Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nikki Heyder, Founder of State of Soul Co., located in Sanur, Bali, Indonesia.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a psychotherapist and Yoga teacher working predominately with women around issues of self-worth, perfectionism, trauma, attachment wounds, and addiction.
Tell us about yourself
I have been working in the wellness industry for over a decade now - initially as a Clinical Nutritionist and Yoga teacher and then as a Psychotherapist. I have always had an interest in health and wellness. As a Nutritionist, I worked a lot with women suffering from physical issues due to stress, shame, low self-worth, addiction issues, and eating disorders. My ability to help them via nutrition alone felt very limiting, and so I pursued my Yoga Teacher Training as well as my postgraduate studies in Counselling Psychology and trauma-informed care. I also recently completed over 240 hours of training with trauma and addiction expert Dr. Gabor Mate in his unique therapeutic approach to 'Compassionate Inquiry.' I now live in Indonesia (where I grew up) and operate with a very mixed-modality approach when working with clients in a one-on-one capacity (I work online with clients from all over the world) and help them to address their inner wounds and mental health issues using tools such as talk therapy, somatic therapy, mindfulness, meditation, Yoga, and practical reflections. I am also a mentor and supervisor for coaches, Yoga teachers, and healthcare practitioners who work with difficult human emotions and have an online Trauma Informed Certification Program whereby they can develop the tools and knowledge to safely and responsibly guide their clients.
What motivates me every day is witnessing the transformations within my clients and the deep gratitude I have to be able to do the work I do and help in the way I do.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The fact that I have been able to help and support hundreds of people in their mental health journey is in itself a huge accomplishment and what keeps me passionate about my work.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Being a business owner (especially with no business partners) can sometimes feel incredibly lonely - especially when we are faced with hurdles or big decisions. Another challenge is that within this loneliness, we can fall victim to negative thought patterns or feelings of imposter syndrome. It's easy to compare ourselves to others or to worry that what we offer isn't "enough."
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- To be worth with your strengths, and ask for help in all other areas - don't try to do it all alone, and don't feel ashamed to ask for help where you need it. It's OK not to be perfect in every aspect of your business.
- Don't compare your day 1 to someone else's day 10,000 - it's easy to fall into the comparison trap when we start our entrepreneurial journey, so it's important to have a realistic perspective on things at all times. Whilst it's a great thing to have goals and high aspirations, it can also feel deflating when we are constantly comparing ourselves to someone else. Learn to identify where someone else's journey inspires you and where it evokes feelings of insecurity.
- Get online. It might sound obvious, but there are so many ways to expand your reach (for free) by using social platforms and networking sights, featuring on people's podcasts, writing articles, contributing to interviews, and so forth. Make the most of such an expansive reach, and don't be afraid to show your personality, service, or product authentically so that the people who need your services can find you.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.stateofsoul.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stateofsoulco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/state.of.soul_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-heyder-7902a4258/
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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