Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Chris Freeman, Founder of A Healthy Alternative, located in Euless, TX, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I have a health and wellness brand. I teach those interested in holistic wellness how to lose weight without loose skin and reverse disease naturally. The people I serve are anyone with a moderate-to-chronic illness like diabetes and those dealing with obesity, especially those who yo-yo frequently. We work with those who can't seem to find a solution for their ailment through traditional methods, as well as those who appreciate plant medicine.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Chris James, and I'm just your average guy. I was working as an electrician and noticed that many of the guys who were only a few years older than me were dealing with all sorts of chronic illnesses. One guy, in particular, had a prostate issue that caused him to have to use the bathroom once every hour and a half or so. I looked at the outcomes my elders were getting and determined that I did not want what they had.

A few years later, I noticed that my health was rapidly declining. It was unbelievable to me that at the tender age of 29, my hair was falling out, I was overweight, and I was falling asleep at lunch. So in 2015, when I got laid off, I decided to learn about my body. Over the next eight months, I did personal experiments, read books, watched documentaries, and spoke with experts about natural health and wellness.

At the same time, my brother was diagnosed with a diabetic condition. He was morbidly obese and experiencing many diseases. We decided to implement some of the therapies I had been learning, and within six weeks (yes, I said weeks), all my brother's diabetic conditions had reversed, and he had lost 50 pounds. I knew I had to share this information with the world.

I'm motivated by the transformations I get to see every day. In my community, we often discuss generational curses and how they affect our families. We also talk about legacy. I believe that generational curses come from our environment and bad habits that are passed down from father to son and mother to daughter. These habits are the chains that hold us in captivity.

To build a generational legacy, we must begin making better choices, which begins with our consumption. This includes food, music, people, energy, etc. My favorite part of this business is hearing the story of a mother or a father who underwent a level of transformation and inspired their child to do the same.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

The thing I'm most proud of from this journey is the community we have built. Our community is well over a quarter of a million people strong, spanning from the United States to Japan, Australia, and more. It's an amazingly warm community with great people who support each other, motivate each other, and hold each other accountable. The community is everything.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

My number one challenge is being consistent and not losing that element of intimacy that I have with the people I'm helping. The community's growth is the greatest achievement but also creates the biggest challenge, providing a personal experience for each individual in the group.

What draws people to our brand is the genuine energy, vibration, and connection they feel when interacting with us, whether it's a YouTube video, one of our products and services, or even a fasting challenge. It's important to me that each person has a valuable personal experience with us. I want them to know that they're not just a number. They are an important piece of our community.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Tip one for someone looking to start and grow a business: this is very cliché but very true. You have to find something that deeply moves you, that you're passionate about or something you are highly motivated to succeed in. If you don't have a deep connection to your work, there's a good possibility you'll end up being a statistic.

Second tip. Build a community around your products and services. The currency right now is attention. The most successful businesses on the planet grab and maintain people's attention. It's not enough to have a great product or service. By taking it a step further and building a community around your business, you help fortify it so that you can endure the herbs and flow of the economy.

The last tip for someone looking to be successful in this market is adaptability. If you look at some of the giants of the past, like blockbusters, for example, the rigid way they did business and their arrogant belief that they stood at the top of the totem pole ultimately led to their downfall. Maintain your very important core values, but how you implement your business will change with the market. Those who adapt early and efficiently will see leaps and bounds of growth ahead of the competition, but if you try to hold onto traditional methods, you may find yourself in the same position as blockbuster history.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://ahealthyalternative.org/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AHealthyAlternativeOfficial/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AhealthyAlternative2016

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.healthy.alternative/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AHealthyA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahealthyalternative/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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