Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in nutrition, health, and wellness but not sure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Pamela Frank, BSc(Hons) founder Forces of Nature Wellness Clinic. She is a Naturopathic Doctor from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
What's your business and who are your customers?
Naturopathic Doctor. My customers are anyone with a health condition that they would like to manage through diet, lifestyle, vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other natural means like acupuncture. Often I'll see the most challenging, and complex cases because they have exhausted all of the conventional methods of treatment or they are looking to treat the root cause of their problem, rather than just managing symptoms with medication. Women's health, hormone balance, and digestion are the key areas that I treat most often.
Tell us about yourself
My first career was as a medical laboratory technologist, working in a hospital lab. While I enjoyed the detective work that was involved in that field, it was mainly monitoring patients' decline.
I wanted to be doing more to help people get better or reverse their conditions. Seeing a naturopathic doctor myself inspired me to switch careers. With his help, I was better able to take my health into my own hands.
After 22 years as a naturopathic doctor. I'm motivated by hearing the appreciation from my patients that someone takes the time to fully understand what they are dealing with, provides them with a detailed plan to manage their health, and then celebrates their successes when they achieve their health goals.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
While I've been the recipient of many "Best Naturopath" awards over the years, my biggest accomplishment is still helping people achieve their health goals.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
As a business owner, all of the responsibility falls on you. It's a 24/7/365 position for me. I've never felt comfortable ignoring emails or phone calls, even while I was on vacation. It's certainly not a 9-5 job where I can just leave everything at the office for me.
What are the top 3 tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Do your research. Make sure there's a demand for what you're offering, and check out your competition.
- Be passionate about what you're doing. If your only motivation is to make money, you'll have a hard time putting in the work. Offering a service or product that you are passionate about, makes the effort worthwhile.
- Think like your customer. You may love what you're offering, but will your customer? How can you make buying from you effortless and convenient? What complementary products or services can you add to what you offer to make your customer's lives easier?
If there was one thing you could do repeatedly to help grow your business, what would it be?
Get to know your customers well and communicate with them often. Personal touches like knowing their name, whether they have kids or a dog, remembering what they purchased previously, making recommendations for new products that align with what you know they like, etc. These seemingly small things keep customers loyal and turn them into raving fans.
Who are some of your favorite entrepreneurs and why?
Arlene Dickenson - I love that Arlene is a self-made woman. Having heard her speak in person, she's very down-to-earth. She's very authentic despite her fame. Oprah - Because who doesn't love Oprah? She's warm, smart, and ambitious and is also a self-made woman. Marie Forleo - Because as the founder of B school, she helps educate and inspire other entrepreneurs to pursue their passions smartly and successfully. She coined what should be the motto for all entrepreneurs: I win or I learn, but I never lose.
Must read: The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. Because we are the sum of what we do every day habitually. I love to listen to podcasts because it's something I can do while I jog or walk my dog. Some of my favorites are Huberman Labs - because professor Andrew Huberman teaches how to optimize your brain and body with science-based strategies, The FX Medicine Podcast - because they discuss research and evidence-based functional and integrative medicine, The Goal Digger Podcast with Jenna Kutcher - because she's fun and authentic and as an entrepreneur, she has lived experience with being a small business owner. Each episode provides actionable tips for business success.
Where can people find you and your business?
Websites:
https://fertilityhelp.ca/
https://www.forcesofnature.ca/
https://www.naturopathtoronto.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrPamelaTorontoNaturopath
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toronto_naturopath/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PamelaTorontoND
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share then email community@subkit.com, we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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