Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health & wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Debbie Saroufim, Body Relationship Coach of Body Relationship Inc., located in Inglewood, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I'm a Body Relationship Coach. I help women, teens, and tweens make peace with their bodies and build up their immunity to diet culture. I also speak at schools to faculty, parents, and students about body diversity. And I act as a consultant with companies looking to be more size-inclusive.
Tell us about yourself
This might sound strange, but I think I created this business because I needed it to heal. I was raised by a mom who, to this day, still has an eating disorder. I was put on my first diet at the age of 6. By the time I was in high school, I had my own eating disorder. I started working with a dietician and therapist, so I got rid of a lot of the behaviors. But hating my body was my reality for most of my life. I became a personal trainer in my 20s, thinking I had finally solved all my problems with my career- now people would pay me to be thin and exercise. But I had a very different experience. Women of all sizes came to me asking me to "fix" their bodies, and I kept thinking it was only a matter of time before they realized I was a fraud. That's when I finally realized. Feeling bad about your body isn't a reflection of your body being bad. It's a reflection of the broken culture we live in. Now I help others understand that their body isn't something they need to apologize for. That they're allowed to love their body, even if they don't always like it.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I think my biggest accomplishment as a business owner was being open enough to stumble into a career I never planned. I learn so much from my clients every day, and my business continues to evolve.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Balancing work and home life. Partially cause it always feels like there is more work I could do but also because I love my work so much that I have to remind myself to take a break sometimes.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
You don't have to feel good about yourself 100% of the time in order to succeed. If you listen to people, they'll tell you what they want in your business. You can love what you do and not like it all the time.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.bodyrelationship.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DebbieTheBodyRelationshipCoach
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodyrelationship_coach/
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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