Slow down and savor every single moment. There isn’t a single experience you will go through that won’t bring you more wisdom.
Annie Vonheim has a lifelong passion for healing. She worked alongside some of the top researchers in functional medicine to design health protocols for chronic disease management for medical clinics and hospitals all over the world. It was after 15 years of work in this field that she discovered that no matter how complex the protocol, the most powerful medicine in the world came from within the humble green vegetable. This is why she created Smart Pressed Juice – to make phytonutrients accessible to everyone.
Phytonutrients, or the superpowers within plants that protect them from disease and predators, translate to extraordinarily powerful health benefits when we consume them. All the research in health science will eventually point to phytonutrients, because at the end of the day, it’s plants that heal us.
Smart Pressed Juice was created for those of us who don’t have enough time to get the widest variety of plants- because the vast array of the 25,000+ existing phytonutrients in nature don’t all come in kale. Annie’s goal is to harness the extraordinary power of plants and to make a simple, organic solution for everyone to access, no matter where they are at in their health journey.
Where did the idea for your company come from?
Smart Pressed Juice was born from a personal need- I drink an organic pressed greens juice daily to keep my autoimmune condition under control. However, juicing is expensive, inconvenient and has too much sugar. I don’t want people to have to choose between their lunch and a $10 juice, so I decided to create a solution that makes is super affordable for people to get all their organic vegetables without the huge price tag.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I am the only start-up founder that is NOT a morning person, so I need my little Alaskan Klee Kai pup to keep me motivated for his early morning walks. I have a white board and a weekly goal map in my room where I jot down ideas, motivational quotes and major goals I have to accomplish for the day. It really helps because at the end of the day, I know whether I’ve made progress toward my goals. And if I didn’t make it, well, that’s a reason for me to wake up early.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I simply do it. I never overthink things- one of my biggest strengths (and weaknesses) is my enthusiasm to make things happen. I can’t wait to do it.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I love that the plant-based lifestyle is finally getting its moment in the sun. You will see the rise and fall of diet empires- keto, paleo, Atkins, south beach, you name it. At the end of the day, our bodies thrive on whole foods and plants because that is what has sustained humanity since the beginning of time. I sincerely believe the most powerful medicine on earth is the humble green vegetable.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Curiosity. I am so curious to find out what will happen if we invent this method, implement that strategy or design a better way to do things and live life. I can’t wait to see what’s on the other side.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Slow down and savor every single moment. There isn’t a single experience you will go through that won’t bring you more wisdom.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Oatmeal is gross. I can’t stand the texture- it’s clumpy, makes me feel all clogged up and I feel hungry again within an hour of eating it.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Go out and enjoy a long, leisurely meal with your old friends. Your friends were with you from the start when you first started your company, before all the press releases, accolades and big payouts- they will be there for you in the end. Keep those relationships strong- they love you for you.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
The art of discernment. Learning quickly what was a distraction and what contributed to our goals and strategies helped us focus on what really mattered.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Am I only allowed to say one? I would say the biggest failure would be my initial desire to appease everyone when we first started. We got so much advice from so many different places, and I could have saved a lot of time if I learned how to drown out the noise from the very beginning.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
One thing that drives me absolutely crazy when I travel is towels slipping off towel hooks. Someone please invent a non-slip towel hook rack and I will order the first unit.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I just bought a framed canvas print with the entire lyric set to “Rapper’s Delight” for my best friend. Then I bought a T-shirt that said “Lady in the Streets, Freak in the Spreadsheets” for my business partner. Best $100 ever spent while shopping online in bed.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
I like using Slack to communicate with my growing team. At any given time, we are talking about 50 different topics that need to be tackled, and Slack keeps it perfectly organized into topics so we can find resources and get tasks done quickly.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
I know everybody recommends business books, but I highly recommend something off the beaten path. As an entrepreneur, you probably take care of everything but yourself. At the end of the day, your good health and vitality are what will keep your company and your vision alive. For that reason, I recommend “Foods that Fight Cancer- Prevent Cancer through Diet” by Dr. Richard Beliveau and Dr. Denis Gingras. This book isn’t just about cancer- it’s about the extraordinary power of foods to turn off the genes for disease and how to turn on the genes for your best self. This book will leave you astonished at how powerful food can be for your health.
What is your favorite quote?
“May God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done.”
-A Franciscan Benediction
Key Learnings:
- Learn what is a distraction and what contributes to goals and strategies to stay focused on what really matters.
- Slow down and savor every single moment. There isn’t a single experience you will go through that won’t bring you more wisdom.
- Curiosity is a habit that can make you more productive.
Connect:
Website:
www.smartpressedjuice.com
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Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.