Biz Her Way Series: Meet Andrea Bailey-Tweed
Holistic Life Hacks Through Aromatherapy and Earth’s Own Essentials
By: Sacha Walton, Business Strategist and CEO of SWI Management Group
Hi, I’m Sacha Walton, founder and editor of Biz Her Way. My mission is to celebrate women business owners and entrepreneurs who are disrupting their industries, trailblazing the norm, and impacting change within their communities.
Women are making an impact worldwide in business ownership. Whether they are Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs, Authors, Speakers, Creatives, or Intrapreneurs as C-suite employees; they are playing by their own rules and creating their narratives.
According to the Small Business Association (SBA), “over 13 million women own businesses in the US.” Women are taking their place in society and scaling businesses with ideas, talents, passions, and skillsets while staying focused on legacy building.
My heart desires to see women win and I’m excited about sharing the amazing stories of these phenomenal women.
Let’s lift up and applaud all the amazing, talented, inspirational, and diverse women worldwide who are making their voices heard.
Recently, I had a wonderful interview with Andrea Bailey-Tweed, founder of Earth’s Own Essential, One of Biz Her Way’s Top 25 Women to Watch in 2024.
Thank you for having this interview with me. I’m excited about sharing your story in our Biz Her Way Series here on Medium.com.
Our readers would love to learn more about you. Please tell us who you are and a little something about yourself.
I am Andrea Bailey-Tweed, a Certified Aromatherapist, and founder of Earth’s Own Essentials, LLC. After spending decades of my life in radio and television broadcasting, I became a top-level communications professional within the U.S. government. During that time, I suffered a major health crisis that brought my career, and almost my life, to an end.
Despite multiple surgeries and numerous prescribed medications, it became clear that traditional allopathic medicine was not helping improve my medical condition or the ravaging pain I was in.
Rather than succumb to a gloomy “this is the rest of your life” scenario, I decided to look for alternative medical treatments and conducted extensive research and study.
During this journey, I studied hundreds of hours to become a Certified Aromatherapist so I could share the healing powers of essential oils with the world.
I had a vision to reach out to other acute or chronic health sufferers and offer a fresher approach to healthcare utilizing essential oils, and other holistic healthcare modalities. I started an online e-commerce website where I sell proprietary blends and sustainably sourced essential oils.
I offer personalized healthcare support consultations, and I hope to begin working with hospitals, incorporating essential oils into their holistic healthcare protocols, as well as palliative care and hospice care programs.
I enjoy opportunities to engage in speaking, teaching, and instructional opportunities to help empower people to be proactive in their healthcare and seek healthy options without side effects.
We need medical doctors to diagnose and treat us, but there are definitely healthier and safer support options available for people to use in their wellness efforts.
Now, everyone has a story behind the beginning of their business. What inspired you to start your own business, and how has your journey been so far?
My fight for my health started me on this journey to heal. I choose not to remember all of my experiences, because they were traumatic.
However, after I found my rejuvenation in essential oils, and as I got better, I promised GOD that I would do my best to help everyone I could in their quest for natural healthcare support.
The journey is the journey; life is a journey. We must experience and embrace it. Some days are great, and others not so great. You just have to remember why you’re here, that sometimes you need to stop and rejuvenate yourself, and most importantly — you keep on going.
Tell us about the pivotal moment when you knew your business idea had great potential.
The day I felt my body responding to the essential oil blend I created. I had begun to feel I was never going to walk again. I had so much pain and wasn’t able to hold myself up.
My “experiment” started taking away the pain first.
I was so shocked; I didn’t believe it. So, I kept repeating it throughout the day to see if it was real. It was.
Next, I started “feeling sensation” in my legs and as I improved I incorporated massage and physical therapy. Doctors had told my husband to send me to a long-term care facility. However, I was becoming my own case study.
Which quotes or affirmations inspire you?
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step (Lao Tzu)
How are you making an impact with your business or project?
For each person I help or support, I’ve changed a life. I educate, I am available for questions, I provide the highest quality oils, I am a shoulder, and I show people how easy it is to help themselves with the most common illnesses, accidents, and boo-boos.
What advice would you give to aspiring female entrepreneurs looking to start their own ventures?
Do It! Don’t expect overnight success, if you get it, great! If not, it’s coming.
Be real, treat your clients like they are the most important thing in the world to you (actually, they are). And when the tough times come, accept them with love. Give the pain and fear a moment, and then take back your power and get back on track. And most importantly, accept that everyone who knows and loves you might not have your back — and that’s okay. You have your own back, and you can do great things as long as you want to. Great rewards come from great sacrifice.
We celebrate women entrepreneurs in our publication. How do you make a difference in the lives of other women entrepreneurs?
Real love and support. I promote some on my FB page if it relates to Health care, massage therapy, and wellness. I don’t feel like I am in competition with anyone. I have no problem sharing support info, mental support, and whatever I can do to help a person not give up.
How do you balance the demands of entrepreneurship with personal well-being and self-care?
I don’t, but I try. There are many times I neglect that all too important part until it begins to show signs of effect on me.
Women are nurturers. We put everything before our own needs. I try to keep myself in the top 5 list, and I have begun to recognize the signs that I need to slow down and do it, but it’s necessary!
We are not machines, and the body will break. Schedule time for yourself. It manifests amazing results!
Provide words of wisdom in 2 -5 sentences for another woman.
1. Self-care is not selfish. It’s necessary. You’re married, you’re dating, you’re a mom, busy in groups — church- etc. Take care of yourself so you can give more to them!
2. Business — Go for the gusto. Dream as big, or as specialized as you want and plan it. The journey of a thousand miles…. but remember whether you’re a solopreneur or you have employees, your business will work you around the clock. Know when to say — enough for today.
3. Don’t forget your family and friends. Social encounters/engagements keep you normal and out of your head. You need breaks, and so does your brain.
What’s next for you?
I plan to continue to grow and expand my outreach program. There are lots of skeptics, people who don’t know that all medicine starts with plants and plant extracts, there are people in pain who can be helped, people who can achieve wellness — naturally.
I am not unique; I was just blessed enough to know that there was something else out there to help me. I was almost too late.
Due to COVID-19 — we had to find new ways of communication and outreach to people. We found that we can reach the world. Maybe one at a time, maybe hundreds, maybe thousands; and we can communicate without leaving our homes. So, I am already expanding.
But as long I continue being authentic, selling great products, supporting individuals in their health and wellness, easing fears, and knowing my limitations, this is MY what’s next.
Follow Andrea Bailey-Tweed and Earth’s Own Essentials: Facebook and Instagram
Visit Earth’s Own Essentials: earthsownessentials.com
Sacha Walton, business strategist and owner of SWI Management Group helps entrepreneurs level up their businesses with strategic planning, marketing, and branding, which drive business growth and visibility. If you would like to be featured Biz Her Way Series, email us at info@swimgtgroup.com
