Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ryanna Hammond. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ryanna, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
Since my early twenties (I am now twenty-six), I have known that I wanted to own my own business. I always came up with business ideas in multiple fields but nothing ever seemed right so I continued on the path of working 9-5s. This past summer, I was teaching reading online, and I genuinely enjoyed the job. I woke up for what I thought would be another day at work but about thirty minutes in a strong sense came over me that the job was no longer right, that I was meant for something much more aligned. I wasn’t meant to be a reading teacher, I am meant to help people through my books and writing workshops. I called in sick and took a mental health day. I walked out of my apartment and climbed the nearest hill for some clarity in nature. I realized in that moment that there would never be a time when you feel 100% ready or that you have “enough money,” “enough business experience,” or “enough connections.” Sometimes you just need to take a leap of faith and believe in yourself and what you can bring to the table of life. Also, the only way to make room for the new is to let go of the old, so that is what I did. Things have a funny way of working out too; I began making business connections and getting my name, books, and business out there. Now I am running my own business and truly showing up in the world and for people in a way that empowers me and helps others. If you have a dream, don’t be afraid to dream it and don’t be afraid to turn it into your reality.
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 am the intersection between creative writing, mental health, nature and spirituality. I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology and I am about to graduate with a master’s degree in creative writing. The name of my business is All With Heart, and it is named that because I aim to live my life All With Heart. In other words, I want to be vulnerable, help the human species expand, share my passions, learn from others, be a student of life, and, ultimately, live a wild and free life with my heart wide open. I hope that All With Heart will help inspire others to do the same.
Much of my early life wisdom has risen out of my relationship with nature. Throughout my early twenties, I began going on solo trips to the United States National Parks. It is there where I truly began to develop a true relationship with myself and the world around me. Nature is at the core of my purpose and livelihood, and that’s why my company’s logo portrays a heart as the sun ascending or descending over a mountain range. First of all, to have your heart as the sun is a metaphor saying that your heart is full of shine, beaming out for the world. Secondly, the imagery of a sunset or sunrise (we’ll leave it up to your interpretation) is a reminder that at any moment, on any given day, we can become new and rise like a sunrise; also, we can let go and release the old like a sunset.
The “Heart” in “All With Heart” is an acronym that stands for “Helping through Education and Art.” My intention is to help people advance their minds and their lives through books, workshops, and 1:1 services. Each of these products is centered around either education or art, the two things at the heart (no pun intended) of my business. (Books = Art. Workshops = Art and education. 1:1 Services = Education.) My relatable and accessible poetry collections—that involve mental health, growth, and self-love themes—help others to see that they (1) are not alone, (2) can heal from their past, and (3) can (and will) step into an empowered future. My writing workshops are not intended just for writers, but are for everyone. Each one centers around a specific theme, such as meeting your higher self, body positivity, or overcoming deep sadness. Within each workshop, I share poems and stories, and lead viewers through an educational lesson, journalling prompts, and affirmations on the intended topic at hand. These workshops help people (1) tap into things that may be hidden in their subconscious, (2) feel more connected to themselves, and (3) give people ideas to take forward, beyond the one-hour workshop, to enhance their lives. I also offer 1:1 services, including poetry guidance and copy editing for anyone who is self-publishing their own book.
I am most proud of the fact that I took the leap of faith and started my business because now I am helping people in the best way I can, and I have heard great things from those who have read my books or taken one of my workshops. For anyone who is interested in learning more, they can get a free workshop on my website just for signing up for my email list!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2020, during the start of COVID-19, I had written my first poetry book and had a poetry account on Instagram called Ryanna Writes. This became my first business, registered in the state of California, and for about a year and a half I was writing under this name, publishing under this name, and marketing my products and myself under this name. In the middle of 2021, something began to feel off to me about it. “Ryanna Writes” was echoing in my brain. I was meant to do more than just write, yet writing had become my whole business identity. That was just meant to be a piece of the puzzle. I closed the business and deleted the Instagram account. At that time, I had no idea I would ever have my own business again. However, I needed that experience because it was my first taste of business and when I started my current company All With Heart I already knew a lot of things because of that previous experience. Don’t be afraid to make a pivot, or what others make think of that pivot. It is all part of your journey and there are tools that you need from each experience!
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
You would think in this modern day and age that the internet or social media would be the best source of finding new clients and marketing your business. However, what I’ve come to realize through many trials and errors is that the best source of meeting new people is through (1) collaborating with others and (2) word of mouth. When you collaborate with other business owners, you get to introduce each other to your audiences, and then those new audience members who resonate with you will spread the word to their friends and family members!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.allwithheart.com
- Instagram: itsallwithheart
- Facebook: itsallwithheart
- TikTok: itsallwithheart
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Eva Madarang Ryanna Hammond