Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in mental wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Tynessa Franks, Founder of Bashful & Bright, located in Atlanta, GA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I’m a clinical psychologist who helps people who struggle with social anxiety learn how to engage in social situations in a way they feel good about. I specifically aim to help them go after the relationships, the job opportunities, and the fun experiences that make life more fulfilling.
Tell us about yourself
I earned my Ph.D. at the University of Virginia in 2009 and immediately set out for full-time work at the Veterans Affairs Health Administration. I worked with veterans dealing with a wide range of mental health challenges, from depression to PTSD. It was rewarding, but ultimately, as someone who has always identified as shy, I felt a calling to work with folks who struggle with social anxiety. These are people whose anxiety about social interactions, speaking up, and handling conflict causes significant impairment and shame, and I love helping them take actionable steps toward living more freely.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment has been launching an online course that teaches evidence-based strategies for improving social anxiety. I was able to take the therapy interventions that I’ve been using in therapy with clients for years and turn them into an online program that individuals can work through from the comfort of their homes at their own pace. Most people with social anxiety suffer for years and never get help for their condition, so finding ways to make effective treatment strategies more accessible is important to me.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The isolation! Working from my home office comes with a number of perks, but it makes it difficult to get the support and feedback that is necessary to sustain momentum and growth. Being a business owner can be incredibly isolating, and given that this is an age where isolation is already at an all-time high, being proactive about connection and community can be a challenge.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Build a small team of fellow business owners with whom you can connect and share from the beginning.
- Mind your data! Keep good records of data, such as growth in email subscribers, email open rates, conversion rates, changes in revenue, etc., in a spreadsheet so that you can make informed decisions about the best next steps as you grow.
- Do whatever you can to separate business success from personal worth. Starting and growing a business comes with challenges, reality checks, and rejection. Working to view those experiences as objectively as possible and knowing that they have NOTHING to do with your value as a human being is critical.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.bashfulandbright.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrTynessaFranks/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/drtynessafranks
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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