Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jennifer Marcks, Founder of Gluten-Free MARCKS The Spot, located in Pennsylvania, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I help women who need to live gluten-free go from overwhelmed, deprived and frustrated with being sick too often, to feeling confident, empowered and thriving in a sustainable and delicious gluten-free lifestyle that just becomes routine in their everyday lives.
I created Gluten-Free MARCKS The Spot to show people that living gluten-free can be easy and delicious – and it absolutely doesn’t have to pull you down. Years ago not many people understood the term gluten-free. Now it is all over society, yet swimming through a sea of misinformation to figure things out can still be confusing. Through my programs, working 1-1 and now in my Membership, I teach the strategies and tools needed so that you can create a GF life that works for YOU – one that you actually enjoy – and yes, we eat lots of delicious gluten-free food!
Tell us about yourself
I’ve personally lived gluten-free for over 12 years due to health concerns. I had a lot of typical yet bothersome issues, like headaches, belly bloating, pain – sometimes severe – canker sores, neuropathy, and running to the bathroom so much it made me stay home and miss out too many times. As I was studying and trying to figure it all out for myself, I uncovered the fact that my children had Celiac Disease. Both of my older children had myriad health issues, all seemingly unrelated until Celiac was in the picture. They had issues such as belly pain, shortened stature, tooth development delay, vitiligo, and neurological tics, among a few.
Once the doctor confirmed CD and started their GF journey – ALL of their symptoms went away. My son grew 4 inches his first year being GF! Now they are both off in college and leading healthy gluten-free lives. When I say I celebrate being gluten-free, I mean it. I don’t think we ever would have known my children had Celiac. Knowing how much I changed our family’s life and others keeps me motivated to continue helping others.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment was first turning around my children’s health, along with my own. They have the tools and knowledge to be out on their own now, living a healthy lifestyle. I found that once I had the steps and strategies, it never had to be as hard as it was being GF. I love teaching others the simplicity that gluten-free can be. Changing lives and teaching others to gain their health back is amazing – teaching is a gift to share with others, and I see friends and clients pass on this knowledge to their families, so a ripple effect of health takes place. You don’t end up helping one, but many.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Having your own business is a balance. Knowing when to turn off the business and be a mom, wife, and friend is sometimes hard when you have all these ideas and want to share them all to help others. Working on your mindset of balancing and being enough is important as time gets away from you very easily.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- If you have an idea for a business, go for it. It can be so rewarding.
- Get help – Don't try and DIY on everything. It takes a lot of time to put all the pieces together, so learn from others as you go.
- Get organized and schedule your day and your top priorities. Otherwise, business takes over your life, and the fun goes away.
- Always take care of yourself so that you can stay on top of everything – self-care is an important piece of the puzzle.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
So many people think that gluten-free is a sentence to give up all of your favorites and live in deprivation forever. It really is not that at all. It is a chance to regain your health and live a healthier lifestyle moving forward. It is really a wake-up call to find health. You CAN live a healthy, sustainable, and delicious gluten-free lifestyle! My family and I do this every day.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://glutenfreemarcksthespot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glutenfreemarcksthespot
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcksjennifer/
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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