Life Skills Coaching Service

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tanya Trofimencoff, Founder of DNC Wellness, located in Saint John, NB, Canada.

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

Hi! I'm Tanya Trofimencoff, your Holistic Nutrition Counsellor & founder of DNC Wellness. The business focuses on empowering clients to grow through holistic health education, which raises self-awareness in the areas of physical, nutritional, emotional, mental, & spiritual wellness. Using a client-centered approach supports clients to work at their own pace safely to share what is most present for them as a priority & supports authentic change.

Customers include corporate businesses and Canadians of all ages who are looking for support to manage trauma, improve day-to-day health & fulfillment, & learn the life skills needed to deepen their connection to themselves and others. Services are available in French & English & include 1-on-1 support, group workshops, and walk & talk sessions. Additional tools that can be used in the session include:

imagination meditations
stretching exercises
grounding techniques
art & dance therapies
somatic therapy
cognitive behavioural therapy
As an advocate for living dreams, I am also in the process of creating children's books aimed at educating about nutrition.

Tell us about yourself

Before becoming a Holistic Nutrition Counsellor, I worked as a Chemical Engineer in several different industries & experienced difficulty with the frequent layoffs in the field. I had several adversities in my life & sought counseling ten years ago to get through a tough marriage and eventually a divorce. The last counselor I saw at the time showed me empathy on a level I've never experienced, and that's when I decided that I must learn how to offer this precious life-changing gift to others.

I was encouraged to dream about starting my own business when I was a student at Rhodes Wellness College, so I didn't stand in the way of this dream and dove right in. Throughout the Professional Integrative Nutrition Diploma program, my business vision has changed & I love the many privileges that come with owning a business. I get to make my own hours to honor what's healthy for my unique needs, I can be available & present for my son and husband, & creating a balance between rest & work helps me to be my best for clients.

This business is energizing, gives me fulfillment, & offers limitless future possibilities. Owning a business is exciting because there's a combination of embracing the mystery of what might come while also working on what's here now. As someone who loves to serve others, this business represents my core values of health, education, love, authenticity, creativity, & peace. These are the values I aim to share with my clients.

Seeing how over just one year, so much can change, I am learning to trust the process of natural business growth & enjoy a day to day tasks. I feel honoured to be working with my clients & feel motivated when I see a client learning at their own pace, taking ownership of their health goals, & self-discovery through the sessions together.

When a client learns about holistic health and life skills, it's particularly exciting for me as clients leave sessions with new skills they can practice every day. I'm grateful for the opportunity to build trust with my clients as they learn to trust themselves to be the experts in their lives.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I'm grateful for the program at Rhodes Wellness College based in Vancouver, BC. This experiential learning opportunity anchored me in the learning process as "Client 0," & I'm proud to hold the Professional Integrative Nutrition Diploma. Sharing education with clients regarding the gut-brain connection to support mental health with nutrition is another layer I appreciate as it completes the holistic approach to wellness.

Getting started as a business owner taught me to face my fears, learn how to network, & trust my intuition. I'm proud of my holistic approach to counseling because seeing the many facets of a human being is important to me.

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

At the beginning of starting a business, the marketing aspect was definitely overwhelming for me. I hired help which was the best decision I made at the time & when my confidence grew. I took over marketing. Now, I would say the challenge is the administrative tasks of business ownership.

Paperwork and small details of business from that angle do not really interest me however, as it is part of the business, I will be working on using some applications to make it more fun.

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

Obtain the proper education in your field - become part of an alliance or professional group - and aim for continuous learning in your field. Having credentials builds trust with clients & sends a message that you take what you do seriously.
Keep it simple and just get started. Business can always change. Details can always change. Whether it's the logo, business name, website, business goal, or whatever the detail, everything can change. Focus on today as the goal, and put yourself out there to get started with something you resonate with.
Network, network, network. Other things might work, but nothing is like networking in my experience. When networking with local businesses, there are a lot of resources that can be shared & potential future collaborations. Tell all your friends, family & community.

Starting a business is like riding waves
there will be highs and lows. You'll have plans to surf when it's time to float. Once you get started, your skills will grow, and you will know when to bring out your board and when to just be still.

It's ok to fail. Be with the failure, learn from it, normalize it & never give up.
Believe in yourself - no one will care more about your business than you.
Know who you are - there will be arrows coming the way that can bring you down if you're not prepared and are not anchored in your identity. Know your values, boundaries, and identity to tell the world who you are and not the other way around.
Celebrate your steps: New logo? Celebrate! Website launched? Celebrate!
Have SMARTER goals - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound, Emotional Motivation & Review.
Build your connection with fellow business owners. Reach out and set up interviews to learn about their journey (ask specific questions).
If you feel resistance or anxiety in any part of the process, find resources that can help you and ask for help.
Talk to your audience - don't know who your audience is yet? No problem, remember your "why" and translate it into your message. You'll figure out your audience in due time.
Take advantage of any government grants for business owners & make sure to save up before getting started. Business startup costs may catch you by surprise - research first.
All the best, fellow entrepreneur. Remember, it doesn't matter if there are a billion people in your field. There is no one like you in this world. You have a unique approach that is needed!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.dncwellness.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dnc.wellness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dnc.wellness/
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3dAUbJ2

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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