We were lucky to catch up with Jennifer Aponi recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?
Well I guess it depends on which business you’re referring to! For my Tea business, it started about September 2021 with my own desire to create after being inspired when visiting England for the first time for a month. I realized when visiting there that herbs and herbal tea had the potential to bring so much healing and many benefits! I thought “Wow, Mother Nature really provides everything we need!” So when I came back to the states I wanted to start drinking tea very intentionally, like a ritual every day. Putting love, health, and other beautiful things into what I’m putting into my body(the tea). Then I thought to myself, “I’d love to take this further and be intentional about what is hanging out of my cup, I don’t want just a plain piece of paper.” I wanted a crystal at the end of my infuser, which lead me to researching reusable tea infusers, where I learned that so many of the tea bags in boxes have a lot of microplastics in them! I never found an infuser that resonated with what I wanted.. so I got inspired to create them and now with the new added knowledge about how they were the healthier option and better for the environment as being reusable! That night I ordered 4 tea infusers and the crystals I would use to create my first crystal tea infusers. When I received it all in the mail I made them and posted them on my page to see if anyone would even be interested in buying a product like this and I got great feedback! All 4 were bought quickly just from story posts and it was off from there! I created an LLC and started creating with love and passion in my heart! Now I offer multiple herbal blends, including a safe and beneficial smokable blend, all of my herbs are 100% organic, multiple crystal infusers, different jewelry, and most recently, homemade rose water! Being an herbalist and helping with the love people have for themselves by drinking healthy teas is something I love.
Jennifer, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
This journey has been a life long one, starting as a single mother in high school to now owning multiple businesses! When I was 17 and pregnant I tried to get jobs and unfortunately nobody would hire me. I had no help from the father and I still lived with my mother. After my daughter was born I was consumed with caring for her when I myself had just turned 18. I worked with the workforce for a while to provide what I could. I had my second child at 20. Unfortunately this father also was not helping or present at all. I took a job caring for mentally disabled people that was paying more than the work force. To make it work I was driving an hour to my babysitters house, an hour to work, working 12 hour shifts and then an hour back to the sitters, and another hour home. One day I picked up my children at the babysitters and was exhausted. I ended up falling asleep at the wheel and crashing into a big transformer pole with my children in the car. Everyone was ok but it was a terrifying experience and from that day forward I vowed to NEVER put myself in that position again because it was not worth it! I became a stripper to provide for my children and myself where I was able to provide for us by myself and still be present for them as they grew up! I did that for 9-10 years where I was known as Royalty/royaltydfw. I was also taking “regular” jobs here and there because I hated what I was doing. Fast forward and I started to awaken to the truth of everything. Our power of choice, our foods, etc. I started to realize even more that I was not living in my purpose. I did not want to do what I was doing, I didn’t belong, I wasn’t fully happy or healthy, I wasn’t as present as I wanted to be for my children and family, I was only surviving. After researching metaphysics, Buddhism, and lots more, I quit. With no plan. No excuses. I decided it was time for me to leave right then and I did, and I haven’t been back. So later on my family and I traveled to England for a month for my cousins wedding. This is what inspired me to start drinking more tea! I realized that the earth really does provide everything we need and that teas are actually really beneficial and healthy! I wanted to start drinking tea as part of my ritual every day and be extra intentional about it by having a crystal hanging out of my cup instead of regular paper! I searched and didn’t find what I was looking for so I decided to create it and it was up from there! I started creating different crystal tea infusers, and different herbal blends. I created an LLC and started Royaltea! My children actually helped pick that name for my business and it’s a perfect transmutation of the name I used for so long to the new version of everything that is important to me! I want my clients to know that loving yourself is the most important thing you can do as it effects everything in your life in the same loving way! How you treat yourself, the habits, the rituals you create matters. Loving yourself enough to eat and drink healthy options is beautiful! I want them To live unapologetically themselves with grace, knowing that they have purpose and that they deserve to be here! I put so much love and intention into all the work I do. From body work, modeling, being a doula, creating herbal blends, etc. The intention and love start within myself! I love being of service and helping guide others into the deep self love and acceptance that we all deserve as well as To see others deeply and be seen deeply is my purpose!
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Having a true passion and desire to do what you’re doing is so important. There will be days when you question what you’re doing and why. Owning your own business or not, there’s waves of learning, failing, success, abundance, highs and lows! But if you’re doing something you are passionate about, if you’re doing something you enjoy or love, it will be easier to remind yourself of your why. To stay resilient in the tough times and align with everything that is meant to be on your journey, including challenges and true success! Success is not just money, it is your soul and heart being fulfilled as you journey through life. It’s who you’re helping and inspiring to be their best versions full of self love and acceptance! It is freedom to choose love and not be controlled by fear!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
As a single mother there are many times when I have had to switch what I was doing to make sure I was doing enough to survive and take care of my family alone! I’ve hustled and worked hard. Now I am owning businesses and homeschooling my children. Financially it is challenging going from the kind of work I was doing previously to entrepreneur money, struggling in very brand new ways financially but abundant in self purpose and faith! I have spent thousandssss and thousands of dollars investing into myself and my businesses. I still am working on a consistent clientele and work load. Sometimes I won’t make a sell for weeks at a time. I just continue to dig deep into creativity, patience and trust. It’s only been about 4 years since my past life, things still feel brand new sometimes. I am still learning and I will always be learning! I feel very confident that my work results, my products, my passion and truth will speak for itself and that I will continue to create opportunities of abundance and wealth by being myself! It’s not about “what I do” that defines me..it’s about who I am! I am honored, blessed and grateful to be in the business of being myself! Being paid and respected to be myself is extremely meaningful for me!
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.jenroyalty.com
- Instagram: @theroyaltydfw
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@Jenroyaltydfw?si=8JtD3GxWQKzLQL-a
- Other: Insta and Facebook business pages are: @jenthemetaphysician @royalrealm.royaltea
Image Credits
Anthony, Drink champs, Suéllen