Guest User 4/12/21 Guest User 4/12/21

The Power of You–How to Discover Your Purpose and Pursue Your Passion

You are worth every investment you make in yourself.

On Thursday, March 25, 2021, we heard from an incredible lineup of diverse panelists and speakers at The Power of You event presented by Rodan + Fields, in collaboration with Create & Cultivate, on how we can empower one another to be our very best, happiest and most confident selves.

It was an engaging day of empowering and inspiring conversations–moderated by actress, model, author and philanthropist, Molly Sims–and centered around YOU, delving deep into discussions about:

Purpose and what it looks like to be personally and professionally fulfilled
Self-care and how to prioritize a wellness routine that takes care of the WHOLE you: mind, body and spirit
And finally–it wouldn’t be a Rodan + Fields event if we didn’t talk SKINCARE–tips to create a healthy skin routine and most importantly, how to see confidence and beauty when you look in the mirror every single day, no matter what.

To everyone who came, thank you for joining us—and to those who couldn’t make it, keep reading to feel empowered, inspired and very much in touch with The Power of YOU. Below, we’ve compiled the highlights from the three panel conversations aimed at helping you pursue your purpose and passion, while reminding you of the importance of taking care of yourself and your skin. After all, you are worth every investment you make in yourself.

Panel #1: Creating Purpose Where You Are

On dharma…

“Your dharma is your soul’s purpose––it’s the reason why you are here. It’s so much more than what you do–-it’s why you do it and how you do it.” – Sahara Rose

“You already know your purpose. You were born with your purpose. It’s not so much about finding it as it is about remembering it.” – Sahara Rose

On being your authentic self…

“Success comes from being your authentic self.” – Stephanie Pullings Hart

On taking calculated risks...

“To really think bigger, and to think outside the traditional dreams is sometimes really scary for people, but if it’s hysterical, it’s historical–and probably worth doing.” – Julie Solomon

On finding purpose in different places..

“There is a difference between what you’re good at and what you’re passionate about. Experiment, be flexible, and be open to new experiences to find your passion-driven purpose.” – Sofia Montijo

On cultivating confidence to become an entrepreneur…

“Confidence can grow from complacency – you are in control of the change.” – Julie Solomon

“Sometimes those ‘ah ha’ moments are actually a process of long-term commitment. Meaningful change is not often an instant occurrence.” – Sofia Montijo

“Have the courage to try new things, even if you can’t control the outcome.”– Julie Solomon

The role of mindset when it comes to a thriving personal and professional life…

“I like to go beyond mindset to what I call ‘soulset’ because we can’t always listen to the mind when it’s clouded by our conditioning, limiting beliefs, etc. Tune into the voice of your intuition vs the voice of your fears––what feels right to you? What feels resonant? What feels expansive to you?”– Sahara Ray

On finding purpose and meaning when you’re feeling stuck...

“Sometimes you may not know your purpose but the way that you interact with or impact others really ends up being part of your purpose. Don’t be misguided on the potential impact you may have on someone else’s life.” – Stephanie Pullings Hart

"You have to get comfortable with hearing 'no.' As a matter of fact, the more 'no's' you get, the more that you’ll be able to pivot and redirect.“ – Julie Solomon

On the traits that make a successful leader...

“Authenticity is the most important trait of a successful leader – it’s about staying true to who you are, and about being YOU.” – Stephanie Pullings Hart

Tips on growth–within ourselves, within our business, within our purpose...

“We are always growing, but we get to choose the direction. Be the leader of your own life.” – Sahara Rose

Panel #2: Prioritizing Self-Care (and Your Sanity!)

