Overcoming Doubts and Owning Your Journey with Ellie Brown
What does it take to make bold moves and keep pushing through challenges?
In this episode, Ellie Brown opens up about her journey of self-discovery, overcoming self-doubt, and making tough decisions. With over three decades in sales and significant experience on Shark Tank, Ellie teaches us that people are the core of every business decision.
She dives deep into her emotional journey and the bold choice she made to sell her company, something she never envisioned. Ellie also emphasizes the importance of learning to forgive yourself during tough times, which she believes is essential for growth and success.
She shares how connecting with others, embracing self-compassion, and staying true to your values can elevate your entrepreneurial journey.
Listen to Ellie’s story and learn how to push forward, embrace change, and stay resilient no matter the obstacles you face.
Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments
The importance of mindset in overcoming self-doubt
How connecting with people and telling a story can drive success
Ellie’s emotional experience on Shark Tank and the decision to sell her company
Learning to forgive yourself and admit when you're wrong
The power of shifting your mindset and embracing the belief that others' opinions are none of your business
Why taking bold steps and owning your mistakes can be freeing
Ellie’s transition into the world of beauty and skincare with her new role at Olive Tree People
The significance of investing in self-development through coaching
Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode
“People don't necessarily buy what you're selling. They buy you.” - Ellie Brown
“Other people’s opinions of you are none of your business.” - Ellie Brown
“You get to choose the ones that you want to pick out and leave the other ones that you don’t want.” - Ellie Brown
“You’re better off just being your authentic self and just putting it out there and having fun.” - Ellie Brown
“When you start to learn that people just don’t move around and operate in the world like you, it is life-changing.” - Ellie Brown
“People are everything when it comes down to it.” - Courtney Turich
“Mindset is key to our success. Forgive, forget, and be humble.” - Courtney Turich
About Ellie Brown
Ellie Brown has over 30 years of experience in sales, with a focus on connecting people and advocating for safer personal care products. She co-developed a product featured on Shark Tank and has spent the last eight years working on health protective laws in the skincare industry.
Ellie is one of the top 0.4% of brand advocates for Beautycounter and is currently with Olive Tree People, a German company focused on waterless skincare. She is passionate about making a difference in the beauty industry and helping others build successful businesses.
Her career is defined by her ability to overcome challenges, stay focused, and help people make better choices.
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A Team Dklutr Production
BLOG TRANSCRIPT
Note: We use AI transcription so there may be some inaccuracies
The Power of Putting People First
Courtney Turich: Hey everyone. It's your host, Courtney Turich with Bold Moves, Confident Choices, time to get real, get bold, and take charge of your future. Guess what? Today's guest is Ellie Brown, and she is someone whose journey embodies fearless decisions and owning her own path.
Before I pass it over to Ellie, a little background about her is she has spent over three decades in sales. She's considered a connector of people. And I will tell you, this woman has never met a stranger. For the past eight years, she's been lobbying for health protective laws and the personal care space, which is so needed for all of us.
And she is 0. 4 percent of the top brand advocates for beauty counters. Another little fun fact about Ellie, she and her sister developed a product that was featured on Shark Tank, similar to mine. The really cool thing about Ellie is that we met a year before we both actually filmed on Shark Tank. We happen to be part of the same season and we built this camaraderie of this journey we both were moving through in the process, I will tell you, and I'm not going to dive into it now.
If it wasn't for Ellie and a big moment in my life, I don't know where I would be because I vividly remember a conversation I had with her when I made a bold move myself and actually a bold comment.
So, Hey, I'm going to stop talking now. And so before we dive into the big questions, Ellie, I would love for you to share more about yourself and your journey behind the bold moves.
Ellie Brown: I love it. Courtney, it's so good to see you. So Courtney and I have a connection. we're both Hoosiers at heart, So yes. I know you're not there anymore, but we still love you here in Indiana. so like you said, I'm in the business of people, right? So we talked about spending three decades in sales and started it out selling pharmaceuticals.
And now, I'm helping people with skin care. So a little bit of everything. But I think ultimately, what I've realized over the years is that People don't necessarily buy what you're selling. They buy you. and I think a prime example of that is, um, really years in my experience and being on Shark Tank, right?
