From Fitness Model to CEO, Using Discipline to Creative Freedom in Your Lifestyle - Erica Williams Founder of Yumy Candy

Erica Williams the Founder and CEO of Yumy Candy joins Sofia to talk about her professional, fitness and self-development journey. Erica has always been a candy lover but couldn’t find a healthier option that was also affordable. Her health journey began years ago when she developed an unhealthy relationship with food and realized to live a healthier lifestyle, education was key. With hard work, discipline and self-development at the heart of her success in the entrepreneurship, fitness, business and real estate world, this episode packs all the sweetness with no sugar (just like Yumy Candy).

CONNECT WITH ERICA AND YUMY CANDY:
ERICA INSTAGRAM   
YUMY CANDY INSTAGRAM
WEBSITE

Transcript

[00:00:00] sofia: So Erica, my very first question for you, I always like to have a little background on my guests and for you, I wanna know what was your introduction into health and fitness? Or did you have an idea growing up of what health looked like? 

[00:00:14] erica: Yeah, yeah.

No, definitely. So I've had quite of extensive past with health, fitness, , just my relationship with food in general, and I was kind of growing up, I was very much tomboy. I had an older brother, so I was very like into, you know, sports, riding bikes, getting your hands dirty sort of thing. And then, with that I was, you know, a little bit on the chubby side.

So I think. When things started to kind of go into fitness, for me it was very young. It was like 14, 15, going to the rec gym. And it was a positive thing because I felt like that was the first time I was kind of taking control over my health and fitness. But as a lot of women have struggled with is those type of disordered eating habits and just not having education there.

And I felt. [00:01:00] I very much had lack of education, so I fell into a pretty negative health cycle of, you know, undereating, overworking out. That's how it started and it really just went from there for a couple years and it wasn't really until I had a couple wake up calls to say, you know, what are you doing to your body?

 And there was places where I realized, okay, hey, I need to really educate myself so that I can have a, a better relationship with my body, with myself, with food. But also for the long term, you know, this isn't sustainable. You can't keep beating your body down and expecting it to flourish. It just doesn't work like that, right?

So my passion really grew from there. At pretty young age, like 15, 16, I was in the gym, you know, four or five days a. And I started to educate myself. I took personal training courses, I took nutrition courses. I got certified. I started training other people in the gym. And I slowly built that into an online business, that was called Boss Paid Fit.

And I coached hundreds of women online. And then I continued that during kinesiology, I did my [00:02:00] undergrad at ufe. So I think it kind of, it steered me in the right direction because I was like, Hey, I don't have education in this, you know, part of my life. Let's go get it. And then once I realized and discovered it for myself,

 You know, once you get to the point where you're like, I can transform my body, it opens up your world to, whoa, I can transform my mind, I can transform my business, I can transform, you know, my life scenario. So it really did open me up to this world of personal development to growth mindset. So I'm really thankful that all that happened.

Cause I think ultimately, you know, obviously led me to where I am. But yeah, I think there's a lot of education that was missing back in the day and, now I think on social media, it's almost too much information sometimes and it's too overwhelming for people, whereas, you know, not to, not to beg on social media, but it has, it has that toxic element.

So it's just. Keeping that, you know, not balance, but you know, knowing which accounts to follow. It make you feel good and provide education, knowing which ones maybe not to, or getting your, your, [00:03:00] your information from one source and not following, you know, a hundred different things out there. Cause I think there's definitely an awareness now that wasn't there, you know, 10 years ago.

But, yeah, that's kind of about my background. I'm super, you know, into. Optimizing your health, optimizing performance. I love that athlete mentality and that's what I really kind of bring into business as well. So I think ultimately, you know, taking care of your body, your mind, your soul is only gonna make you a, a better person, but also it goes into your business and whatever you're doing, in terms of 

[00:03:32] sofia: entrepreneurship.

I can really relate to your background about being like 15, 16, I think at my small town home gym, you had to be 16 years old to go in by yourself. Yeah, . I remember being too young and having my mom she needed to come with me, so they would let me into the gym, and I was so upset that I just couldn't go to the gym, but much like you, that led me to a path.

Over training undereating, having a [00:04:00] disordered relationship with food that I'm so grateful has really come full circle now, but I think a lot of listeners can relate to that, especially in your younger or teen years, just not having that information. But like you said, now with social media, on one hand it's great.

There's a vast of knowledge out there and you can find what you're looking for. But it's a double edged sword because you can follow three accounts and they're all experts on health, fitness, wellness. Three of them will be saying completely opposite things. And it's hard to navigate what works for you, what's credible, like just what works for your body.

But we'll get more into that. I have a lot to discuss with you in terms of health and fitness, but I wanna know more about your business side because you're also a kick ass entrepreneur and in past interviews that I've looked up, it sounds like you've always been really entrepreneurial, but I wanna know where does that drive and passion come from?

Can you pinpoint it to.

[00:04:56] erica: Yeah, no, for sure. I think, in everything I do, I'm [00:05:00] very a zero 100 type of person. , I'm very type A, I'm all in, or I'm all out. It's like a hell yes or a hell no for me. So I, I do just, that's kind of in my characteristics as well, But entrepreneurship is, is not for the faint hearted. You know, anyone that's tried to open their own business, do their own thing, you know, go away from.

The societal norm. It, it takes a lot and there's a lot of ups and downs, and I don't like to sugarcoat things because there's just like the reality. It's like, you know, doing a fitness competition, the reality is you're gonna have to spend a lot of hours in the gym. You're gonna have to eat a certain way, You're gonna have to make, you know, small sacrifices that ultimately get you to your goal.

And so same thing with entrepreneurship. I think I've always had this like innate drive in me. I've always felt. You know, I have something great to offer and I really want to, you know, make myself the best person I can be, but also make a big impact. And I have big audacious goals. And so, you know, for me it was, a multiple things that, like, looking back, I can definitely say, Okay, this was, you know, [00:06:00] Put me on this path or, you know, So there's a couple things I would say.