On the importance of self-care…

As the World Health Organization states, ‘there is no physical health without mental health.’” – Dr. Janet Taylor

“Self care is about paying attention to what you need and putting yourself first.” – Dr. Janet Taylor

“Put yourself first–without guilt and without shame –but recognizing that when you can attend to your own needs in a way that is healthy and positive then you are raising the bar on not only for your physical health but your mental health.” – Dr. Janet Taylor

“The better you are to yourself, the better we are to each other.” – Candice Kumai

“If we can learn how to reset our minds, and shift the way we think about wellness as better self-care, we can make it a priority so we can ultimately grow.” – Candice Kumai

On the role of mindset and positive self-talk...

“Growing up, I never saw my body type reflected in the media. And when you don’t match up to society’s expectations, it really takes a toll on you. It’s about showing up everyday as authentic as possible, showing my insecurities, and choosing not only to accept my body but to respect my body.” – Kristina Zias

“It’s time to let go of negative self talk, self-doubt, guilt, shame, fear, or anything you’re holding onto. We all have those feelings and we all experience them, and that’s ok – but we also have to experience the joy, the love and the blessings around us in the present.” – Joey Tracy

“Positive self talk is so important–we all have that individual power to change the way that we feel, and we have to tap into that.” – Dr. Janet Taylor

“By repeating a mantra to ourselves, we are embracing ourselves with our flaws, embracing ourselves with our trauma, embracing ourselves with our suffering, in order to lift ourselves to where we need to be.” – Dr. Janet Taylor

“You have to be your biggest fan. Once you believe in yourself and you are radiating that confidence, everyone around you will see that too and you will begin to attract people to it like a magnet and it becomes very empowering.” – Kristina Zias

Addressing work-life balance, challenges, and pressure

“Comparison is absolutely the thief of joy.” – Kristina Zias

“Breathing is so important...when you’re feeling stressed or unbalanced, try to be present with your breath and let go of the tension and stress.” – Joey Tracy

“We don’t have to go to extremes to feel better. Sometimes it’s as simple as removing ourselves from a space and getting a change of scenery.” – Joey Tracy

On the role of community...

“We are social beings and we have an innate need for community and connection. When you are taking care of yourself, it makes it more likely that you can notice other people. We need a community of compassion.” – Dr. Janet Taylor

“Empowering other women is so important, and my R+F community is my hype squad–when one of us succeeds, we all do.” – Joey Tracy

On knowing your worth…

“Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s compassionate. We all have the choice, and the need and have earned the right to put ourselves first.” – Dr. Janet Taylor

“Self care is absolutely necessary–every single day.” – Joey Tracy

Panel #3: Skin Deep: Reflecting Confidence in the Mirror

On what’s trending…

“2020 enabled a lot of women to take skincare into their own hands. We had to learn how to get a glow at home. One of the ingredients with staying power is hyaluronic acid.” – Courtney Kerr

“A lot of people are coming to me for the ‘no-make-up, make-up-look’, which is about bringing out your very best self – hydrated skin and a natural glow that stems from a less is more approach, and more of an emphasis on skincare rather than make-up.” – Vincent Bracamonte

“With everyone working from home and staring at themselves on screens all day, and now they are noticing things that maybe never bothered them before. I like to prescribe a combination approach of injectable procedures, laser treatments and of course skincare to tie it all together.” – Dr. Arisa Ortiz

“People are taking more time on their skincare routine to distance themselves from the stress and uncertainty of life itself right now. A lot of women are less focused on colored cosmetics and more focused on products that help them feel clear, bright and confident.” – Janine Weber

“It’s not about vanity––it’s about confidence that comes from a confident, glowing complexion. Less filters and more reality, please.” – Janine Weber

On the importance of routine skincare routines…

“Nothing replaces quality skincare. We believe that how you take care of your skin daily, has a greater difference on your appearance–and your future appearance–than any procedure you could get done.” – Janine Weber

“The regime approach is so important. There’s no way to know if mixing products from different brands will be synergistic. The Multi-Med regime has been tested and is proven to drive results.” – Dr. Arisa Ortiz

On confidence...