It's not that. I mean, it for for us, it's not that we had the coolest product in the world, right? it's just that, we had a great story. We had great energy and just brought a lot to the table. So, I just enjoy helping people, working with people, helping them make good choices, no matter what that looks like, and just being real and giving real, advice, kind of, like, maybe we had together some real combos.
Courtney Turich: For sure. And Ellie, you just said something really powerful at the first part here, and that is people and people are everything when it comes down to it. And the fact that you put that in your first statement is so mind-blowing and so on track with what I think we're all trying to relate, on a bigger level.
Ellie Brown: Yeah, for sure. I think that's a thing that people miss a lot, right? This sounds really terrible, but it's true. Nothing is really about you. Right? I mean, of course, there are things that are right, but it's about other people and that transfer and how you make them feel or what kind of problem or solution you help them solve or, kind of like that.
So, yeah, being in the business of people is like, always putting people first, and yeah.
Courtney Turich: Well, okay. So now that we've heard a little bit more about you, Ellie, what was that bold move or confident choice that took things to the next level for you?
Ellie's Journey From Shark Tank to Self-Discovery
Ellie Brown: Yeah. that's a great question. And I kind of have to go back a little bit of time to sort of tell you that bold move.
So it's interesting because Courtney, I don't talk about our shark tank experience that much. it's almost like it, was another lifetime and another, you know, Body for me, but it really did happen. and so basically, I think that I had a great belief in myself and in my product.
And then, we had this situation where we were invited to be in the shark tank and to talk about our products and, we had imagined a scenario where. we would either get a deal from an investor like you did, with monkey mat, or we would get everybody would pass. Right.
So that was like the binary of what we saw coming, but interestingly enough, that's not what happened at all. We were offered a small amount of money. well, it's not a small amount of money, but in the scheme of things, small amount of money, to sell our entire business and walk away from our company, right?
And that was not in a million years what my sister and I had, ever discussed. And so it was one of those, like, we weren't planning it, but we're like, okay, can we go talk about it? And we sat in the hall. I'm like, I don't know what to do. What are we going to do? And. literally, as we're walking back in, we didn't know what we were going to do.
We just knew that we were missing a lot of time with our family, with our kids. And so we were kind of joking, like, well, at least we can go back and spend more time with our kids, you know, just being our goofy selves. So ultimately we did, agree to sell our company to Mark Cuban, which was, and like I said, an unexpected thing.
And it was very emotional and, brought out, like, I seriously. This
is terrible. I was like, what is wrong with those people who go on Shark Tank and cry? What is their problem? It's so weird. So guess who cried on Shark Tank?
It was me, nothing to do really with the outcome, but it had to do with like my sister and my love for her and the thought of like her, she and I being at a trade show and missing her daughter's first day of kindergarten and all that we sacrificed.
To do this just to walk away. so it was really emotional, but I say all that to say, you never know what kind of edit you're going to get on that show. is very real, but there are certain times where, they'll pull something that somebody said out of context and it looks like maybe it's being, a dig at you or something like that, but the sharks are pretty brutal to us.
And so afterward I did a big, No, no, I spent a lot of time reading the trolls, what the trolls, yeah, yeah. I didn't know that Ellie. I did. I don't know. I'll be curious to know if you did the same thing, although I think you guys were like, heroes and all of it, right? It was really great. I mean, the comments, in fact, my 16-year-old and I were reading the comments the other day again, because we were just laughing so hard.
It just came up in a conversation, but people were like. This is why women cannot be business owners. You know, these two women are just cringe. What kind of mothers are they? You know, one day their children are going to come and visit them in a nursing home. women are too emotional.
This is the worst idea I've ever seen. I mean, the list goes on and on and on. And I mean, ugly things. And Courtney, I let that steal every bit of my joy. that whole experience was chopped up to absolute trolls just saying strange things, not strange things, but you know, giving their unsolicited opinion and not knowing anything about us.
And for a long time I was in a thunk, I'm a failure, you know, that was a bad idea. What were we thinking? Nobody likes it. and then it happened where I came upon a quote. And I can't remember, like, I looked it up to see who first said it, and I think it's attributed to this man. Can't remember his name.