 Growing up we didn't have a ton of money. There was always like this conversation around money, mindset and you know how to save. And my dad was always very, you know, good with finances. My mom was not so good with finances. So, you know, being in the middle of that blend, it was like, there was a lot of conversations about money.

So I knew from a young. You know, I got my first bank account when I was like 10 or 11, and I started saving like I am, you know, just like that because my dad kinda instilled those, qualities in and he ended up, he was an employee, but he bought into his business and he became full owner when I was in my teenage years.

So that was very fundamental to me because in our world, I had never met someone that owned a. And my dad had never thought previously, like he came from a line of teachers, you know, principal. So it was very kind of blue collar worker to like entrepreneurship's very different. It's like you're literally taking a leap out there and you know, seeing my dad go through the hurdles that he did and you know, coming home and I was a very entrepreneurship already at [00:07:00] a young age.

So we've kind of talked business, which is so funny now. And we still talk business. I love it. You know, he talks about his business, I talk about mine, and we just share different, you know, different stuff. But I, I definitely see that passion coming from my dad. He has that entrepreneur bug. We're very alike in those ways.

And, you know, I was learning, I was immersing myself in it. I was very much a sponge. So I went into my sales job, I was learning sales from the ground up and I was almost like, you know, on this path of I wanna get to the best I can possibly be. And the second reason why I think that happened, We went through some traumatic incidences in early, you know, kind of, high school years with friends passing away and just, you know, this stark like realization that life can be super short.

And anyone that has gone through, you know, any traumatic event or life shattering event or losing someone you love can, can relate to that feeling. You know, time is our most valuable asset and we don't know how much we have, so I need to make the best [00:08:00] outta the time I have and what's in front of me to make sure I'm living my life full out.

And that's really what it came down to at the end of the day is like, am I gonna go for it or am I gonna sit here and. You know, be a fraction of what I know I could be. And that just wasn't like that. That's what drives me every day. That's what gets me up. Cuz believe me, I'm not like highly motivated all the time.

You know? I don't think anyone walks around being like, Yeah, like let's do the, you know, you gotta kinda yourself up sometimes and then you get to your core why of like, why are you doing this? So I think those two things, like having my dad in my. Having him be an entrepreneur, you know, when I was in my teenage years, and then also having these big life experiences that really just kinda woke me up, I would say.

And going through that really young, kind of like catapulted me into my early twenties of like, No, I'm not gonna, you know, I, I like to go out, but I'm not gonna be partying every weekend. I'm gonna be on my goals, doing my thing, super focused. And the people that are on that track with me, like, let's go.

But the people that aren't on that track with me, like, that's okay too. You know, I'm just gonna live my [00:09:00] life. So, yeah, I think it's different for everyone, but that was definitely my path growing 

[00:09:05] sofia: up. That's such an important message. A lot of it, there's a lot to unpack there, but what you just said about mm-hmm.

wanting to be focused and you weren't going out partying every weekend. And it's okay for people who wanna do that. Like, go live your best life. Love that for you of course. Or for you on your own path. And I think myself, and again, a lot of my listeners kind of struggle with this idea of. I'm in my twenties, early late twenties.

This is kind of the time where I can fool around. I need to experience that. But then they're also, and people DM me about this, not knowing how to then put on their business mindset and set themselves up for their future goals. So it's like they feel like they're missing out either way. Was there something in you that you just had this in.

Feeling that this is the right path for yourself, and like you said, going through a traumatic experience, it really just shed a light on what was important for you to be on that [00:10:00] path versus feeling like you need to follow what everyone else is doing. 

[00:10:05] erica: Yeah, I think that's part of it. I think it also, like you can relate it back to an athlete or you know, fitness mindset too.

It's like I know what it feels like to be uncomfortable in my body, to feel, you know, overweight for myself. Mm-hmm. to feel gross, low energy, you know, sluggish. That sucks it, it's hard, you know, I don't like being in that state. And then I know what it feels like to feel good, to feel good in your skin, to be glowing, to have energy, to just wake up and you know, love your body, love.

And that's hard. It takes a lot of hard work. It takes discipline, it takes all these sacrifices, but ultimately you have to look at that and say, Which one do I wanna be? Right? So I think for me, it's always going back to, you know, who is my I, who is Erica in 10 years, 20 years, whatever. Like what's my goal?

And then work back. And if those, if my actions that I'm, if I'm faced with a choice and I say, Okay, well, would who I wanna be in the future do this action? No, they wouldn't because , what they did 10 years [00:11:00] ago, built them up to who they are. So I think I had a very pivotal, pivotal class in university. It was called Performance Psychology, and Roger Friesen was my professor.

And I still like, thank you, Roger, even to this day, . Because he, he honestly, he made it super simple for me. And I think as humans, like we like to complicate and like, I don't know, I feel like I'm burning both ends and I'm missing out here. I'm missing out there. And. You know, stuck in that, where it's super simple.

It's like, get clear on what you want, get clear on your goals, and if your, those actions don't align with your goals, don't do it. Mm-hmm. , you know, it's, it's, it's pretty simple at the end of the day, and any, you know, high level performer knows that. It's like it takes that commitment to your goal and consistently every day, you know, I'm not gonna do this thing, I'm gonna do that.

But then what that breeds like, discipline breeds freedom and people don't understand that. You know, when you're so disciplined, you have the freedom of choices. So I really just understood that at a, a young age, cause I did fitness competition, so I understood if [00:12:00] I, you know, am so disciplined for these eight, 16 weeks, six months, whatever it is, on show day, I'm gonna have freedom and I'm gonna feel like I, you know, did everything I could do to get my body where it's at.

