Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Donna Oriowo, Owner of AnnodRight, located in Largo, MD, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is a private practice called AnnodRight. We do therapy with Black women to help them live their absolute best lives!
Tell us about yourself
I am Dr. Donna Oriowo. I am a sex and relationship therapist serving the DMV area. My focus is on how colorism and texturism impact mental health and sexuality. I opened AnnodRight's doors in 2016 and was a solo therapist right up until the pandemic stuck, and I realized I wanted more community and help in serving.
I love Black women. The love I have for Black women inspires me every day to keep pushing further and doing more for Black women. I want to see us do well in life and thrive in every possible facet. I have been lucky to find like-minded individuals who share that passion and also want to see Black women do even better!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As a business owner, I think my biggest accomplishment so far has been hiring a team. I think that a lot of us think we have to do so much on our own, and we are so wrong. Having help has allowed me more space to stay in my zone of genius and outsource things that are in other people's zone of genius, too.
Having help has given me the space to grow our connections, give quotes in various publications, including Essence, Cosmopolitan, and Women's health, and serve our clients on a higher level!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is the mind shift from 9-5 workers to business owners. I think a lot of us think we only need to apply the same mentality for us to be successful, but that is so very untrue. We didn't get out of the 9-5 grind to grind ourselves down further. Learning the difference between working in and working ON my business has definitely helped me to be a better business owner and identify where I get to and should spend more of my time.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Three of my top tips for anyone looking to start, run, and grow a business are to:
- Identify your people! You are going to need support to have longevity. Starting a business can feel like lonely work, so having a tribe of folk you can talk to, especially people in a similar situation, can be really helpful.
- Know your WHY! Wanting money is only one reason and is usually not a sustainable reason to start a business. How you would use the money would probably do better to keep you going.
- Google is your friend! If you have a question or are unsure about how to do something, don't let what you don't know to keep you stuck. Google exists to solve this very problem. Lean into it and to your tribe to see if you can get some answers.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.annodright.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annodright
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annodright/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnaoriowo/
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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