Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Samm Smeltzer, Founder of HRart Center, located in York, PA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
The HRart Center (pronounced "heart") heals burnout in individuals as well as teaches them to cultivate work-life balance by infusing holistic healing modalities into their everyday lives. We do this on an individual level as well as with whole teams and workplaces. You see – everything is composed of energy. It's this energy that drives all of your thoughts, behaviors, actions, and so on. In order to be great at what you do, whether you are a parent or a business leader, whether you work outdoors or sit in front of a computer for most of the day, energy is what drives you forward. It makes you feel great doing it, or… it can be the thing that holds you back. We work on your energy, and we give you a multitude of modalities to choose from. From Healing Qigong to coaching to leadership development programs designed to build intentional leaders, the HRart Center supports its clients to heal themselves, strengthen their resilience, and give them the skills they need to thrive in work and in life.
Tell us about yourself
I was an HR Leader in my dream job, a job where my primary objective was to keep employees engaged at work, and yet… I myself was massively disengaged. I tried over and over again to work harder, be better and combat this cycle, yet it always came back to disengagement. I was exhausted, burnt out, and, against my will, lacked any sort of enthusiasm for my work or my life. This sent me on a decade-long pursuit to find the missing elements for employee (and personal) engagement. How do we stay engaged in our lives and at work? Needless to say, modern wellness programs only scratch the surface. I was surprised to find the deep healing I was looking for in Spirituality and Eastern Medicine, back then a topic I was learning about for the first time. In fact, Qigong healed my burnout and continues to heal years of pent-up stress in my body. Not only did this healing modality revive my energy and engagement, but it was also teaching me so much more about myself. Qigong peeled back the layers of conditioning, tension, and falsehoods I had been carrying around for decades and helped me to get to the center of who I am as an authentic person, mother, wife, and leader. Then I became a certified Medical Qigong Therapist so I could heal other people too. Through healing sessions and coaching, the missing connection began to reveal itself… not only are individuals made up of energy, but workplaces are too. When people come together, they create a collective energy that reflects the overall energetic health or lack thereof of the individuals. My ultimate realization was that workplaces had an energy body that needed healing too. With my business, the HRart Center (pronounced "heart"), I heal individuals and also bring holistic wellness into workplaces to heal disengagement. We focus on professional purpose, passion, and energetic health because they are all essential elements to building a healthy life and workplace culture.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner has been our evolution. I've never looked at previous projects or stages of my business as failures but more so as a journey of experiences that have directed the path for us to work toward our mission. Today our business is able to help so many because of our personal evolution and growth.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
At the core of my work is personal well-being and balance; we work with individuals and organizations to break the long-established professional norms of what is expected to be successful. Despite my knowledge and even being able to witness the power and potential of this new approach, old habits are hard to change. I still struggle to find the balance that allows me to take care of myself physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually so that I am able to show up at my best for this work. This is especially hard with the ebbs and flows of a business, where we believe that pushing beyond our limits is necessary rather than finding a flow that cares for the work and ourselves.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Before you leap, take time to learn about yourself. The first three years of my business were spent on a personal journey to discover what I had to offer the world and what work I wanted to pursue that truly mattered.
- Every no is a step closer to your yes. So many people said this to me when I started, and I only half listened. However, I think it's necessary to look at this on a much grander scale. Every no you get in your business moves you closer to a yes because these have been the greatest drivers for the micro changes we have made to evolve into the services we answer today. Attempt to listen to those no's without personally feeling rejected, so you can capture what is truly at the core of their resistance.
- Find your workflow. The best part of owning your own business is that you get to build the framework for how you work. Create a framework that plays to your strengths, and the world that interacts with you will adapt. Despite that many are struggling to find their own flow, collectively, we have come to respect those that have established boundaries to maximize theirs.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://hrartcenter.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hrartcenter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hrartcenter/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hrartcenter/
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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