Kickstart that honey
Aseda Honey/Kickstarter
The supernatural, superfood that supports the super human and will make you feel like a superhero!
The wildest, stickiest, thick nectar the planet has to offer.
I first had the pleasure of tasting the Dark Brown African Honey 2 years ago. I squoze a little on my finger and prior to tasting I thought, honey, so what. Then the flavor made contact with my tongue and I was all, giddy up!
Earthy, nutty, sweet. On this particular evening with friends, sharing a bottle of fine Pino Noir and laughter; a warm oven opens as a thick slice of brie smothered with Aseda honey emerges. A treat so divine, toes curled, socks shot off our feet!
Anthony Baron Kirk, Founder of Aseda first met this wild honey in 2009 and fell head over heals in love.
At the time, Kirk was a CHEK practitioner. (Corrective, Holistic, Exercise, Kinesthetic). He also facilitated soul guided journey work. Kirk, a born entrepreneur and salesman longed to add his natural talents to the soul work he was doing.
One fateful day in 2009, Kirk’s wish was granted. His dear friend and soul sister, Vanessa Johansson gave him a gift; a taste of African Honey, and he began a quest to heal the world using the liquid with seemingly supernatural powers.
Johansson and Kirk consider themselves re-wild. Kirk explained re-wild to me as we sat down for our interview.
Kirk: When a domestic cat, becomes feral again it has become re-wild. It has become natural and remembers what it once was. Vanessa and I have been on a journey to re-wild ourselves, as well as re-wild how we participate as entrepreneurs.
It’s a mash up of holistic, meets entrepreneur, meets goodness.
JA: You’re life has changed quite a bit since ‘09 when your focus was so clearly one on one human holistic connection, to where you are today, negotiating with distributors to carry Aseda.
How did you learn to operate in such drastically different markets?
Kirk: Working with people one on one, the pain they are experiencing before I meet them is the motivator for the individual. My clients came to see me as a CHEK practitioner, primarily because of the diseases of affluence; obesity, diabetes, general dis-ease.
When I call a distributor I’m asking them to make available Aseda as not just a product but a healing agent that will be available to all those suffering from the discomfort associated with our current lifestyles. This is not always an easy appointment to get, but I keep going because Aseda on the shelf is the goal.
JA: What differentiates Aseda from all the other honey?
Kirk: There are many different types of honey, they vary on a color scale. There’s the very light, almost white honey that comes from Hawaii. There’s the U.S. honey that can be more of an amber, almost reddish. There is raw honey; truly raw, unfiltered honey which if very hard to find because of all the pesticides and GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organism).
Generally speaking, the darker the honey the more enzymes, active cultures, nutrient rich, and proteins the honey contains, if its raw and unfiltered that is.
The dark brown, almost black is the most rare and the most exceptional. That’s Aseda. It’s not only completely raw and totally unfiltered, its flush with minerals, enzymes, active cultures, rich nutrients and perfect proteins.
JA: Do you feel like you’re getting the hang of the entrepreneur journey?
Kirk: (Laughing) More and more, yes! When creating a company it becomes a projection of your own life. Anything you are dealing with personally will manifest in your company. As I’ve gotten out of my own way I’ve been able to clean up my own stuff.
When I started Aseda, it seemed like corporate was a very closed, entitled culture. From the top down attitude. It was important to me to bring this nutritious gift from nature into the world of enterprise in a natural, grass roots way. At Aseda, we’re totally mom and pop, grassroots, bootstrappers. That’s why we felt kickstarter was a good fit for what we are building. With Kickstarter, I get to connect with people who find the most value in the most simple.
JA: What do you think you’d be doing right now if Aseda had not come along?
Kirk: We’ll I’m a foodie and I’ve always had a huge interest in delicious and nutritious. Honestly, before Aseda I did not realize how saturated the market is, or how “in the dark” the consumer is in regards to efficacy of what’s being sold. We’ve been so careful as we move into the market because maintaining complete efficacy and transparency of this honey is a priority. Being able to be an entrepreneur, holistic healer and foodie is my passion, my life!
We take our environmental stewardship to heart and we are very careful about the carbon footprint left by what we are creating. Our footprint is soft and continue to explore ways of being even softer.
