Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Katelin Gates-Gonzales, a sleep and insomnia coach based in Kailua, HI, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I’m an insomnia coach, and I help people who are frustrated that nothing seems to work and feels hopeless. I have clients who have tried CBTi and sleeping pills and seen doctors and specialists yet still struggle with insomnia. I help them overcome their insomnia once and for all and get the sleep they need to get their energy and life back.
Tell us about yourself
I struggled with severe insomnia for more than 20 years. I used to sleep every 2 to 4 days for just a couple of hours. I tried almost every supplement and pill out there, worked with many specialists, did a couple of rounds of CBTi, and so much more. Nothing worked. That is until I met a sleep physician who was actually able to help me. What he taught me is unlike most strategies out there for insomnia—what he said made so much sense.
Thanks to him, I was finally sleeping well, and he encouraged me to become an insomnia coach. At the time, I was trying to figure out some kind of business I could create for myself because I hated having a job when I had insomnia. I swore I would create my own business so that if I didn’t sleep or felt horrible, I could make my own hours and have the flexibility.
Little did I know, the insomnia that created the desire to start my own business became the focus of my business. I now combined what I learned from that sleep physician with my own knowledge and experience and created my SLP 3-step process for overcoming insomnia. I now help people inside my online program, the Sleep Makeover, and my 1:1 coaching with their insomnia. Helping people get their sleep back and feel great again gives me purpose and makes me feel fulfilled.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Starting my own business despite not everyone supporting me in following this dream. It wasn’t easy, but my business is growing every day. I still have a lot more learning and growth to do, but I am forever grateful that I get to do what I do.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I haven’t gotten to the point where I have a full team helping me yet. It’s just my virtual assistant Evon and I doing everything. There is a lot to juggle, organize, and problem-solve. However, I have learned so much on this journey and am grateful for all the knowledge and skills I have gained.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Always be learning. There is a ton to learn, and the learning never stops. Keep taking online courses, learning from mentors, and reading books. As soon as you stop growing, so does your business.
- Work on your mindset. Starting your own business can be exhausting, emotional, and stressful at times and yet extremely rewarding. You will face obstacles and feel like you are stuck sometimes, and it can be easy to give up. It’s during those struggles that the mindset you choose to keep is what will keep you going. Just do a google search for an “entrepreneur mindset,” and you will find lots of resources.
- Don’t look at failure as failure. In my opinion, you only fail when you give up. Instead, you can reframe the word “failure” to “feedback.” You can look at anything that isn’t working as a learning experience and feedback about what might need some adjusting.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.katelingates.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katelin.gates.rn/
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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