Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Julie A Brow-Polanco, CEO & Founder of Julie Naturally, located in Berwyn, IL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a master herbalist, certified aromatherapist, and health coach, and I help frustrated, overwhelmed moms and teens reach their highest wellness potential so they can confidently serve others and accomplish their dreams.
Tell us about yourself
Well, I know what it's like to be a mom who suffers from chronic illness while she's trying to educate and serve her family. During half of my 20 years homeschooling my four children, I have been successfully managing fibromyalgia and a multitude of allergies and chemical sensitivities. I found my answer in God's medicine chest--the plants--, and I want to share all that I've learned with other moms and their teens so they can experience the freedom that I have experienced. However, I don't want to just teach it, but instead, to gently inspire them to grab hold of it and own it. That's why I coach and not just teach. Coaching helps moms tap their own strength and finally attain their goals, not just follow generic advice.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment was finally getting laser focused and having the courage to pivot to a bigger picture of what God was calling me to do.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The hardest thing is admitting you made a mistake, wasted a lot of time and resources, and having the humility to say you don't know what you're sometimes doing. It is at that moment that you realize you don't need to have all the answers, but you DO need to keep going.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure you are super clear about who you're serving BEFORE you think about what you'll offer. They go hand in hand, of course, but serving high-powered executive women is very different than serving stay-at-home moms, even if the general product is the same, such as personalized stationery. Your designs will look vastly different, right?
- Think very carefully about marketing and to whom you listen about it. There are lots and lots of great ideas that work, but they won't work for every business. And, sometimes, by the time someone teaches it, it's already old news. Think carefully about what kind of business you are and what will actually work for you as well as what you WANT to do.
- Take some time to learn how to do stuff. This is not just to save money at the outset but also so you have an idea of how long things should take and what's involved. That way, when you hire someone, you know what is reasonable to expect and pay. You don't have to blindly trust what the contractor says.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.julienaturally.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julienaturally
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julie.naturally/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliepolanco/
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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