It was a long time ago in a book, but, people often attribute it to Eleanor Roosevelt. I attribute it to Glennon Doyle and just reading an Instagram post that she wrote, and this was kind of my big aha moment. It was other people's opinions of you are none of your business. Other people's opinions of you are none of your business.
And I had to really sit and marinate and like, okay, why have I let other people's Things that they say about me define me that is ridiculous. That's not who I am. And I'm done with this. I am done, with this doubt that I experienced. That's not me. That's not how I rolled. I just.
Literally think about that all the time. It has made my skin so much thicker and everything that I do, and there's not a whole lot you can say to me at this point. That's going to throw me or upset me or, scare me or whatever, because of just really, like, having that experience and then just doing a complete, like, 180 of, you know, the heck with all that.
Courtney Turich: Does that make sense? It completely makes sense. And of course, I remember talking to you after we both filmed on Shark Tank. It's an emotional roller coaster, right? I mean, there are highs and there are lows and the lows are lows and the highs are highs, especially for small companies, the size we were.
So when was that moment that you heard that quote, like, how far after your experience and letting this get to your soul that you were able to make that pivot?
The Real Struggles Behind Shark Tank Success
Ellie Brown: I'm going to guess it was a good three years. I let myself kind of wallow in that for a while and just kind of live in that self-doubt and I'd started my business, with Beauty Counter, which, is a direct sales company and I remember doubting myself and that, I know my worth. I know what I have to offer. I know what beauty counter has done for the personal care industry. I know what we've done to, change laws in this broken industry, but I would doubt myself like, am I supposed to be doing this? Are people going to judge me like, worrying about being that person?
Right? literally just remember looking at Instagram and seeing that and reading it a few times and I really, at the time, like, was just getting to know who Glennon Doyle was. And I don't know how much you know about her, but she's, you know. Hilarious and awesome and amazing. and, and so I was just like, yeah, yeah, I'm going to stop doing that.
And it really shifted my focus in the business to, just not giving a crap about what other people think of me. And I have something to offer. We all have something to offer and it is an option on a tray. And if you take it. That's your decision to take it. You have an option. If you don't take it, you know what?
That's okay. Some will, some won't, whatever. What's next? And you know,
Courtney Turich: I go back to the moment when we were in the thick of shark tank, both of us together and you had. Very recently left your business and started into the beauty counter world. And I could see that you had this new energy about you.
And on the flip side, I was down in the dark. I was in a really dark place myself, Ellie. I will never forget where I was in my house when we were talking on the phone. Actually exactly the spot in my office. When I said out loud to you that I needed to walk away, thinking about that moment now brings tears to my eyes, because it was the first time I knew deep down inside, that I needed to walk away, but saying out loud to you was different.
And as you said, the emotions that come with this journey that we were on at Shark Tank are real to your point, I never thought I'd be crying or I, it would take me far down as it did, but it took me in a black hole as well.
Ellie Brown: Yeah, and how long would you say that you were kind of living in that space after, having the success that you guys were experiencing, where was your head?
Courtney Turich: Yeah, it was probably the last year. so I sold my shares in 2017. So probably for about an entire year, my family was struggling financially. We weren't able to make ends meet. And here I am staring at this business in the face thinking, this is my American dream. I'm failing. I'm not able to survive.
And as you said, it took time to realize that's not the truth, but there is a lot of mind work we have to work through in this process.
Ellie Brown: Oh, my goodness. Yeah. And I mean, I think about you when you film. I'm curious. How far postpartum were you?
Courtney Turich: Oh, my gosh. Great question. So everyone, if you don't know, I was asked to come on Shark Tank when I was supposed to give birth to my son and they gave me 4 weeks after to show up to L.
A. So was 4 weeks Postpartum leaving my newborn son with my husband who is also a child. and I mean, 'cause we're being real here, Ellie, you know, I'm breastfeeding and then all of a sudden have to figure out what to do with this milk. I am driving around in a car. Do you ever remember people telling you to put cabbage on your breast to stop the breast milk?
