Episode 32 Transcript

Hey everyone, it is me Lisa and welcome to another episode of the other 99%. I’m so excited to be here with a new friend of mine, Joanne. Joanne is from Epicure and we’ve basically only have met online and talked a few times through Messenger. But when I watched a video of Joanne and her brother, I just had to reach out and say, you know, I really, really want you to come on my podcast. So welcome Joanne, I would love for you to jump in and tell us a little bit about who you are, what you do and all that stuff.

Hi Lisa, thank you for having me. This is amazing. And a little bit about me. I am in my 50s and I am a mom of three amazing adult children in their 20s. And we also have two cats. Ellie thinks that she’s the queen of England and she, little dude is crazier than ever and he’s just a bull in a china shop. So, but.Ellie being tiny and little dude being huge. You wouldn’t expect that but Ellie rules the roost. So that’s us and I’m also I’d say an unofficial advocate for people, older people with special needs. I do a lot for my older brother and his friends and that keeps him busy because there’s lots of paperwork and appointments and that’s uh. Part of my why of why Epicure works for us. I was a teacher for kids with kids that learned differently for 20 plus years. I was actually a classroom teacher and then a learning assistance and then in a special school for kids. I can’t believe they’re brilliant minds. It’s amazing. But in between all that, I was caregiving for my parents and an older family member. So something had to give and I needed something that would be as fulfilling and meaningful and equally giving. And so that’s where Epicure fit in for me. Awesome. So how were you introduced to Epicure? Like, how did you get started? I was actually a customer for like 20 plus years. Really good friend of mine, Adelaide. She actually works with my husband at the local hospital. And we were introduced to it when we, when our oldest were in Jimberry and we would meet for Jimberry classes when they were like in preschool. And yeah, we’d buy the same three things, the lemon dilly, the three onion, and I think it was for cashew bread back then. And it was always the same three, always the same three. And just before COVID, had just passed. And it was just a time to reflect and take a breath and see where my next step was. And we were on holidays, and it just gave me pause. And I was thinking, Okay, so now what’s my next chapter going to look like? Like it was 24 seven and full time parenting and teaching and, and it’s like, Okay, now what’s next? And literally, there was a sign that said, eat good food. I said, Okay, that’s easy. And so then I called Adelaide and again, it was during COVID. So, you know, she was a little bit busy. So she passed me on to Tara and then the rest is history. They started jumped in with both feet and the amount of post-its I went through with my desk and learning everything was, was it’s quite comical. I still have a picture and it makes me laugh.

Yeah, that’s awesome. So was Epicure your first direct sales? business or? Yes. Yeah, definitely. My first experience with drag sales is has been Epicure. Awesome. That’s so exciting. So knowing that you jumped in during COVID business is definitely different now than it was then and then it was before COVID. So how are you currently running your business? Like how do you do you do virtual in person? I think a little bit of both. I do some in-person classes and I like to combine some with like some yoga. We’ve had some yoga teacher come and so we do combine that with Epicure, Tastings, Sip and Savers. And sometimes I like open houses so people can come in. And I like to have them around dinnertime so they come hungry and we can just sit and…visit and you know they could get to especially around season launch where they get to taste all the new things and um and sometimes I have a party and sometimes I go hosting. I think though one of my favorite things so far has been making videos with a co-ambassador, very special co-ambassador of mine and he’s my brother and all his life he’s wanted he lives independently and he’s always uh He lives in an independent home right now, but he was by himself and he’d always wanted to learn new recipes. And sometimes the people that were there to help him actually knew less than he did. So he never got that fulfilled. And then we started, he started by watching me and he goes, well, I want to do that too. And sometimes he does tend to want to do things that we do together. I said, well, why not? So we started making a video and he incorporated something like our lasagna into his signature lasagna. And then he would share it with his friends, which was amazing. And then his friends started cooking more independently as well. So he’s gone from wanting to learn how to cook to being this, the ripple effect of making more and more and more people independent. So I just love that. And honestly, I never know what’s going to happen when we take a video. I think one one time the lady That you know It does the the sheets for their building came in and was making her delivery to him as we’re in the middle of recording We’re just trying to keep focused Yeah, I think my favorite with him was when he made the chocolate pudding With Starbucks coffee because he’s a Starbucks nut. Okay, and so that you know started a little trend with our little group that they made the chocolate puddings with Starbucks coffee. So he’s a ham. He’s a ham. I’m sure that was delicious. Coffee and chocolate pudding, those are two of my favourite things. So tell them I’m going to give it a try. I actually watched, like I said at the beginning, one of the videos and I loved it because he was just so engaged and just sharing with be that way. I think right. Yeah, we would be so so much more successful. So kudos to him. Yeah, thank you. Yeah, he definitely has more even more confidence than me like he was able to raise money for his Special Olympics and a fundraiser like all on him. And everybody wanted to support him and his team going off to provincials. So it was wonderful for him to experience that as well. And then once we’re going on a ferry and he was buying something and the man was closing up shop and they was telling us he had to go home and make some soup. And then we walked out the store and he goes, you didn’t give him his your business card. I said, okay, well you go back in there and you give him your business card. So he marched in there and he says, you said you were making a recipe. I work for a great company. We have easy recipes. Here’s my card. And it’s just so awesome.

