Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Michelle LaVecchia Odendahl, Founder and Owner of Health Yeah With Michelle, located in Lambertville, NJ, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
In our world today, I think many of us have forgotten how to love ourselves first. I am a believer that if we don’t truly give to ourselves first, how are we expected to give to all the others surrounding us? I coach to both practices of self-love and positive mindset within our everyday lives and shift our purpose to live better in order to grow into our best selves. As the founder of Health Yeah with Michelle, I share this niche with all my clients with a focused lens on educating youth K-12 on various health and wellness practices.
Tell us about yourself
I spent my last life, also known as my previous career, for 18+ years in a Visual Merchandising/Retail Management role. While I am extremely humbled by all of the experiences provided to me during almost two decades, I began to realize I was neglecting both my health and wellness along the way. As a transition out of this role was a thought in the back of my mind for many years, I had to wait for the right feeling to make a life-altering change.
I am both a wife and mother of two girls, all of which enriched my life during this career. I always found wisdom and grace in working hard and providing for my family. I would always find a way to teach my daughters that women can do hard things and be very successful in the workplace. During our worldwide pandemic, I was furloughed for four very long months. I decided that being homeward-bound for an unknown length of time would allow me to gain back lost time spent with my family and allow more time to focus on my needs for change.
I began connecting with previous peers with like-minded visions, taking complimentary webinars on health and wellness related topics and honing back into the areas of my life that brought me the most joy. I was connected to IIN (Institute of Integrative Nutrition) and decided I had nothing to lose to invest in both myself and my future.
Fast forward through one year of online schooling and certification, while working my full-time retail career, I became a Certified Integrative Health & Wellness Coach. I have furthered my certification to not only lengthen my already long name but to specialize in both international and youth coaching to support mental health education.
I have grown my experience in volunteer work within my community and was able to shift away from my full-time career to focus on my coaching business over a year and a half ago. I have decided that every day I show up, I will continue to shine and serve my purpose. My purpose is to leave any person, place, or thing… even brighter than when I got there.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Navigating through my “why” and going after it. The endless research, networking, connecting, and sharing my voice on being the best you! If you can’t see this, I will not only assist you in locating it but hold you accountable while doing so.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Absolutely the balance of business and personal! As a business owner, your mind never really shuts off. So, setting your boundaries and clarity of distractions within your time is priceless! Remember, NO is an actual word… and very powerful, might I add.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Get clear on your why! This will support your drive behind your success.
- Swallow your fear. You will never move forward if you don’t allow the first step through fear.
- Make lots of mistakes. How else will you learn what works best for you and your business otherwise?
- Always thank your supporters from the beginning because someone helped you build your dream along the way.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.healthyeahwithmichelle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Healthyeahwithmichelle
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthyeahwithmichelle/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellelavecchiaodendahl/
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.