I was doing that and I was wondering in Texas why my car smelled because it's a hundred degrees. I'm driving around trying to stop this breast milk before I go on national television. So that is the stuff we do as women. Yes, we do. I take it. I never shared that story.
Ellie Brown: I mean, that's pretty funny because I just think, like, thank goodness, you weren't standing up there just lactating in your cute pink dress.
Courtney Turich: I know, but who wants to go on national television four weeks after you give birth? Not me, but there I was.
Ellie Brown: Yeah, there you were. And you guys had an interesting scenario because you received an offer. You experienced success. You were on, like, after the episode, like in the follow-up. Here's all the success that, Courtney's seeing, and here you feel like you're failing, right?
Courtney Turich: Right. Exactly. Because everything that's coming in is going back out for inventory. Let's not talk about we're two people running a company and trying to buy inventory overseas. It's coming back. It's not good. You have orders to deliver. People are telling you that you're ruining their Easter because they didn't get their monkey mat.
Like, come on. People, the trolls, Ellie, the trolls. Yes. Go choke on a Cadbury egg. Okay. So, that moment when you decided, let's go back to that moment when you decided to shift your mindset, how did you keep your mindset at that level of magnitude? Like, how did you keep it up? Because it's an ongoing process from my perspective and experience.
The Power of Mindset in Overcoming Life’s Challenges
Ellie Brown: One thing that I did, and I know that you can appreciate this being the amazing coach and mentor that you are, is that I invested in, a life coach and, It was a big investment for me, right? Being self-employed, was a big chunk of my take-home pay, but I knew that this wasn't just the quote that you could read and then change your mindset, right?
There was a whole lot of work that had to be done. And let's face it. I mean, life coaches are really just therapists, right? I mean, exactly, exactly. Yes. Yes. I mean, amazing therapists at that. And so I spent probably a good year and a half, meeting with this amazing woman, regularly. I mean, I had unlimited access to her and she is such a bold person.
She lets nothing get in her way. And, she does a lot of work on helping us understand like, How our thoughts influence our action and inaction things that sort of maybe we all know, we haven't really ingested. And so just changing, you know, when it comes to how you feel about a situation, right?
And I'll go back to a platter example, but like, there are so many options on a platter of how you can feel about a situation and you get to choose. the ones that you want to pick out and leave the other ones that you don't want, right? and so choosing your own thoughts and owning those and being logical about it, and really being curious.
Like If you are stuck or you're feeling doubtful, like being curious, what is it that is making me feel this way? You know, I'm curious, not like that, beating yourself up like I used to do of like, you know, what, this is just not worth it. I'm no good at this. I shouldn't be doing this.
and so just kind of Adapting that mindset and realizing that, all of us have value and the same thing that we're doing. Right. And so I knew that I had, something to offer to people and I understand that we all think differently and well, it took me a while to understand that. And so I didn't take things personally.
if. I reached out to you, I'm sure it was like, Hey, Courtney, you know, probably running low on your blah, blah. Are you ready to order? And you might've been like, no, I'm good. And, you know, old me would have been like, shoot, she probably hates me. She probably thinks I'm weird. Why did I reach out to her?
But, you know, new me is like. Okay, she's good. that's great. I'm happy. I'll follow up again, you know, some other time and like, not allowing myself to live in that space of, Okay. self-doubt. It's just not a good place to be. It's not, you got to get out of that if you're stuck in that, because.
it's a dark place. Yeah. Dark place. It's hard because it's so bad Courtney. I don't remember like our exact conversation, but I know that like, probably the gist of it, if I'm guessing, like we tie ourselves to things. And so our success is hinged on something and in your example, it was hinged on your perceived success, right?
And of course we can't attach our success onto things. it doesn't define us. At all. Like we get to decide how we feel, how we interact, how we go about our day. So
Courtney Turich: yeah, a great point. Just like you, I don't talk about my shark tank experience either much. And people always ask me, why don't you talk about that?
It was a part of my journey. But it does not tie me to who I am. And so I love that point you just made. It's a part of our journey and our story and just making us bigger and better.
Ellie Brown: And it's interesting because I don't, maybe I am judging. See, I'm being curious about that. But I mean, I still am like, connected on social media to certain people who maybe their shark tank journey seems to be like the thing that they hold on to.
