Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Lillea Hartwell, Owner and CEO of Saguaro Blossom Medical Center, located in Phoenix, AZ, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I am a general medicine practitioner focusing on treating autoimmunity, infectious disease, and endocrine disorders. I catalyze the journey toward healing your autoimmunity. I am a licensed naturopathic doctor in the state of Arizona (the largest scope for naturopathic medicine) and a registered herbalist. I run Saguaro Blossom Medical Center, my naturopathic medical practice, in the sunny state of Arizona.

Tell us about yourself

I am unique in that the autoimmune population I treat is also the patient population I belong to. "Incurable" and "untreatable" autoimmune diagnoses when I was very young kick-started my journey to healing. Ultimately that also led to my road to naturopathic medical school for tools and modalities to treat the root cause of autoimmune diseases and support the body in healing itself.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

That is an interesting question. I can't say I've spent much time mulling that over... probably the fact that we are still in business. Most small businesses are more likely to shutter their doors in the first few years of being open, throw in a pandemic of a novel infectious disease and an economic downturn, and it's an amazing feat to still be open and serving our patients throughout it.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Consistency. Becoming an entrepreneur has meant that every day, consistently, I work on the business (and support my patients). It's very different than showing up for a set amount of hours each weekday and then clocking out.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Here are 3 MUSTS to clarify your way:

  1. Get clear on your why and cling to it above all else.
  2. Prioritize your needs, listen to your body and invest in your health—you are the most valuable asset of your business. Moving the needle for my patients, my business, and my students has meant an accelerated journey of self-development to grow and evolve and thereby create change in my business.
  3. Develop systems and processes that can take you - the entrepreneur - out of the equation. One of my mentors showed me just how much of a bottleneck I was in my business. The more we work to eliminate that, the more people I can support and catalyze their healing transformation.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I'd like to share the following articles I wrote:
Psoriasis article
Cognitive Health article.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://drlilleahartwell.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlilleahartwell
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlilleahartwell/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrLillea
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lillea-hartwell-nd-rh-ahg-1331a118a/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmD1hxsVVZ3a8nW53oJG1ZQ

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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