How does a former science teacher become an international author, speaker, and Top 1 percent earner while working from home? If you’re Rhiannon Neuharth, you use the combined powers of science, determination, and social skills to grow your revenue to a six figure income.
Her secret? Leveraging direct-to-consumer models and radical honesty. Nothing is off-limits.
In a candid conversation over Zoom, Neuharth shares everything from personal encounters with homelessness, bankruptcy, and anxiety, to designing a successful life around the needs of your family.
Indeed, “Family First” is more than a mantra in the Neuharth household. It’s a way of life.
With a husband battling neurological issues and a daughter struggling with chronic illness, this mother of two needed to find the flexibility and freedom to earn an income while caring for her family.
The answer, it turns out, comes from both the garden and the lab, in the form of CBD and other plant-based supplements.
Neuharth first explored cannabis products as a supplement for her husband, not realizing it could benefit her entire family.
“He has some challenging neurological issues that just weren’t being effectively treated with traditional medicine. Sure, the drugs helped alleviate some of his symptoms, but the side effects were destroying his quality of life. I was tired of watching him suffer.”
That sentiment compounded when the Neuharths discovered their daughter suffered from recurring illness due to missing part of her immune system.
The former science teacher is a self-acknowledged geek, so it wasn’t long before her research led her down the endocannabinoid system to cannabinoid receptors and, eventually, CBD oils.
“When we started using an oil-based CBD alongside our lifestyle, we began seeing improvement almost immediately,” Neuharth gushes. “It was enough to make us both decide to make CBD part of our family’s lifestyle, as well as a business.”
Sure, the drugs helped alleviate some of his symptoms, but the side effects were destroying his quality of life. I was tired of watching him suffer.
Rhiannon Neuharth, BioReigns Seller
They remained with that first company for three years. But when it quit working, they realized it was time to go back to researching. “Science and technology are constantly changing,” Neuharth says. “I discovered that oil-based CBD has a very low absorption level. Knowing this, I sought other delivery methods for not only our CBD, but our entire supplement regimen.”
Scientifically speaking, it all comes down to something known as bioavailability. “Bioavailability indicates how much of any given substance can be absorbed by the body,” Neuharth says. “With an oil-based product, less than 20 percent of the actual effective compound is being absorbed and utilized by the body.”
And that’s how Neuharth first discovered BioReigns and its unique water-dissolvable nutrient-delivery system that increases the absorption of not only CBD molecules, but also a wide variety of other necessary vitamins and minerals. For the Neuharths, that better, faster absorption meant improved health and wellness. And if you’re entrepreneurial-minded, financial security in a work-from-home business. Win, win.
Neuharth transitioned to BioReigns at the end of last year to working to show people how this technology might be right for them—no matter what they’ve heard.
FROM CBD TO CPA
Sure, everyone can use CBD safely and effectively; from the daily walker to the occasional runner, to the true weekend warrior, to the pro-athlete. Not everyone, however, has the same luck with CPAs, accountants, and financial professionals.
“I haven’t always been the poster child for best financial practices,” admits Neuharth. As a child, she experienced homelessness after moving across the country and filed bankruptcy at 25 after her first failed business attempt. Though she contributes these two events as fuel to push her through struggles to see success, healthy finances have previously been a struggle.
Go Figure isn’t about making a quick buck. They come in, they hold your hand, and they are radically honest…It’s big picture thinking, and that’s made a profound impact on the success of my business.
Rhiannon Neuharth, BioReigns Seller
“I’ve never had a good experience with a CPA. Not one. It’s been one disaster after another from lying to tax fraud, so when I hear the word ‘accountant,’ my walls go up. But as a business owner, it’s a necessary evil. I’m a great mom and entrepreneur. I love science and helping people live their best life. I’m even a good homeschool teacher. Accounting is just not my thing,” she laughs.
Enter Rachel Siegel and Go Figure Accounting. “I first met Rachel at a Horizon West Professional Networking event, back when meeting in person was still a thing,” remembers Neuharth. Though the two women bonded over shared parents’ travails, Neuharth was still guarded. Until she found herself up against a tax deadline, completely flustered, with nowhere to turn.
“It was one day before my taxes were due, and Rachel dove right in. No questions asked, no extra fees. She didn’t judge me or chastise me, she just got the work done. I was so happy and so impressed that I immediately asked her for more help.”
“I didn’t know what I was getting into,” jokes Siegel. “It’s been a year since that first mad-dash deadline, but we finally have it under control. This is great because her business is growing incredibly fast!
“Financials are one of the first areas to start slipping through the cracks when a business grows too quickly. Thankfully, with a little guidance, we’ve been able to transition Rhiannon to QuickBooks, so she can monitor the health of her business weekly. And right now, we’re brainstorming and setting new financial goals for 2021 and beyond.”
While Neuharth may never be an accounting evangelist, she does sing Go Figure’s praises often. “I’m a relationship person and so is Rachel, which I believe makes all the difference. Go Figure isn’t about making a quick buck. They come in, they hold your hand, they walk you through every step. They do the right thing, and they are radically honest. Like it or not, Rachel gives you the good, the bad, and the ugly, but she also gives you an achievable outcome. Something to work towards, a way to better your business. It’s big picture thinking, and that’s made a profound impact on the success of my business. I appreciate her guidance, patience, and ongoing support.”
6 Tips for a Healthier Quaran-team
“I feel like I’ve been living in Groundhog Day,” jokes Neuharth, referring to quarantining during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Those first few months took a tremendous toll on our mental health, so we had to adapt. Even though my daughter is immunocompromised, we had to find ways to connect with others, to protect our mental health.” Neuharth shared her favorite tips as a community contributor at Horizon West magazine:
1. Acknowledge your feelings
This is a first for everyone. Stress, confusion, worry, sadness, and fear are all appropriate reactions to having lost control of your sense of normalcy. Your kids, spouse, partner, and extended family may be emotional and more prone to arguments. This is their way of expressing their own feelings. Talking as a family about these feelings will do wonders for moving into the unknown together.
2. Let go of expectations
Your new daily routine will not look like a normal day at school or work. Finding a schedule that works for everyone will take time, patience, communication, and grace. At the beginning and end of each day, check in with each family member to see how they are feeling about the day. Keep a daily list of feelings and adjust your routine accordingly.
3. Break up the day
Everyone’s attention spans are all over the place right now. Work in chunks broken up with snacks, creative time, music, and exercise or reading. This applies to children in virtual school and work-from-home adults alike. Give plenty of breathing room to process, and extra time to focus on schoolwork or tasks. Be gentle with each other.
4. Schedule attention
We are all being pulled in a million directions right now, particularly if you are working from home. Small children demand attention. Schedule one-on-one time to replace tantrums with positive interaction. Reward good behavior and offer incentives for self-entertaining so you can focus on work in between meeting their needs. Set some office hours for yourself so your children begin to learn what to expect when it’s not one-on-one time.
5. Prioritize health
Read, pray, meditate, indulge in a cup of coffee while the house is quiet in the morning, go for a walk or run, make healthy meals, drink plenty of water and encourage active time with your family. Your health and well-being are vital to helping your children feel safe during this time. If you are feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope, ask for help. Vent to other grownups when you need to, and focus on being the best version of yourself as you lead your loved ones through a challenging time.
6. Connect
It can be tempting to spiral down the “what if” way of life, but it’s important to remember we are all in this together. You may struggle with isolation from other adults, familiar friends, and the comfort of what your life was before. Trust that everyone else is feeling a lot like you are. Reach out to them with a phone or video calls, a socially distant bike ride, or a driveway chat. Connecting with other humans, even six feet apart, makes all the difference.
