Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Merritt Widen, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Clarity Telehealth, Inc., located in San Rafael, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Clarity Telehealth was founded to address a major treatment gap in behavioral health: the mental health assessment and support of people undergoing major surgeries and other medical interventions. Surgeries for chronic pain, cardiovascular, bariatric, neurosurgical, reconstructive procedures, amputation, mastectomy, and chemotherapy. These are all procedures closely associated with mental health issues that, untreated, seriously affect patient adherence to treatment plans and surgical outcomes and increase mortality risk.
There are over 8 million of these life-changing but traumatic procedures in the US per year. Our vision is to make mental health support for patients undergoing major interventions as automatic and commonplace as physical therapy is today for much lesser procedures.
Tell us about yourself
"Without vision, the people perish" Book of Proverbs. I am a visionary. I have been working as an advisor to or as a founder of early-stage ventures for over 35 years. I love the creative process of making something out of nothing. My job is to formulate a clear vision and communicate it throughout the entire organization, to partners, investors, etc. I am most motivated by ventures that can have a positive impact on the lives of many, like Clarity Telehealth.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
In 2009, I founded Forefront TeleCare, Inc. Forefront was a pioneer in behavioral Telehealth. I led Forefront for 11 years as CEO and continued for an additional two years as Chairman. Forefront today is a national leader in providing behavioral care, via Telehealth, to the vulnerable senior population and is seeing patients in 40 states.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
As a CEO/owner of an early-stage business, you live it 24-7. It is always on your mind, and it is very hard to take a break from it. Sometimes, that isn't healthy for you or your loved ones.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't run out of money. Though many startup business plans today are predicated on hyper-growth fueled by investment capital, they may not be available when you need them the most. Drive towards early profitability and never get out too far from the shore financially, just in case.
- Communicate the vision of the organization to everyone. Make sure they "get it." It is crucial that every single person in an early-stage company understand why they are doing what they do and what's in it for them and for the world.
- Prepare for a "black swan moment." The Pandemic, Great Recession, 9/11, Crash of '87. Suddenly everything changes in a historical instant. It is very difficult and sometimes impossible to foresee these events. But they will happen, and you must be prepared and "weatherproof" your business against these events as much as possible. Part of that process is preparing yourself to pivot quickly and make significant changes to your strategy and operations as needed.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.clarityth.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/merritt-widen-99a8383/
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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