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

Hi Kayshaun, thanks for joining us today. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

One of the most unexpected problems I’ve faced in my business was becoming chronically ill and managing chronic pain. The same year I started my business at work, I got crushed by an electronic gate at a prison and was left there to die. It was nothing but a miracle that I got myself out and made it out alive. I thought my body would just take a few months to heal, but who knew that was just the beginning of my chronic pain and chronic illness journey. The following year my 20 years of working in the medical field came to an end and all I had in front of me was this new business that I didn’t know what to do with at the moment. With no income and not being physically able to work I knew I had to transition this business to online only. That is when the power of networking, collaborating and building relationships became the focal points to building and growing my business.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a holistic pain and trauma warrior. I’ve worked in the medical field for 20 years and have over 20 years of personal experience in the holistic field as well. I’ve been customizing holistic skincare products for almost the same amount of time. I have very sensitive skin and so do my children. However, my youngest son had very severe eczema as an infant and toddler. He suffered for several years with blood infections and shredding of his skin from very intense scratching. All the doctors could do was just give him steroids and sleeping medication. I knew I didn’t want this to be his life.

I started researching all about eczema, sensitive skin and how to manage it holistically. I learned it was more than what you put on your body but what you put in your body as well. After years of research, I stared customizing products for myself, my family and friends. What really stuck out to me was everyone had better results when I eliminated artificial dyes, fragrances, alcohols and preservatives. For the next 10 years anytime, someone had an issue with on their skin I would research, study and customized their products. I then had the opportunity to put my products in a friend’s store, but I had to be a real business and that’s when Renew You Body Butters was born. I knew my target audience was those with sensitive skin and who wanted to use all plant-based products with no artificial ingredients because it made a huge difference.

Renew You Body Butters is an all-natural, organic, plant based vegan skincare line formulated by a former nurse. We offer hair, face and body products. I believe. that’s one of the major points that set me apart from other businesses. Also, because myself and my family are products of the products. I like to tell people I didn’t just roll out of bed one day and say I wanted to start a skincare business. All of this happened out of necessity.

I’m most proud of building this company while fighting chronic illnesses, chronic pain and my affiliate program. When I was no longer a nurse making a lot of money and down to nothing everyone who I thought loved or cared about me left me. Knowing I couldn’t build this business on my own I got heavy into networking, collaborating and building relationships. Soon after taking on these core values someone approached me about becoming my affiliate. I didn’t even know what an affiliate was but through mentoring, networking, collaborating and building relationships I now have 59 affiliates and 1 celebrity ambassador.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Resilience should be my middle name. I’ve had to build this company being mostly bedridden suffering with chronic illnesses and chronic pain. I wanted to give up so many times, wished I could just get a job and work like a normal person, but I couldn’t. When things really started taking off in my business and with my affiliate program that’s when things really got bad for me as far as my health. I was consistently in and out of the hospital with no clue of what was going on. When the doctors found the tumors and other complications, I just knew this devastation would bring people back around to help but that didn’t happen. I asked God how am I supposed to keep this business going, provide for me and my children with all these health issues? The answer I got was do what you did as a child with parents addicted to drugs. Go out network, collaborate and build relationships. I knew I needed help and couldn’t build this company alone. I really stopped focusing on who wasn’t there to help me and focused on who was willing to help grow my company. That became my affiliates and the people or businesses I’ve collaborated and built relationships with. I had to humbly learn it’s not about who’s not around to support but who’s willing to come around and support. I remember having this major event 6 months after the tumors was removed and I was so scared to commit because I had no one to depend on but my kids and I knew it would be too much for us. I continued to move forward in faith. You wouldn’t believe it was some of my affiliates and other people I’ve meet along this journey who actually came to support me. I couldn’t believe people who were once strangers to me flew across the country, stayed almost a week working and helping me in Las Vegas. I was not in a position to pay for flights, hotels or let alone pay them for their time. I know for a fact if we hadn’t spent the time networking, collaborating and building our relationship none of this would have happened. That experience has changed the way I am as a person and business owner.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2018 I had a major pivot in my life, career and business. After working 20 years in the medical field that year at work I was left in a gate at a prison being literally crushed. It was nothing but a miracle that I was not crushed to death, but I did have severe damage to my body. My life and body haven’t been the same since. I was able to continue working until the following year but, I was on a lot of medication actually too much medication. I had to stop working and I could no longer do vendor events in person without physical help. People eventually got tired of helping or couldn’t fit it in their schedules. I knew then it was time to bring my business online. I was terrified and didn’t know what I was doing. The rest of the year I got really into my therapy sessions thinking my body would recover and I could go back to work soon. I tried out Etsy and it was not a good platform for me because my products didn’t look handmade. My packaging is very luxury and high class, so I learned I needed my own website. In January of 2020 I launched my website, by March of 2020 I started my affiliate program and by August of 2020 I partnered with my first celebrity brand ambassador. 3 years later I have 59 affiliates and my celebrity brand ambassador is still partnering with me. None of this would have happened if I didn’t pivot as well as implemented networking, collaborating or building relationships.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.renewyoubodybutter.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/renewyoubodybutters
• Facebook: Facebook.com/renewyoubodybutter
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/kayshaun-brooks-bsm
• Twitter: Twitter.com/renewyoubody
• Youtube: YouTube.com/renewyoubodybutter8964
• Other: Instagram.com/therealkayshaunbrooks

Image Credits
The Book of DJ Third Eye Media Jojo Stylez Captured by Jo