Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ashley Kuhnau, Founder of Grounded and Growing, located in Alexandria, MN, USA.

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

I help individuals who suffer with physical pain conquer the mental road blocks and hurdles of living with that pain.  A common scenario for clients in my office is facing the fact that no one seems to know what's going on in their body, why their pain keeps returning or being told "it's all in their head".  I also assist those who have an incurable condition and now have to live a new life in this broken body. During our sessions, clients receive in-depth brain/body education and lean the neurological and physiological reactions we have in our body when we experience stress around pain.  We also learn about why we have the emotional reactions, we do to our environment and how this, in turn, takes a toll on our health. We talk at great length about the Limbic System in the brain and its given career in helping you survive your surroundings. In turn, this system in your brain can have "faulty" wiring or running old programs that were once beneficial to your protection that is no longer needed to perform that way anymore.

What does all of this mean? Here is an example: If you have chronic headaches or daily anxiety and nothing is helping we take a look at your environment.  Our bodies are designed to send us signals so that we pay attention to our surroundings. Bad marriage, hard job, stressful kids? When your environment feels out of control, your body begins to do what it can to communicate to you that it needs a break. Oftentimes, however, we jump to medications or X-rays or MRIs to solve a problem that is more of a messenger problem than a structural problem. Our brain and body are in communication with each other in a constant flow of signals 24/7, and if it needs to, it will protect you by communicating through physical pain because it needs you to "retreat" or take a break.

The problem is we get used to these signals and just push through or medicate and over time we wear out and crash. By understanding what's happening we begin to "rewire" the brain. (yes, we actually have scientific proof that we can do this.) When we update those outdated programs, we can achieve deeper healing than we would have achieved by only treating the symptom itself. To reach the mental roadblocks around a life with pain I use the tools of NLP and Brainspotting to get you "unstuck" and to a place of healing quickly.

Tell us about yourself

I have been a Physical Therapist Assistant for 20 years. The last 14 have been with chronic pain patients. I have also struggle with chronic pain for decades myself and have been my own testimony when it comes to using these tools.  With the life experience of pain as well as helping others with theirs I knew this was far deeper than the physical injury at hand.  One thing led to the other, and I found NLP and became a certified Life Coach.  I also then found Brainspotting and used this tool in both PT sessions with patients as well as my clients in my coaching practice. The last three years have been the most humbling and incredible to watch as I have helped hundreds with chronic pain find a new and more peaceful life.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Taking life and job experience to fill a (take out the word dark) hole in the medical field. I am excited to be at the forefront of this as both medical and mental health fields have a better understanding of how this can change lives.  With growing  science behind pain were are helping turna the tides for so many who have struggled for so long.

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

Finding a price point knowing and understanding the value my line of work has, and choosing to no longer be strangled by insurance companies but cash only. Costs of everything are high for so many, and I want people to be able to afford the care they need to be well.

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

  1. Know who you are and what your passion is. This comes with time and a lot of personal development.
  2. Be smart. You have to have help nowadays to fight online traffic and get people to your site. Don't be taken by all of the big companies that promise to make your business grow online. Stay local with someone you can trust.
  3. Teach others. No matter what it is you are doing, if you're starting a business, there will always be something you can teach someone else who has the same drive to do the same.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I truly LOVE what I do and feel immensely blessed to be able to offer this service to anyone anywhere, thanks to the ability to do my work with clients online as well.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://groundedandgrowing.me/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/changeyourthoughtsandbehaviors
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groundedandgrowing.me/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GroundedGrowing
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-kuhnau-6a2787a3/

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.