As Told To is a recurring segment on xoNecole where real women are given a platform to tell their stories in first-person narrative as told to a writer.
This is the story of Chantel Robertson, CEO and founder of Upful Blends, a plant-based wellness brand, as told to xoNecole.
Surviving Early Traumas
I experienced six different diseases from the ages of 12 to 24, and I went through severe depression. In fact, when I was 12, I was on antidepressants. [Then it was] tumors, fibroids, auto-immune disease, heart disease, mental illness, hormonal imbalance—all these different things. One day, as I was in the hospital, on bed rest and on different medications, I felt that this couldn't be the only way [to heal]. Although it wasn't communicated with me through my parents or through my family, I knew that consuming medications or consistently getting surgeries just wasn't it.
What I feel contributed to the numerous health issues is based on my lineage and the traumas that my family has experienced. My mother and grandmother experienced such deep trauma, and I believe that [had an effect] from when I was born.
I also feel that I wasn't meant to consume a bunch of processed foods, but when you're younger, you're eating the hotdogs, hamburgers, baked mac and cheese, the fried chicken—all the things. I remember, as a child, I would still be full of life, happy and joyful. I would even put on performances for the kids on the block, but once I moved to another state with my family at 12, I just became very angry. From there, I was put on medications, and then things continued to come up as far as the illnesses.
Image courtesy of Upful Blends
Trekking Through The Amazon
I took a life-changing trip out to Honduras, first, into the rainforest, and I fasted on just plant medicine, different herbs, and alkaline water. I was able to propel my healing experience. From then, I began to connect with different people in my close circle and some who I'd bump into on the street, and they had connections to shamans and chiefs in the Brazilian Amazon, specifically with the Yawanawa tribe. I felt this deep desire and call to go to the Amazon and learn from the elders there about plant medicine and healing.
I'm a master manifester, so it just made sense that I got later connected with those people. When cultivating and building a relationship with them, they invited me out to the Amazon and that's when everything truly began. I've been to the Amazon three times so far, and I'd paused for a bit due to the pandemic. It's still somewhere I consistently visit, connect with, and continue to learn from.
The Amazon is its own sanctuary and it's beautiful. We don't truly know the density within society until we step away from that mentality of the 'go, go, go.' When out there, I always feel like it's a different planet.
The vibration, the energy from the earth—I felt things immediately begin to recalibrate. I was able to be in deep states of peace and clarity. I felt my connection to spirit was more clear and potent. There wasn't so much noise.
The people of tribes out there hold such a pure heart and clear wisdom of how they choose to live their life. They've cultivated wisdom on plant medicine—not from a book or going to a school for herbalism, but just off of centuries and lineages of men and women who have experienced these herbs firsthand. They know the plants' power of how they serve the body physically but also how they serve energetically, spiritually, and mentally.
Each time I visit, I stay for about two weeks, and throughout that process, I'd not only learn about plant medicine but hike, explore nature, and [learn more about the culture.]
Image by Xavier Bryan
Building A Brand
I began connecting with and building a community online based on what I learned on my trips. I just knew this healing process wasn't just for me. People began reaching out to me asking, 'Where can I get this herb?' or 'How can I learn how to fast?' As more people began reaching out, I said, let me just do this [brand.] I would create tonics at my house and driving around Florida dropping off orders. I'd just experienced healing, still in the moment recording the process, did not have a job [due to the absences related to chronic illnesses].
I had $20 to start, and it was either use that for food or to buy some herbs, where I could create different tonics and sell them. I was able to grow that $20 to $2 million. It was all from the transparency and intimacy with my community, and I love speaking and connecting with people. That is what breathes life into my brand.
What was huge in the jump from $20 to millions was recording my process. I recorded almost every moment of my life, from blending the herbs to creating the tonics to recording everything I was doing to activate healing within me. I was still adamant about fasting and consuming my herbs consistently. Outside of that, it was about bringing people onto my team who aligned with the vision and the culture that I wanted to instill within my team. And with those who were aligned energetically and spiritually with the brand, it supported us to work together as a team for the goal.
Within a year and a half from starting, I had a team of about two to three people, and with them, we created a huge impact based on our vision.
I wasn't fixated on the money. I was just aligning with what the mission was and I was very clear about who I was serving and supporting. I'd tune into that each day and as long as I was operating from that space of play, faith, love, and intention, it was easy.
Featured image courtesy of Upful Blends
RELATED
This can seem a bit intimidating since you really want the job, and these are key people you have to impress. Well, just remember, they need you, too. You're talented, skilled, and trained to do the job, so they aren't doing you a favor. It's business. And in that vein, you have to put on your business cap and start asking a few important money questions before even considering accepting a job offer.
I was once gaslit by a company to simply accept less money for more work, and I learned this lesson the hard way: Don't ever just accept a job simply because it's a power move. The money needs to be right, too, and you deserve it. Here are a few questions you should ask during your next job interview process to be sure you and your potential employer are on the same page:
1. "What final compensation range are you all offering for this position?"
First, please don't jump to answer this question if an interviewer asks this at the start of the interview. Kindly state that you'd like to know more about what the position entails and their expectations of you in order to give a sound and fair answer about compensation. When you do ask, be sure to use the words "range of compensation" when talking about salary versus saying, "What's the pay for this position?" There's tact needed and you want to be careful of the tone.
Get them to reiterate the salary range throughout the process so that you can be sure what they're offering is the same as the first round or other conversations you might have had with recruiters or managers along the way. And when reading the offer letter, make sure what was agreed upon (down to specifics about the hours and work that compensation covers) is clearly indicated and aligned.
