“Life is about evolving. Don’t stay in a situation that’s not helping you grow mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.” – Anonymous
Vicki Irvin can do it all. In her highlight reel she has already established herself in an early career in Human Resources and then shared her business and marketing expertise as a Speaker, Author, Coach, TV Host and Entrepreneur- all while growing her Superwoman Lifestyle and brands including SWL Collection Cosmetics and Black Woman Lifestyle Nutrition. Let’s check in …
What has been your proudest accomplishment – personal or business – since your 2014 feature? Transitioning my business coaching brand from Superwoman Lifestyle to Black Woman Lifestyle. I made the decision to focus on the health and wellness of black women specifically given the extra stressors we deal with in society. Black woman Lifestyle is the first supplement brand designed specifically for black women. My Brand has always encompassed health and self-care, but now that is the primary focus.
What has been the hardest lesson learned and how did it affect change in your journey? Not trusting my gut instincts have cost me. It has cost me time, money, and heartache. The power of trusting yourself is invaluable. You will be met with all kinds of advice from all different kinds of people and all of it can sound and look good. So, the power of discernment is a powerful tool you have to utilize as you navigate business and life.
How have you managed to stay connected with other women or your ideal client? Providing value to others and expecting nothing in return is how I have managed to connect with other women and foster great relationships and goodwill. People of influence are accustomed to people taking from them, but when you come from an angle of service, that is something they will always remember you for. That is how reciprocity is supposed to work.
How did your business endure during the pandemic? Any major pivots in how you do business? The pandemic provided a chance for me to work on my new brand and build it out along with my team. It also made me realize that I wanted to be in an industry that could survive tough economic times. The health and beauty industry is a billion-dollar business and rarely do women cut corners when it comes to that. I always said that I wanted to shift to an eCommerce business that was run online and that is what I was able to do.
Has who you are at your core grown or stayed the same? Who I am, has definitely changed and grown. Historically I am a person who follows success blueprints to the letter and I would never deviate from that. However, as I got more experience in business, I began to realize that my own ideas and intuition on things were okay to follow as well. Whenever I feel that something isn’t right, or that I can do it a different way, I am now able to follow my own lead and trust myself regardless of what anyone else says.
What is your secret to staying relevant? Good branding and marketing will forever follow you. Staying in front of people and providing a product or service that fulfills a gap and need in the marketplace is definitely key to staying relevant.
What does your self-care routine look like? I am a workout fanatic; I have been living a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and eating clean for over 20 years now. My gym time is sacred to me, it allows me to do something essential for my mind, body, and spirit. I go to the gym about 5 days per week and it’s definitely therapeutic. That’s my “me time” that keeps me grounded and happy.
Would you say that your business has scaled in terms of products, services, employees, etc. since 2014?
Absolutely! I now have a product fulfillment team that ships all my products for me from the warehouse and a 9-5 customer service team that handles client inquiries and issues 5 days per week. I also have a team that runs all social media advertising. My only job now is to be the face of my brand and focus on producing content. This was always a goal of mine and I’m happy to finally be there.
What is a recent or upcoming new project, product, or new endeavor? I have some new business endeavors coming up with some celebrity friends and influencers that I am excited about as it pertains to Black Woman Lifestyle. I am also working on developing new supplements to add to my existing line. Super excited for that as well.
Has there been any life event/news headline etc. that changed you? So many headlines! I pay close attention to politics and I am not happy with the direction this country is going. Women’s rights are on the line in so many ways and so I have been speaking to the younger generation about the power of the vote and getting involved.
What does success look like to you now? Success is being happy and healthy. I used to be more focused on money and wealth, however, the older you get, the more you realize that none of that means anything without good health. I am seeing people I went to school with dying earlier and earlier and it’s alarming to me. If you were to ask any wealthy person suffering from a sickness, they will tell you that they would gladly trade in their money for good health and peace of mind.
Tell us about your most popular/successful endeavor/product/service based purely on customer response/sales. My Melanin D protein shake is my most successful product so far. Black people are inherently deficient in Vitamin D and none of the protein shakes on the market address it. So, I wanted to design a shake that was infused with Vitamin D at levels that begin to address our needs. Women have been extremely receptive to the product understanding the vital role vitamin D plays in our overall health. It’s definitely a big hit.
