Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jasmine Wiens, Registered Massage Therapist of In.Still Alternative and Manual Therapies, located in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
In a nutshell, Instill Therapies is an osteopathic manual therapy and massage therapy clinic in which the focus is on helping clients feel better. Clients seek us out, often because they are in physical pain. The pain may be caused by a new injury, some kind of repetitive strain, or a chronic issue. Concerns beyond physical pain are also addressed, such as general tension, headaches, migraines, jaw dysfunctions (TMJD), digestive issues such as heartburn or constipation, difficulty sleeping, vertigo, postural alignment, and enhancing mobility (just to name a few). People of all ages can benefit from massage and osteopathy for addressing a specific issue as well as preventative or maintenance care.
Currently, we have three therapists who offer both massage therapy and osteopathic manual therapy. We are in the process of expanding our business, which will allow us to incorporate additional services such as counseling, naturopathy, reflexology, acupuncture, etc.
Our mission is to instill and promote vitality in those who have a desire to improve their wellness. The vision is to provide a space with different therapies, addressing multiple areas of health, allowing clients to regain independence over their lives.
The physical, mental, and emotional aspects of us humans are intimately related. Living with pain or other dysfunctions can significantly impact a person's quality of life and can lead to some pretty heavy feelings. We offer a welcoming space with respectful and empathetic therapists who really listen to the client and whose goal is to help our clients regain hope, comfort, mobility, and health through hands-on care and treatment plans.
Tell us about yourself
A genuine desire to help other people feel better is a real motivator for us. I think it stems from experiencing our own personal array of physical pains and dysfunctions - feeling hopeless - finding relief from massage or osteopathic manual therapy, and wanting to offer that to other people.
Even though these manual therapies have made big impacts on our overall well-being, it has become clear to us that there is no one and only cure for anything. The mental, emotional, nutritional, and physical balance should all be considered, and everyone can benefit from a "health care team." This need is a real inspiration for the transition into a larger space with the potential to support our vision - a well-rounded group of healthcare professionals working as a team to support clients through their journeys with their best interests in mind.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The best accomplishment is growth through referrals. This is the best advertising anyone can ask for. When someone new comes in, and they were referred by someone who said they were helped by a member of our team, the success is two-fold. Not only did we help that person, but they also gave us the opportunity to help another.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I think this has a two-part answer. First, being a business owner takes a strong belief in yourself, a lot of time, effort, and dedication, and requires you to give your business a lot of your attention.
Second, maintaining a work/life balance. It can become so easy to focus on the business we adults have been trained to believe we need successful careers to have successful lives - and to a point, this is true, but it is important to make time to enjoy the life you have outside of work.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be authentic. It can be easy to get caught up in offering what you think people want. But at the end of the day, it is your name on the door, and it is easier to stand behind something you believe in.
- Embrace growth. Growth implies change, and for some, that can feel scary, but if it is in alignment with your vision, it might be worth the leap!
- Ask for help and delegate tasks. Find knowledgable and experienced people who you can trust and ask them questions, get clarification, and get second opinions. There is no one answer for everyone, but you have to choose what works best for you. When you are willing to admit you don't have an answer and ask someone to help you, it leaves more time and space for that work/life balance.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Having your own business is a bit scary at first, just like anything is for the first time, but I would not trade it for a regular 9 to 5. If you have a business idea that you can't stop daydreaming about, maybe it is time to take a little action.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://instilltherapies.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/in.still/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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