JA: One final question. I have found that once the entrepreneurial path begins, many toss health to the side. They think they just don’t have time for it. Have you been able to remain committed to your health while building Aseda?
Kirk: It’s a struggle indeed. But I’ve learned that the answers to what to do next, lie in the quiet knowing. The challenge of starting a business requires enormous effort and resources beyond comprehension. Aseda has helped me get more and more clear about simple source from the heart. The hiccups that I’ve had the opportunity to deal with during this process have strengthened and made more integral my own life and health. Old habits, old pains, pull on the root of discord until they can be pulled out completely.
Brow sweat, is worth more than you think
Brow sweat. Do you feel frustrated and ashamed because you are willing to work hard, but all that hard work is not getting you anywhere?
How can you get, from where you are now, to way out in the future, when you’ve finally “made it”?
Below is an email that arrived this morning. If you are looking for a way to turn your hard work, into hard cash… Then this 4 step plan may be exactly what you need. Make no mistake… It will take all the brow sweat you currently have, plus a bunch more from all the other cracks and crevasses that have not really heated up yet.
(Identifying details have been removed)
On Mar 21, 2013, at 10:40 AM, Nan <noreplyt@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Jude, this is Nan, Kid’s mom. I know we’ve all been busy, but maybe the kids can play sometime again.
I wanted to see what your services entail. I don’t actually have much money to put into a business, however I’ve started a website for a (fillintheblank) services business. I have been writing articles and assisting in homework/college papers for years. I have some back up support that I can hire when I get up and going (and busy enough to need help).
I have also linked google adsense and an affiliate marketing product for writers to my account. By the way, please give an ad a click and I’ll get paid. ; )
If you are interested in helping please let me know. Here is the site:
Hope to hear from you soon!
Nan
_____________________________________________________________
Great to hear from you Nan. I hope all is well and that Kid is having a great year.
Here is some free advice: (You may want to use each of the steps as an essay writing assignment.)
1. Who do you like? Who do you want to work with? Of those people you like, how much money do they spend on things they want? (Want, not Need)
Focus on, who you ‘like’.
Not what they will like about ‘you’ or your amazing new product and service. Only who you really, really like.
2. Once you identify who you like and want to work with… Study them. You can virtually study them on line. What are their buying habits, what are they saying when they don’t think anyone is listening?
Go to forums, FAQ pages, read their blogs, posts, etc.
3. Identify what is troubling them… What hurts and why are they not able to find a solution to help them?
You’ll find this answers to these questions in the locations identified above, in #2
4. Solve their pain by building the product and service that offers an actual solution. What you offer has got to solve a real “pain”.
Stay clear of words like “I” and “We” – replace with “you”
If you build your business and then try to hunt people down to sell them your amazing offer, you’ll be hungry for a long time. But if you listen first, listen always, and then build what is wanted, life will be much more fun and enjoyable.
Building a business in this format takes more time up front, but it has a much higher likelihood of becoming an actual business that will pay you.
Good luck!
Jude
Tails and too many cities
A monster in a movie is scary, but the monsters created in the mind are completely reckless and out of line.
The word “monster” at one time in early history was used to describe something that is wrong within natural order.
That is one accurate description! Well done Wikipedia. Well done.
Today I was asked by one of my mentors, who happens to be writing yet another amazing book…
“I’m curious what part “story” plays in your business. What stories do you tell yourself about your business? What stories do you tell your customers about your business?”
My response:
The stories I tell myself are a never ending battle of good and evil and I am in every scene! (Self talk can be such a bitch)
Happy, Reasonably Prosperous, Healthy, Peace of mind, Feel important, Respected, Appreciated, Make a difference…
It’s exhausting but from time to time I have moments when I think… “I’m winning!” (Not Charlie Sheen “winning”)
I remember my clients are exhausted with all these mind battles too!
My stories… to myself, those I serve (aka entertain and teach through stories) in business and as mom are as important as the air that I try to remember to breathe that air…
in and out… In and out… ahhh
Today is a good day. But check back in 5 minutes. My noggin is a never ending tail of too many cities.
