Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ellie Borden, CEO and Clinical Director of Mind By Design®, located in Oakville, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Mind by Design® is a string of clinics with a focus on Psychology, Coaching, and Assessments. Our clients seek support and innovative solutions for a wide range of mental health, peak performance, injury, and personal development concerns. We pride ourselves in our dedication to implementing technological advancements and the latest research to help our clients be the best version of themselves!
Tell us about yourself
Although my background is in psychology, my biggest passions are entrepreneurship, business operations, and product development. I am motivated by innovation, creativity, and problem-solving. What drives me every day is the excitement of managing and inspiring my team and always looking for more creative and innovative ways to make my business better and positively affect our clients, helping them be the best version of themselves. Entrepreneurship is exciting and the perfect recipe for keeping me on my toes!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is building a solid and empowered team. Building a team is not only about picking the right people for your team but also being good at identifying their strengths, engaging and discovering what they are passionate about, understanding how they interact with others and what personalities would fit well together in a working environment, and ensuring that they know that their dedication to the company is appreciated and not taken for granted. Building a good team stems from building a great company culture, and many times your company culture is only defined once you have built a great team. Instinct has a significant impact on entrepreneurship, and following your gut when building a team also applies.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner is learning how to be objective. Once you get better at doing that, everything else becomes easier. It is important to recognize when mistakes are made and that you, as the business owner, are solely responsible for them. Accountability, responsibility, and self-reflection can, at times, be challenging, but they can also be the key to success.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Seek expert advice in areas you aren’t an expert in. Getting input from a consultant can save you a lot of heartache and money that can be invested in areas that will give you a better ROI. Trial and error isn’t ideal when it comes to starting, running, and growing a business.
- Know your weaknesses as a business owner and a person. Invest in your personal development and emotional intelligence. This will make you a better business owner. And hire those that are smarter and more skilled than you are. There is no room for ego. View your business as a product and yourself as a brand. Then, insert the necessary elements to develop the right product and the best brand to represent that product.
- Take calculated risks. Play it safe — but not too safe.
- Build, secure, scale, and repeat! Then, create a model from your success and make it into a system that you can replicate across any business. Make it a machine, then focus on keeping it well-oiled and upgraded as needed.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.mindbydesign.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliekborden/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellieborden/
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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