Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in publishing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Laura Di Franco, Owner of Brave Healer Productions, located in Bethesda, MD, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Brave Healer Productions helps holistic health and wellness professionals share their brave words in a bigger way. We specialize in publishing and business strategy for healers. We know you were born to change the world, and our bestselling collaborative book projects and programs were born to give you the knowledge, inspiration, and community to super-boost your mission, message, and business!
Tell us about yourself
I spent 30 years in holistic physical therapy and 14 years in martial arts and have now published 9 of my own books and 33 collaborative bestsellers. My first six-figure business in physical therapy was how I built the knowledge and practice that led to my wanting to help other healers. Brave Healer Productions was founded about seven years ago with a mission to share all I'd learned and help professionals grow their businesses by sharing their authentic stories and brave words with the world so that their clients could understand what they do and be inspired to work with them. I wake up every single day burning in purpose more than I ever have in my life. That feeling started in 2016 when a stranger reached out to me for support. Through that conversation, I realized that my words could change and maybe even save someone's life. From that day forward, I knew my fear of not-good-enough was boring. It was time to be brave and share my life and my passion with others. I now talk about these kinds of fears as purpose-driven fears. They are the compass pointing you toward your deepest desires, dreams, and goals!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Over the last year, I broke multiple six-figure marks in my business, and while money isn't everything, as a divorced mom of two college-aged humans, being on my own and being able to generously take care of myself and everyone I love doing something that lights me up every day was badass. I was able to prove to myself that anything is possible. When I achieved that goal, I knew that I had manifested everything I was looking at, including the joy I live with every single day (as well as the bank account). My message to other business owners is this: Owning a business is a self-development journey. When you wake up inside of that and realize it's your crap getting in the way of your abundance and do the work necessary to heal, you can achieve any goal. It's time to take responsibility for everything in your life and business. That is not a burden but pure freedom. You have the power to build your empire. First step? Your mindset.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The uncertainty and the waiting. I mentioned mindset in the last question, and I'll continue here: If you master your thoughts, beliefs, and mindset, you will stop having challenges and start having huge opportunities. My mindset practice is the hardest and most rewarding thing in my business. Have a slow month? Rather than dwelling in that self-sabotaging BS for too long, I focus on the good. Something falls apart with your team? Rather than blaming anyone, I look at my decisions, take responsibility, and move forward, rather than dwelling on pain of the mistakes or failures. The practice isn't easy. But it's probably the most important thing in life and business. I work through the doubt, worry, and fear, daily. I have learned to spend more time on inspiration, dreaming, visioning, and positivity. And that is a powerful manifestation practice.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- You were not meant to do this alone. Look to a community that supports you and has your back immediately. Don't wait.
- Learn how to delegate. One good virtual assistant will be a game-changer. Make a list of tasks you do every day. Your A list is everything only you can do (write your book, speak, be the face of your business). Your B list is everything you can delegate to someone else. Create SOPs (standard operating procedures) or instructions for each task and a step-by-step list of how to do the task. Then, when you're ready to hire someone to help you, they will have an easy library of instructions they can go to to help you. I swear if someone had told me about this early on, I'd still be thanking them.
- Share your real, raw, authentic self more often by writing and speaking about who you are and what you stand for. Go ahead and be your awesome, "too-much" self. Write your book and blogs, and speak on podcasts and stages. Get in front of people at networking groups. USE YOUR VOICE! Let people get to know the awesome you! Building relationships with humans is how your business will grow. Make that a daily task.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Remember, you were born, so you're worthy. Your message matters. What if the thing you're still a little afraid to share is exactly the thing someone needs to hear to change, or even save, their life. It's time to be brave. Everything has been written, said, and done before. . . but not by YOU. It's your message, in exactly the way only you can deliver it, that someone is waiting for. That fear of not-good-enough? It's boring. Get on with your badassery and share your divine gifts.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://lauradifranco.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BraveHealerbyLaura/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravehealerproductions/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/brave_healer
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3OSEESl
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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