We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful JESSIE RUSSELL. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with JESSIE below.

JESSIE, appreciate you joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

I think risk taking is in my blood. I have traveled solo as a nurse, lived in 9 states, took extended trips to Europe and worked as a Level 1 pediatric trauma nurse for 8 years before starting my own business. When I decided to call Colorado my home, I had already made the decision that bedside nursing was no longer my passion. My father passed away from cancer just a few months before arriving in Colorado and with that experience my love for hospital nursing changed almost overnight. I couldn’t understand why we as a culture spend so much time and money curing our community verses preventing them from getting sick. I also became aware of the connection between our diet and activity level and the effect it has on our bodies in the long term. At least some of the illnesses, disease processes, and symptoms that shorten or interfere with our lives are avoidable.. So, with that I made it my personal mission to make a footprint in the health and wellness industry and worked harder on keeping people well rather than caring for them when it’s too late. When this opportunity presented itself, I took the leap and decided it was all or nothing. My background is in nursing, and I am now faced with running a business so that has been full of growing pains and taking other risks. Since opening February 2018 we have expanded using a franchise model and we are in 3 states. This is the biggest risk I have taken in life and so far, it has been very rewarding in so many ways. I look forward to the next 5 years.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Well, I’m 36 years old and I’m originally from Flowood, Mississippi. I left my hometown when I was 25 years old to start travel nursing. I lived in 9 different states in those 6 years of traveling and I said yes to every experience that I came across. I really learned so much about myself and I believe that experience shaped me. My final assignment was here in Colorado, and I have been here for about 7 years now. I live in Littleton, and I have 3-year-old twin boys, Kane and Kohda, who keep me on my toes. We love to camp and ride dirt bikes in our free time. I feel very lucky to be able to have found a way to combine my passion for nursing and business and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

As if starting a business wasn’t wild and crazy enough, a year into the process I had my twin boys. Now 3, they have learned to crawl, walk, ride bikes and help serve refreshments to our clients when they join me at work. My clients have fed, held, consoled, and invested in my children and I’m so grateful for the Twin Rivers community that has supported me.. Starting a business is very difficult but to throw kids, a pandemic and rapid growth you have to remain resilient and adapt quickly. I have learned to just take one day at a time and to slow down and enjoy the experience. As a single mom finding balance has been hard but I think I’m finally cracking the code.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I believe businesses and business owners live on a constant pivot. Things are always changing and evolving in the health and wellness industry and staying on top that has been a challenge. I was told once that people are the hardest part of any business so I learned very early on to invest in my employees, listen to their ideas, challenge them, and support them in their individual journeys.. With that said, I don’t believe I would be here without my staff. To answer the question though, one of the biggest pivots I had to make was changing. out name in order to franchise out of state. The process of rebranding was hard and stressful but totally worth it. The clients and the staff were so supportive and to have such a meaningful business with such a meaningful name it was worth all of the struggles. Opening new lounges for other people who are passionate and share the same desire to impact people has been so rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.twinriversiv.com
• Instagram: twinrivers_iv