And it's the same thing with your business. It's like discipline every single day. So in 10 years you have that freedom to. Look what I've created. Now I'm at a point where I can thoroughly enjoy it. And I've always just decided like I want to build my life up in my twenties and thirties so I can truly enjoy it in my forties and fifties, and also be in a position to give back and, you know, do the other things that I wanna do in those years.

So I think for everyone, it just is like a personal decision. And like you were saying, partying, going out. Like that's not bad. It's not to make one thing. or bad is to make it like, what's aligning with your goals and do you know what your goals are and are you committed to them? And so if people can't answer yes, yes, yes to those, then yeah, you're gonna be in limbo mode.

You're gonna be like, Well, I wanna go out, I wanna do this. But I also wanna have a, you know, trillion, Okay, well, those two things, not, you know, mix too well. [00:13:00] So yeah. 

[00:13:01] sofia: Oh my gosh. I need that like written out huge on my wall in front of me. That discipline creates freedom because that is a real mindset shift and I think a lot of times when, especially going back to social media, you see all these people and it looks like they've blown up or their businesses have blown up overnight.

And then when you don't see results in the first week, month, year, five years. People get really discouraged and think it's not meant to be. Mm-hmm , but you don't see that like seven 10 hustle and grind. And of course then there's hustle culture and burning out, and that's a whole other topic. But regardless of your goals, you need to work hard and you need to be consistent at that because it will pay off.

I think a lot of people are looking for these like quick fixes or get rich quick things. With all the entrepreneurs I've talked to through the podcast and personal life, that's just, it doesn't exist. So hearing someone that I look [00:14:00] up to you, I think your story is really inspirational. And I know my listeners feel the same way of, yes, you do have to have discipline to get there.

It's refreshing, but it's also just a reminder of why you're doing that and why you have discipline. I wanna get into your fitness journey a bit more, and you've talked about how you competed in competitions and I feel like. . A lot of people might know what fitness competitions are, but they don't really have a great idea of what is involved or the mindset.

So I'd love to know from your perspective, what were some of the learnings that you were able to take from being a fitness competitor and then apply it to your business and entrepreneurship? 

[00:14:39] erica: Yeah, no, that, that was a very, like, super formative time for me. So I started doing fitness competitions when I was, I think, 19.

I did my first one, and that was right after I had asked Roger Fries. I was like, you know, I want to do all this, you know, out of the box stuff. No one's really doing it my age and I wanna go do a sales job and. But I'm in university for [00:15:00] kinesiology and he's like, What's the worst that can happen? And I was like, Well, I mean, I fail at this.

I fail at that. I come back to university, I keep doing my degree and I become a chiropractor. That was my, that was my goal way back then, and that that's good life. I'm like, Yeah, it's, And what's the best thing that could happen? Well, you could go off and I could win all the competitions and I could become a million dollar sales rep and blah, blah, blah.

And my life could be, I don't even know where it could be. Okay. Well that sounds pretty good too. He really simplified it for me about like taking risk, calculated risk, going for what you want. And that's kinda fitness for me is like I, I have that weird. Athlete mentality is like, I like to see my body transform.

To have shredded abs and crazy physique, That's me. That's not for everyone. I totally get that. And I really don't think fitness competition are for everyone. As well. I would say like just for, if someone's never done a competition, just do a photo shoot, get super lean and do a great photo shoot.

Doesn't have. A bikini photo shoot. You can do it with clothes and [00:16:00] at the beach, but just like celebrate all the stuff that you've accomplished. And that's what I would always recommend to my health clients is like a first step to like, you know, feel good and, and put a date on your calendar to say like, Hey, this is my deadline.

Like this is when I'm doing my photo shoot. This is what I'm ready for. So, my first competition, honestly, I was very like unaware. I didn't really have a great coach. I could have just, you know, did it on my own, but I still did really well. I played. But what I would say is that, you know, like everything that you learn from, you know, doing something like having, having a six pack as your goal.

Some people might, might not say that's their goal, but it's a great goal because it makes you extremely disciplined. . Yeah. Like anyone that's tried to get a six pack, like literally you have to do so many things. Not saying that this is for everyone, but you have to do so many things and change your lifestyle around that one goal.

And I feel like if you really wanna go into business for yourself, you have to treat your business the same thing. Like I am here to make a profitable. Everything in my life now revolves around [00:17:00]that one thing. Do I want a thriving relationship? Yes. Do I wanna have a social life? Yes. Do I wanna spend family time?

Yes. Do I wanna have my health? Yes. All those things still matter, and I believe I come from that mentality of like, you can do, you can have your big audacious goals and have a thriving life as well. It's not to put that on the back burner, because I understand what you meant by like hustle, culture and you know, just grind, grind, grind.

Don't give your body rest. So I've really had to learn a lot of things through that. But I, I always come back to telling people it's like season. So I've had seasons of hyper focus on fitness and I've done competitions, and then I've had two years where I've just relaxed on my fitness routine. I've went all in on business.

That was my number one. And you know, now what my fitness routine looks like, looks nothing like my competing routine. Some days I'm like, Hey, I'm feeling a walk and a stretch. Like that's what my body needs right now and I'm much more in flow state. Whereas before I was very in the force mindset of go, go, go, push, push, push.

Which I don't think are bad qualities. I don't wanna demonize that either, [00:18:00] because I think that's gotten me to where I've gotten and for, you know, four to six years there. That was extremely important to me. To do that. But it's, it's unsustainable for the long term. If you're not taking that time to recover, to rest, to recharge, listen to your body, listen to your mental health, listen to all these other things and really, have a more holistic approach of how you go after your goals.

So that's kind of the season I'm in is I'm excited to share with people a more holistic version of going after your goals. Cause I think the last 10 years is, It's one or the other, you know, like when you're starving yourself and you're going hard in the pain or you're just like relaxing and you know, you don't really care, too much about anything.

So I think there is a great middle ground where it's like you can, you know, you can have extreme discipline and then seasons of freedom and then discipline and seasons of freedom. But, it comes back to goal setting. So through competing, I set a bunch of goals physique wise, and then through that I learned personal development [00:19:00] and.

