Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Eddie Stern, Founder and CEO of The Breathing App, located in New York, NY, USA.

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

I am the founder of The Breathing App for Diabetes, catering primarily to individuals living with diabetes, including those with Type 1, Type 2, prediabetes, and gestational diabetes.

Tell us about yourself

I've been a yoga teacher for about 35 years, and for the past 12 years, I've been engaged in scientific research. Through collaborative research efforts, one significant finding has been the prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and anxiety, which collectively constitute nearly 80% of the world's disease burden. Importantly, many of these conditions are preventable, reversible, or manageable through simple lifestyle interventions.

This understanding drove the inception of various apps, including The Breathing App and The Breathing App for Diabetes, aimed at utilizing straightforward lifestyle interventions to assist individuals in managing non-communicable diseases. Currently, our focus is particularly on diabetes. Slow breathing practices, supported by numerous scientific studies, have demonstrated notable benefits for individuals living with diabetes. These benefits range from improving physiological markers and symptoms of diabetes to regulating blood sugar levels.

Moreover, stress and anxiety management plays a crucial role in disease management, as elevated stress levels can lead to increased inflammation in the body, exacerbating the presentation of the disease. We aim to make these simple practices accessible to a wide audience, thereby potentially improving their lives subtly and significantly.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Our most significant achievement thus far is our original Breathing App, which has reached a significant milestone with nearly a million downloads and currently boasts approximately 90,000 monthly users. What's truly remarkable is that we've accomplished this without investing any funds into marketing or sales; it's all been through word of mouth. This success is incredibly encouraging, highlighting how a high-quality product and effective dissemination can resonate with a large audience.

Now, we're looking to replicate this success with our new app tailored to assist individuals living with diabetes. Unlike our free Breathing App, this new app will be a paid service. As a result, we're gearing up to implement robust sales and marketing strategies to reach our target audience effectively. Our ultimate objective remains the same: to provide a valuable tool for managing diabetes and to positively impact the lives of those who use it.

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

One of the most challenging aspects of being a business owner is the concern for the well-being of the people who work with and for you. Ensuring their quality of life in their working arrangements is positive and robust and having the financial stability to consistently pay them are constant worries. Additionally, there's the overarching goal of ensuring the longevity of the company and its ability to benefit a wide range of people. Therefore, I'd say the most stressful aspect of being a business owner is ensuring the well-being of our employees and independent contractors so they can produce the best product in a joyful and purposeful way.

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

  1. Understand precisely what you want to create and the meaning and purpose behind it. Running a business demands patience and determination.
  2. Don't be easily thrown off by the highs and lows that come with operations. There will always be ups and downs, but managing them effectively is crucial for business growth. Treat your business like you would tend to a plant or any relationship: listen to it, pay attention to it, and spend quality time with it.
  3. Avoid becoming completely obsessive about your business, as excessive focus can limit its potential for growth. Give your business space, time, and consistent attention for growth to occur.

You can connect with Eddie Stern:

Website: https://www.thebreathing.app/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreathingapp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eddiestern/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddie-stern-8a595a61/

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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