Many of us of a certain age, before pharmaceutical companies began to routinely mask harsh-tasting medicines with sugary flavorings, will recall our moms giving us sweetened lemon or some other ‘chaser’ to wash down harsh chemical-concocted medications in our youth.
Washington DC-based Donna Marie Teas offers a selection of traditional natural Arabic-inspired teas and herbal brews. It was developed by a young man who encompasses the combination of inspiration and dedication typically associated with successful entrepreneurship.
In the case of Adam Butler, his journey demonstrates qualities of self-esteem, self-reliance, and self-assurance that make it clear he has only just begun to achieve business success. His product has medicinal qualities disguised in sumptuous drinks far more desirable than those old-school medicine chasers our mothers gave us.
Mr. Butler, who named his business after his life’s greatest inspiration, his mom, and acknowledges that his parents provided him with an upbringing that should have steered him clear of the perilous detour he took on his way to found Donna Marie Teas, a path that intersected with the criminal justice system and incarceration, overcame his mistakes and is currently enjoying the triumph of entrepreneurism.
“I knew better. My parents steered me in a direction that should have bypassed some of the troubles I got into, but the lure of the streets in North Philadelphia, winning at the game of street hustling, took me in another direction.”
Adam recognizes that the decisions he made were mistakes that took him off course in his life, but he also understands that some of his legal troubles, which he insists were manufactured by law enforcement, may not have happened if he hadn’t made choices that involved him in illicit activities, to begin with.
However, Adam Butler had no time for bitterness or self-pity. While incarcerated from 2006-2011, he earned his GED at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia. He followed that by enrolling in Business Management courses via Westmoreland County Community College and completed a business education vocation program while serving time at State Correctional Institution in Greene County, Pennsylvania. From there, he earned his Associate degree in Internet Technology (IT) in 2013, after his release in 2011.
As a practicing Muslim, Adam took a page from the life of Malcolm X and engrossed himself in learning, not just in preparation for professional advancement but for personal growth and development. One of the books he consumed while institutionalized was truly life-altering and would put his dream of entrepreneurial success closer within his grasp.
Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, a 13th-century Sunni
Muslim cleric, scholar, and healer from the Syrian-Jordan region of the Middle East. Emphasizing holistic approaches to combined spiritual and physical good health, Adam adopted practices learned from studying this book that guided the development of his exotic teas, which were exquisitely flavored but also had powerful soothing, nutrition, and healing properties, particularly as antioxidants.
“It required considerable study to identify the right ingredients, sources, blends, and a lot more trial and error in the steeping and brewing techniques to develop formulas with the precise balance of flavor and health benefits,” Adam shared. “There’s nothing like seeing the delight on people’s faces when they first experience one of Donna Marie Teas.”
According to a report by Harvard University: “Tea is the most popular beverage in the world after water. It’s a simple preparation of pouring hot water over the cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The first recording of tea described it as a medicinal beverage in China in the 3rd century AD.”
The Harvard study also indicated: “Observational research has found that tea consumption of 2-3 cups daily is associated with a reduced risk of premature death, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.”
Interestingly, the preservation and restoration of health, core lessons of Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet, have extended to all aspects of Adams’s life, not just his business, which began in 2018 in Philadelphia, where he grew up.
“When I was released from my final penal situation, I couldn’t wait to rejoin my sons and show them the way forward to better lives based on my example. They knew where I’d been and could see how I had changed, what I had accomplished, and where I was headed.” Adam’s sons have attended Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania and St. Johns University in Queens, New York.
“I couldn’t have accomplished what I have without mentorship and people who believed in and supported me.” Adam describes the encouragement he received while earning his accreditation as a Computer Support Specialist at the Metropolitan Career Center in Philadelphia. He also speaks highly of unwavering support from Mr. Jose Vargas, his Senior Small Business Coach at the Latino Economic Development Center in Washington DC. Mr. Butler kept his business aspirations alive during the COVID pandemic and sees further success on the horizon. A lot of his business has been generated from working public and private functions where there are large gatherings. However, he is now certified to distribute wholesale to retail and is looking forward to the expansion. His menu currently lists 25 varieties of teas and blended beverages.
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Your Turn
Adam’s journey is proof that your history isn’t your destiny. No matter your background, you have the power to shape your future through entrepreneurship. If you have a business idea, what’s holding you back? Share one action you’ll take this week to move forward in the comments!
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