Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in mental health but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Rebecca Steinhubl, Co-founder of You Are Collective, located in West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I'm the co-founder of You Are Collective, a Canadian mental health social enterprise. We focus on creating empowering clothing, supportive resources and content, and collaborating with community partners to keep the conversation going around mental health and illness. With every purchase, you are helping us get closer to our goal of funding 1,000,000 counselling sessions of all kinds, to all people, all across Canada via our #1MillionCampaign.
Our customers are anyone willing to keep the conversation going around mental health and illness! We want to ensure people know they're not alone and help them feel empowered along their journey.
Tell us about yourself
You Are Collective started as a way to create change and make a difference. My partner and I had been living through our own separate mental health journeys and noticed an immense lack of support and understanding.
The stories of people waiting months for care sounded unimaginable until we waited more than a month and a half to receive our first covered counseling appointment. The news that people, friends, and family are dying by suicide because they can't get the help they need or don't know where to go for support sounded unimaginable. Until we ended up in the hospital, not caring if there would be the next day.
We were finally able to seek support, open up about our challenges, and the fire was lit. We knew we needed to do something about the gaps in support and services, so we talked about it (and talked about it) and decided to use empowering apparel as the vehicle for our mission! I am constantly inspired by the direction the conversation is going, but there is still so much work to do in the mental health community. I'm inspired by everyone who shows up every day and continues the conversation - I'm honored to be part of it.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is creating a strong network and community for people to feel heard, empowered, and less alone - and for me to be able to lean on! The fact that we're able to donate funds on top of that is the cherry on top - it's about so much more than money which is why we chose a social enterprise over a typical business model.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Balance. As much as other people drive you and drive the cause, you STILL have to put yourself and your mental health first or else you can't continue to show up for your community. It's a hard lesson to learn, but burn out after burn out doesn't give you much choice!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Take what you need and leave the rest - people are thrilled to give you unsolicited advice at every turn. Some may be valuable, some you may need to take with a grain of salt!
- Talk to the people who are listening - don't try to spend money, time, and energy convincing people who aren't willing to give you the time of day. There's a whole community out there that wants to support and love you. They're the ones to give attention to.
- Don't do something for the money or recognition or pat on the back - it'll get you nowhere but lost. It's so cliche, but follow your heart!!
Adding an extra because it's important! - Lean on your community - don't be afraid to ask for what you need, but the call out, ask for support. If people believe in you, they WANT to support you, plus the worst they can do is say no!
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
We love to collaborate and are big proponents of the community over competition. We can't move forward if we don't work together, which is why it's so important to keep taking care of ourselves and one another. Thank you for this opportunity to share more about myself, and You Are Collective! Slide into our DM's or email to chat more :)
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://youarecollective.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youarecollective/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YouAreCollective/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/yacatus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/you-are-collective
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.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
