Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Madeline Kent, Founder of Santé Health and Wellness, located in Fort Collins, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
The name of my nutrition therapy practice, Santé, means 'to your health' in French, but it is also an acronym for Scientific Approach to Nutritional Therapy and Empowerment. This encompasses my approach when working with clients, combining advanced lab testing with food medicine to help each client understand their body on a deeper level and feel confident in knowing how to take steps to improve their health! I primarily work with people struggling with digestive issues such as IBS, food sensitivities, parasites, bacterial overgrowths, etc.
Tell us about yourself
Like most professionals in the alternative health industry, I fell in love with holistic healing when I resolved my own health struggles with this approach. I had an undiagnosed parasitic infection in my mid-twenties, that I experienced poor digestion, malnourishment, fatigue, and even developed acne. Through a series of functional lab testing and herbal remedies, I was able to rebalance my microbiome. I love helping people understand the connection between gut health and the rest of the body, such as skin conditions, mood, energy levels, metabolism, inflammation, etc. So many people don't feel well, and most probably don't even realize how good they could feel...! I love nothing more than helping my clients find balance in their bodies, primarily through gut repair, and seeing their quality of life improve drastically.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As a business owner, I feel that my biggest accomplishment has been sticking to my values without faltering. It is so easy to get distracted with what you 'should' be doing or measuring your success against others. But I'm proud to say that I've always been able to tap into what is important to me, use my own measurements of success, and drown out the noise.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Being a business owner can be demanding - you are never truly 'off the clock.' Just like a child, you will love, nurture, and be proud of your business, yet there is no time off from being a parent. It's taken me years to really hone in on how to structure my time and allow myself to truly unplug. It will always be a balancing act.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Just start...I think many people have great business ideas but get held up by thinking they don't have enough qualifications or education. Usually, this is not true! Getting started can be the biggest step, and the rest will fall into place.
- Don't be scared to do it 'your way.' Everyone will have opinions on how to run a business and the best way to grow it. Yet sometimes, doing things your own way will actually make you stand out authentically, rather than trying to compete with others doing the same thing the same way.
- Word of mouth is the best advertising! If you show up and do good work, people will spread the word (the same goes for the opposite). The best place for your time and energy is simply to do your best with every client/customer.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.sante-healthandwellness.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/santehealthandwellnessCO/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sante.healthandwellness/
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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