Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lindsey Berjansky, owner of Mind Body Connect 360, located in Ashburn, VA, USA.

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

My business is Mind Body Connect 360, an integrative healthcare practice that provides cutting-edge approaches to healing both body and mind. We offer psychological services for mental health and peak performance, acupuncture, reiki, and biofeedback. We are a team of multi-disciplinary practitioners that are passionate about delivering high-quality, innovative treatment approaches tailored to the individual needs of every client using a whole person (mind-body) approach.

When mind and body are aligned, we become a powerful force in creating the lives we desire. Our client’s needs are diverse. However, they all share a common drive to resolve underlying concerns so that they are free to truly thrive in life.

Tell us about yourself

I’ve been a Clinical Psychologist for almost 20 years, working in a variety of amazing settings conducting therapy sessions with clients, administering/interpreting comprehensive psychological test assessments, and working with populations required to perform in high-pressure/high-stakes situations such as athletes, business executives, and tactical/military populations.

I’ve always been in awe of the power of harnessing the mind to achieve goals and push past limits. My work over the years really hit home the bi-directional nature of the relationship between mind and body. To focus on one without the other is missing a piece of the puzzle. Stepping out on my own and creating an integrative practice that encompasses both the psychological and physiological was an aspiration that tugged at me for several years. The gravitational pull kept getting stronger until I knew that I needed to pursue it. Being a part of clients’ personal journeys to reclaim their lives is what motivates and drives me every day!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My team…of course! I am so proud of the team of talented practitioners that we’re creating and are continuing to grow. They are so extraordinary in their expertise, compassion, and exemplary delivery of services in the modalities they practice. They have a curiosity that drives them to continue learning and advancing their knowledge in their fields.

I look for clinicians with that “extra something” that quickly becomes apparent to clients and who will complement the team to create that special synergy. Finding the right practitioners is key to success in the health and wellness field. Quality of services is a top priority for me. I’d rather build slowly and create a top-notch team of experts than compromise on this for the sake of growing the business to solely drive income.

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

A business owner needs to be a jack of all trades, which requires going outside your comfort zone and good time management. Some roles have steeper learning curves than others. I’m balancing diverse business and administrative demands with my role as a psychologist daily.

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

  1. When it comes to the health and wellness field, place your primary focus on people, and financial success will come, rather than the other way around. I make every business decision through the lens of people —what’s best for our clients, as well as the well-being of my team of practitioners. Of course, making savvy business and financial decisions are important parts of the mix; however, prioritizing people and delivering quality services needs to be primary.
  2. Learn every facet of your business, from accounting to web design to SEO to marketing. These can be large learning curves but will pay off in identifying the right support professionals to trust and surround yourself with. In the beginning, it’s tempting to immediately farm out the parts of your business that are the furthest outside of your comfort zone without taking time to understand them. However, not all accountants, marketers, web designers, SEO experts, etc., are created equal. To evaluate whether you have the right support services around you, you need to understand your business inside and out to know the right questions to ask. “You don’t know what you don’t know” can lead to an inability to identify when you are not receiving high-quality services and when important changes need to be made to grow your business.
  3. Don’t be afraid to take a calculated risk and always adopt a success mindset to drive you when you come up against obstacles—which you will. Navigating obstacles is a natural part of starting a new business. Give yourself some space to make mistakes, learn and adapt accordingly. This can be difficult in the beginning, particularly when business mistakes translate to lost dollars. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that this is to be expected no matter how well thought out your plans are. Look for the lessons embedded in every roadblock and ways to evolve your thinking. Let your passion for your ideas act as an anchor to drive your motivation to overcome when things don’t go according to plan.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

If you feel driven by an idea and want to turn it into a business, create a business plan and go for it. Being your own boss is a great gig! It can be scary, especially if you are walking away from a stable career and a good salary to make it happen, which is a story I can relate to. Feel the fear and do it anyway. If you have an idea, the world needs to hear it! Innovative approaches, products, or unique visions don’t come with a handbook. That’s what makes them innovative!

Combine intuition with a strong business plan, and don’t let anyone or anything throw you off course. Create your own path and embrace the trailblazer mindset. Envision the opportunity and take steps to make it happen. There is nothing more satisfying than living your purpose by aligning personal passions with your professional contributions. With some perseverance, self-trust, and patience, success will come.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://mindbodyconnect360.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MindBodyConnect360
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindbodyconnect360/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsey-keller-berjansky-a473014/

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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