Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Liz Higgins, Founder of Millennial Life Counseling, located in Dallas, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
At Millennial Life Counseling, our mission is to help the millennial generation (and beyond) create epic marriages, relationships, and lives. As licensed couples and individual therapists, we work with clients who are seeking relational repair and healing and help clients through issues ranging from infidelity recovery, premarital counseling, challenges with parenting, interracial relationship issues, work/life balance, anxiety in the midst of modern-day life, and so much more. Our specialization as therapists focuses on anything relational, which can be done with one client or a couple present in the session.
Tell us about yourself
This business started as a dream to do MORE for our generation. As a trained couples therapist and holistic practitioner, I believe that when we learn the tools (or the "secrets," as I often like to say) to create healthier relationships within ourselves and between others, life changes and symptoms dissipate. I'm motivated by the reality that at MLC, we are doing life-changing work that can provide so much relief, healing, and hope to others. The practices we are able to teach others to have a more mindful existence and to actually get what they need in relationships (and learn to give it to others) are transformative.
I also began my business the same year I birthed my first child, and three years in, we were impacted by the pandemic, so it has been a whirlwind! I think the timeline has been exactly what it needed to be, to prove to myself and this team that perseverance wins, and with the right team members and relationships in place, you can accomplish great things.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The personal growth I have received as a result of owning this business has paid itself over tenfold. The grit that's necessary to be a young, first-time parent and entrepreneur is absolutely no joke. I commend anyone who chooses this path and sticks to it beyond the first five years. There are so many things you have to look at inside of yourself as your business grows. Interestingly, it has been my experience as a systemically trained relationship therapist that has helped me remain grounded as my own personal work continues to show up in this process.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
There's a saying that it's "lonely at the top," and for me, the first few years, I often felt isolated in my role. There were so many things to think about and decisions to make, often with the betterment of my team as a top priority. But, when you're in a leadership role, it's not always helpful to divulge or explain every decision you make, so I initially kept a lot to myself. Over the years, I've cultivated a better boundary system with my role as owner and having the right team members in place, and something really amazing that we have created is the ability to have honest conversations. Though sometimes painful, these interactions help us grow, and I'm so grateful we have worked hard to hold a high standard for our working relationships.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Reverse engineer. Think about your end goal. Consider the financial amount you'd need to strive for (and by when) to make the investment worth it for you. The strategy will become your best friend. Hire the right people for the roles you don't love; doing this will help you emotionally and mentally and will allow your business to thrive!
For service-based businesses, there is so much importance around building the right team, so don't just hire people because you like them to hire people because they are great for the role you need to be executed. Personally, I had to do some major work around being less of a people-pleaser and more of a steward for the business to make decisions around the standards necessary to help our unique business grow and thrive. Stick it out because it's a hard journey...but so worth it!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.millenniallifecounseling.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/millenniallifecounseling
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/millenniallifecounseling/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-higgins-4875149a/
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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