Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jamie Wilson, Founder of Jamie O'Neil Worldwide Incorporated, located in Halifax, NS, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I run a company that offers virtual holistic health services committed to helping people become the healthiest versions of themselves. I serve people who find themselves struggling on their journey to better health. Be it nutrition, fitness, lifestyle, mindset, or a combination of them all. I focus on providing clarity and structure to my client's efforts and helping them live their best and healthiest lives.
Tell us about yourself
I'm a holistic health coach, registered holistic nutritionist, and personal training specialist. I've been in the industry for over ten years, and I help people overcome the struggles they face when trying to become healthy. Although this is who I am now, I know the frustration and the struggle of not knowing where to start, putting in tons of effort with little reward, and ultimately feeling defeated because you can't figure it out. That struggle led me to begin my holistic health journey in 2012, when I realized there was more to health than my appearance. I started focusing on the person I wanted to become and the life I wanted to live. Embarking on that journey naturally enriched my nutrition, fitness, lifestyle, and mindset. Once I realized this, I committed to my holistic health because I didn't want it to be the reason I couldn't achieve my goals in life. And that was when I realized that this wish also extended to the people I encountered in my life. That was the genesis of my business idea. So, after years of helping people part-time, I quit my sales job in 2019 and committed fully to assisting people in living their healthiest lives.
What motivates me? Well, over the years, I've had the honour and privilege to work with some fantastic individuals, and every time we hit milestone goals, I remember why I became a health coach in the first place. I've worked hard to ensure that my clients can work smart, and it fuels me to know that what I offer impacts lives outside my own.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Hands down, surviving the pandemic. When I quit my job in 2019, I had no idea that the next two years would be so challenging. Initially, my business model was working with businesses and hosting fitness & wellness seminars for their employees. And before I even got started, I lost all the contracts I'd worked to secure. It was not a fun time, but I pivoted into the virtual private space. In retrospect, it was for the best.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I can't speak for all business owners, but one of the hardest things was the feeling of loneliness - like I had to take everything on alone. Although, as a business owner, the buck always stops with me, but that didn't mean that I was alone. I had to learn how to ask for help AND actually let people help me. I'm a prideful person, and it was challenging to open up to others about my struggles as a business owner. However, I'm thankful I learned that lesson because having a good support group has been instrumental in managing my mental health while running a business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
I don't believe I'm an authority in this area yet, but here are three things that have had the hugest impact on me thus far on my entrepreneurial journey:
- Be very meticulous with your time and energy because they are limited. Although rewarding, running a business is extremely draining, even if you love what you do. So, make sure you take time to find activities that replenish your energy and revitalize you. This principle also extends to the relationships in your life. Nothing is worse than being drained by the business and then surrounding yourself with people that drain you even further.
- The journey will sometimes get frustrating, but don't let your frustration with the process allow your impatience to impede progress. Each day, the goal is to get better with the resources available until you can get what you need to be the best.
- Believe in yourself and own the journey. Your business and its success are your responsibility. You won't always make the right decision, but you will always need to make a decision. Own your choices and keep course correcting until you achieve your objective.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.jamieoneil.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JO.JamieOneil
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jo.jamieoneil/
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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