Detroit Mom’s Local Love series highlights local women and the businesses they have built. We love supporting small business! Today’s Local Love Spotlight belongs to Alicia Long, owner of Sunny Side Up Wellness.
To start, we asked Alicia to share a few fun facts about herself with us!
- She was born at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona on Easter Sunday, facing Sunny Side Up. She feels like that fact has propelled her into so much purpose in her life!
- Before kids, she and her husband fostered dogs. They would rescue from shelters in Michigan, Ohio, and Georgia and find homes for “last chance” fur babies.
- She loves to travel! A few places she has never been that are on her bucket list are Sedona, Greece, and Amalfi Islands.
We asked Alicia to share a little bit more about her business with us, too. Get to know her and her business, Sunny Side Up Wellness, below!
How did you come up with the idea of your business, and how did you start?
“20+ years ago I started teaching fitness at MSU (Go Green!) and that’s really when my passion for health ignited. Every job I’ve had in my life has tied into wellness of some kind; it’s really just in my bones and a part of who I am. In 2020 I decided to take the leap and build a full blown business, starting with a podcast to address mental health and then enrolling in a four year program for natural medicine! Today, my business, Sunny Side Up Wellness, is a culmination of all of [my] experiences and God given gifts.
“[I started with] a lot of Grit and a lot of God. 🙂 ‘Sometimes you just have to take the leap and build your wings on the way down.'”
Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out?
“Not that I would do anything differently, but I will say this: surround yourself with people that inspire you and emulate the kind of person, product, and passion you aspire to achieve. Walk into a room and exude the kind of energy you desire. Stay grounded and true to YOUR PATH, not swayed by opinions or projections of others. Always ask yourself, ‘Is this decision in alignment with my intuition and God’s plan?'”
What is the best business advice you’ve ever been given?
“TWO THINGS:
“1. Your Superpower is YOU. No one is going to do it like you, so if there are a million widgets in the world and you feel like, ‘Why does mine matter? How can my widget possibly make a difference?’ Remember that NO ONE is you. Get very clear on who you are and what you want to bring to this world, and then make it happen.
“2. Collaboration over competition–every single time. We are better together.”
Have you faced adversity in business due to being a woman? How did you navigate that?
“Honestly, I left. LOL I can think of three jobs I walked away from because of adversity and being put into a box. No thank you. Life is too short. Peace out.”
How do you persevere in challenging times?
“Numero uno always is PRAY and get back to God’s word. When the storm is really raging and I cannot find my way through the mess, I lean on God. He is my refuge and my peace. This is the reason I created Sunny Side Up Podcast; to share stories and perspectives through the storms. Overcoming challenges is not a linear journey and the more tools we have in our tool box, the better.”
What impact do you want your business to have?
“What if we lived in a world that focused on the ROOT cause of imbalance? Can you imagine what that might look like? Thriving instead of surviving? That’s my goal. That’s the impact I hope to have. My mission is also about spreading sunshine and empowering others to do the same. We can’t shine from a dim light.”
What are the pros and cons of being a woman business owner in 2024?
“No cons. All pros. Women rock and are busting through glass ceilings!”
What knowledge would you share with someone who wants to become an entrepreneur?
“You will want to quit 1,000 [times] and that’s okay. Keep going! Reprioritize when you need to, take a break when you need to, and make sure your mental health comes first!”
What do you do for personal and professional development?
“I always have a book in my lap and listen to podcasts daily. When you incorporate learning opportunities into your everyday it makes it more manageable. For example, listening to 10 minutes of a podcast every time you get into the car is better than not listening at all because you don’t have 60 minutes to spare. Frequency is better than duration.”
What mantra or quote do you live by?
“Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.”
What’s your favorite place in Detroit or Michigan?
“Lake Michigan is my happy place.”
Where can our readers find you on social media?
You can follow Sunny Side Up Wellness on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and on their website!
