Inesa Ponomariovaite is a people person, who after years of improving her clients’ lives through her holistic healing consultancy, grew tired of observing the disastrous effects of unregulated and substandard CBD on her clients. As the CEO and Founder of Nesa’s Hemp, the world’s first full-full spectrum CBDa Hemp Oil, Inesa hopes to remedy the issues within the cannabis industry. She provides those eager to improve their lives through holistic practices an accessible, effective, and unadulterated alternative to the status quo.
Please tell us a little bit about your company – what is Nesa’s Hemp all about?
Nesa’s Hemp is the world’s first-ever full-full spectrum hemp oil product, cultivated from a rare form of Hemp delicately produced using the whole plant, kept alive during the extraction process. Through a proprietary method unique to Nesa’s Hemp, our team sustains the plant’s natural molecular structure during extraction. The result – pure, unadulterated, full-full spectrum hemp with all of the desirable hemp compounds and vital phytonutrients that produce therapeutic effects. Our goal is to provide a global supply of hemp products that are good for the environment, good for the body, and help users live happier and healthier lives.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company?
I’ve always been a people person. Passionate about helping those around me live healthily, fulfilled lives. My foray into the cannabis industry started with my mom getting diagnosed with cancer. I was determined to help her in any way I could, translating into me exploring holistic services, practices, and products, hemp oil being one of them. I quickly discovered that many of the oils that claimed to be organic or “all-natural” were quite the opposite. After a difficult and frustrating two-year investigation into the cannabis industry, I could not find a product that met the highest quality standards that people deserve. I knew I needed to find a solution. My mother’s diagnosis, coupled with my desire to right the wrongs of the cannabis industry, led me to start Nesa’s Hemp, the world’s first-ever full-full spectrum CBDa Hemp Oil.
What are your plans, how do you plan to grow this company?
This is just the beginning of Nesa’s Hemp! My ultimate goal is to lead a holistic revolution, and to encourage healthy, natural living. You can expect an expanded product line from us and additional research into the benefits of CBDa. Knowledge is power, and we believe in full transparency with our consumers to empower them to make the best possible wellness decisions.
What was the biggest problem you encountered with your business and how did you overcome it?
For me, the biggest challenges were first just getting started, and then finding the right business partners and manufacturers who understood my vision and my goals. It’s common for early entrepreneurs to hyper-focus on all the reasons not to begin rather than all the reasons to strike out on their own. It’s challenging to start a business and be vulnerable. The only trick to move past it is to just go for it. Trust yourself, and make the leap.
What were the top mistakes you made starting your business and what did you learn from it?
It can be easy to let your passion and excitement for what you’re creating overtake your life. Early on in my entrepreneurial career, I overworked myself and suffered burnout a few times. I trusted people that I shouldn’t have, and had to learn the hard why being critical of those you allow onto your team is so important.
I learned that if you’re not taking care of yourself, you can’t take care of your business. This is especially important for me as a wellpreneur; you have to practice what you preach, otherwise you’re out of alignment with your mission. You need to perform optimally, and that starts with ensuring you’re staying healthy, getting enough rest, and taking time for yourself. As silly and cliche as it sounds, it’s true!
How do you separate yourself from your competitors?
Our product is the world’s first full-full spectrum CBDa Hemp Oil. We’ve created something revolutionary, unlike anything else on the market. Our product is an ultra premium, 100% organic hemp oil, and has the potential to benefit people around the world. Not only does this set us apart, but our unrelenting pursuit of perfection, I believe, also puts us on another level. Each batch of Nesa’s Hemp goes through rigorous third-party testing with multiple labs to ensure a premium, certified organic, unadulterated oil is produced. Believing in full transparency, we publish our third-party lab results online for our consumers to review, something not commonly found in the industry.
What is one thing that you do daily to grow as an entrepreneur?
This is such a great question! It’s hard to pick out one specific thing.
I do make sure to check in with both myself and my team every day. Not only does this make me a better entrepreneur and leader, but in checking in with my team, I create and encourage a sense of connection and trust. I believe in open communication and feedback.
In checking in with myself, I ensure I’m in tune with my needs and am performing my best, and can meet my team’s needs as well.
What are three books or courses you recommend for new entrepreneurs?
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. I can’t believe this book was originally published in 1936 because it’s still applicable to this day.
Women Who Think Too Much by Susan Nolen-Hoeksema. Overthinking and overstressing are two huge factors that can hold entrepreneurs back. This book helped me tremendously.
Rework by David Heinemeier Hansson and Jason Fried. This is the perfect read for anyone wanting to strike out on their own.
What is the one thing you wish you knew before starting your business?
For any budding entrepreneur, it can be hard at first to decipher who is there to help you, and who is there to harm you. Before going into business, I wish I knew just how many different people I’d encounter on my journey and how to question their actions better. Everyone knows you need to have a great team around you when building a business. However, early on in your entrepreneurial journey, it’s easy to want people in your corner, whether they’re there for the right reasons or not. You learn quickly that the people around you have the power to make or break your business. You can’t do everything alone, so be sure to choose the right team, and foster a culture of trust and transparency.
I wish someone told me how to be more critical and question motives. But, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and I am a much more critical and dedicated business owner because of the trials and tribulations I faced early on!
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
When I initially started, I quite honestly had a handful of friends, family and health and wellness clients to market our product. I believe that it’s essential, to begin with, your tribe. It’s so much easier to tell your story to those in your inner circle. As bootstrapped as I was, I knew that I also needed to get my product into the hands of those who needed it most. I approached many different individuals and was often referred by friends and family due to how well my product performed. The testimonials kept pouring in. So many individuals were experiencing the benefits of Nesa’s! Word of mouth has always been the backbone of our brand, and as we grow, it continues to be just as effective as when we first started. Richard Branson once said, “Free publicity and word of mouth is probably the best and cheapest form of advertising. Learn to use it to your advantage.” I agree!
If you only had $1000 dollars to start a new business, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
COVID-19 has illuminated a lot of things and has ushered in a shift in what consumers want. Now more than ever before are people looking for a solution to their problems. They don’t care how something works. They want to know what it’s going to do for them and what problem it will solve.
Knowing this and considering what I learned early on in my career, I would focus every cent on developing a product or resource that solves a problem. That’s what we did with Nesa’s Hemp – we set out to solve a problem. A third of Americans are now showing signs of depression and anxiety. These are numbers we’ve never seen before. With Nesa’s Hemp, we wanted to create something that could address these problems and help people live healthier and happier lives.
What’s your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
Question everything. I know this may come off cynical, but I don’t just mean to question others. I mean, question everything. Ask yourself why you’re building what you’re building. Are you satisfied? Are you fueling your passion? Don’t be afraid of asking yourself the tough questions and getting real with yourself. You need to be able to identify your “why.” I always say the two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you realize your purpose.
What is your favorite quote?
“Teach and lead by example”
is my favourite quote. It is so valuable.
Everything starts with you. You can’t love someone without first loving yourself. You can’t transform someone’s life without first transforming your own. You need to embody your values, and live the life you want others to live.
How can we get in touch with you?
You can get in touch with me and learn more about Nesa’s Hemp by visiting www.nesashemp.com. Be sure to follow us on Instagram as well @nesashemp
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