Why Shann is not in Dubai...and what's in it for you?

So, THIS happened…

Apparently Enterprise World Magazine has decided that I’m the “Most Influential Woman in Business to Watch in 2025.” Which is – y’know. Nice and all. If you like that sort of thing.

I first got a hint that this was going to happen when the lovely folks people from Enterprise World wrote and asked me who I wanted to accompany me, to the awards ceremony in Dubai. DUBAI. Excuse me? I didn’t write back and say that I’d rather stick forks in my eyes. I just politely said thank you, but I would be unable to attend in person. So they made me send a video instead. Which I did. But…Gak. Can you imagine, standing around with all those fancy people who would go to an event like that…and NETWORKING WITH THEM? OMG. Networking. Worst thing ever. And what you would have to wear, at a do-lally like that. Not my muck boots, you can bet. And also – Dubai – that little patch of artificial watered gorgeousness, in the midst of all that desert. And then all that – desert. No thank you. Also, who would feed my chickens? (Although when I mentioned this to my team, Debs said she would have fed the chickens, if I had just asked. Cheers Deb!)

Anyhow, loooong story short – when you get one of these awards, you have to answer an average of 15 questions, with 200 words each. And they are questions like – how are you planning to grow the business. What are your plans for the future. Blah blah blah.

(What strikes me about all this is the eternal assumption that we want to grow the business. Always, always the question about growth. You know, there’s a biological term for unlimited growth? It’s called cancer.)

I might, once upon a time, have wanted to grow the business. (I am, after all, American by birth.) But in just a few short decades on the farm, Rich has taught me better. He’s taught me the beauty of keeping it small, keeping it on the farm, keeping the heart-quality right. Keeping the “red door” factor intact. So, no – we don’t want to grow the business. We want to deepen it. We want to get better at what we do. Better at helping people. More good science. More credibility.

I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not so much about having all the answers – it’s more about asking the right question.

And the right question is – How can we serve? And how can we continue to do better at that?

One answer is – more care. And so here’s what we’re doing – we’re offering more free follow-up consultations after your microbiome test.

Previously, we offered a 30-minute free consultation after the test because let’s face it – who wants to wade through 80 pages of raw data? The special Nutritional Therapists who do these consultations (we call them “cons goats” – for obvious reasons!) are really good at this. Dr. Amrita Vijay is working with the cons goats now on a regular basis, making sure that they are all up to date with the very latest science in the gut microbiome field.

It’s already a great system – but everything can always be improved. So we double-clicked on what clients wanted. And what we heard was – more connection. More contact time. More conversations. More check-ins. More time for explanations, for asking and answering questions.

OK! You asked for it, you got it! Now when you get a microbiome test, you get an initial 30-minute consultation, and then TWO free 15-minute follow-ups. One at 6 weeks, and then another one at 12 weeks. Just to check in. See how you are, how you’re getting on with the recommendations. Find out what issues and problems you’re having, and how we can help solve those problems. Warm human contact, in a dark and confusing world. Always a happy thing.

And after that, of course the NTs are always around (still for free) on live chat, if you need more advice.

Matt the Stat, our finances guy, asked if I was sure that I was willing to invest this many additional expensive man-hours, for free. The cost of all those extra follow-ups consultations will add up, he pointed out. (That’s his job, to try to keep me from over-spending. Bless him!)

I get it, Matt, I really DO. But what am I going to do with that extra money anyhow, that would be better than investing it into long-standing relationships with our clients, who are working hard to improve their own gut health? (And goodness knows, it can be a long and tricky journey, I know that better than anyone!)

What would I do – buy a damn trouser-suit to take to DUBAI? Or maybe – some sparkly SHOES? Or a HAND BAG?

I don’t THINK so.

Well, maybe a hand bag….

Anyhow, now there are more free consultations for you – so – enjoy!

And don’t forget that the beauty of the microbiome test, at the end of the day, is that we no longer have to GUESS at what’s going on inside your gut. We can give you the very best information and science-based recommendations, supported by the work of the brilliant scientists at Cambridge Genomic Services, University of Cambridge. Want to try it for yourself? Go on, stop wondering and start feeling better.

Hugs – NOT from Dubai – and definitely wearing my muck boots –

Shann.x

Shann Jones MBE

Founder/Director Chuckling Goat

The Most Influential Woman in Business to Watch 2025, Enterprise Magazine