We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarah Anderson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Sarah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Taking risks are what make life interesting, and define our destiny in many degrees. I grew up in Kansas City Missouri, where it was not a real risk to stay where I was raised, but little to my own memory I was already manifesting one of the biggest risks in my future at age 7. My Mom recalls ” I knew you would go to Dallas one day, when you were 7 you told me you would live in Dallas Texas when you were older.” Not knowing at that young precocious age, in my mid-20’s I would do just that. Nine years ago I was at a transitional point in my life. It was either time to take a risk or a choice to stay ‘comfortable’. Growing up in Kansas City, my entire family residing there, all of my friends, and familiarity was there, it was my hometown, but the knowledge that life was not going in the trajectory, of what I desired or dreamed, a moment, a choice that took a big risk was made. I proceeded to pack up my car with all my necessary belongings, put the rest in my aunts for storage, and began the drive to Dallas. I had No job prospects, family, or friends that I knew there, but the thought of being comfortable was more fearful to me than the unknown. Faith and fear generally run on parallel tracks, you get to decide which train you ride to reach the assigned outcome destination. Faith train, was my choice!
Not as glamourous or planned as one would think coming to Dallas should be, but the day I drove down Interstate 35 I knew it was the right choice, and I would never call KC my home again.
The first few months I worked odd & end modeling and marketing jobs, living in my car, showering at the gym everyday. Driving around the DFW Metroplex to get a feel for this amazing city. After a few months living in my car, a girl I worked with let me come and crash on her couch, until I could get settled. She actually put me on the path of my first JOB in Dallas, another risky taking adventure awaited as a American Airlines Flight Attendant.
There was so much learned from my experience as a Flight Attendant. I laugh as I think of my dad saying ” Sarah you always wanted to travel and your imagination is as high as the clouds, this suits you.”
Becoming a Flight Attendant was the pre-curser to where I find myself today. If I had not taken the risk to move to Dallas nine years ago, if I had not stepped into the American Airlines job, then I would not be where I today. Because of my job as a Flight Attendant I did incur some injuries and recurring pain from inflammation. I started looking for help in the wellness world to help my pain, enters – Cryotherapy. It made such a difference, not only instantly, but ongoing.
At the place I tried my first Cryotherapy session was a small little place with one guy, the owner and operator Josh Brown, working it. He was not only knowledgeable, but truly cared about helping the masses feel better and heal faster. His sincerity and desire was inspiring even at my first session.
Then it happened, again a overwhelming urge to take a BIG risk on the faith train again. I always been passionate about beauty, health, and wellness, but now a thought that I knew what I could bring to the table as a partner of Cryo Nation and help people in a bigger way than “do you want orange juice or coke.”
About a month into treatments I proposed to Josh that he needed me. “I want to partner in taking this business to levels we couldn’t even imagine at this time, making an impact for the greater good. I wanted to make a Wellness Empire helping people reach their full potential, health is one of those aspects that must be addressed to obtain ones full potential. I don’t just let my talents be used by anyone, I see you as an ethical like-minded business person, who I think would be a great partner. So what you say? ” Haha, the words literally came pouring out of my mouth before I even had the opportunity to stop them. I then thought over what I said, oh goodness that was so arrogant and rude, hope he see’s this being good too. Luckily, my confidence faith-train, Big risk moment didn’t scare him. All worth the Risks taken!
Each Big Risk I took, I feel, set me up for where I am and what I will be. Where I find my joy, my purpose, and my inspiration daily, this Wellness Empire. I never regret over nine years ago packing up my Nissan Altima for one of the biggest adventures I could have imagined. The hard work, struggle, and risks brought me to this destination, where I am still traveling the faith train, while building a Wellness Empire and impacting lives for the better. I am blessed and humbled by what I have learned and the opportunities available to me, but I feel so happy I did not choose the fear train and forgo the risks, choosing comfort over uncertainty, to which have given me such growth.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I am a “out of the box” creative personality. I have always loved the beauty/fitness/wellness world. When girls were reading Cosmopolitan or Seventeen Magazine, I was grabbing the Health & Fitness or Alternative Medicine Magazines at age 12. It was no shock to my parents when I took jobs in a Medical office and obtained Esthetics license. Now I am a partner in Wellness Spa business, Cryo Nation. Running the operations and expanding the business from just Cryotherapy and recovery to anti-aging beauty esthetics, those skills obtained in years past, have become one of my greatest assets to make Cryo Nation successful.
I am the type of person who may take big risks, but now running a business, I do make some calculated risks especially when paying for new esthetic equipment. The company I partner with must show proof not only in clinical studies over time, but also proof it works and does what it says it does on my own body/skin, before I can sell it. The device must follow-through on its promises, the company must desire growth, and must be ethical in their business practices. We have partnered with companies just like that for all our services, but especially on the Beauty side of Cryo Nation. We have partnered with them for over five years.