The biggest thing with changing your healthy lifestyle plan is changing your mindset. Mm-hmm. . And that's the first thing that you have to transform in order to transform your body. So anyone that's kind of done that path understands, okay, for my business to grow, I really have to transform my mindset around my business, around money, around, you know, business, relationships, all of these things, right?

So that's really what I focused on, is mindset. Before I went out. Did these things , if that makes sense. Yeah. I use, I use fitness as like my training, my playground for the real world . 

[00:19:34] sofia: I think that's a great analogy in everything you're saying. I'm like, Yes. I'm like frothing at the mouth. I again relate to that for my experience with dance.

And it's funny, my parents say this all the time that. They're so grateful. I danced for 15 years, not even for the skills of like being able to do a pirouette because of the discipline, because of the work ethic, because of the relationships, and I think that's like you with athletics or fitness or people listening, [00:20:00] whatever they did growing up, it gives you these life skills that you can apply to whatever you want.

In this case, it's entrepreneurship and business, but it. So important, and I loved what you mentioned about seasons. That's a new, again, kind of mindset thing that's come into my life in the last few months. I was on this woman kayaking trip and one of the women that I met there mentioned it. She has an amazing career.

On the outside, you would look at her and be like, She has her shit together big time. And then as we got to know her more, there was all these things going on and she just. I'm in a season of this before. I was in a season of that, and I loved it because I think with your body, with your career, it's so easy to wrap yourself up in, This is my identity.

This is how I identify myself as a person with six pack abs. Or as a person who's only focused on this in your business, and I think it. Incredible that you have been able to pivot and that you're telling people it's okay to pivot to and be in a [00:21:00] different season of your life. Also, the Zoom pop up, Did you see that?

Oh, no. Oh, okay. I'm just, sorry. I'm gonna upgrade really quick. I thought I had the, I have like three different accounts. I know. Worries. So I'm just gonna do this really quick so we don't get cut off here. Sorry. 

[00:21:23] erica: Yeah, no worries. Do your. Okay, great. So off the record, . Yeah, yeah. No, I love the way the conversation's going and I was just gonna say, yeah, pivoting is huge for me.

Like, I think too, that's something that we can talk about next is like, people see me go from fitness athlete, fitness model to sales rep to realtor to candy ceo, and it, it's a lot of pivoting, you know. So understanding like when, when is the right time to pivot, how to pivot, how to like, You know, transform sort of thing.

 [00:22:00] Cuz that can be even a daunting process for a lot of people. Yeah. That's 

[00:22:03] sofia: something like, this wasn't even a prepped question, but I'm always curious, how did you get the courage to like go and really start yummy candy? Like for me, I have all these ideas in the podcast as one of them, but then maybe it's a mental block with finances I have, but to really just go for it, like you said, you're all or nothing.

What gave you like the confidence to just be like, this is what I'm doing now? Yeah, no, that's a great question. I think confidence comes from. That commitment to yourself. So if you're someone like, let's say Ed Mylan talks about this on his podcast, actually. Could've been, but let's, Yeah, he's so good.

[00:22:41] erica: But you know what I mean, Like just little things like if you're someone that says, Oh, I'm gonna go to the gym today, and then you don't, and then, Oh, I'm gonna eat well today, and then you don't, and then, Oh, I'm gonna get up on time. Then you don't like, that's not building confidence with yourself because internally, Your nervous system is saying, Yeah, they're, yeah, my brain's telling me these things, but I know the neurochemistry, I know [00:23:00] that they get dopamine from going on social media and that they're gonna keep scrolling for two more hours.

You know what I mean? Yeah. So I think it's like what signals, there are very, like neurochemical signals in your body, that get hardwired over time. And we've, I've studied that in school. I've studied that neuroplasticity in your brain. The amazing amount of, chemicals that get released through physical activity.

So already, just by working out, you put yourself on a leg up. I think the second thing is keeping those commitments to yourself. Integrity for myself is huge. Like if I'm out of integrity with myself, like I feel it, it's like an alignment shift right away and I'm like, Oh, I'm doing, I'm not doing the things I know I need to.

But I know what to do, but I'm not doing them. So I think it's like when your thoughts, what you say, your actions, everything aligns with your core beliefs and your core goals, that's when you feel like you're in a good, grounded position to go and take that leap and that risk. So I would just say for anyone that's.

You know, thinking of doing something big or scary or [00:24:00] nerve-wracking or also exciting is like get yourself in that state first. Focus on getting in alignment. The other thing is like you don't have to launch until you, You know, do your due diligence. I don't like to get, what's it called? Analysis by paralysis.

Mm-hmm. or paralysis by analysis rather. You know, like don't over research. I think that's something that's super analytical. People can get stuck in as well. But at the same time, like I had this idea back in 2016, but I didn't have the right network. I didn't have the right connections. Whereas when I went into luxury real estate, you know what I mean, Like it opened up my world to a lot of different opportunities.

So I don't think if I would've made the company in 2016, you know, it might have turned out at a different scenario than doing it now, or even where the market's at and where the candy space is at as well. So I, I am also trusting, you know, there's this whole thing of trusting divine timing too. You know, it's like understanding.

Like, I'm so at peace. If it's not meant to be for me, it wasn't ever [00:25:00] meant to be for me. And if a new opportunity comes around the corner and that's new and exciting and that feels more like what I'm attracted to, then I'll go for that. So that's part of being of this new like flow state is really understanding like if you commit something high level commitment, I'm talking like marriage type of commitment to your goals, to your, you know, dreams and say like, I am married to this idea.

I'm going to go with the flow on it. And if it doesn't pan out or if I feel like it's really too much of me forcing it, I'm not attached to the. That's a really, really powerful place to be because now you're creating from like your true inspiration unleashed. Like, you're like, How big can I go? Like how it, it makes me excited talking about it because I just like it.

