"I am the first link in a positive chain reaction that nurtures the human spirit around the world." - Melanie Hayden Sparks. And if she can act as a positive link, so too can you.
A mom of three, a cancer survivor with no formal post secondary education, Hayden Sparks has taken the road to success and contentment and she was in Yorkton last week to share her story.
A dynamic speaker who has climbed the ladder in the Mary Kay Company, Watkins as well as with PartyLite Gifts - eventually becoming the company president - Hayden Sparks has now opened her own company based out of her home town of Calgary called H-Trio.
She started H-Trio to be her legacy, and as her way of "Paying it Forward." Her dream company's mission is to inspire and nurture positive living in communities across Canada by training Facilitators to offer workshops on such topics like Life Balance, Eating Habits, Getting Organized and Reducing Stress.
The inherent strategy is to bring people together in communities - individuals, families, clubs and professional groups - through these workshops to experience and share in programs and products designed as solutions for all manner of positive living.
In large part, Hayden Sparks says she was inspired by children.
"I was watching kids starting to question and doubt the future... so I decided to start a business that would be in support of parents and families and then the business would be put in trust to have the profits go forever into children's programs."
To achieve her goals, Hayden Sparks says she closely examined the common challenges that were happening in communities across Canada.
"It seemed to me there were resources for people who were really broken but there wasn't much for everyday parents to be able to really just network, get together and talk about changing their families eating habits, getting better organized, how to reduce stress, how to get more balance, how to get their families more happy, positive and effective...
"So we decided we're going to start bringing groups together in communities, start creating workshop formats and networking opportunities that we can facilitate bringing about constructive, positive conversation and ideas that we can share with each other."
From there she says, things have "taken off like crazy... it really is about giving people a vehicle more than anything else. I'm not trying to control, I'm rather putting it out there and letting communities take things where they go."
The Yorkton event, which attracted a full house, was just one example of how the Positive Links concept is beginning to catch on.
H-Trio stands for Heart, Health and Home. "Anything that makes your life better emotionally, physically or mentally.
"Knowing that those are the three key elements that people need to be happy and health people... we built workshop topics around that."
She also came up with a line of health products that support a healthy lifestyle.
"We've built something that's got a lot of versatility." So much so that teachers are taking the idea to their classrooms and the potential has now opened up to a large extent for parents and schools to work together using H-Trio concepts as a helpful tool.
"The third area of what we're doing is when people are looking for a little more than just networking we've got another division called resolutions which is really a one day program where we bring people together and spend the whole day being more effective at setting goals, changing habits and brainstorming to get people moving forward, especially if they're feeling stuck."
It wasn't always easy for Hayden Sparks and she's had her challenges along the way. The difference between she and some others, is that she chosen to forge ahead and to make things better.
"I've lived it all... I was a single mom for many years, raising my kids on my own. I graduated from high school and at 18 got married right away. I never had a chance to go to University but I think because of my ability to not let my deficits get in the way I got to where I am today.
"I was blessed with a tremendous career... I retired and I came back to do this... It's been an interesting journey."
Ten months into opening her new company Hayden Sparks says she was diagnosed with cancer.
"I literally had a year and half of just trying to put myself back together. I think everything is a blessing in the end because I have come out more determined than ever with a greater sense of urgency."
H-Trio is going in full force and its founder has no intention of slowing down anytime too soon.
"I think it's time for the positive people to become the dominant force in communities rather than all the negativity that seems to get so much attention... I am the first link in a positive chain reaction that nurtures the human spirit around the world... My goal is to make sure that everybody else feels the same..."
