Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Gwen Cottingham, Registered Nutritionist and Life Coach, based in Bradford, ON, Canada.

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

I am a registered holistic nutritionist and life coach. My customers are people interested in improving their health and lifestyle through different avenues such as diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes.

Tell us about yourself

I have been in the business since 2006. I am passionate about helping people achieve their goals of improving their health. I got into this business through my own health issues and that of my husband, who had a Muscular Dystrophy disease which has been passed down to my daughter and her son. Every day, my motivation is seeing the results my clients achieve through their hard work and knowing that I have helped them achieve that goal. I am not a person who believes that medication is the action to take many issues that can be helped through their eating habits and simple changes to lifestyle.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is seeing the happiness of my clients as they reach the goals they set for themselves and knowing that I was a very small part of that achievement.

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

One of the hardest things was not being recognized by the medical profession as they look at dieticians instead of nutritionists and try to overcome this.

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

  1. Social media/marketing -  know where to hit your clients; not all media will work for you.
  2. Have a bookkeeper or accountant do your finances.
  3. If you are in a partnership, make sure everything is legal.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Being self-employed is a very hard business depending on that career and what the business consists of. There are periods when things are good, but there are bad/hard times as well. Embrace your business and enjoy everything that it brings to you.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.gwencottingham.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gwen.cottingham.1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gwencottingham/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/gwencottingham

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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