Sheri Geoffreys & Gina Gallagher On The 5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career In The Health and Wellness Industry

An Interview With Jake Frankel

Persistency — Go after things with the determination of a dog with a bone. You have to figure a way through it, around it, or over it. “It’s” all just a problem to be solved. Don’t let others’ negativity derail you.

The global health and wellness market is worth more than 1.5 trillion dollars. So many people are looking to improve their physical, mental, and emotional wellness. At the same time, so many people are needed to help provide these services. What does it take to create a highly successful career in the health and wellness industry?

In this interview series called “5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career In The Health and Wellness Industry” we are talking to health and wellness professionals who can share insights and stories from their experiences.

In this particular interview, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Sheri Geoffreys + Gina Gallagher.

Sheri Geoffreys and Gina Gallagher created Yonder because they saw too many collagen brands compromising on quality for profits selling cheap collagen powder with too many heavy metals. They are childhood friends who have conquered health obstacles through the use of high-quality, clean collagen supporting the natural repair process. They love America and Believe in People before Profits.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you grew up?

Sheri: Gina and I have been friends since middle school. (I actually introduced Gina to her husband of 33 years). After college, I started in the corporate world. I later changed career paths after facing a major health crisis, and became a corporate photographer. Gina and I reconnected later in life when she was then a stay-at-home mom, running a home business and volunteering at her kid’s school.

Was there a particular person or event that inspired you to live a wellness-focused lifestyle? Can you tell us about your main motivation to go all in?

Sheri: The health crisis that I mentioned was being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Cancer at the age of 30 just after giving birth to my son. This radically changed my life. After I had chemo and radiation, which just wrecked my body, I was determined to do whatever I had to change my health trajectory. (This was the same cancer that my brother had who developed a 2nd cancer from the radiation treatments and then died at age 27). I dove into natural health and completely changed my diet and lifestyle.

Gina: I lost my father to a major heart attack when he was only 33 years old.So as I became an adult, fitness and nutrition were always on my radar. I also had a reoccurring health issue from childhood which led me to a more holistic approach to combat this condition.

Most people with a wellbeing centered lifestyle have a “go-to” activity, exercise, beverage, or food that is part of their routine. What is yours and can you tell us how it helps you?

Sheri: I completely rebuilt my body after the chemo and radiation by drinking daily homemade bone broth and adding collagen peptides to it. It helped me to not only grow back my hair, but rebuilt me from the inside out. I still take collagen daily and it is something that I will NEVER go without! I also do things to regularly detox my body, like dry saunas, Hot yoga, Epsom salt bath, dry brushing, and drinking warm water with lemon every morning. As well as natural vitamin D from the sun, grounding, spending time in nature and cold plunging. And I also gave up sugar! I basically eat a low-carb/grain-free, protein based diet with full-fat raw dairy.
Gina: I was put on daily antibiotics as a young adult which wrecked my gut. I tried everything, but when I stumbled upon collagen, my gut issues started to get better. (I will not go without collagen either! It is just a part of my daily routine). I modified my diet to help restore my gut. I cut out sugar and all carbs until my gut was completely healed. Now I eat a low carb, more protein based diet with occasional grains. As far as lifestyle and exercise, I am a true believer in being out in nature or at least taking time to get some fresh air and sunshine — To make sure you are “grounded” (getting your bare hands/feet in the earth). We need the light in our eyes and our bodies to be connected to the earth to restore our circadian rhythm. We were never designed to stay indoors all day long!! I also make sure to move my body daily! Staying active throughout the day is just as important as my workouts are. I make sure to take time to stand up, stretch, and walk around throughout the day. I love to strength train with the use of a TRX and weights. But I also enjoy Pilates and walking.

To live a wellness-focused life is one thing, but how did it become your career? How did it all start?

Sheri: After cancer when I took up photography and accidently turned it into a business that allowed me to be home with my kids, it felt surreal to make a career out of helping people with a passion, since health and photography both were my passions I knew I wanted to reach people on a bigger scale to help people with nutrition after my kids were grown. Nutrition is such a big part of why I am cancer free today so I naturally want to share and help people with that knowledge. I wanted to make my two passions a business somehow. Photography and nutrition with collagen.

