Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Patricia Mills, a specialist in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Functional Medicine Practitioner, and published researcher, located in Smithers, BC, Canada.

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

I am a medical doctor, a specialist in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Functional Medicine Practitioner, published researcher. My online business is focused on women's health.

My passion lies in teaching motivated women about Wholistic Health = Whole-Body, Mind & Spirit. I offer live online group education and action programs to help women understand how to achieve Wholistic Health and to build the skills needed to make their own Wholistic Health a reality.

Tell us about yourself

I first got started working in women's health when my own health started to fail me, and I could not find the answers using what I had been taught in my medical training. I used my research skills to dive deeper into the data and found what I like to call 'threads of truth' - information repeated across different studies in different areas that point towards the true essence of what I like to call Wholistic Health = Whole-Body, Mind & Spirit.

I solved my own health issues, from hormone imbalance to poor gut health and a negative mindset. I went from a hot hormonal mess to Wholistic MD, and I want to help solve the silent suffering of women who are also experiencing problems with their Wholistic Health.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I feel that from a mindset perspective, my biggest accomplishment as a business owner is showing up every day and not allowing the pressures of the work and expectations of my ego and society to get to me to the point that I give up when things start to feel overwhelming. Even when external events appear to not be going in my favour, I still sit down at the computer and do the work that is needed to do to help women in the way that they need to be helped.

I am proud of how I have been able to leverage my time across various social media platforms so that I have a wide reach without killing myself with hard work in the process. For example, I stream my videos live using Streamyard to my private FB Group, Wild Wisdom for Women, as well as on Youtube. I then use the transcripts from those lives to create articles/write a book/create IG and FB posts.

I also started a podcast that I have linked to Youtube, Twitter, and Linked In. My Youtube is linked to Rumble. My IG is linked to FB and Linked In etc., etc. Leveraging technology to cast a wider net with the same effort has, in my experience, been one of the most effective actions I have taken in my business.

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

The hardest thing as a business owner is to keep showing up every day even when there is little evidence of financial success and when that little voice in our head starts with discouraging self-talk. Just like the seasons, there are natural fluctuations in business, the 'summers' of plenty and the 'winters' of scarcity. It's easy to stay motivated when the money is rolling in, in the 'summers' of the business.

However, lasting success comes from knowing how to stay grounded, focused, and calm during times of external scarcity and cultivating a mindset of constant abundance that helps you weather any situation. Knowing your purpose and your 'WHY' - why are you in your business, who you are serving, and what greater good you are contributing - is so key in this process.

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

  1. Be very clear on your 'WHY' - this is needed to keep you motivated even during the tough times. It doesn't have to be just about providing a service to society - it could also involve achieving financial independence so you can do all the things you were meant to do in this life experience, including enjoying the finer things! You know you have found your true 'WHY' when it makes you FEEL deeply positive emotions just thinking about it.
  2. Get very clear on WHO you want to serve. Who is your ideal client? What kind of person (or group of people) energizes you to work with? For me example, I LOVE working with highly motivated women who understand that they need to prioritize their own health in order to be of service to those around them, including their family and their work.
  3. Get to know who you are serving very, very well. Know how they think, and talk, what they need, what are their main problems, their barriers to success, and their deepest desires. Do some research to gain clarity on this - pay attention to the wording on the internet and social media, and interview your favorite clients if you have any. This is so worth doing and will be a huge return on your time investment!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I just want you to know that if I can start a successful business, you can too. I was an academic medical doctor working at a hospital with absolutely no idea of how to run a business. I just knew that I had to help more women than I could ever reach using the 'old paradigm' of the western medical model. I'm glad I didn't know all that would be needed to grow a successful business when I started - it would have probably stopped me from trying. Instead, I just took one step, and then the next, and then the next - and now, every day, I simply take a step or more in the right direction. Stay patient, stay focused, and trust that the Universe will support those who are working to improve the lives of others - that is the energy of the Universe that we live in, and I see evidence of this every day, even when things aren't directly appearing to work in my favour.

When I stay true to the course over time is when I see the results and the rewards happen. Also, stepping outside of my comfort zone to learn how to use technology and social media was a big one for me - I didn't even have an IG or FB account when I started! Check out my IG account @dr.patriciamills and look back over time to see the evolution - and I am still learning and improving every day. Starting a business is like having a baby and becoming a mother - you don't realize how hard it is until you start. You're glad you didn't know because you might have chosen not to, and then it becomes the most rewarding experience you have ever had. I wish you much success in your business. Please let me know if I can ever be of service.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.drpatriciamills.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildwisdomforwomen/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.patriciamills/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpatriciamills/

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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