It reaffirms that we're all creative people. You know, like you have your podcast, other people are painters, singers, writers, dancers, Like everyone has their special gift. And we're so paralyzed by that fear that we forget, you know, our gift and we, we minimize [00:26:00] it. Where it's like, if you can just unleash yourself to the point of like, Hey, I'm gonna go after whatever I'm passionate about.

It could be like the weirdest thing on the planet. But if you do that with full commitment for a long duration, you're probably gonna YouTube sensation or like something good is gonna come out of. And at the end of the day, if it's just enjoyment that you get out of doing it, like isn't that enough as well?

So it's like you don't have to be so attached to the outcome of it. And I think that's the other thing, it's like, don't create a business to be like, I'm gonna create a 10, do 10 billion business. Like yeah, obviously that could be the goal, but if that's your only reason for doing it, you're probably gonna fizzle out, you know, year five or even year one.

You know, it's not gonna, The long term. So I, I, I'm not perfect. I definitely have to remind myself of that, but I've learned enough and I have like really great, you know, podcasts and books and stuff that I listen to that whenever I'm feeling in a down state, I'm like, okay. Pick yourself up. . Let's go. I can 

[00:26:55] sofia: feel the passion coming from your voice as you speak about this.

This is [00:27:00] so inspiring to me and it makes me excited to like work harder at the things that I love. My mom has always said to me that the universe has your back. Before it was like a trendy thing to. Be into manifestation. So I grew up really believing that. And like you said, that what's meant for you will happen to you or will find you, but you also have to work really hard.

It's not, you're not just gonna wake up one day and someone's gonna hand you a business or hand you your goal. You have to actively get to that place as well. But I wanna know more about this, like 2016 to actually starting yummy candy. So you had this idea, and then you said it was really from your luxury real estate that you had connections.

What was that in between time like before you actually launched or up until launching from an idea where there like key steps to get you to launch. Like can you explain a bit more of what that time period was like? 

[00:27:53] erica: For sure. Yeah. So, like I said, I did fitness competing. I was a sales rep for sports nutrition brands and I was [00:28:00] also doing kinesiology as my undergrad.

So that was kind of like late teens, early twenties. And I learned so much. I had a great sales manager, so he was very much into. Build personal, develop, build yourself up and you'll become a better sales person. So, you know, there's a lot of podcasts and books and stuff I've read over the years, but kind of being trained in that Grant Cardone training, sales training.

 But they don't just talk about sales. It's not about like, Oh, sales sell the person. It's talking about how do you become a good communicator? How do you become a better person? How do you make it so it's a genuine, like, Hey, I have a service or a product that fits your. You know, why don't we do business together?

You know, that's very, Everyone has this weird connotation about sales, but I actually loved it. I was like, I love that I'm a, you know, I'm a people person. I like to be in front of people. So I was educating people on, supplements. I was getting them into stores. I was traveling around the Canada, the US going trade shows going.

So this was all when I was very young and I was also planning. All the events, all the trade shows. I was [00:29:00] the athlete liaison, so I was onboarding people onto the team and getting them fired about being on the team. So I had a pretty like, big role in the company at a young age. Like I was only 21, 22, 23.

And that was a great experience for me because I learned so much and, you know, I got to be in a multimillion dollar company and see how it was run. So it very much gave me the understanding of like, this isn't so scary. Like, I know I can do. And it was very like eye opening because we always have this like wizard behind the the curtain kind of thing.

It's like, what really goes on in these businesses? Like, how are they run? You know? So being involved in one really gave me the confidence to be like, you know, it's not something that's like daunting is you can run a business and you can run it effectively. And so I was already thinking of that while I was at my nine to five.

And I think that's a huge lesson for people is like, if you know, ultimately you're an entrepreneur, A, you don't always have to go out on your own. If you're fired up about your product, your service, your [00:30:00] company, their mission, what they're doing, and you're getting paid good and they recognize you as a good salesperson or whatever in your company.

Sometimes companies just need entrepreneurs to work within that. Right? And those are the hardest people to recruit, is the doers, the thinkers, the thought leaders, and those entrepreneurs. So, you know, companies will pay for. So I would say that is one thing. And then the other thing is like be a sponge and learn so much of your nine to five and be fired up when you're there, because that is gonna open up opportunities for your next thing or your next venture.

So in all these jobs, jobs that I had, I was always like, Hey, this is an opportunity. I don't know where my next. You know, client or investor or whoever could be, you know, in front of me. So I'm gonna treat every opportunity like that. So, it's, it's totally shown itself full circle. So from there I kind of saw the glass ceiling.

I was like, I can't grow at this organization anymore. I really need to make a move. And it was, About nine months, like I was feeling that way, and actually my sales manager ended up quitting. And I just had so much like great [00:31:00] camaraderie with him and stuff that I was like, Okay, this is, this is a universe showing me that.

Like, I'm, you know, I need to move on. So I quit my job in three days and I went full into real estate and everyone was like, What are you doing? You got a great nine to five getting paid. Well, like, you know, most real estate agents don't get, you know commission checks for their first year. And so I was just like, Nope.

Burn the bridges. Like, let's go. And again, I, I took calculated risk. Cause I knew I was young. I could always go back to a position like that. Like there was other things that went through my mind. I'm like, Okay. But the biggest thing was if I didn't move on, would I be upset or disappointed myself a year from now being in the exact same position I am?

And I was like, Whoa. Yes, I would , I would be disappointed. So this just reaffirms that, like I'm ready to go for it. So I challenged the exam in six weeks, which is the shortest amount of time that you can do it. I like just passed . I'm like, usually, I'm usually really good at tests, but on Friday, [00:32:00]wait all the Monday to get my, my stupid result.

