Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Athena Larsen, Founder of Goddess Health, located in Kelso, WA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Goddess Health Enterprise LLC is a health and wellness counseling company. I am a certified functional nutrition counselor and partner with a Reiki practitioner. GH helps Cancer Survivors during and after treatment learn to THRIVE in their new normal.
Tell us about yourself
I was diagnosed in 2018 with acute myeloid leukemia. During my treatment, I noticed several gaps in conventional medical treatment. Though conventional medicine did save my life (and was absolutely necessary for me!), it left me with "get used to your new normal." I refused to settle for sleeping 2-3 hours on average per night, being in constant pain, having panic attacks, and having high levels of anxiety, among other symptoms. I knew there was more. And I also knew there were others out there, like me, who were told to "get used to the new normal." So I got certified in functional nutrition counseling so that I could bring what I have learned to other cancer survivors. What motivates me each day is knowing that the message I teach and the strategies I help guide others to implement and make a HUGE difference in the cancer recovery of each individual, making each individual's life better and thereby making the world better.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is launching a 3-day cancer retreat with my business partner to help cancer survivors recenter, refocus, purge the fear of the treatment/diagnosis, and live a more peaceful, thriving life!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Spreading the message to the right people to help them to see that they don't have to settle. Being a cancer survivor is difficult... And the message we receive is that this is just our "new normal." I am attempting to change the narrative and beliefs of what cancer is and what survivors are capable of after treatment.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Map out your idea. - what are your strengths? What are you good at? What experiences have you lived and learned from that you can help others with?
- Leap in! Hesitation holds you back. Learn as much as you can with a lot of research and advice from others (I listened to a lot of podcasts, followed business coaches, bought business programs, took business classes, etc. There is so much free knowledge out there. And there are also so many people willing to teach!)
- Fail a lot and NEVER give up! I failed a lot. Much of the knowledge that I implemented didn't get me where I wanted to go. But I learned so much from these experiences, and I took those lessons and implemented them for the next time. Keep a growth mindset for failures. And remember that Edison failed 10,000 times before finally getting the lightbulb right! He even said, "I have not failed 10,000 times—I've successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work." So keep trying!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.goddesshealth.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAthenaLarsen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drathenalarsen/
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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