Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Debra Harris, Co-Owner of Maynestreet Weight Loss, located in Deep River, CT, USA.

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

Our business is helping people over the age of 35 who struggle with excess weight, medications, and an unhealthy lifestyle.

Tell us about yourself

I have dealt with my weight all my life. I was the "fat kid" in grammar school and have been on almost every diet. My weight would fluctuate so that sometimes I was at my "thin" weight, and other times I would be carrying 20-40 excess lbs. This program was a game-changer because, after menopause, nothing worked. My husband and I both reduced all of our excess weight, and he went off the blood pressure medication he had been on for 30 years. I stopped having hot flashes, migraines, and any intestinal issues. We shared with friends, who had fantastic life-changing results, so we became certified and purchased a license to do this in Connecticut when we moved back here last October. The very best part, if you follow the program, you will not gain the weight back. It's Real Food, Real Support & Real Lasting Results.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

That is the thrill of watching people take back their health and get off the diet merry-go-round. Weight release is great, but the true accomplishment is watching people come back from their doctors with little or no medication, at their ideal weight, great bloodwork, and feeling fantastic. I have been a business owner for 20 years now and would never return to the corporate environment. I kept going back, thinking it would be "different," but it never was.

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

When I had employees in my former business, I was a boss, friend, therapist, and mother sometimes. We hired young people and always believed that everyone should have a say in what we do and be treated with respect. In this newer weight loss venture, sometimes it is tiring to be "always on call" for my clients, but it is well worth it. The other thing, it is very challenging to work with your spouse/partner. This is the second time I have done it, and the last time didn't end well. You have to figure out each person's "lane," and you have to know when work is over, and it's back to being a couple.

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

  1. Get help; you cannot do it alone. A coach, a mentor, a partner, whatever works for you. Don't be afraid to ask for help and be open to receiving it.
  2. Learn to delegate. In the beginning, you may be a one-person show, but you will need to hire a VA or someone in-person, even if it's the bookkeeping, administrative staff, marketing, or social media. You will go nuts wearing all those hats.
  3. Know yourself. Set your boundaries. We are so used to answering every text, social media direct message, comment, email, and phone call IMMEDIATELY. I am guilty of this and have to work hard at it. When work is done, work is done for the day or the week. I have always treasured my time off, and I still do. You do not have to work a million hours to be successful. You have to be organized and, again, get help.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Being a business owner is fantastic. Yes, it can sometimes seem that you never have any downtime, especially with today's technology and everything happening in a nanosecond. Make the downtime. I believe not taking days off, not going on vacation, and working constantly are idiotic. For me, time is always more valuable than money.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.maynestreetweightloss.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fordebbielee/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbielee211/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebbieLHarris
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fordebbielee/

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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