“Your confidence increases when you really take time to take care of yourself–people can tell when you feel good in your own skin.” – Vincent Bracamonte

“Everyone sees beauty through a different lens.” – Vincent Bracamonte

“Beauty is not about matching someone else’s standards, looking like a celebrity or following to social media trends–it’s about authenticity and your character and your values and how you treat people and how you show up everyday.” – Janine Weber

On beauty…

“Beauty is being confident in your own skin. Confident shines from the inside out.” – Janine Weber

“Beauty is your true authentic self.” – Vincent Bracamonte

“Beauty is loving yourself as you are right now.” – Dr. Arisa Ortiz

“Beauty is fun–confidence is fun.” – Courtney Kerr

Guest User 4/2/21 Guest User 4/2/21

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, in Business or in Love–This Founder’s Story is Proof that What’s Meant to be Will Always Find a Way

Because business is personal.

Donda Mullis knows a thing or two about putting your heart into your business. People say business isn’t personal, but she believes it absolutely is, as it is the connections and relationships that we have that makes it all happen. Love is not only the foundation of her company, but an agent for meaningful change, and an ongoing narrative of a shared passion with her partner in both business and life, Ronnie Shugar.

“We wanted to create an aspirational brand that made people feel better inside and out. And a brand with a heart that connected us with a cause which became the catalyst for our give back mission,” Mullis tells Create & Cultivate.

The result is one of today's fastest-growing natural lifestyle brands, Raw Sugar Living. Based in Florida , Raw Sugar Living is a brand on a mission to promote clean and healthy living through products that are good for the body and nourish the soul, while being accessible for all.

An early disruptor within the clean beauty and personal care category, Raw Sugar Living has been driving much-needed innovation in a new era of sustainability supported by a growing consumer awareness around buying choices and their impact on the environment. In fact, clean beauty is one of the fastest-growing areas of personal care and Raw Sugar Living remains at the forefront of the $22 billion industry. For more than seven years, the company mainstreams the highest-quality, hand-crafted soaps and personal care products that are made with plant-derived ingredients and cold pressed extracts (recognized by their signature 'Bamboo Tops & White Bottles' and 'Living Purely Unfiltered' tagline).

Mullis and Shugar first met many years back while working in the same retail field. While they had different focuses at the time, their diverse backgrounds––Shugar’s in manufacturing and logistics and Mullis’s in marketing, strategic partnerships and retail distribution––were a powerful synergy in the making. Their plan was always to do something bigger — together — that would inspire and connect their backgrounds with a meaningful cause. The two fell crazy in love, but eventually parted ways as young love often does.

Fast forward 20 years — the two reconnected by an act of destiny’s intervention. They renewed their love and their shared belief of wanting to inspire others to live from a place of self-love and wellness. For both of them, it was about sharing their passion for clean and healthy living while preserving a 60-year family history of making natural hand crafted natural soap and personal care products that are good for the body and that nourish the soul- and that people can feel good about using.

The latest addition to the Raw Sugar Living family meets the growing demand for planet-friendly, sustainable, and aluminum-free deodorant–one that ACTUALLY works. After all, one of the many lessons to take away from these founders’ story, is not to sweat the small stuff–in business or in love–because what is meant to be will always find its way.

Ahead, Mullis tells us more about the latest launch, and shares her advice for building a brand that is for the people, adopting a clean lifestyle and beauty regime, and utilizing entrepreneurship as an agent of change.

IMG_8641 600x600.jpeg — Our mission is to love from the inside out. We embrace individuality and create with authenticity.

– Donda Mullis, Co-Founder and CMO, Raw Sugar Living

What inspired you to start Raw Sugar Living?

What inspired us was the white space in the marketplace for natural/clean products that were simply affordable, thereby making clean healthy products more accessible to all. Because, as I always say, we all deserve to feel beautiful and love the skin we’re in. For me, it was to create a brand that was much more than products sitting on a retail shelf, but rather an aspirational brand that inspires people to live from a powerful place of self love, wellness, empowering others, and loving ourselves, flaws and all. And very importantly, creating real change in our community. In fact, every product is tagged with a ‘sugar note’, kind of like a love note with a positive message that reminds us to simply love ourselves.

