Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Shannon Dolan, Owner of Health With Shannon, located in Austin, TX, USA.

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

Health With Shannon is a Nutritional Therapy and Wellness Practice dedicated to helping women understand their bodies and live in harmony with their natural biology. With a bio-individualized approach, Health With Shannon services focus on assisting women in balancing hormones, improving their periods, enhancing gut health, and finding their unique needs. We can help women worldwide through one-on-one support, online courses, and educational content on social media platforms.

Tell us about yourself

I'm Shannon Dolan, founder of Health With Shannon, that developed a passion for helping women understand their body's through my hardships with my body and health. I suffered from a negative body image, painful periods, severe bloat, and issues with my gut health, only to be left with more questions whenever I sought help. Being a naturally curious person with a formal college education centered around the human body, I dove into learning everything I could about supporting my own body and beginning my healing process.

Through my healing, I opened up to my community on social media. I quickly realized that I was not alone in these hardships. The conversations I would have with women all over the world amplified my desire to help people on their healing journeys and to understand how to nourish themselves with what they truly need, not just what the latest trends tell them to.

What keeps me continuing down this journey to help people are the messages I get from strangers online telling me how much I helped them, seeing the results in my clients, and knowing that by helping one generation of women develop a more profound love and understanding for their bodies, we can help the next generation do the same.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

In my (almost) 3 years in business, I've accomplished some recognitions and milestones that leave me in celebratory mode. From winning Best Nutritionist in Austin, TX, in 2021 to being featured in magazines across the country to having clients across the globe, I am proud and honored to have my work shared and recognized.

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

Being a business owner isn't all rainbows and butterflies, like social media often portrays. My biggest obstacles have never been the systems or the back end of the business, but rather the mindset that holds me back. Fear of being seen, balancing work and life, and avoiding self-sabotage can all be hard to overcome.

Personal work and development are your best friends as a business owner. Knowing your patterns, how to address them, and getting to the root of what's holding you back is key to longevity as an entrepreneur. Developing the skill to push yourself yet recognize when it's time to pump the breaks is crucial to avoid burnout and maintaining momentum.

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

  1. Start with getting crystal clear regarding what you want. Often, people fall into the trap of doing what they think they "should" do instead of what they want to do. This can lead to an inauthentic brand that will fizzle out due to a lack of inspiration. When you align entirely with what you want and your vision, that's when the magic can happen.
  2. Everything is "figure-out-able": People avoid getting started in their business because of fear about particular logistics like taxes, how to build a website, and other back-end systems, which, in reality, can all be outsourced or learned. It may be a bit messy, but that first year or two is all about trying things out. Eventually, you'll figure out what works and what doesn't, and you'll have a clear direction regarding the next steps.
  3. You are most likely getting in your own way and doing personal work. The majority of the obstacles I run into in my business come from my brain and self-sabotage. It's never easy to admit that, but once you recognize your patterns and where you're playing small, you can break free and choose a different path than you typically do. This is where hiring someone like a business coach with a background in personal development can be tremendously helpful!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.healthwithshannon.com/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@healthwithshannon
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthwithshannon/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/healthwithshannon/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/healthwithshannon/

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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