughout Texas, with organizations like Refugee Services of Texas. She also mentors high school girls through ChickTech, an Austin non-profit dedicated to retaining women in the technology workforce and increasing the number of women and girls pursuing technology-based careers. Sydney earned her BS in Advertising and Business Foundations at UT-Austin, and studied Media and Global Change at the Salzburg Academy in Austria. She earned her MBA from the Acton School of Business. CONNECT WITH SYDNEY

• Website: https://faire.shop/
• Instagram: @faire.shop
• Facebook: Faire
• Twitter: @faire_shop
• LinkedIn: Faire | Sydney Sherman

Join my Purchase with Purpose Facebook group and let's continue the conversation! https://www.facebook.com/groups/purchasewithpurpose/

• Subscribe on iTunes**
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1. 1. Launch Apple's Podcast app.
   2. Tap the Search tab.
   3. Enter "Business with Purpose"
   4. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
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