Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Erin Hollon, Founder of Ivy+Light, located in Brooklyn, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Ivy + Light is a one-stop destination for those looking to harness the power of nature to help grow a life they love. We offer a wide variety of teaching and tools: from crystals and essential oils to affirmations, meditation, stress relief techniques, physical health tools, and more! Our customers are ready to claim their full power and responsibility for their lives. They are curious, eager to learn and implement, and open to new ways of thinking and living that help them tune into nature and align with their highest self.
Tell us about yourself
To make a long story short, my deep love of nature comes partly from great childhood memories but also from some major struggles with health. I was able to recover from hypothyroidism, digestive issues, asthma, and a long list of other ailments by changing my diet, balancing my hormones, and reducing my stress... all through the natural healing tools and techniques that I now share with others through Ivy+Light. My biggest passions are Crystals and Essential Oils, and I especially combine them together for boosted healing benefits.
I've been making Reiki-infused Crystal Jewelry for 5+ years, and while my style has evolved, my focus has remained the same - always start with the life goal first, then choose crystals to match that goal. Create with love infused with healing energy, and send that crystal energy to its new home with lots of love and blessings. It is an honor and joy to create and heal every day!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is learning every aspect from scratch - from jewelry making to photography, web design, graphic design, marketing, videography, editing, and the list goes on. I love knowing that growing my business has helped me to grow my creative skills, as well as pushing me to learn important life skills, such as stress management, reclaiming my energy, manifesting goals, and so much more.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
As someone with years of experience in retail sales management, I think the most challenging part of being an entrepreneur is the "solopreneur" aspect of starting a small business. You are relying on your own skills, wisdom, finances, and ability to communicate your brand to the world. As you grow, you can create a team to help fill in your gaps and give you the time to focus on your sphere of genius. Ultimately though, it's always up to you to make decisions, take those leaps of faith, and be the main catalyst for your business' success.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Tip one comes from one of the main life skills I've learned as a business owner: how to manage my energy, especially on the tough days, without relying on a hustle mode mentality. It can be challenging to work long hours, move through failures, and act despite fear. Pushing yourself despite your emotions leads to burnout. It's important to learn how to identify, acknowledge, process, and release your emotions so that you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
Tip number 2 is also about clarity: Take time each month, and even each week, to look at all your projects, your current stats, and goals, etc., and regain clarity on what action steps will get you toward your next goals with the most grace, speed, and ease. This will save you time and energy throughout the month and keep you from getting distracted from the main goal or overbooking your to-do list with less important tasks.
And thirdly, in this age of social media marketing, don't think you need to schedule out a lot of separate time to create social content. You can share all those behind-the-scenes moments of running your business with only a tiny bit of effort to grab your phone and hit record. Your audience will love connecting with your business and with YOU in this way. It's often much more relatable content, and it saves you so much time too.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I firmly believe that in order to grow your business, you must grow yourself too. We often hold ourselves back from the next level of success because of our lack of confidence or other limiting beliefs. Learning to evaluate your inner monologue helps you to identify areas for growth. Each time you make a personal breakthrough, a business breakthrough is just around the corner!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.ivyandlight.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivyandlight
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivy.and.light/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-hollon-7652b5138/
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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