Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke O’Connell.
Hi Brooke, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey with Positivi-Tea LLC began with a dream — one that became a reality much sooner than I could have imagined.
At the end of July 2023, I remember waking up one morning after dreaming so vividly about obtaining my business license. The dream was so clear that it stayed with me throughout the day. By the end of that very same day, Positivi-Tea LLC was official. What had been a thought, an idea, and a possibility was now a business. Looking back, that moment feels like the beginning of a much bigger journey, one that would challenge me to trust God in ways I had never experienced before.
The truth is the idea behind Positivi-Tea was not something I immediately embraced. In many ways, it was an idea I had once run from. I was afraid. I struggled with the uncertainty of stepping into something I could not fully control, and I allowed the doubts of others about whether this business would ever amount to anything to weigh on me. When you are building something, you cannot yet fully see, it can be difficult to believe in it when others cannot see the vision either. Their doubts, combined with my own fears, made it easier to run from the idea than to trust what was possible.
But I began to realize that I could not allow fear, the opinions of others, or my need to control the outcome to determine what I did with the vision in my heart.
There came a point when I surrendered my hopes, my dreams, and my own ideas of what my future should look like to God. I stopped trying to figure out every detail and began making room for what He had for me. That surrender became a turning point in my life. Once I released my own expectations and stopped trying to control the journey, doors began to open continuously. Opportunities came, connections were made, and the idea I had once resisted began to take shape into a clearer vision.
As I continued walking this journey, God began showing me that Positivi-Tea was about so much more than me. What started as a business idea was revealing itself to be part of a much bigger purpose. Time and time again, I have been reminded that the vision is bigger than the products I create, the packages I prepare, or the experiences I host. It is about the people who will be encouraged, the connections that will be formed, the lives that may be touched, and the seeds of hope that can be planted through something as simple as a cup of tea.
There is a message that has stayed with me throughout this journey: Never underestimate what God can do through a teabag.
It may seem like a small thing to some people. A teabag. A warm cup of tea. A thoughtful gift. A moment to sit, breathe, and feel seen. But I believe God can use the simplest things to accomplish extraordinary purposes. A teabag can become an invitation to a meaningful conversation. It can be a reminder to someone who is struggling that they have not been forgotten. It can create space for women to gather, share their stories, and encourage one another. It can be a small expression of love at exactly the moment someone needs it.
That is what makes this journey so meaningful to me. I am learning not to measure the significance of the vision by the size of the thing in my hands, but by what God can do with it when I am willing to surrender it to Him.
Building Positivi-Tea LLC has become a journey of faith, personal growth, and learning to trust God one step at a time. Through curated tea bundles, meaningful gifts, and experiences that bring people together, I have been able to create opportunities to encourage others and remind them that they deserve to be poured into, too.
But as the vision continues to grow, so does my understanding of what I am building. I am not just building a business for today; I am building with future generations in mind. I want the work I do now to create opportunities, inspire possibility, and leave something meaningful for those who will come after me. I want children to see that they do not have to have everything figured out to pursue an idea, that fear does not have to stop them, and that someone else’s doubt does not determine the value of what they carry inside them.
For me, building a legacy is not solely about leaving behind a successful business. It is about leaving behind a message, an example, and a foundation that encourages others to believe in what is possible. It is about showing future generations what can happen when you are willing to face your fears, trust God, and move forward with a vision that may be bigger than you initially imagined.
This journey has also taught me that while I pour into others, I must be willing to receive what I need. Entrepreneurship has stretched me personally and professionally. It has challenged me to move beyond what feels comfortable, remain faithful when I cannot see the entire path, and trust that growth often happens in the very moments when I feel least prepared. I am still learning, still growing, and still becoming the woman God is calling me to be.
My hope is that Positivi-Tea continues to create more than products. Most importantly, I want the business to remain a vessel for something bigger than me — a way to serve others, create opportunities, and make a lasting difference in the lives of people I may never even meet.
If there is one thing my journey has taught me, it is that surrender is not giving up on your dreams. Sometimes, it is giving those dreams back to God and trusting Him to shape them into something greater than you originally imagined. It is understanding that other people’s inability to see your vision does not have to determine whether you pursue it.
I cannot say that every step has been easy or that fear has completely disappeared. But I can say that I am learning to trust the One who gave me the vision in the first place.
Positivi-Tea began with a dream, grew through surrender, and continues to unfold as a purpose bigger than me. I may be the hands preparing the tea, creating the experiences, and building the business, but I believe the impact reaches far beyond what I can see. My prayer is that what I am planting today will continue to grow for generations to come — and that I never lose sight of just how much God can do through something as simple as a teabag.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Financially, this journey has been one of the most challenging and humbling experiences. There is a difficult balance between having enough money to reinvest into the business so it can grow and having enough to provide for my family and meet the needs of everyday life. As an entrepreneur, you want to invest in new products, supplies, and opportunities that will move your business forward, but those investments come with real costs. At the same time, the household bills do not stop coming simply because you are building a dream.
There have been times when bills were late and moments when I had to ask for help. Those are not always easy things to admit, especially when you are working hard to build something and want to be able to provide for your family. Financially building a business can be scary, particularly when you depend on that business to contribute to your family’s livelihood. You are trying to build something for the future while making sure you can get through the present. Sometimes, you have to make difficult decisions about where the money needs to go, what can wait, and how to keep moving forward.
