Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Shawna Pelton, Founder of Quantum SHIFT, located in Bakersville, NC, USA.

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

As a bioenergetic | psychedelic | somatic therapist, coach, and guide, I help purpose-driven people and leaders move beyond the maladaptive patterns forged in traumas so they can achieve optimal mental and emotional health, regain lost trust, change the way they show up in relationships and live a more empowered aligned life.

Tell us about yourself

My personal journey leading me to this very moment of BEing (w)here I AM NOW has been an incredible, non-stop learning experience. ​Except I didn't always see it for what it was worth. As a young adult, and like many of us, I endured my fair share of hardships, including the death of my son's father and other friends lost at the hands of addiction, and suffered from multiple health issues as a direct result of being an emotional mess. Some personal challenges I had to fight to overcome have included violence, betrayal, loss, divorce, being a single mom in poverty, debilitating stress-induced anxiety, health issues like addictions, depression, fatigue, physical & emotional pain, chronic illness, navigating the terrain of entrepreneurship severe self-esteem issues imposter syndrome, disempowered During my quest for living a better life, I was introduced to non-traditional holistic methods that included herbs, yoga, diet, frequency medicine, spiritual enlightenment, meditation, psychedelics, somatic and bioenergetic healing.

My own shift in health and life was so drastic that I felt compelled to share everything I knew. If what I share can help another person feel empowered in life, it's worth it. I'm motivated by the courageous people who show up for this deeply transformative work. A BIG lesson I discovered on my journey about life is that it's happening FOR us, FROM us, THROUGH us, but not to us as we all like to think.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Most holistic practitioners have the same challenge....we're great at what we do (at helping people) but have to learn how to be entrepreneurs because there are very few "opportunities" to work for a company. People don't realize that when a therapist or social worker gets out of school, they can apply for a job and focus on their craft. But holistic practitioners have to make their way in the work of building their business. This is why so many are struggling. I'm proud of myself for making it this far in business, and my biggest accomplishment is that I've really made a difference in people's lives, so much so that my practice has grown from referrals, which is a great compliment.

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

Wearing all the hats. Especially marketing. I'm not a natural social media sharing type of person. I see so many other professionals with super creative posts, reels, videos, etc. It exhausts me just thinking of it. But it comes with the territory, so I'm willing to get better.

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

  1. Know your gifts - being an entrepreneur and doing anything that sounds good just for the sake of working for yourself is fine. But if you don't know what brings you joy, it can be your biggest weight in life.
  2. Get help right from the start. Don't be afraid to spend money on getting support where it counts. I've lost much time and much money trying to figure things out on my own when I couldn't be paid for the support and had it done right from the start.
  3. Create structure from the get-go. It helps with focus and productivity. Don't burn the midnight oil for fear of not having money.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.shawnapelton.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShawnaPelton
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quantumshiftwithshawna/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnapelton/

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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