Gina: When Sheri and I had reconnected and we would talk at length about nutrition and health practices; likes and dislikes; what was working for us and what wasn’t. One of the things that we discovered was that we both had this passion for collagen. We were both amazed at what it had done for us, but we were also seeing a change in the industry. The more popular collagens were becoming less effective and we found out sourcing was changing to cheaper more contaminated collagen. This got Sheri’s wheels turning …

Can you share a story about the biggest challenges you faced when you were first starting? How did you resolve that? What are the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

Sheri: I did not know anything about running an online business! And started to research and build my idea. Trying to figure out how to create a company that reaches all of the USA and grows globally was like swimming with the sharks. It took YEARS to get my arms around it. But it forced me to learn all the aspects of running the business. From sourcing & manufacturing to website design, to analytics, accounting, forecasting and learning about our ROAS! So shortly after we finally launched (which took 5 years to do so), there came a point where I felt like if we didn’t get some foundational knowledge on how to market our business and find our customers online, we were going to go down in flames fast. I wanted to find a tried and true method — a procedure that would put it all together for us. So I started looking for some online courses to help ecommerce store owners. Once I found help — I dove deep! I was on every call — did every lesson — and asked ALL of the questions! It truly helped to turn things around. It is imperative to find coaches to teach. Starting an online business can be lonely and you can feel lost, you need a community of peers (other store owners) and expert coaches.

Can you share with us how the work you are doing is helping to make a bigger impact in the world? Can you share a story that illustrates that?

Gina: We thought that we were starting Yonder to make an impact by bringing efficacy and integrity back into the marketplace. There are so many companies that are selling food and supplements that are full of horrible ingredients and are just full of marketing gimmicks. We will not compromise on the sourcing and quality of our collagen and coffee! This is our number one focus, however it has grown into even more than a quality brand, it is also about being a part of a movement to restore American businesses that also have strong family values, back into the American economy. Sheri: When I got us involved with the Public Square movement, that is when things really started to make a shift. We are blessed with new customers everyday who are our ideal customers! It was a quick path to find a huge targeted audience online which can take years as a small business chipping away at online ads with a small budget. Gina: The emails that our customers send thanking us for being proud Americans who aren’t afraid to share our faith, and for not using provocative ads and ideologies in our marketing, are just amazing. The American consumer is fed up with all the noise and ridiculousness. So if we can help to restore some balance in our corner of the collagen world, well then that would be amazing! We are proud to stand up for our customers and what they want.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?

Sheri: For sure working with Public Square. Learning how we can help to change the trajectory of American owned businesses. All of these businesses standing up and helping each other is just amazing. Learning how to forecast properly with your manufacturing to understand your company metrics and apply consistent practices to establish reliable revenue to predict growth and forecasting. I am a business nerd at heart and learning and pushing myself to step into a CEO role has been interesting. I feel incapable at times, but keep leaning into God to provide wisdom and I work hard at seeking it. That journey is hard but fun and exciting.

You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

Sheri: Throughout my journey as a successful leader, three character traits have played a pivotal role in shaping my path:

1. Tenacity:

- Tenacity, the refusal to give up even when faced with numerous setbacks, has been a cornerstone of my success. In the early stages of conceptualizing Yonder in 2017, the road was riddled with challenges. Doors closed, and setbacks were plentiful. The first two years were particularly grueling, with continuous disappointments that would have deterred most. However, my unwavering determination and refusal to succumb to adversity were fueled by the loving support of Gina, who stood by me throughout. It was a testament to the strength of tenacity that propelled me forward, especially during the exhaustive moments when success seemed elusive.

2. Student Mentality:

- A commitment to being a perpetual student, constantly seeking knowledge in every aspect of the business, has been instrumental. In the pursuit of building Yonder, extensive research and networking were essential. The learning curve was steep, with the need to grasp the intricacies of various components. Transitioning into a CEO role demanded a comprehensive understanding of all facets of the business. Embracing the role of a perpetual student allowed me to adapt, grow, and effectively lead the team. This commitment to ongoing learning remains a fundamental aspect of my leadership philosophy.

3. Organizer/Orchestrator:

- Leading a business is akin to conducting an orchestra — a skill in orchestrating various elements to create a harmonious whole. Coordinating the intricate dance of in-house and outsourced resources requires a keen organizational mindset. From the inception of Yonder, the task involved meticulous planning, understanding individual strengths, and creating an effective team dynamic. The journey involved navigating through the complexities of managing both people and services. This orchestrator role has been indispensable in steering the company through its formative years and is crucial in the ongoing challenge of managing growth.

In reflection, I attribute my success to these three traits, as they enabled me to weather the storms, adapt and grow through continuous learning, and effectively orchestrate the diverse elements that make up a successful business. The journey, spanning seven years, has been marked by challenges, but it’s a journey I embrace, acknowledging the invaluable lessons learned during the hard years and tough times.

OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview. Let’s begin with a basic definition of terms so that all of us are on the same page. Wellness is an incredibly broad topic. How would you define the term “Wellness”? Can you explain what you mean?

Gina: Wellness is not just about dodging the occasional cold; it’s more like this ongoing journey where you’re aiming to feel physically strong, mentally clear, socially connected, and are in an overall state of well-being. It’s not just about avoiding the bad stuff but actively choosing the good stuff — good food, staying active, keeping your headspace in check, and building those close connections with people around you. Wellness is basically the art of living your best life by finding daily health and lifestyle habits that work well for you.

As an expert, this might be intuitive to you, but it will be instructive to expressly articulate this. Can you please share a few reasons with our readers about why focusing on our wellness should be a priority in our lives?

Gina: When you feel better you do better! You can’t give your all at something when you are not at your best. Whether it’s mentally, physically or emotionally. Keeping your wellness a priority is so important. Sheri and I make sure to prioritize our health. We aren’t always perfect, but we are pretty consistent! However, when we have allowed ourselves to get out of our routines, we make the correction and get right back to our daily health habits!

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increasingly growing understanding of the necessity for companies to be mindful of the wellness of their employees. For the sake of inspiring others, can you share steps or initiatives that companies have taken to help improve or optimize their employees’ mental and physical wellness?

Sheri & Gina: Incentivizing employees to exercise by putting together walking or exercise groups during breaks. Offering adjustable desk stations so employees can stand more often. Offer break rooms with healthier snacks and beverages. Have an outdoor area for breaks so employees can get outside during the daytime.

What are your “5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career In The Health and Wellness Industry”?

Sheri & Gina:

1. Commitment — It will take more time and effort than you might initially realize. It will be hard and you will have days that you are ready to quit but you have to set goals and keep focused. This takes a lot of determination and grit.
So make sure to set obtainable goals that will get you to your end goal! (Which means breaking it down into bite size pieces)!

2. Persistency — Go after things with the determination of a dog with a bone. You have to figure a way through it, around it, or over it. “It’s” all just a problem to be solved. Don’t let others’ negativity derail you.

3. Balance — Though you will be working a crazy amount of hours, you still need to make sure to keep life as balanced as possible. Especially when the work hours seem never-ending and it’s like this constant juggling act! But here’s the deal — you’ve got to keep things in check because what’s the point of grinding away if your overall well-being takes a hit? Habit stacking is going to be key to finding the time you need to get it all accomplished! (i.e., a treadmill desk, conference call outside in the sun, listening to training/podcasts while out for a walk).

4. Brand awareness & community — Create brand awareness. Make everything that you do about your brand, what your mission is and why you are different from your competitors and how you relate to your customer. While simultaneously creating a community for your customers. You want to create a place where they feel heard and feel like they belong.

5. Don’t scale too fast — Figure out if your system is sustainable for growth. What will it take to get you where you want to go? Do you have everything in place to scale? Focus on the one key “flagship” product that is making you known before you branch out into other areas. We sell both collagen and coffee, we definitely sell more collagen as that is our focus and foundational product we are known for. As we grow with a solid foundation we will in addition put emphasis on our amazing coffee and scale that product as well.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would promote the most wellness to the greatest amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

Gina: If I had great influence I would want to do something about all the ingredients & chemicals that are allowed into packaged food, drinks, and cosmetics that are banned in so many other countries! Our nation is just getting more and more sick but “THEY” just want to blame it on eating animal protein, which has been eaten for thousands of years instead of looking at all the terrible ingredients that have been allowed into food and cosmetics over the last few 100 years.

We are blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.

Sheri: Absolutely, if I could choose anyone in the world or the U.S. to have a private breakfast or lunch with, it would be Michael Seifert, the CEO & Founder of PublicSquare, and Brent Dusing, the CEO & Founder of TruePlay Games. I find their work truly amazing and am deeply inspired by their intelligence, eloquence, and genuine concern for the well-being of the American people and our families. Their core values align closely with mine, and I believe that a conversation with them would be incredibly insightful. Both Michael and Brent have achieved unparalleled success in their respective businesses, and the opportunity to be mentored by them would be an honor and a valuable learning experience for me. If they happen to come across this, I would be thrilled to connect and share thoughts over a meal.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Website: Yonderfood.com

Instagram: @yonderfood

Facebook: yonderfood

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent with this. We wish you continued success and good health!