I love it. Yeah, I mean, and people can definitely relate. I love the fact that it’s like so easy that everyone can use Epicure. So yeah, that’s, that’s great. Definitely. So I know you probably have a lot of things that you’re proud of with your business. Can you narrow it down to like one thing that you’re like super duper proud of? One thing that I’m super duper proud of is the ability I think, to give people choice. We know some celiacs in the family and some celiacs that are our friends. And just to be able to give them the choice that’s not going to hurt them, that’s not, that they don’t even have to think, that I don’t even have to think about what I’m feeding my family. I think I’m most proud of that. When I first started, I wasn’t able to take in all of the things that come with being a new ambassador, because I had a kind of a health crisis. So during a routine mamo, they found something, girls, ladies, get your girls checked, it’s really important. Anyways, they found it, they were able to take care of it, but the recovery took a little bit of a bite, just as I’m trying to start my business. But from that, I was thinking, if my body could recover this well, and I wasn’t eating well, because I had just started, really eating with Epicure. Can you imagine how your body would respond if you fueled it properly? So as a thank you for my body to recover so well, I made a commitment. And that’s where the Epicure life challenge I am so grateful for that. I know I’m off-changin. I tend to do that. No, no, by all means. By all means. Something shiny. Anyway, and so I’m really grateful and proud that the Epic life challenge has made such an impact in my life and in other people’s lives as well. Like it’s routine now to balance our plates. It’s routine now to even when you’re eating out to you know just watch, watch what you’re putting in your body. So I think to answer your question in a very roundabout way that’s what I’m most proud of. The changes that Epicure has brought and the changes that we enable others to have the choice to do so as well.

Absolutely. And for those of you who are listening and don’t really know much about the Epic Life Challenge or the Epic Life Program, it’s basically a healthy eating program. It’s not a diet. It’s a change in lifestyle. And what you do is you follow simple steps to keep a balanced plate, three meals a day. Basically, like you said, you’re fueling your body with the proper nutrients and you’re not depriving yourself from anything. There’s nothing that is like off. You just have everything in moderation and there’s no counting calories. It’s none of that. So I like to say it’s an easy button because, and here I go off on my little tangent. Like when I was growing up, I didn’t know the difference. You struggle because like, and it might sound dumb to some people, but I didn’t know the difference between a vegetable and a carbohydrate because you know, my mom put meat, potatoes and corn on your plate and you were always told to eat your veggies. And it’s like, okay, well, so I grew up thinking potatoes and corn were veggies, you know, and a lot of people did that. And so when I discovered the Epic life or it was introduced to the Epic life program, it was like a light bulb moment almost where it’s like you can eat a balanced plate. And this is what a vegetable is compared to what a carb is. And, you know, and I love that they give you a little bit of that info in the the books that they provide and the, the guides. So if, if you want to learn more, reach out to myself or Joanne, and we would be happy to share that info with you for sure.

