Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Brittany Ayers, Founder of Meili Medicine, located in Houston, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Meili Medicine provides online health programs, telehealth services, therapeutic grade supplements, and functional lab testing.
Tell us about yourself
After reading The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris, I sold most of my belongings, put the rest in storage, and moved to Mexico to save on expenses so I could completely focus all of my energy on the business. I wanted to create a work-life balance. I realized I could not work a full-time job, live in California, and give a new business the effort it needed to get off the ground.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment would be not having any debt in the business. I chose to cut my personal expenses and not take a paycheck until the business has hit specific financial goals. Sacrificing personal conveniences to create a better future for myself and others is my biggest accomplishment.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One thing I struggle with is not going into burnout - as I am sure most business owners can relate. Creating slow and steady progress is better than large bursts of work followed by burnout. Managing my work/life balance has helped. Blocking 1-2 days where I am managing only a couple of tasks, setting vacation emails on weekends, and setting strict work hours has helped decrease my burnout. When working from home or on a computer, it is easy to allow work to bleed into your entire life. Setting aside time in the morning for nourishing activities before diving into my work day helps me set the tone for the day. Taking time in the evening to relax and unwind helps me to prepare for the following day.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Your business is a reflection & extension of your life and your mindset. It is like growing a garden. Some things take more time, water, and nutrients to produce fruit.
- You need patience - If you water a garden only one day, it is not going to produce fruit the next day. Do not expect your tasks to pay off that day; sometimes, it takes months or years to see returns.
- Persistence - If you water your garden for only a month and stop for a month, it will not produce its fullest potential, and you might even kill it. Even if you only do a little bit each day, you will not starve your garden.
- Mindset is everything! Don't walk through your garden with negative self-talk. Make it enjoyable. You are not going to do things you do not like to do consistently. Learn to love what you do and be present with what you are doing. Finding ease in your mind will bring joy into your work.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.meilimedicine.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meilimedicine
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meili.medicine/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayersbrittany/
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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