Meet the Cause Entrepreneur: Angela

What if we told you that you could get paid to drink wine, hold tastings, and give back to charity, all while making lifelong friendships? Sounds too good to be true, right? For our Cause Entrepreneurs at ONEHOPE, this dream is their reality. They get to make their own schedules, be their own bosses, hold at-home wine tastings, and make an impact all at the same time. If you don’t believe us, you can hear it from them! Learn more about what it’s like to be a part of the community from our Cause Entrepreneur, Angela, below!

1. How long have you been with ONEHOPE and how did you hear about us?

I joined in July of 2017 and Melaina Bjorklund of course being a dear friend of mine introduced me.  

2. What’s your favorite ONEHOPE trip/event you’ve attended so far and why?

I have to say CRUSH because nothing prepared me for the feeling of being a part of a community and family. I roomed with 3 other people I’ve never met, but by the end I felt like I had new sisters. [When I was in basic training] I slept in the same room with 59 other women who also became my sisters, but truly very few are still my friends. My wine “sisters” will be around for a long time!  

3. What does giving back mean to you?

Giving back actually to me means paying it forward as I’ve  been in a position to need “giving”… I feel like I’ve been given a hand in my past and I want to give back and make a difference somewhere, anywhere, and show my kids that even a dollar going to something as trivial to us as clean water for someone makes the biggest difference. I want giving back to be a part of everyday life, show my kids it can be done in big AND small ways.  

4. What excites you about the future of ONEHOPE?

The fact that ONEHOPE is growing, changing, and evolving makes me excited for the future for all of us; the ones impacted by what we do and the ones doing it. The potential for growth for CE’s and more money going to causes globally AND of course my pocket to support my family gets me VERY excited for the possibility of me doing this full time, working AROUND my family’s schedule and not them working around mine.

5. How would you describe the ONEHOPE community to someone who’s never heard of us before?

The community? Wow, that’s such a broad question because I would describe the community as a family because we’re small enough that we can meet online and when we are at trainings, conferences, etc. it’s like we’re already a part of each other’s lives.  Watching each other’s kids grow, families changing, promotions, failures… I would tell them as a one word answer just family. It’s not a job, it’s my comfort zone, my safe place, and also a place where I can drink wine and not be judged! 😉

6. What was your first ONEHOPE tasting like?

Sweaty. Blundering. But still fun! I learned a lot about myself, stepped out of my bubble, and haven’t stopped since. I still get sweaty, scared, blundery, but I still push forward because it’s not just for me.  

7. Do you remember your first sale? Tell us about it!

Illuminating. Like, never believed I could get anyone to buy anything from me. There was still sweating. It’s still kind of surreal and kind of a blur because I didn’t think I could do it, but if I can, then anyone can.

8. What advice do you have for new cause entrepreneurs?

Be yourself always. I remember hearing that a lot in the beginning and was like, what else can I be like? I don’t know how to be any other way. I teach Zumba and tried to do things like I was trained, and just didn’t feel right. Then I found my rhythm so to speak. and had fun at being myself, thought I’d fail doing it that way, but now have a semi-large following for my classes and it’s all from being ME! So, I have NO problem being myself, no one else knows how, I am a pro at that. When you try to be something you’re not, it comes off as you’re not really in it for the right reason and most people don’t want to be around fake, because then you become that ugly “car salesman” (sorry car salesmen), the guy that will try to sell a snake his own snake oil, so to speak. I want to sell someone the experience, hope in a bottle, and the chance to be a part of something bigger, even if it’s from their couch.  

9. Who is your biggest role model and why?

Sheesh, not easy question as I have so many, one of whom is the woman that introduced me to ONEHOPE, but my entire life I’ve been blessed with 2 mothers. My birth mom gave birth to me and has gone through so much adversity, but STILL has a smile, a joke, enjoys life, and goes with the flow. My step-mom, who has been battling stage 4 breast cancer for the last 20 months after being cancer free fighting it 5 years ago, and does it with a smile and the love of God in her. I hope that if ever faced with what she has faced that I can do so with as much grace as she does. And every day, my role models are different as I’ve been so lucky to have been exposed to some of the coolest cats on the planet, in my mind!  

10. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned so far with ONEHOPE?

To be open to learning every day, and to be open to the kindness without agendas. I’ve had to learn again how to trust that not everyone has an agenda. I’ve learned, out of everything, that truly everyone that I work with at ONEHOPE DOES want me to succeed and I truly, truly want everyone else to as well.  

Join the ONEHOPE Family

If you’re ready to join a community of people that are passionate about doing good by doing what they love, then click the link below to get started. We can’t wait for you to become a part of our big, happy family!

Cheers,

The ONEHOPE Wine Team