Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ellie Rome, Founder of Mindfulbellie, located in Austin, TX, USA.

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

My Businesses are Comfort Zone Retreats and Mindfulbellie Coaching. I am a certified health and emotional eating coach and specialize in helping clients with sugar addiction. I also lead Comfort Zone Retreats, personal development retreats for men and women to completely unplug in nature and build lifelong communities by doing hard things...together.

Tell us about yourself

I was a former Chemical Engineer. I was also a sugar addict and used to binge eat and use food to cope with difficult emotions and stress. I developed a bunch of health issues and had no idea 90% of them were because of diet. After seeing six doctors with no help, just a prescription, I ended up transforming my diet, and it completely transformed my world. I deeply studied functional nutrition science, addiction, specifically sugar, and mindfulness. I became a coach and quit my engineering job seven years ago. Throughout that time, I became a yoga teacher and a breathwork facilitator and led the ATX Wim Hof Group. For three years, every Friday, we meet at 6:30 am for breathwork, yoga, and cold plunging/ice baths. From there, I started leading Comfort Zone retreats on the side of coaching. I realized the deep need for authentic connection with people and disconnection from technology. Over two years, we have led over six retreats taking groups of about 20-40 people out into nature to unplug and form a deep connection with themselves and each other by doing hard things together. These are personal development retreats. We eat a healthy ancestral diet, no phones, morning routines, yoga, somatic breathwork, icebaths, adventure hikes, and things like rafting, and ziplining, depending on our locations.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment was leaving my Chemical Engineering job to become a coach full-time. I also think launching my first Big Bend Comfort Zone Retreat. We had made retreats at Airbnb previously, but I wanted to take groups out camping. I invested in 5 massive yurts, and we made it happen. The Big Bend Retreats have been massively transformative and my favorite ones!

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

For me, structure and overextending myself. I have been diagnosed with ADHD, and I love creating, I love starting projects, I love saying yes, and getting excited about things, which is a double edge sword as I can lose momentum towards the priority goals. Asking for help is also a challenge for me, and learning more and more about how much I need it. Continuous lessons in humility and vulnerability.

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

  1. Just START. Don't wait til it's perfect, don't wait "because you need to get an LLC or whatever logistical things may be holding you back." Just start creating. Throw something out there. Put a date on it and let it be messy at first. Every single one of my greatest accomplishments has been from just going for it with a messy first iteration.
  2. You don't have to be an expert. You can create a container and learn along the way. There is so much value in holding a container for people. When I started the Wim Hof Group, I was not certified- I had done Wim Hof breathing like maybe ten times, but I LOVED IT, and I wanted to meet others who loved it too, so I just started it. The group now is over 1800 people, and I got to bring in my other skills and develop more as a yoga teacher, motivational speaker, and meditation teacher, and now we have a community Friday ritual.
  3. Take care of your health and nutrition- I didn't realize what a fog I was in and how much my diet and lifestyle habits were impacting my energy, performance, and brain function. To be on your A-game and fully embodying your potential- every bite you eat matters, your sleep matters, drinking water matters, and knowing what foods may be causing your gut's inflammation or robbing your energy is so important.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.mindfulbellie.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellie.rome/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulbellie/

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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