Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Chandler Kutney, founder of Dr. Kutney Chiropractic, located in Nepean, ON, Canada.

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

I'm a Chiropractor, so I work with the joints, muscles, nerves, and other soft tissues of the body with hands-on techniques as well as acupuncture, exercise, and education to help my patients move the way they enjoy their daily lives. Some people really enjoy being active, and some people just need to be able to play with their kids or go for a walk, and catering to my patients' goals is a key point of my approach. My patients come from all walks of life - I see young athletes, desk workers, weekend warriors, pregnant patients and postnatal patients for pain relief and pelvic floor rehabilitation, and my more senior patients who are more likely to deal with things like osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis.

Tell us about yourself

I became inspired to pursue Chiropractic as a career when I was around 16 years old. My family was in a car crash and suffered whiplash, and they started seeing a Chiropractor for relief. I was so impressed by the fact that a hands-on treatment could help people heal so much, and I also noticed that it seemed to help with issues outside of the whiplash. My brother's headaches really got better with some treatment as well. These were all things I wanted to be able to do for other people, but I also felt like becoming a Chiropractor was a good thing for me. I had the opportunity to shadow multiple different Chiropractors as I was growing up, and I noticed that they also loved what they did and had the time and energy to live happy, healthy lives outside of their work. I had always been drawn to healthcare as a child, but I noticed that it could be difficult to achieve a good work-life balance in a lot of healthcare-related fields, and that was something I wanted to make sure I had, so that was a big draw for me as well.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I'm still quite new as a business owner, but I think my biggest accomplishment yet is being able to come back to working and really enjoying what I do after having to take a break for health reasons at the end of 2021. To now be in May of 2022 and sit back and look at how afraid I was to be putting things on pause, not being sure if I even wanted to continue in a different situation as I recovered to where I am now, makes me very happy. I am truly grateful for the patients that were so happy to see me return after I was away and for the support and love I got from them when I announced that I would have to put my practice on pause. It really made me feel supported, and I am so grateful to them for that.

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

I would say one of the hardest things is learning how to prioritize your time and energy toward tasks that are important. When I first started, I was trying to do a bit of everything, and it was way too much, and I had to dial back. Now I'm gradually working on the things that are important, and I save the less important things for slower days.

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

  1. Find a mentor. Have someone that you can talk to about your business, someone you can use as a sounding board for your ideas. Especially if it's your first time running a business or you're starting in a new sector!
  2. Start slow. Running a business is a long-term venture, so giving it 120% right from the get-go is a recipe for burnout. Try to start at less than what you'd like to be at ideally, and grow as you build endurance and stamina.
  3. Use your network to support you and help you when you run into situations that are unfamiliar. You can return the favor when something else comes up!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

ENJOY what you do. Life is too short!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://chandlerkutneychiro.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kutneychiropractic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kutneychiropractic/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.