Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in mental wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stephanie Vogt, Founder of Find Your Min, located in Philadelphia, PA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is reducing stress in the workplace, and I do this in two ways. First, I aim to prevent workplace stress by teaching about identifying and preventing sexual harassment at work. Second, I teach practical techniques to counter stress - simple things like movement, breathing, and meditation. My customers are primarily corporations and professional organizations, and I love speaking at conferences.
Tell us about yourself
I worked in the finance industry for a decade before making the difficult decision to leave my career to heal from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I'd experienced sexual harassment so regularly that my stress levels were through the roof, and my physical and mental health were really negatively impacted.
For years I worked to heal myself, and I collected simple and practical tools to cope with stress along the way. As I looked deeper into the sources of my stress, I became passionate about putting an end to workplace harassment. I want to make workplaces safer because I don't want anyone else to go through what I went through. I don't want anyone to become incapable of earning a living for themselves because they've endured so much subtle harassment that it's created real physical and mental health problems that they need to put their career on hold to deal with. Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and empowered at work.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is feeling like myself every time I stand at the front of a room to give a talk or teach a grounding workshop. I've never felt more authentically "me." It feels incredible to be paid to do work I love that is both meaningful and valuable for others.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things for me as a business owner has been putting value on the work that I do. I think there are a few reasons for this. First, I started out doing this work for free before I could clearly see what I was doing and who I could best serve. Second, as a survivor of sexual harassment and assault, my sense of self-worth was really damaged by what I experienced, so seeing and asking for what I'm worth was a huge challenge for me.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Find what lights you up, and do that! It's going to make it so much easier to stay motivated to change and grow your business if you're deeply connected to the work you do.
- Connect with the people in your network regularly to nurture and grow those connections. You never know when someone will think of you to fulfill a need they have! Some of my greatest opportunities have come from networking.
- Choose one social media platform and make your profile and content on that platform reflect the business you want to attract. For me, it was LinkedIn. It may take time, but those who need you will find you and reach out.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://findyourmin.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-vogt-fym/
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.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.