Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherry Hayes.
Sherry, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
For a few years, my husband, Tahnohn Hayes, experienced numbness in his hands that wouldn’t go away. Despite several doctor appointments, he was not able to get a definitive diagnosis or reason for the numbness. In November 2009, while I was deployed to Afghanistan, my husband woke up to pain throughout his body and an episode of optic neuritis that led him to seek medical care. The medical providers immediately ordered an MRI. The MRI showed several lesions on his spine and brain and he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Subsequently, after multiple tests, he was discharged from the Navy with a medical retirement in April 2012. He started working as a contractor for the Navy providing training to fleet sailors. He continued to have flare-ups and at my prompting, he went to do a food sensitivity test with a registered dietician. He found out there were several food items that were causing inflammation in his body and causing him to have flare-ups. He searched for snacks that didn’t have additives and preservatives (which cause inflammation) but was not able to find any so he created his own. He made what’s known as “Sweet Apple Pecan” and took it to work. Many colleagues loved the taste of it. Encouraged by his colleagues and his desire to provide a healthy snack that actually taste good to others like him who want to avoid the negative impacts of food additives, preservatives, and gluten -he started the “NutFrusion” business in June 2016. He was not able to keep up with the full workday and the medication he was taking made him sick. Taking in almost 70+ pills a week and three injections into his legs, he gave his two-week notice and stopped working in September 2016. He slowly started to build NutFrusion brand- adding a few other flavors, creating bags, and leading the effort to create the NutFrusion logo and selling at the Farmers Market. His health has continued to slowly decline and he is not able to do the business by himself. I chose to stop working mid-September so I can help expand NutFrusion.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
This has definitely not been a smooth road and my perspective is of a women supporting her husband’s journey is not only building a business but fighting back against MS. Some of the struggles I experienced along the way included: self-centeredness (worries about giving up my career, personal. goals, and ambitions), fear (what if this fails, what is the cost, how will the stress impact my husbands health if he does it alone, losing my husband to MS), guilt (am I not supporting my husband), loss (my career, changes in our food/eating, not able to eat out everywhere like we used to do, kids not able to play long or hard with daddy- so me trying to make up for that).
The advice I would give to other women supporting their husbands business – which has now become my business- is:
1- Consider your values and what means most to you- talk it out with a trusted mentor and then decide and step out with courage in the face of fear. It took me a while- I didn’t want to change my career or give up on my goals, but I talked it over with my mentor, Mimi Rosado, and realized that there is a lot of opportunities for me to help others through NutFrusion and letting go of my current job/position to take NutFrusion to the next level was a journey worth taking with my husband. I haven’t regret it since- we’ve grown closer together and many opportunities have opened up since we started working together.
2- Keep relationship at the forefront of it all. Building a business is hard work, you don’t have to do it alone. An INCREDIBLE Small Business Association (SBA) mentor, Diana Barbiani, has been giving me so many leads and great information to take NutFrusion to the next level!! I’ve also received excellent advice from other ladies that have their own business so I don’t have to make the same mistakes they made. So, get connected and reach out to others who have done what you are trying to do- relationships are the key to success!
3- Develop your plan to grow, but stay flexible! I’ve had to change my tasks weekly at the beginning as I gained new experiences and/or information from more experienced entrepreneurs.
4- Realize fear is a part of the journey- embrace fear and move forward anyway- one day at a time! Course correct when necessary and always ask yourself- what did you do well, what didn’t you do well, and what you will do differently. Learn from past mistakes and continue to grow through them.
5- Be patient with yourself- through the ups and downs- and take time to renew your spirit and energy! I didn’t do this well at all and I’m still struggling with this now. There is so much to do and not enough time- so prioritize and make sure “self-care” is on your priority list!
We’d love to hear more about NutFrusion.
NutFrusion provides “Snacks for Life!” We offer several kinds of healthy alternative gluten-free granola nut trail mixes made of premium nuts and fruit without additives and preservatives. As an organization, and as a couple, we are proud to Fight Back against Multiple Sclerosis by providing people everywhere with a snack that is flavorful and good for them. Our healthy but tasteful snacks are what sets us apart from most of the “healthy” snacks available today.
Which women have inspired you in your life?
Mimi Rosado- She provides mentorship and support – encourages me to push past my fears and follow my heart! She owns her own business!
Diana Barbiani- She owns her own business and she has provided so much guidance to help us take NutFrusion to the next level.
Sandra Wright- My mom who has loved me unconditionally and always reminds me that “a smooth sea never makes a skilled sailor!” She has taught me to embrace adversity!
Mary Sutton: My sister who suffers from Chronic Fatigue, but lives life to the fullest every day and is driven to understand how good impacts her health and has the courage to make life changes to live a full life fully present for her family.
Mary Crist: My late grandma- she taught me to work hard and not let stereotypes against women stop me from reaching my goals. She shared many stories of strength, courage, and success related to the challenges she faced as a woman engineer back in the early 1900s.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nutfrusion.com
- Phone: 619-929-2720
- Email: sherry.hayes@nutfrusion.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/nutfrusion_
snacks - Facebook: www.facebook.com/nutfrusion
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