But even in the uncertainty, God has consistently shown Himself to be a provider for me, my business, and my family. There have been moments when I needed a very specific amount of money to cover a bill, and an order would come through for that exact amount. Those moments are difficult to explain unless you have experienced them yourself. To someone else, it might look like a coincidence, but to me, it has been a personal reminder that God sees our needs and that I am not walking this journey alone.
Those experiences have not meant that every bill has always been paid on time or that I have never experienced financial hardship. They have reminded me, though, that even when I do not know how everything will work out, I can look back and remember the times provision came when I needed it. My faith is not rooted in the belief that I will never face a financial struggle; it is rooted in what I have experienced God do in the middle of those struggles.
Through it all, I am learning to trust God without pretending that the hard parts are easy. I can acknowledge the fear and still recognize His faithfulness. I can admit that I do not have all the answers and still move forward in faith. And when an order comes through for the very amount I need, I am reminded that something as simple as a customer placing an order can become part of a much bigger story of provision.
That is one of the reasons I continue to believe in the purpose behind Positivi-Tea. I have experienced firsthand how something that may seem small can make a meaningful difference. I often think about the reminder God has placed on my heart: Never underestimate what He can do through a teabag. I believe that applies not only to the lives Positivi-Tea can touch, but also to the ways God continues to provide and strengthen me as I build it.
My goal is to grow Positivi-Tea into a sustainable business that can serve others while also providing greater stability and opportunities for my family. I want to build something that lasts, not just for today but for generations to come. The road has not been smooth, but I am learning that I can be honest about the struggle while still giving testimony to the provision, grace, and faithfulness I have experienced along the way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Positivi-Tea LLC is a tea-inspired gifting and experience business built around encouragement, connection, and the belief that everyone deserves to be poured into. I specialize in thoughtfully curated tea bundles, unique gifts, made-to-order drinks, and interactive experiences that bring people together across generations, ages, sectors, and backgrounds. I believe tea can be more than something we drink; it can be a catalyst for meaningful conversations, lasting relationships, and positive change.
In addition to creating products and hosting experiences, I am growing Positivi-Tea through wholesale partnerships with local markets and bakeries. I also host drink delivery days, preparing drinks to order and delivering them directly to local businesses, schools, and residents. I love bringing a little joy to someone’s workday, classroom, or home while making Positivi-Tea convenient and accessible. These efforts allow me to connect with customers in different ways while building relationships throughout the area.
A meaningful part of my work is taking Positivi-Tea beyond traditional retail settings and using tea to serve different groups in intentional ways. I host tea times at retirement homes, creating opportunities for residents to socialize, share stories, and enjoy moments of fellowship. I also partner with Boys & Girls Clubs to encourage young people to recognize the value of their ideas and their ability to make a difference. Through hands-on activities, they can help plan and execute a tea time or create tea bags with decorated tags featuring uplifting messages. These experiences nurture creativity, leadership, and confidence while showing young people that they can turn an idea into something that positively impacts others.
Family and school partnerships are another important part of my vision. Through family and community engagement tea times at schools, I create welcoming opportunities for families, educators, and school communities to connect and strengthen their relationships. I believe these shared experiences can help build a stronger foundation of support around children and their educational journeys.
My faith is also woven into the work I do. Through my Sip and Savor in His Presence experiences, I combine my love for tea with my desire to encourage women spiritually and personally. These gatherings offer space for faith, fellowship, reflection, and honest conversation, reminding women that they can come as they are and do not have to navigate life’s challenges alone.
What sets Positivi-Tea apart is the intention behind every product and experience. I am not interested in simply selling tea; I want to create something people connect with emotionally. Whether it is a personalized gift, a made-to-order drink, a wholesale product, or an interactive tea time, I want the details to communicate care and leave people feeling appreciated. For me, the product is only part of the experience. The deeper purpose is what it inspires, encourages, or makes possible.
My faith has been central to the growth of this business. I believe God continues to show me that Positivi-Tea is bigger than me. What began as an idea I was once afraid to pursue has become a vision that continues to unfold in ways I could not have planned. I often return to the reminder He placed on my heart: Never underestimate what He can do through a teabag. It reminds me that something seemingly small can become a vehicle for encouragement, generosity, and lasting impact.
What am I most proud of? I am proud that I said yes to the vision despite my fears. I took an idea and turned it into a real business, and I continue to build it through the uncertainties, financial challenges, and lessons that come with entrepreneurship. I am proud that Positivi-Tea allows me to combine creativity, faith, business, and service in ways that reach beyond sales and create meaningful opportunities for others.
I am especially passionate about the example I am building for future generations. I want children to see that their ideas matter and that they do not have to let fear or other people’s doubts prevent them from pursuing their dreams. I want them to understand that building something worthwhile takes courage, faith, hard work, and a willingness to learn along the way.
Ultimately, I want Positivi-Tea to be known for more than tea. I want it to represent thoughtful giving, genuine connection, encouragement, and purpose. My hope is to continue growing the business in a way that supports other small businesses, empowers young people, strengthens families and schools, and creates experiences that remind people of their value.
At the heart of Positivi-Tea is a message that has become personal to me, too: You deserve to be poured into. As I continue building this vision, I want to embody that message and create something meaningful that can continue to serve and inspire others for generations to come.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positivitea_llc?fbclid=IwY2xjawVEqFxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMUVENEZPRXlWTkZ3Y3ZzTWdzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeLKMKWHSZPQRswetHkdi2u31kd42CBshcwsc1-qGO55pailmbsokqx291ijM_aem_pqMSns-1PBEyPxIN31z4NA
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558532432143&sk=about
- Other: https://canva.link/6u27i1cn090jdqa
