Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Len Lopez, a nutrition and fitness expert based in Dallas, TX, USA.

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

I've been involved in health and fitness for over 25 years, specifically in natural, holistic medicine, and sports medicine, with an emphasis on Eat Right - Train Smart! Over the years, customers, patients, and clients sought my help as I started writing books, formulating nutritional products, and inventing My Portable Pullup Bar. Most recently, I shared my thoughts on my own personal development and felt it was time to share 5 STEPS a Day. It's a unique to-do list and accountability journal that taps into your visual and kinesthetic learning centers to help you improve your Habits and Attitudes.

In less than 2 minutes a day, you track how well you are feeding your body, mind, and spirit by simply shading in your S.T.E.P.S.

SLEEP – Did I Sleep with a smile last night? If you did, shade in the "S"
THINK – Did I Think better today? If you did, shade in the "T"
EAT – Did I Eat right today? If you did, shade in the 'E'
PHYSICAL – Did I get Physical today? If you did, shade in the 'P'
SPIRIT – Did I work on my Spiritual muscles today? If yes, shade in the last 'S.'

By the end of the week, you will physically draw and visually see a picture of all the progress you made during the week. What's great about 5 STEPS a Day is that it taps into your Visual and Kinesthetic learning centers to help anchor those better habits and attitudes that so many people want.

It's unfortunate, but not everyone is inspired by reading another self-help book or listening to a podcast. Some people are more motivated when you tap into their visual or kinesthetic learning centers, which is what 5 STEPS a Day does. So, if you are looking to improve your level of health and fitness, strengthen your personal and professional relationships, and enhance your spiritual walk, using our 5 STEPS a Day Calendar or Journal could be helpful.

Tell us about yourself

As a teenager and young athlete, I was always involved in athletics, which led to my studies in health and fitness. In college, I first set my sites on pharmacy, but as I started reading more and eventually injured my back – that is what got me into natural, holistic medicine. A few years later, unbeknownst to me, I happened to meet one of the leaders in the chiropractic industry. He didn't buy my invention for my fitness product, but he believed in me and spoke words to me that, to this day, I haven't forgotten.

As it turned out, a year after meeting Dr. Monte Greenawalt, he suggested I enter chiropractic school. My passion started out in the healing arts, and I grew my practice through public speaking and television appearances. More opportunities and invitations came my way, which got me to think more of just being a standalone doctor treating patients. I was encouraged to start writing books, which opened the door to formulating nutritional products, and eventually inventing My Portable Pullup Bar.

I've had my ups and downs. Fortunately, I had a wife who was helpful in so many different ways. But as I look back, what hampered me was that I kept on getting opportunities that I hadn't sought. In other words, I was getting pulled in different directions and not staying focused on what I wanted or where I wanted to go. The reason for that was that I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do after becoming a doctor. I just wanted to be a good doctor.

As far as motivating me, it has to be a simple fact that I am doing things that I enjoy doing. I enjoy talking about health and fitness, and personal development. It doesn't feel like work because I am doing things I have a passion for.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

That's tough to answer. It's like asking me which of my kids I'm most proud of. But I know you want an answer, so I will say that it's really gratifying knowing that I invented a fitness product and received a patent on it, and most thankful that people have bought My Portable Pull-up Bar. But I'm equally excited about my 5 STEPS a Day calendar because I truly believe if you can help people improve some of their basic habits and attitudes, you can improve their level of health, wealth, and happiness. I'm not saying anything too different than what has been said by other motivational experts and guru's. I've simply come up with another way to quickly and easily track your efforts or, as I like to say, know your numbers!

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

You have to be a master of so many different things. Unfortunately, if you're not careful, you could be spreading yourself too thin that you become the master of nothing. The other thing is that sometimes you may not have anyone to help bounce various ideas off of. In hindsight, if you can find someone who can be a mentor or confidant, that could be a huge benefit.

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

Know what you want. You have to have goals and direction in both businesses and in life. That's number one. If you don't have goals, and don't focus your sights on the land of milk and honey, don't complain when you arrive at the land of heartaches and headaches.

Secondly, do you have the personality traits to run a business and be the chief? This is huge because not everyone has the makeup or personality trait to take the lead and be the owner or president.

Next, depending on what type of business you are trying to start, it might take some capital and time to get started. Do you have the money to start a business? Can you afford to quit your job or take a temporary pay cut? Do you need to borrow money to get started?

Lastly, you have to ask, is there a market for your product or service? And is it big enough for people to pay for your product or services?

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://drlenlopez.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlenlopez/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drlenlopez
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlen/

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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