Don't Worry, Tea Happy

It's Acadiana: Out to Lunch

Sometimes in business you just need to go in a different direction. Maybe you’re a victim of your own success. Maybe your work-life balance is out of whack. Maybe you’re bored or maybe you just need a little extra cash on the side.

Recognizing the change is probably the easy part. Changing is the hard part — especially if you like what you do.

Rachel Sam figured out the change part the hard way. She built a successful program at UL. Got promoted. Had a daughter. But things got hard. Anxiety flared up and so did back pain. She took some time to heal and had an epiphany. She wrote it down in a book called “Hello, My Name is Happy.”

The experience moved her in a new direction. Rachel resigned from her role at UL in 2024 and went into consulting as Dr. Rachel Sam.

Rachel’s consulting work is broad. She helps nonprofits lead workshops for teenagers. She consults with colleges and universities on academic success for students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. Some of the organizations she works with include SafeHavyn, the Lafayette Juvenile Justice Center and the Boys and Girls Club.

Sometimes a change can be a side-hustle. Maybe things are going pretty well, but you’re looking for a little extra cash or a chance to pursue your dream.

That can all be daunting. And adding a new business to your workload is stressful. So why not try a taste of the sweet life with a franchise?

Kylie Roussell took that path with her husband and bought into the sweet tea life. Kylie is part-owner and operator of Lafayette’s HTeaO franchise. HTeaO is a beverage company that specializes in iced teas — and they have lots of them, 26 flavors of iced tea alone. They also sell chais, coffees and espressos, drinks and a line of snacks. And that’s before you get to the secret menu

Kylie and her husband settled on HTeaO after first considering a restaurant. The franchise option presented an attractive alternative. Plus, she figured it wouldn't be hard to find a thirsty customer in sweltering Louisiana. Kylie lives in Iowa and originally looked at starting the tea shop in Lake Charles. They opted for Lafayette instead and launched with a location in River Ranch.

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette.

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