I feel very proud to have obtained the highest level -Master Trainer, of certification in all our esthetic devices. It is an opportunity the distribution company presented to me early on in our partnership with them (over five years ago) and I jumped at it. This being said, I not only received the Master Trainer level, but the company has continued to use me to train new purchasers of the devices they sell. These trainee’s have traveled from all over the US to train on the machines with me, but sometimes the company has flown me out to the actual locations to train. It is a great accomplishment for me to be trusted by this company and have the knowledge I do, and be able to train others.
Cryo Nation is a Wellness Spa centered around Cryotherapy, focusing on the latest technology and science with proven results for anti-aging, with no down-time. The Beauty side of things
Our entire Wellness Spa started with just one Cryotherapy chamber, now we have grown to multiple locations, one franchisee, and multiple chambers/devices at each location. When I took the risk to help build Cryo Nation I could envision a spa side, but not knowing what we should offer that fell within our mission. We are a Wellness Spa centered around Cryotherapy that focuses on the latest technology and science that has proven results for anti-aging, with no down-time. Get Cold, Not Old is our motto!
The beauty side of the business needed to match that mission as well. I have devices for Body Slimming, Body Contouring/Toning, Facials, Cellulite Massage, Muscle Stimulation, and Infrared Light. Alongside these services is top ranked and state-of the art anti-aging clean skin care products used on the skin.
I have worked hard to create a Wellness Spa Experience for our clients. One that they look forward to coming back for the next treatment. Not only are they greeted with smiling, sincere faces, but are treated with experienced staff for all their beauty and wellness needs. Creating an environment that invigorates every sense of the body; taste, smell, sight, touch, energy, and feeling. The energy of positive and caring staff, and the Feng-shui vibration thought-out our clean faciality. The taste of the purified alkaline water which is hydrating and satiating to the palette. The smell of our intoxicating and medicinal grade essential oils can be smelt throughout our office and in our Aromatherapy Oxygen Bar. The sight of the amazing artwork, natural elements of nature (glass, stone, crystals, and color) which promote positive wellbeing, all while keeping the environment clean, calming, and visually simulating, inviting to both male and female clientele. The felling of the cold Cryotherapy on the body, our massaging tables helping the back relax and elongate, the vibration therapy simulating muscles and helping the body feel lighter by assisting in detoxification. These are just the few ways I wanted to create a real experience for clients.
In the same way the office is so inviting, I worked to create the beauty spa protocols and experience as well. With each beauty treatment weather slimming, contouring, toning, facial, etc. Clients are treated with devices that have been proven to produce results, with no-downtime, allowing working or stay at home mom’s to get their Spa time in.
We consistently track the progress of each clients sessions from before and after photos, measurements, and using other state of the art body composition tracking devices that helps us create a customized plan for each client. We have seen thousands of clients, male and female’s see phenomenal results. Cellulite reduced by 39% or more, slimming 6 + inches off abdomen & love handles. Clients struggling with facial muscle pain and inflammation to help not only bring feeling back into the face, but strengthen the muscle and see lees wrinkles. Women deciding to do facial treatment before going under the knife for face lift, and were pleased with the results so much they decided to opt out of surgery.
I pride myself on consistent and continually training, communication, and advancement in the way my beauty team performs the beauty services. There is no ‘cookie cutter’ body type so continued education and training is ongoing as my team and I are continually prompted with new client type and what to do for them.
Whatever you need, to feel better, recover faster, sleep deeper, loose fat, or look younger, Cryo Nation is the place to be. I not only work it, but every service we offer I do regularly or as maintenance. My body has changed and my health has improved since doing treatments, another reason why I came on board as a partner over seven years ago.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to unlearn the difference between good and bad debt. My dad worked hard at three jobs, one being the family business. He taught my four siblings and I about balancing a budget, saving money, and the perils of debt. However, I don’t remember learning about good debt, as that was never part of the education curriculum.
Once I moved out of my parents home, started looking for an apartment, car, and everything from consumer goods to assets, acquiring good debt became vital to my success. I had to relearn the mindset of debt, the right kind of debt, and understand the differences between the two.
My dad gave me a strong financial foundation. Based on those lessons, combined with my own life experiences, and the current economic climate, I used this to direct me in my financial decisions. I realized the concept of investing in assets with good debt, and using debt to my advantage.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
Biggest advice to anyone desiring success in any business, be comfortable with failure. No one is seeking to fail, but inevitably you will have failures along the path to success. Having the willingness to fail, yet keep trying, this is the truest test to being successful. Failure will happen, but accepting failure helps build resilience, learning to constantly refine and tweak during the process with each mistake you make.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cryonationwellness.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammi_andfit/ https://www.instagram.com/cryonation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cryonation
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-a-b9a21440/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/cryonation
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cryo-nation-grapevine