Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Erin Skinner, owner of Empowered Nutrition, located in Southern Pines, NC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Our mission is to provide an innovative wellness model: affordable healthcare that actually makes you healthier. Through evidence-based practices and counseling, we help our clients leverage the power of nutrition so that they can live more empowered lives. Our clients can expect life-changing results because of our unique, personal approach. We also use a proven process to find and address root causes, provide individualized plans, and support you as a whole person.
Our team of Registered Dietitians is trained and experienced in Integrative and Functional Medicine. Our care is covered 100% by most insurance plans. Thus, we provide one of the only ways available to access Integrative and Functional Medicine for free.
Tell us about yourself
Hello, I am a military veteran and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. I have over 14 years of healthcare experience, which started with helping military aircrew and special forces optimize their performance through nutrition.
Throughout my own health journey, I've felt frustrated and neglected by the traditional medical community. So, I transitioned to the world of integrative and functional nutrition. I have since helped thousands of patients experience the relief of finding the root cause of their illnesses and resolving them with individual nutrition plans.
Seeing my patients' success made me passionate about functional medicine. However, I was still frustrated by the lack of access and high cost. As a result, I pursued my license to become an Integrative and Functional Certified Nutritional Practitioner. Later, I co-created one of the nation's first insurance-based functional medicine clinics, the Inspire Health Center. This clinic's success proved to me that functional medicine could be accessed through insurance. Empowered Nutrition is, above all, a continuation of this vision: to make the next generation of healthcare accessible to all.
I also teach nutrition professionals how to develop nutrition plans for patients who suffer from gastrointestinal conditions. As the co-founder of the SIBO Academy, I have become nationally renowned as an expert in gastrointestinal-focused nutrition as a result.
One of my key strengths as a dietitian is keeping close to the latest science. My current pursuit of my Doctor in Clinical Nutrition (DCN) through Rutgers University has helped me with this. Informing others has always been important to me, so I always translate nutrition science into layman's terms. I've done so in my book, the Bone Broth Miracle Diet, and in the Empowered Nutrition Podcast.
Finally, I love to connect with and encourage others. I am compassionate and always put the experience of my patients first. Years of successfully coaching and counseling patients have led to my current philosophy: the perfect diet only works if it's delivered in a way that is caring and supportive.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment has been the creation of an innovative model that allows modern, effective healthcare (integrative and functional medicine) to be accessible through healthcare insurance.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Every day, I have to work on trusting others (letting go of tasks). I know that I can't do it all, but it's a challenge to trust. However, I've made a lot of growth in getting over that limiting belief. Usually, when I hand off a task, my incredible team performs it better than I would have.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Don't wait to be perfect, and don't pour a ton of money into your business to start. Just start. Start small, learn your niche and your audience. Get your product dialed in, and learn how to speak to your target audience. Then, grow from there (re-invest your profits as much as you can).
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Always focus on what is needed. Find where that need meets your passion, and you have your business model. If you focus on making the world a better place for other people, you will be a success.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.empowerednutrition.health/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmpoweredNutritionWellness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinskinner_rd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinskinner1/
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.