How important has having a strong support circle been in your journey? It’s very important and beneficial to be surrounded by people who want to see you win. Life is full of ups and down and without people there to catch you, it can be hard to bounce back. So good friends and family to keep you honest and uplifted is definitely key.
Whose opinion matters the most to you? Mine. I used to put more emphasis on the opinions of others, but I have learned that at the end of the day, I have to live with my decisions and nobody else. Learning to put your well-being first is the best thing a person can do for themselves.
Think back to a time when you felt your life was in “shambles”. How would the woman you are now handle that same situation differently? I tend to shut down and deal with things alone. I am a compartmentalizer and can tuck trauma away in drawers and never deal with it. As I have gotten older and wiser, I no longer do that. I face things head-on and reach out for help when needed. Holding onto trauma is counterproductive and it will eventually manifest itself in a way that is detrimental. So, if I could turn back the hands of time, I would have hopped right on dealing with my situation versus pushing it down and hoping it would disappear.
Who or what pours into you to help you achieve your own wellness goals, maintain your joy, and pour back into others? I am very self-motivated when it comes to wellness goals. I challenge myself all the time and if I don’t look or feel like I want to, I get on top of fixing it. I have built up quite an amazing and loyal following over the years, so getting messages and emails from women asking for help, or telling me that I inspire them helps me to continue doing what I do. People obtaining a positive outcome in their life based on something they learned from me keeps me going and wanting to pour into others. So, I also pull strength and motivation from the women I know who are watching me.
Has your hopes for your legacy expanded since your first feature OR are you more focused on “manifesting and living in your now” versus what you leave behind? I am all about manifesting and living in the now! You only get one shot at life and so I put far more emphasis on what I do while I am living. I don’t even think about legacy at this point because if I do the right things now, the legacy part will take care of itself.
How do you want people to feel when you walk into a room? I think I am a good time! My goal when I walk into any room is to have people feel relaxed and just be themselves. I am super down to earth and that often shocks people. There is nothing more refreshing than people who are complete strangers being able to have an honest conversation about whatever. Authenticity has always been important to me.
Read Vicki’s first CWM feature here
What would you say is your passion? What motivates you to keep going in order to align your life with that passion? My passion is definitely health and fitness, it always has been. So, helping other women in that area truly fulfills me. Being able to create a lucrative business around that passion is such a blessing. Watching women obtain better health or reach their own fitness goals as a result of what I am doing helps me to stay in alignment. Being an example of what I want for them is also important so that I am not just preaching, but truly living the Black Woman Lifestyle.
Tell us about a time you made yourself proud. I remember wanting to be a host and interview people on the red carpet, which had always been on my bucket list. I got a chance to host the BET Honors one year and I did red-carpet interviews with the honorees and celebrities. I was on the carpet with big media outlets and because I was a small fish, they put me at the end and most celebrities don’t stop for smaller media. However, I tapped into my marketing knowledge and knew if I dressed a certain way and looked the part, I could probably get the interviews. My plan worked and I ended up getting all the big names to stop and speak with me. I was super proud of that accomplishment.
How do you make time for the things/people and places that are most important to you? No matter what people say, you can always find a way to make time for what is most important to you. It’s not always easy, but prioritizing what means the most is a choice. Just do it!
How do you nurture your gifts? I have recently started doing positive affirmations over my gifts and life in general. Staying sharp and open to learning new things and never believing that I know it all. Being receptive to advice and reevaluating what you are doing at regular intervals are all ways that I nurture my gifts. The key is to never get complacent.
What’s next for you? I plan to add more products and programs to my Black Woman Lifestyle Supplement brand. My goal is to keep expanding the brand and eventually sell it down the road. From there, I am riding off into the sunset!
Anything to add? Just some words of encouragement for the ladies. It is NEVER too late to do what you want to do or to switch what you are currently doing. Don’t put any limits on yourself or worry about the opinions of others. I shifted from a lucrative industry to doing something new and it’s been a great decision. Go for it!
Want to connect with Vicki? Find her online @vickiirvin on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
