Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Rachel Jeffries, Founder of Rooted Strategy, located in Chicago, IL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I work with holistic health practitioners - nutritionists, Ayurvedic practitioners, and health coaches - who are looking to hire experienced marketing support but don't need someone full-time. These are people who recognize that when they stay in their "zone of genius" and hire or collaborate outside of that zone, incredible things can happen in their business. I come in as a fractional marketing manager to execute the strategy we co-create, automate/build processes to be more efficient, and uplevel the positioning of the brand through copy and content.
Tell us about yourself
I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. But when I graduated from business school, I knew I hadn't found my "thing" yet, so I did a rotational program at a digital marketing firm. I learned sales, project management, and how to tell stories with numbers. That job paid my bills and made me a lot of great friends while I spent my free time diving into holistic wellness, which completely fascinated me. I became a Yoga instructor, went back to school to study Ayurveda, became a Reiki Master, and got certified as a Holistic Nutritionist.
I left my job to start a wellness business in 2019. Pivoting became the name of the game as our main offerings - retreats, cooking classes, and in-person yoga - were no longer options in 2020. My co-founder and I built an online brand, and I began to realize that building the brand was more fun than health coaching. Now, I combine all of that experience to help practitioners create a thriving brand without the hassle of hiring and training someone on marketing, holistic wellness, or digital.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Knowing that the work I do directly impacts the lives of the solopreneurs I work with and their clients. There is nothing more fulfilling than hearing an entrepreneur share, "I'm actually excited by my business again."
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Being a business owner can be extremely lonely. The number one thing I miss about working for someone else is relationships. I've worked really hard to create a community of entrepreneurs, mentors, and friends who support me and understand what I'm doing. But a very real part of entrepreneurship is that a lot of people aren't going to understand what you're doing or why, especially at the beginning.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Learn to love the process. Everyone has, more or less, the same goals. The difference between the people who achieve them vs. those who don't are the ones who show up every day and really love the process.
- You don't have to do it alone. Find a mentor, community, mastermind, or group to inspire you, network with, and get support from. Most of my best opportunities have come through, or because of, my network.
- Be a lifelong learner, and don't be afraid to be a beginner. Your customers, the market, and the state of the world are always evolving. If you can embrace the pivot and learn quickly from every rejection or redirect, you will be unstoppable.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://therootedstrategy.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rooted.strategy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-jeffries-001/
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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