Oh, that weekend I was on the stair. Oh my gosh. I was on the StairMaster at the gym and I was. I saw the email come in and I had just passed and I was like, Yes, like celebration, let's go. But it's funny because in those, in those six weeks, I had already sold a, a home. I had already shadowed a bunch.

I had already done real estate courses. I got myself up to like, where, when I was fully licensed, I was ready to go as a realtor. And that's not common. A lot of people let time get in there. So they take a year to do their course, and then they made shadow for a couple months and then they. So for me it's again, going back to that why is like time is so important.

I need to get to where I wanna be in my goals and the lifestyle that I'm creating. I need to like quick time through these obstacles, right? So, and I threw myself into the luxury real estate world, which is also, you know, not, not common. Most people start where they're living. So I grew up in Langley.

 [00:33:00] I was born in Prince George, but grew up in Langley. I went to West Vancouver, like luxury market, . Yeah. So it's, it's, you know, anyone that knows the greater Vancouver, it's like Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver. Like those are kind of the luxury real estate scene other than the Okanagan. And then the lower mainline is sales super lecturing.

And we are, we're in a high priced market, unfortunately. But, at the same time, I was really just throwing myself into, you know, something super uncomfortable, super, different. And so again, it was every time I've done that, I've had to step up to the plate, which means that I have to grow as an individual and as a person to meet who I need to be to excel at that level.

So that was a huge growth for me as well. And not only to that, I did another fitness competition as I was going into real estate. So it became a super disciplined part of my time. And I actually thrive in that season because there is nothing else. Like I'm blinders on. World is irrelevant to me. I am, Let's go.

You know, I was jamming twice a day. I was doing real estate full time. I was commuting an hour [00:34:00] and a half each way. So three hours of driving. So I just maximized my time in the car. I would listen to podcasts, I would listen to books. I would, you know, just really, you know, input my mind with all of this beneficial information, whether it's real estate or personal development or fitness or whatever it was.

 And I got super focused and I did really well my first year really well, my second year, like almost unheard of. And I got to a point where I was getting so many leads that I had to build a team in my real estate brokerage. Of agents that I could do co deals with. So I helped, I started coaching them up, I started training them on sales, doing phone call, door knocking, like all of the, like, boots on the ground type of work.

That was my pass. You know, I was a phone call sales rep for years. I had door knocked for real estate. So there was just so, so many great lessons in all of that, that it's hard to sum up. But at the same time, like my, my recommendation to anyone, If you're interested in what you're doing in your nine to five, be a sponge.

Learn that. I [00:35:00] would go to the accountant, I would say, you know, Hey, teach me about business. From the accounting perspective. I'd go to marketing and say, Hey, teach me about business from the marketing perspective. You know, I'd really be a sponge in learning about the warehouse and. Thank God I did that because that's literally my business now.

You know, I run a company and you know, we have warehouse, we have logistics, we have accounting, we have marketing, we have all of these things. And so I really already had that foundation from prior experience that I felt confident to not only do it, but I was gonna do it well, and I was gonna excel at. So then from there, I had already, I was sitting on this idea, I pitch it to investors, families and friends, and, you know, it was just fortunate enough that people believed in me so much that, you know, we almost had too much investors, too much money that was, was wanting to be a part of it.

And I, and I, you know, don't say that to be like, Oh my gosh, look at us. But I, I would just say that's how much work I did on myself to. I am gonna make this successful no matter what. And people really saw, you know, the [00:36:00] opportunity. Not only that is we are at the perfect timing because just things that were happening in the confectionary market, like there wasn't a lot of competition.

 But there was proven concept. So that's the best time to enter a market is there's proven concept. People want it. There's demand, but there's not a lot of competition. So we were ready to step up and be that competition in the marketplace, and be second to shelf, third to shelf and really dominate.

So, I think like now I can connect all the dots and I'm like, Oh yeah, and this opportunity led me to here, to here. And I was also a lifeguard for five years. So I did swimming, instructing, and lifeguarding, and I learned so much in that job that still applies to today. You know, to things that I think about.

So I just think wherever you are right now, like there's so much to learn and there's so many opportunities to like, you know, grow that you can, you can see where it takes you when you take those leads and you go to the next level. You 

[00:36:55] sofia: are so magnetic, like the way you speak about your past [00:37:00] experiences and the way that you talk about the universe and putting out good and the way that you work on yourself and self development.

Well, thanks. Like truly, you put out good and you receive good. And when you say things like it was unheard of, but it's like a lot of people probably weren't willing to work the way that you were willing to work to get your real estate license to the way you worked those first few years. Like a lot of people probably expected that path.

Easing into it. So of course then those are the results that they're gonna get. But I need to say you're magnetic cuz it feels like things are really easily, not easily, but are attracted to you in terms of a universe way, if that makes sense. Oh, thank you. No, and it's so true. Yeah. But looking back now, like you're able to put all your different experiences together and like you said, be a sponge, but I'm sure maybe in the moment it wouldn't seem like that.

As you're going through that. What would you tell yourself five years ago, 10 years ago? Looking back now and having this hindsight. 

[00:37:56] erica: Yeah, I mean, really [00:38:00] what I would tell myself five years ago is go for it. Think bigger, relax, let go, Have fun. Yeah, go with the flow. Have. It's just, it's, it's so interesting to see where I was, where I am now.

 I think there's no, like everyone's, like you said before, is looking for these quick fixes. These, you know, get there quickly type of schemes. But it really is like, the process of it, and it's been a process for me is like, Going for it and relaxing and letting go and letting things happen, and then really pushing and putting yourself out there and putting it all on the line, and then being totally at peace with the outcome and whatever happens, happens.

So I think like every day I'm challenged with that because even in business now, like there's things that come up. and trouble happens. Things arise. Like, you know, there's just stuff that goes on on a day to day, and I oftentimes have to like take a step back and just be like, You know what? I'm not attached to it.