If you're a newbie to the industry, just graduated college, or you're transitioning into a new career, this is still important because, again, you're still the prize. You'll need to be realistic and reasonable when it comes to your starting pay, but speak up and advocate for yourself in order to be more strategic about what you accept. This could affect your salary potential, quality of life, and work-life balance down the line. Sometimes, when you accept too low of a salary at the onset, it can be hard to get more from that same company later, even when promoted.
kate_sept2004/Getty Images
2. "How are raises calculated, and when are they typically given?"
This is a very important question because you don't want to be stuck at a company that doesn't actually compensate their employees for growth and good work. Again, it's business. If the company is thriving and you've had a hand in that, you should be compensated. Find out details on their policies in order to make sure they align with your long-term goals as the ambitious, talented leader that you are.
Companies have various ways of rewarding their employees, so if that particular company's way is okay with you, move forward. If not, ask about incorporating accommodations for you in your hiring contract if your work experience and resume reflect a need for that.
3. "What are the guidelines related to bonuses and how are those given?"
This question can be very industry-specific (i.e., sales, retail, manufacturing, finance, IT), so if it doesn't apply to the industry you're in, you can skip this one. If it does, you definitely need to get the details on when, how, and how much. What factors affect quarterly, bi-annual, or annual bonuses?
The difference between a bonus and a raise is that bonuses, in some cases, are offered based on overall company performance, not an employee's.
There are performance-based bonuses as well, which work a bit differently from raises. A raise would be a long-term increase in your salary, while a bonus is a one-time incentive or addition to those funds. So, someone might, for example, get a 10% raise and a yearly bonus on top of that.
Just be sure you know what's what when it comes to this and consider how this factor might make or break meeting your financial goals, the type of work you do (and how), or the nature of the work you do (and how you're compensated for it.)
4. "What retirement fund options are available and does the company match any contributions?
If you're in your late 20s or early 30s, you might be thinking, "I'm too young to be worried about retirement savings," but take it from a so-called "geriatric millennial," you're not. Saving up for retirement is a must, and trust me, my 401K saved me in a clutch 10 years after I'd been mindlessly putting money away in it and had forgotten my company still had it. (And yes, there was a penalty for withdrawing from it early, but that's not the point. It truly was an emergency at the time.)
Some companies stopped matching contributions to 401Ks when recessions hit, but today, many have gone back to normal, offering matches on the funds that you put away via your paycheck.
Sometimes, companies won't match because they can't financially afford to, especially when it's a startup or a company that just isn't doing well financially. Keep this in mind when you're listening to their answer to this question.
Don't wait until the offer is signed to ask about this. Get the information you need now and be empowered to save up for your future. Even if the salary and other benefits are great and you want to take the job simply for those factors, at least you'll know what you need to do if the company doesn't offer retirement savings options.
5. "What is the process for compensation for overtime or work done outside the contracted work hours?"
Y'all, this one is key. Some company leaders will try to hit you with the okey-doke on this one, so stay vigilant and aware. I don't care what industry you're in or what position you're applying for. Get a clear understanding of their overtime policy before accepting the job. There's a lot written and talked about when it comes to burnout, and while we love being superwomen who can do multiple things well, we need to have a balanced approach to boundaries in the workplace.
You might not want to ask for money for every little extra task you do to get your job done. But you certainly don't want to be in the awkward position of coming back to your manager, after the fact, asking to be paid overtime for 20 hours of extra work you've done, only to find out the company does not offer it.
You also don't want to be taken advantage of simply because you don't know that your manager has you working extra hours, illegally or against company policy, without compensation (or even without the correct amount of compensation.)
And there's little to no guilt, at least for me, to say "No, respectfully, I cannot," when I know extra hours are being requested (or when a project requires a substantial number of additional hours) but I'm not going to be paid for it. It's against my contract or against policy. So, no, thank you.
I've made this mistake myself, many times, especially as a self-employed professional who did not initially set boundaries on this at the onset. I now have a sense of mental sanity and peace---as well as financial freedom not laced with resentment, burnout, and check-to-check drama--knowing I'm a stickler on asking this question at the onset before signing any contracts.
6. "What are the details of your standard benefits package?"
This is tied to money because it impacts your out-of-pocket expenses after you've been paid. So, it's vital to ask this one. The benefits that the company offers save you money, time, and stress in the long run, so be sure to consider all factors before saying yes to an offer. Do you need childcare? Do you need to work remote to do your best work or have time flexibility? Do you need more prescription drug coverage for a long-term illness you're managing? Are you caring for an elderly parent?
Are the insurance providers accessible and applicable to your healthcare providers? Is there a technology stipend to cover the technology or wifi you're using to do your work from home? Do they offer coverage, programs, partnerships, or discounts for wellness, counseling, or reproductive health?
Don't explicitly ask the potential employer the above questions, but keep them in mind for yourself when taking in all the information they're giving you about benefits. These are all things to consider when it comes to benefits, your money, and the quality of life you'd like to have when taking on a new professional role. Be sure you're advocating for yourself by asking the money questions that will provide answers for protecting your well-being and your future.
And if an interviewer seems a bit rude, off, vague, uninformed, or dismissive in answering the above, very standard, inquiries, consider interviewing elsewhere or accepting offers at companies that value the above and are equipped to handle a qualified, innovative, magnificent creature such as yourself.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by sturti/Getty Images