Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Michelle Hu, Founder of Mama Hu Hears, located in San Diego, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I'm on a mission to help families of Deaf/Hard of hearing children feel confident and supported along their journey. I've created a community and offered tons of information on my Instagram/Facebook accounts. I've also put together a go-at-your-own-pace online program to provide information, knowledge, guidance, and education for parents and families so that they can make the choices best fit for them and their family dynamic. The program also comes with a 125+ page handbook. It's available at www.mamahuhears.com/course.

My customers are parents of DHH children, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, teachers of the D/HH, early interventionists, students - anyone really in the hearing/communication healthcare field.

Tell us about yourself

I'm a hard-of-hearing pediatric audiologist, mama to three, military spouse, and classically trained chef. I wear many hats! While on maternity leave with my second daughter - I found myself missing the rapport that I had with my patients and their parents. Many of my patients were growing up and having children of their own. They were asking me, "Michelle, how do you wake up at night when your babies cry? How do you know if someone's at the door? How do you make sure you're safe?"

I created Mama Hu Hears on Instagram and started sharing. I figured more people could benefit if I put it out there. I share both personal and professional experiences. I've heard from thousands of parents, I've become friends with peers in the DHH community, and I've grown and transformed my own understanding of what being DHH means to me.

I created the program because thousands of parents were reaching out to ask the same questions that I've been asked in the clinic. I can't clone myself 1000x, but I could record myself talking about my experience, interviewing my mom and other hearing healthcare-related professionals, etc. I packaged that up and put it out there. I put together all of the information I would tell a mom of a DHH child if I met them at the playground one day.

I'm doing it for the children. I want them to grow up in supportive villages, to be confident, and to know that they can truly achieve anything they put their mind to. It starts with supporting and educating the parents.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Simply getting it started and putting it out there. I was so afraid that I didn't have anything of value to offer. I thought I'd run out of content to create or questions to answer. That's ridiculously far from the truth. Shifting my mindset to realize my message has significant value, that sharing my experience can be invaluable to someone else, and taking the challenges on humbly.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Not knowing the things I don't know. I've never been an entrepreneur, so I'm learning as I go, learning from others and learning from mistakes/trials. Also - it's ALWAYS on my mind!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

I decided to try sharing on Instagram for a year, and if I still had fun, if it was filling my tank, and I still had ideas coming up - then I'd figure a way how to monetize. So...

  1. Test the waters - with an audience but also yourself ( would you still be committed to it even during the most miserable of tasks?).
  2. Make sure you have motivation, passion, and creativity for it.
  3. Reach out - create a network or community around you that holds you high and also motivates you to do the same for them.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

You are the only person in the world that's had the individual and specific experience that you've had. That's special and unique. Share it!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.mamahuhears.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamahuhears
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mama.hu.hears/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-michelle-hu/

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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