Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kathy Koher, Founder of Kathy Koher Wellness, located in Atlanta, GA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a health and wellness coach who helps busy women create sustainable habits to combat stress, find more energy, and finally make their health a priority without feeling guilty or selfish.
Tell us about yourself
I started practicing yoga in 2002 and teaching in 2010. Yoga helped me find a connection with myself that I lost long ago. I am a recovering people pleaser and often, if not always, set my needs aside to take care of those around me. This led to years of unchecked stress.
I was able to ignore it for quite some time. However, the signs were always there, sleeplessness, irritability, racing mind, feeling rushed, and feeling totally overscheduled and overwhelmed. Eventually, the stress caught up with me, and I got really sick. I was diagnosed with cancer and several autoimmune diseases. I knew what I was doing wasn't working, and things had to change.
The problem was I had no idea how to change or where to start. I started with things I was already doing. I cleaned up my eating habits and started drinking more water and less alcohol. Those small changes made a difference in how I felt, so I kept adding more and more small things until, eventually, I had created a whole new set of sustainable healthy habits.
As I began to feel better, I realized many of my students, friends, and family were also suffering from the effects of chronic stress. I began to answer questions and help people on their journey. Eventually, this led me to take a certification to become a health and wellness coach so I could continue to help others.
I know firsthand how paralyzing it can feel when you are at the grips of chronic stress. You feel like you are spinning 1,000 plates, and if one of them gets out of balance, life will come crashing down around you. But I also know the other side—the space where you and your needs are a priority. When you take care of yourself, you will be better for all those around you. Feeling guilty and selfish doesn’t help you or anyone around you.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
One of my biggest accomplishments is believing in myself and showing up. You have to put it all out there when you are running a small business. You have to show up in ways that make you feel uncomfortable sometimes. You have to fall down, get up, brush yourself off, and then keep going. It is challenging seeing the growth that has taken place has been amazing.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things about being a business owner is comparisonitis. You look around and see a million different people talking about the same thing you are. You start to wonder what you have to say that hasn't already been said.
What you have to say is important. People need to hear things 1,000 times before it sinks in. We all speak from our own experience, and so maybe the way you say it is exactly the way they need to hear it.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be patient. This is a long game.
- Know why you want to do this. It gets tough, and you will doubt yourself, but when you have a clear vision of why you want to do this, you can always come back to that to help you to keep moving forward.
- Be nice to yourself. Entrepreneurship is hard. Doubt will creep in. Find some compassion for yourself, learn from your failures, and keep moving forward.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
While starting and running a business is hard, the rewards are worth the effort. It has created freedom, helped me build confidence, and showed me a world full of possibility.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://kathykoherwellness.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathykoherwellness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykoherwellness/
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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