Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in helath and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Nicholas Hatcher, Founder of Catharsis Health, located in Bloomington, MN, USA.

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

I am a private practice specialist in integrative psychiatry. I incorporate a unique blend of conventional (prescription medication) and functional/naturopathic (herbal, botanical, supplement) treatments as well as psychotherapy and lifestyle interventions based on individual experiences, laboratory/diagnostic findings, and preferences in order to collaboratively work toward my patient's goals. My customers are those interested in exploring and strengthening mind-body interactions, as many of the diagnostics and interventions that I tend to recommend repair this connection. My customers are also often interested in exploring the root cause of a given symptom or set of symptoms. I serve those in Washington and Minnesota at this time.

Tell us about yourself

I was motivated to start my own business because of my interest in spending time with individuals working on a meaningful plan of care. Oftentimes in standard psychiatric practice, appointments are very brief, and care tends to focus on symptoms only and the prescription of pharmacologic agents to help with those symptoms. Sometimes I think we neglect the connection between the brain and body and look past the influence of other systems (e.g., endocrine, gut, immune, etc.) on the brain. I am inspired by those who are interested in exploring the whole body and its various bodily systems and their relationship to mental health and illness.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment so far is the integration of ongoing training through a variety of educational programs into my daily practice. I keep track of what my patient population is experiencing and am aware that in order to best serve my population with added value, I must continue to educate myself. Based on my population-derived statistics, I search for and participate in educational opportunities to return value to my patients. This past year I was able to meet this goal and am actively working on my adjusted plan for this year.

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

The hardest thing that came along with being a business owner was getting started. At first, it seems like an insurmountable task to start a business. Honestly, taking the first step was the most difficult. I, fortunately, found that it's not as complicated as it initially seemed.

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

  1. Plan out the steps to get started with your business. Time spent on a good plan is worth every minute. Draw out the specific steps you need to take in order to use a timeline with due dates and pre-conditions (needs to complete that step). You are essentially manifesting something that is abstract, so I would argue that using an abstract flow diagram of some sort is beneficial.
  2. To effectively run a business, I would suggest keeping track of operations and organizing relentlessly. I am a big fan of approaches such as lean methodology, six sigma, value stream mapping, and other quality improvement techniques. These are extremely valuable when it comes to helping a business run effectively. As a sole individual, it helps to divide yourself into "parts," such as CEO, CFO, CMO, COO, etc., in order to focus your attention on various aspects of the business.
  3. To effectively grow a business, I think the two most important elements are (1) value-added strategies and (2) responsiveness. It means a lot to an individual if you can provide the highest value possible. This may require that you explore innovative ways to add value to your services. Responsiveness is likewise important. At least in my field, it means a lot to my population and those interested in my services to respond quickly, efficiently, and thoroughly.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.catharsishealth.org/

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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