Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Kristen Sutherland, Founder of Inverness Chiropractic & Health Collective, located in Inverness, NS, Canada.

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

We are a multi-disciplinary health care center offering a long list of products and services to a lovely and large (geographically) rural area. We welcome our community to experience personalized treatment plans & education to help them take control of their health. Our core values are collaborative, compassionate, confidential, current, dependable, and professional. Inverness Chiropractic & Health Collective was established in 2014. Our goal is to help Inverness County increase its vitality and health one patient at a time. We are passionate about creating a vibrant community and helping people live their best life. We provide service to everyone from brand new babies to the most senior pioneers of our lovely villages. We will try our best to help you achieve your health goals, whatever they may be. Overall, we know it feels good to feel good. We want everyone in our community to experience that.

Tell us about yourself

I'm Dr. Kristen Sutherland, and I'm the owner and chiropractor. I injured my own back when I was 22 and, after not finding resolution with medical care, decided to try chiropractic. I was so impressed with the treatment, the complete resolution of pain, and also the education that made me feel empowered and in control of my own body. I immediately decided to pursue chiropractic as a career. I finished my Kinesiology degree at Dalhousie University and moved to Toronto to get my doctorate at CMCC. Upon graduation, I worked at another clinic for 6 years, saving money, learning the ropes from some great mentors, and strategizing to open my own clinic in my hometown of Inverness, Cape Breton. Being a chiropractor is a very rewarding career. It isn't just about pain relief; it's about helping a mechanic do his job, helping an athlete reach new heights, helping a new mom breastfeed comfortably, and helping our seniors stay active into their 90s. It's a great feeling to help others, and it's especially nice in a small community where you know each other, and you can see first-hand how your work is helping to grow a vibrant and healthy community.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I knew that a chiropractic clinic was a no-brainer, slam-dunk plan in a town that really needed that resource. Each patient's success story reinforces that I made the right decision. The greatest joy was building a team including so many other exceptional practitioners and administrative staff. We can help more people in more ways than I would have thought possible when I opened in 2014. In an industry that typically has high turnover, we have very low turnover in staffing, and they are exceptional individuals. People get as much therapy talking with our office manager as they do in a treatment room. The vibes are undeniable at Inverness Chiropractic.

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

Saying No. I like to help, but you have to have boundaries. I find making a values list or having specific yearly goals can help you select causes, charities, extracurriculars, and other commitments that will be most impactful for you and what you are trying to accomplish.

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

  1. Start small and grow. You don't need all the things to start. Just start where you are with what you have and grow as your bankroll grows.
  2. Hire people that complement you and each other. Building a great team requires some self-awareness and emotional intelligence. If you don't have that, find someone who does to help you hire.
  3. Have fun. If you don't like it, why are you doing it? Running a business is hard, so make sure you have a passion for what you are selling, creating, or offering. She's going to be a long haul if you aren't extracting a bit of joy from your day-to-day life.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Make an appointment with a chiropractor. You're going to be making a few trips around the sun; you should try to be moving through them smoothly. You don't need to wait for a health crisis to assess and improve your health!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://invernesschiro.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InvernessChiro/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invernesschiropractic/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/invernesschiro
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-kristen-sutherland/

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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