Like, whatever happens [00:39:00] happens. I've done my best. I've, you know, tried. Everything I can, if I can't do anything in my ability, like why stress over it and just have faith and let it go. And most times than not, it does work out in your favor. And the times that it doesn't like you really do know it wasn't meant for you.

And I think that's a lesson that I've learned over the years. I, I didn't really. I didn't implement it five years ago. Like, I think there's a difference in our society. It's like we know a lot, but we don't implement a lot . So it's like you can, you can know what to do, you can know how to act, and then those situations arises and then your universe or God or whoever's like like.

Are you, are you gonna do it? Are you gonna do the things that you said you're gonna do? Or are you gonna revert back to your old ways and stay comfortable? Right. And it's like so many times, yeah, it's easy to stay comfortable. It's easy to just be like, Oh, well this is the way I've always done it. But then yeah, you go back to like, Hey, what am I, what am I here for?

What am I out here to create? Right? So, yeah, that would be my advice to me five years ago. 

[00:39:59] sofia: No. [00:40:00] I love that. My next question for you is kind of going back to what we said earlier about entrepreneurs and your network and knowing people, but what are some ways entrepreneurs can support each other, or have you found collaboration to be like a key in your success?

Or like do you find it fulfilling to help others? Like in, We talked a little bit about this off air, but especially you grew up in BC and I'm in Vancouver. It's a very small community, even though it's a city. And I was actually really surprised by how open people are wanting to collaborate and move each other up.

Has that been your experience and have you found it to be beneficial?

[00:40:38] erica: Yeah. So I think I've moved around a lot in my career that I haven't. Necessarily going, you know, got to a point where it's like, Hey, I've known this entrepreneur for 10 years and like we started way back here together. I definitely have friends that are like that, you know, like some friends that will just always be that support system.

 For me [00:41:00] personally, I think I've experienced both. Like I've been in the cuts. Cutthroat real estate market where you know it's dog eat dog, like you eat what you kill. There's no like fluff around it. There's no one being like, Hey, let me help me with your real estate business. You need some leads. Like, you know what I mean?

It's like, Yeah, no, on your own, you know? So, but in that like, you know, your, your vibe attracts your tribe. Like you can connect with people, you can collaborate, like for sure it's on you to go out there and make those connections happen. But I'm also aware of like time. You know, are they becoming more distractions and moving myself forward?

Or how do I balance that between having these awesome connections? Because like for me, I have a lot of female founders that have other products and we collaborate and we get together, and that's something that I'm. Really excited about, just with my space, but at the same time, I do that once a month because realistically, you know, the things that move my business is like the day to day stuff and just being always on top of [00:42:00] it.

 So I think for me, I've kind of gone through phases where, when I get super disciplined, I kind of go into solitude. Like I have my family life, I have my relationship, and then I have my health and my business. Like those are kind of my four main. And you know, I do love a social life and everything else, but I just know those seasons.

And then I have like times like we, we had , we got married this summer. We had a lot of celebrations around that. We are very like with family and friends. I knew that was a time for me. . You know, if, if I get invited out for brunch, like I'm going, you know, I'm not declining, I'm not staying at home. It's like, okay, you know, if I don't work out, I don't work out.

I just was understanding of that. And as I get older, I'm really realizing too, it's like quality over quantity. I rather have go deep with like three best friends that I can really be, you know, emotional with vulnerable, truthful with, than have all these type of surface level relationships and not that.

You know, [00:43:00] everything's surface level, but it's just, you can't go deep with so many people. It's just no one has the time to do that, really. You know, It's like, I don't, I, I, it just comes back to what the priorities. So I've, I've kind of experienced both. Like I, I built a crazy great community with Boss Babe Fit.

I had hundreds of women online. We were all connected, and I, I, I definitely love that and I love that type of environment, and that's something I'm wanting to create within the, the space I'm in now with, you know, the, people like entrepreneurship, founders, that sort of thing, especially with the female entrepreneurs, because that's the world I'm plugged into.

 So I value that immensely, but I also don't let it distract me, if that makes sense. . 

[00:43:41] sofia: No, that totally makes sense. And I like how you touched on both aspects because I think either or is unrealistic if you're like, I am a lone wolf out here. Like it's just yourself. I don't know how realistic that is.

Like you need a support system as well, but then also, Like it's a balance, Like you need to support people, but there's only [00:44:00] 24 hours in a day. Like you can't give and give yourself without like moving yourself forward or giving to your family. Like you have a whole life and you need to balance it and it has to work for you at the same time.

So I think that was a really insightful and honest answer, so thank you. I have a couple of questions left. I'm conscious of the time. I've loved our conversation and getting to know you more. This has been amazing. Me too. But I wanna know, has there been, or what has been your biggest pinch me moment yet with Yummy candy?

[00:44:31] erica: I think just seeing where we're at, you know, we're two years in and I'm, I'm a very I'm always working like months, years ahead, right? Yeah. So for me, even in real estate, you know, you don't, you, you sell a home, but it doesn't really happen until three months later, six months later. So it's very like delayed gratification.

Luckily, I'm great with that because competing, it's delayed gratification. Pretty much everything I do is delayed gratification. Same thing with this market. Like if you get a listing new [00:45:00] store, your product's not on shelf until six months, maybe a year. So some of these deals that we're working on, you know, they're, they're very delayed gratification and, and my tendency and kind of my downfall in that area is to just skirt over it.

Move on. Okay. That's all new. Keep going, What's the next goal? And I've entered it again, I don't wanna be redundant, but new season of choosing to celebrate those wins of choosing to celebrate the small things. And I really like the idea of like romanticizing your normal life because so often are we like, You know, there's just gonna be one moment that's like earth shattering.

And for sure, like there, there's times that I've, I've felt that like energy landing a big deal or a big listing and you get really excited. But most oftentimes than not, it's like all these little things, these little wins, things that work out your way, that you're like, Wow, like that's cool. This is building momentum.