And, everything about them and I was on shark tank and this is my product. And that's, I mean, I don't know. That's okay. But to me, that's just kind of setting yourself up for, I don't know, relying on other people's opinions of you too much.
Courtney Turich: Right. And I want to circle back around to your beginning statement.
It all surrounds people for you. And when you were even sharing about, when you would reach out to people with your existing business and they would say, no, I don't need anything. And you took it personally.
Now you're just letting them be people respecting their space, respecting who they are, and knowing that if you just put yourself out there, they're going to come back to you when they're ready.
Ellie Brown: That's absolutely true. And it's another thing too, that you, as you grow, kind of into yourself as you start to realize, and maybe you realize this at an early age, Courtney, but like, I always assumed that the way that I operate in life and move about in life is how everybody else sees me.
Operates and moves about in life and that didn't serve me well in my business with my sister because she and I do not think alike and I would just be
so put off by her because she'd be like, well, you know what, don't send that email because we really need to think about X, Y, and Z and have you thought about this and whatnot, girl, shut up?
I'll send something now and think about it later. And so,I just assumed everybody just kind of like went for it and then figure it out later and I mean we would get our relationship was challenged at times just because you know, she doesn't think like me and she doesn't operate like me and I don't always know that in my day to day interactions with my sister, but.
When I think about it, I mean, my gosh, she overthinks everything, like even where to go to dinner. And I'm just like, you know, but once you start to learn that people just don't move around and operate in the world, like you, it is life-changing. And I don't know, about your kid, but like, My oldest is an introvert, needs to be in the room to recharge, needs to be alone, doesn't need friends. And
I was always so worried, I hope they're okay. Cause you know, they're not hanging out with their friends every single day. And are you okay, honey? And like, that's because that's how I moved around and operated in the world. Right.
Courtney Turich: Oh, completely. I have a son very similar and it's hard for me. It's really hard. I'm constantly questioning. Is he? Okay. And he's fine, right? Like, he's fine. He's fine. I just have to
Ellie Brown: let him be energy from, hanging out in his room for a minute or whatever that looks like for him. we question ourselves, but I think just having that aha moment of like.
Everybody moves through things differently and appreciating that and respecting where people are really relinquishes you of a lot of that weird feeling or ick that you can feel sometimes or self-doubt that you can feel.
Courtney Turich: Of not being enough. Right. Yes. I'll admit. I did not know who I was, through my shark tank experience.
And it wasn't until after I'm reflecting and doing the deep work like you've done removing the layers because the layers continue. You think you're at the bottom of the layer. And you're never at the bottom people, never at the bottom. So, completely, I am in line with your movement here. Ellie, I
Ellie Brown: feel like you've done a one 82. you went from sort of that place of like self-doubt or, into this place of like, you own your space. Like, you are in command of, your space, the way that you interact with people, the way that you help people, the way that you like, pull it all together. I mean, I'm so just.
Impressed by you and inspired by you. And I think that, you know, an old me probably would have been intimidated by you, but I'm just like, listen, you are amazing. you are not afraid to just go boldly after stuff. And that is just it's so. Inspiring to see somebody who kind of moved along a similar path to me in a similar timeline to just see like how you have overcome whatever that was back then into this like amazing, you're doing a podcast.
I mean, your videos on Instagram, I'm like, Oh my gosh, I'm going to go to the church of Courtney. Oh,
Starting a Rock Band Later in Life
Courtney Turich: that's hilarious. Well, Ellie, I feel the same about you. So something I didn't mention to everyone, and I know we're coming up on time, Ellie is part of a rock band. Oh, my gosh. Okay, Ellie, fill me in because I feel like you have also just come into your own, your bold, your confidence, like somebody that I want to be surrounding myself with that energy, right? So, okay, come on. Tell me about this rock band.
Ellie Brown: Okay, Reader's Digest version is that a few of us women who are in the band now had kids who were students at School of Rock, which is a performance-based, class and, during COVID, it was obviously very challenging and we, one of us was just kind of thinking, you know what, why It's good to have all the fun.
