Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Adam Weinmann, founder of Brain-powered Nutrition, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I am a registered dietitian and nutrition/lifestyle coach, running a virtual nutrition counseling business focusing on nutrition and mental health. Our mood dramatically influences the foods we crave and our ability to make healthy decisions, but more and more research shows the role of nutrition in maintaining the brain's health and therefore boosting our mood.

I help people with depression, anxiety, and ADHD and those who struggle with binge eating, emotional eating, weight loss, and digestive issues, using science-based nutrition and lifestyle changes tailored to each client. While I believe it's possible to be healthy at every size, many clients still want to lose weight, so I help them do that healthily and sustainably. I partner with clients to provide support, guidance, and accountability. My practice is body-positive, culturally inclusive, and LGBT-allied. I'm a complete science nerd, so I stay on top of the latest research to provide the most up-to-date recommendations to my clients.

Tell us about yourself

I arrived at my career in nutrition after my own health struggles. I started as a professional classical musician, but a few years into my career, I began to experience crippling anxiety. I tried absolutely everything to recover, but it wasn't until I started making dietary changes that I saw the issue resolved. I became completely fascinated with all aspects of nutrition and the brain. I decided to go back to school full-time to become a dietitian.

Now, my inspiration is really my clients. When they gain control over their heartburn or IBS, when their anxiety subsides, when they're able to cook and enjoy a meal with friends or family, when their energy, mood, or focus improves, or when they're able to look in the mirror and see a body they are happy with, I am motivated to go out and find new clients to work with.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment has been the transformations I have facilitated for clients. I'm just a year into my private practice, but I have helped so many people feel more empowered around food, which is a huge deal to me.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Any new entrepreneur will be targeted by sales coaches, marketing funnel gurus, and social media experts...all claiming to produce incredible results for your business. Being bombarded by that kind of marketing is exhausting and makes you feel inadequate. It can be hard to stay focused on your product or service and your unique value as a health professional and make shrewd investments in your business without being taken in by every offer.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Perfectionism is paralysis! Worrying about the perfect branding, the ideal website, and the most viral social media post does nothing to advance any business at the start. I made a quick website on Squarespace myself, and I already had a client within two weeks!
  2. Have a really clear idea of what you offer. It has taken me a while to figure out what separates me from other nutrition professionals. Defining that in my messaging to potential clients has helped me become more successful.
  3. Be flexible - sometimes, what you're offering isn't exactly what people are looking for. I was completely focused on nutrition to address anxiety, but over time, I realized most people were interested in weight loss or control over sugar cravings and emotional eating. I also realized that there was a need for more health professionals that are sensitive and experienced with the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ community. It's not exactly where I thought I'd end up, but now that I'm here, I can't imagine doing anything else. I think that speaks to the power of being open to a change in audience or service.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.brainpowerednutrition.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adamweinmannnutrition
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamweinmannnutrition/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamweinmann/

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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