Developing a brand that is for all people. We embrace individuality and create with authenticity. We’re all about clean living and living clean. All of our premium yet affordable formulas are made with integrity. We believe in giving back, lifting spirits, showering people with love, and of course smelling good at all times!

We are a brand that does good.

How has this belief helped to underpin your mission as a brand?

To date we have donated over 15 million bars of soap and personal essentials to people in need, and we’re just getting started.

Products that are made with plant-derived and clean ingredients should be accessible to everybody. We’re thrilled that we’ve been able to give access to clean healthy products to those in need.

What would you tell someone who’s new to adopting a clean lifestyle and beauty regime ––where should they start and what people should look out for when choosing a clean beauty or lifestyle product?

Advocacy, a brand you can trust, one that stands for good, makes clean ethical products, and simply makes you feel beautiful.

What are some common misconceptions of clean beauty?

That clean products are expensive – clean, healthy products don’t need to be expensive.

What are some of your favorite Raw Sugar Living products to integrate into your daily routine?

Personally, my top three products that we’ve created include our Body Washes, Sugar Scrubs, and sustainable Deodorants. They are crafted with functional ingredients without the bad stuff.

What do you love most about your job and why? Does the reality of your career match up to your expectations? Why or why not?

My work is my life and my passion. My vision was to create a brand that had meaning beyond the retail self, stood for good, continues to give back, and makes clean healthy living affordable to everyone–Raw Sugar Living has exceeded my expectations.

My greatest tool is the ability to understand our consumers. Raw sugar has become a brand that speaks to everyone. This is what we wanted and are excited to continue growing. I’ve seen hundreds of brands come and go, and although Raw Sugar Living was born only 7 short years ago, it has truly been a lifetime in the making.

We always say we’re only as beautiful as we feel, and you can’t feel beautiful if you don’t feel clean.

Going after what you deserve in life takes confidence. Does confidence come naturally to you or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams?

With pure grit, hard work and determination, we can become anything that we want. I’m the youngest of 5 girls with a strong southern mother who survived and thrived through constant tragedy and adversity. I became a human sponge for all of their mishaps and lessons. Love, positive thinking and reward for hard work was the core of our upbringing. I was brought up with retail in my blood beginning with my mother, and my biggest inspiration, who is a self taught, hard working and determined role model who carved out a new retail niche within a male-dominated industry and was way ahead of her time. Whether you think you can, or you cannot - you are right! Confidence is fearless repetition–and like most things in life, I believe it is learned.

It's these life experiences that helped create my vision for the company and the lesson learned–the brand pillars of raw sugar’s values.

You have to get through the ‘raw’ and difficult journey to get to the sweet ‘sugar’ destination–hence Raw Sugar Living

With success comes opportunity, but that also means you have your hands full. What keeps you inspired and motivated to keep going even on your most challenging days?

Our customers are our driving force. seeing how our products can inspire and make others happy is truly what keeps us going!

Also, being supported by an amazing internal team that champions our success is very important to our inspiration and motivation.

You are constantly innovating—What category of beauty would you love to see Raw Sugar Living disrupt next?

I’m really excited about our latest launch – a collection of planet-friendly and aluminum-free deodorants. Not only is the collection wrapped in 100% biodegradable and recyclable, plastic-free packaging, but it is made with naturally derived ingredients, clinically and allergy tested, cruelty-free and vegan.

Raw Sugar Deodorants are free of aluminum, baking soda, talc, parabens and propylene glycol. They are also infused with odor-fighting essential oils and feel-fresh fragrances. These formulas are designed to detox and balance the natural skin barrier while reducing body odor-causing bacterial growth, helping you live clean and move free.

Share your best advice, in two words or less.