Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Chris Oswald, Founder and CEO of MuscleCare, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

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

I’m the founder of the Centre for Fitness, Health, and Performance, and as a chiropractic doctor over the last 34 years, I see where there are flaws or false information in the healthcare product industry by listening to my patients. In 2008, there was a tremendous amount of frustration in the pain industry, especially the topical pain product lines.

With that in mind, we set out to create the best all-natural pain, spasm, and inflammation reliever that was a scientifically-proven product through published double-blind studies called MuscleCare. Our customers range from children to senior citizens, with an emphasis on people in the boomer category over 45 years of age, 60% women and 40% men.

Tell us about yourself

I’m an entrepreneur and a healthcare professional that likes to do both to always add new and exciting adventures and challenges to my day. This has kept me going with tremendous passion for 34 years. Seeing and helping people feel better that's still what motivates me. Instead of doing it only as a practicing chiropractor, I like that my products are reaching millions of people all over the world, and this inspires me more.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Creating one of the largest multidisciplinary practices in Toronto, Canada, is, I believe, one of my biggest accomplishments, while also supporting that with a pain relief product like MuscleCare that is literally changing people's lives. For example, we have letters and emails every day from people sharing their pain relief journies with MuscleCare. My most favourite is from Sharon in the United States, where she claims that MuscleCare alone has helped her reduce her morphine or opioid usage by 63%. It’s down from 240 mg a day to 90 mg a day, allowing her to walk, exercise, see her friends, go to church, and smile more often.

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

Winston Churchhill once said that the price of greatness is responsibility, and if you keep adding responsibilities, you become greater. However, one of the biggest challenges and hardest part of being a business owner/entrepreneur is that everything falls on your shoulders. Raising capital to grow/compete in the world that we live in today is always the biggest challenge.

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

  1. I would tend to spend at least 3-6 months visiting either chiropractic doctors or business people in the space or category that you wish to explore.
  2. Learn about the things they do that are good (and not so good) so that you really understand all sides of the business, from the front staff to the rest of the team to the actual practitioner of the entrepreneur himself.
  3. Make sure you’re willing to work 24/7 and probably put work ahead of friends, family, and your health, because it takes a lot of commitment to start growing, marketing, and financing your own business in this competitive space.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Always be true to yourself. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. Don’t do it because somebody else says you should stick to your gut.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://getmusclecare.com/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/musclecarepainrelief
https://www.facebook.com/DrChrisOswaldOfficial/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/musclecarerelief/
https://www.instagram.com/drchrisoswald/

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/getmusclecare
https://twitter.com/DrChrisOswaldTO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-chris-oswald-58589477/

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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