We know that school of rock teaches adult classes. And so texted a couple of us and said, hey, have you ever thought about starting an all women rock band? And I'm like, so, you know, we decided to start taking classes and none of us had ever, Picked up our instruments or performed in public or anything like that.
And we just said, you know what, we're going to go for it. And we're just going to have fun because you were never too old to stop learning. So I decided I wanted to be the lead singer. Cause why not? here's the thing. I am not a good singer. I'm not, I'm not going to kill your ears, but I'm not good. But here is what's important.
When I go out there, I show up 100 percent with all the energy that I can. And I know that it is about how you make the crowd feel. And if you go out there and you're timid and you're, not sure, and you're like, you are going to look ridiculous. So you're better off. Just, being your authentic.
Okay. It's self and just putting it out there and having fun. And it is a blast. I encourage everyone to start a rock band. we're all women. We're all, we practice, you know, all the time we perform in bars. Although if a bar owner ever watches this, please stop making people start playing at 9 o'clock at night for 3 hours, especially women.
Like we're like, what
Courtney Turich: Mom wants 9 PM. How about like 6, 5, 4. You
Ellie Brown: and do you play for three hours? Y'all are crazy. Like nobody wants to sit there for three hours. I don't even want to listen to like red hot chili peppers for that long. So anyway, that's. Before I
Courtney Turich: ask, the last question, what's the name of the band? Everybody.
Ellie Brown: Yes. The Janeways. So you can go to the Janeways band. com and, kind of read a little bit more, about us. And it is so much fun to be like, half of us are in our fifties and other half are in late forties. And like, we're just getting started. So
Courtney Turich: never, ever too old to try
Ellie Brown: something new
Courtney Turich: It makes me excited. I'm getting all jazz hand over here just for you. You can be a backup singer. Oh, I would love that. I can do that. Right. That's all I have to do. You can do it. Just shimmy. Okay, cool. I'm game. I'm game. All right. All right, friends. I want to ask Ellie this last question, and I think everyone needs to reflect on this for themselves.
And the question is, what's. Ellie, would you tell your 18-year-old self, knowing what you know now?
Ellie’s Advice On Her 18-Year-Old Self
Ellie Brown: wear sunscreen.
Courtney Turich: No,
Ellie Brown: no, wear your sunscreen. you know what? I think I would tell my 18-year-old self to learn to accept, except when you are wrong, admit when you are wrong and don't be afraid to admit your mistake, to apologize and to ask for forgiveness.
That was something that was so hard for me to just even like, And the minute I learned to just be humble and admit when I've done something wrong was so freeing and it's, easy now, but 18-year-old me would have never done that. So that's what I would tell myself.
Courtney Turich: That's amazing. So Ellie, just reflecting on this conversation today.
Okay. You reminded us that people are everything. Put people first. Mindset is key to our success. Forgive, forget, and be humble. Those are all key attributes we all need to take to heart to help us flow and move through this crazy, amazing world we live. Before I say goodbye, I also want to share with you that Ellie has a new Position she's with, is it called the Olive Tree People?
Ellie Brown: Yes. all of tree people. And we just turned one year old here in the U.S and we are a 21 year old German company. And, I would love for you to check out, what we're doing with all tree people. And, you can reach out to me, ask me questions, but we are a waterless skincare company. Remember that term, because that is going to be the wave of the future in terms of, The next ideation and beauty and skin care.
Courtney Turich: Awesome. Okay. We need to talk about that offline. And then if people want to reach out to you, Ellie, where's the best way to find you?
Ellie Brown: You can find me on Instagram. Do you think that's a good place? I don't know.
Courtney Turich: Yeah,She has a great Instagram account. You call me. Absolutely. Look Ellie Brown up on Instagram.
Also, you can reach back out to me at Courtney Turich on LinkedIn or Instagram and I can help connect you to Ellie. But Ellie, again, thank you for being here with me today. You're magical. I love you. I appreciate you and I'm so glad you're in my life. Love you too.
Ellie Brown: And I'm so honored to be your first guest. Thank you for having me.
Courtney Turich: You are so welcome. Hey everyone, go be bold, be confident, and be you. Thanks so much for listening in to bold moves, cand onfident choices. Thanks.