Along the same lines, just to collaborate as well. Growing up in an Italian household, dinner was a huge plate of pasta. Dinner was a huge plate of risotto. Well, yeah, we still eat those things, but now we’ll have a salad and a protein to balance all those yummy carbs out. You don’t miss anything out. You just eat more, really. Yeah, and that’s the one thing that I did find when I started the program, that your plate seemed fuller than, you know, you would typically put it, but a lot of it was, more vegetables, being mindful of the portions of the carbs and the proteins and stuff like that. And I could totally relate to you saying being in an Italian household because when I grew up, I spent a lot of time at my friend’s house and they were Italian. And I remember it’s like every meal started with a big bowl of pasta and then they brought out the meat. And yeah, I could totally see where you’re coming from.

All right, so I know that everybody and I say this everybody has like a superpower. In their business, there’s one thing that they really excel at or that they’re really good at. What do you think your superpower is? That’s a tough one. Because I’m not very good at like a lot of us, you know, putting yourself thinking about what you’re good at rather than you know, praising everybody else. I would say my superpower would be, and it’s become more, it’s become better and better, is just listening, listening to what the concerns are listening to where people are coming from listening to what they need. And often people just say you should you should you should. But I think my superpower is an idea would be, you know, how about this, because people need to feel empowered and make And that just makes them feel really good about their choices. So I think my superpower is just listening and helping people figure out what would make their life a little bit better, a little bit easier, a little bit more free. Freedom is very important to me because Epicure provides that, it provides that freedom of time provides that freedom of to just do what you want to do, rather than being tied to what you have to do. And I think that’s so great because, you know, you’re showing your customers and anyone else that you’re dealing with the fact that they come first. You’re listening to them. You value always. Yeah, you value what what’s in it for them. It’s not about what’s in it for you. So that’s a that’s great superpower to have.

All right. So I always ask everybody who’s been on the podcast, I need to hear because I know that there are many that we’ve heard during our business. One quote or one piece of advice that you’ve heard that you think that everyone needs to hear. Hmm. I think two come to mind. So hopefully I can incorporate those two. Yeah. One comes from Sylvie, who obviously started Epicure. She says too much is given much is expected. She says that repeatedly in all of our conferences. And I think it could be of anything right too much is given too much of time or energy or spare, spare change even. Just share, share what you have. It doesn’t, doesn’t hurt you to share. And to give and just to be of service. And then. And the other quote that always comes to mind is is from Tara, of course, are very good leader of mine in Epicure. She’s been with Epicure forever. If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me. And that is not just in Epicure or in business, but in life. Like take the reins for your own life and just have fun. Be yourself. Only you can determine where your journey takes you. And despite, you know, all the the the run arounds and the the the side you know, life is never easy and life always gives you hurdles and speed bumps, but you get to determine what it looks like, right? Be bold, be yourself and just have fun. Yeah, that’s so true. And I find that, you know, the most successful people in this business are the ones that take ownership for themselves and do it and not necessarily, you know, you can’t blame somebody else for it you not having success. Success comes in so many different ways, so many different colors. And I just love that. Doesn’t matter what you want from your business or from Epicure or in life in general, right? There’s just a place I always this is my thing. This is my little saying there’s a place at the table for everybody, which is, which is good. And I love hearing everybody else’s stories, too. Yeah, that’s great.

All right, Joanne, well, I appreciate you being on, but before we head off, I’d love for you to tell everybody where to connect with you if they want to connect. You can connect through Facebook. I do have a VIP group that you’re more than welcome to come join. It’s called Joe’s Everything Epicure. Yeah, or just through my website. Again, joanfigurito rhym Awesome. Yeah, I’ll give those links I’ll get those links from you and I’ll put them in the show notes so that people think that you just click and connect but I appreciate your time and thank you so much for joining me on the podcast. I hope you enjoyed yourself. Well, I did. Thank you for having me on here. It’s a very special way to share and I appreciate you having this podcast. It’s excellent and I appreciate it. Thank you so much. All right, everyone. Thanks for joining us for another episode and we will see you next week. Take care.