And I really see it. But I would say for yummy soda is like looking back, we're in Loblaws, we're in London drugs, we're in SaveOn, we're in Walmart. Like it's been two years. This is stuff that that's [00:46:00] huge. A lot of companies. Yeah. Like they don't do, some companies wait five years or 10 years to be able to do this.

So I really do have to look back and appreciate and you know, thankful for my team for what we've been able to create, for what we've been able to do in such a short amount of time. And I know it's not an accident. Like we didn't just show up here on scene and be like, Hey, you know, Yummy Candy. It really has been , it has been hard work.

So, I think just now I'm at the point where I can be a bit reflective. Like the last two years I've been in it and not. You know, celebrating or doing much to be like, Wow. But now I'm, I'm starting to see that, and with us entering the US market, I definit, there's more of those those moments in the future.

[00:46:45] sofia: I think it's really important to romanticize your life as well, because. You can like be waiting and waiting that this is something I'm guilty of too, of like looking forward to the next thing. Or like you said, feeling a sense of relief when something has [00:47:00] happened versus like celebrating it. But I think it also gives yourself energy and motivates you.

When you do take a moment to pause and celebrate that moment, celebrate that win, it motivates your team. So I think that's a really tangible takeaway as well. And you can apply this to all my university or college students listening right now too, who maybe you. Your goals don't happen until like five years.

Like things once you're finished with school, but celebrate those wins. Celebrate even just passing an exam or getting through a semester or celebrating your friend's birthday. Don't miss out on those small moments too, because then I think when you go back you'll be like, Oh, I wish I made a bigger deal of it.

Or you'll go back and be like, I'm so glad we had that moment together and really like celebrated and appreciated as. 

[00:47:48] erica: My Totally. And I think my, I was just gonna add to that. Yeah. Cause it was, you know, so beautiful. Is just whatever you're doing, do it a hundred percent. Mm-hmm. . And I think that's the biggest thing.

If you decide to go out, [00:48:00] celebrate. Like, enjoy, eat what you wanna eat, have a drink, relax, enjoy, be present. If you're working like you're working distractions off, shut your phone down. No. So like, you know what I mean? And that's really helped me because my, my papa had always said that is like, whatever you do, do it, You know, a hundred percent or do it to the best of your ability.

And that will take away that guilt later on. That sometimes people feel where they missed out or they feel like they're, you know, not doing well in both areas because they're not celebrating and they're also not working. You know, as hard as they know. So it's just like whatever you're doing, make that decision and be happy with whatever you decide no matter what.

[00:48:38] sofia: Totally. I agree. I've been like guilty of doing the opposite and then I just feel kind of stuck because it feels like I'm not getting what I need socially with my friend group or with whoever. But then I'm also not where I am business wise or fitness wise. So you really need to like put them into separate buckets and when you're in that time or in that place, give it your all.

I think that's so important. My [00:49:00] next question is something that I ask all my guests. I really like this question. It just gives a little bit more insight to my guests and I get some really great recommendations from this selfishly. But that is what a TV show, book product, literally anything that you're loving that you wanna recommend to my listeners.

[00:49:18] erica: Yes. I mean obviously over the years there's been so many , but Esther, Esther, anything by Esther Hicks, ask and it is given, I think is the book name. She has a couple really great ones, but ask if it is given is really good. It's a classic it's kind of overplayed, but think and Grow Rich if you've never read that by Napoleon Hill.

 I read that when I was 19 or 20 and I've, I've read it again since I'm probably gonna read it this year as well. I just think it's a great manual to reaffirm over the years and you always pick up different things. And there's another one, Bob Proctor, Unfortunately he just passed away, but he's kinda an OG in the personal development scene and any of his materials.

Great. But he wrote a book called You Were [00:50:00] Born Rich. And I know they. Sound like it's all about abundance, but there actually has very great life applicable skills. And I think the best thing to do is get yourself into that spot of abundance. Because when you are in abundance or joy or peace or any of those emotions like you're able to create, and that filters into all of these things that we're talking about, whether it is fitness or relationships or business or whatever, like getting yourself, And that was a big thing over the last two years for me actually, was really working on.

Taking control of my energy and responsible of like how I feel. And I can always change that. And I have full responsibility over that. So if I am ever feeling low or down or unmotivated or stuff or whatever it is, to take that time to go into one of these materials to get what I need to get from it and to reenter, get grounded, and then get back on track with what I know I'm here to, to do or to create.

 So yeah, those are my top three. But I mean, I also love Grant Cardone, Ed, my. Rich Dad, Poor Dad. Mm-hmm. has some great material as well. [00:51:00] Robert Ki Kiosaki . So yeah, any of those honestly is, is great stuff. 

[00:51:07] sofia: I know that my dad is smiling as he's listening to this cuz he's tried to get me to read.

I've read Rich Dad, Poor Dad, but I'm adding all of those to my roster and I think everyone should as well. And yes, 

[00:51:19] erica: definitely they're, they're game changers. 

[00:51:22] sofia: Finally, where can everyone find you and Yummy 

[00:51:25] erica: Candy? Yeah, so you can connect with me on Instagram. Mine is Yummy Candy Founder, that's Y u M y Candy founder.

 And then we have Yummy Candy Co, which is our branded page on Instagram. And you can buy our product in store across Canada, or WW Domy Bear dot. 

[00:51:45] sofia: Wonderful. Erica, thank you so, so much. I really appreciate your time and our conversation and it's a bit surreal to me cuz I literally snack on yummy candy all the time.

I was literally eating a packet as I reached out and emailed you, so this is a really full [00:52:00] circle moment. Thank you. 

[00:52:02] erica: Oh, I love that. And I'm so glad that you share the enjoyment for Yu County just as much as I do. And thank you for having me. It's been great. And I'm excited to see what you create.

Thank 

[00:52:13] sofia: you. I'm just gonna stop recording and then we're good. Thank you. So, yeah.