Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kevin Williams, founder of Ravel Health, located in Denver, CO, USA.

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

Ravel Health is a virtual doctor's office & pharmacy specializing in Lyme, mold & other hard-to-diagnose conditions. Our focus is on patients who have been struggling with debilitating chronic illness, who have essentially been left to fend for themselves, as the current healthcare — and insurance — system have failed them.

Tell us about yourself

I'm a bit of a late bloomer, quasi-serial entrepreneur who has also been put through the wringer trying to deal with my own personal health issues. I've probably seen 30+ providers since the onset of my symptoms over a decade ago. I have gone down numerous rabbit holes, with various diagnoses, including Lyme Disease and mold toxin illness. The thing that motivates me and gets me out of bed in the morning is the allure of creating an all-in-one virtual practice that can ease the incredibly complicated and expensive world of Lyme and mold for patients who have nowhere else to turn.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

So I've owned a few businesses now, so tough to pinpoint the biggest accomplishment. With my original business (which is still ongoing), we've been at it for just shy of a decade. Ten years in anything you've created from scratch is an achievement in my mind, and one that I wasn't sure would make past year one or two. For Ravel, we're still in the early days, but the thing that springs to mind is the response from people in the space. For example, we did a search for a medical director. We had six different people we spoke to who were very interested. As patients with not much more than a vision, that was extremely humbling and gratifying knowing that we're filling a significant need in the space.

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

Oh, so many things, ha! One that springs to mind is that as a business owner, you're essentially working 24/7, even if it's just your mind going over what you need to do. For a standard 9 - 5, you can leave at the end of the day, and typically your brain shuts off when it comes to working. Not so when it's your own business, in my experience. You're always thinking of the next thing on the list, what needs to be done, what can be done better, etc.

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

  1. So the first tip would be that those stories you read about start-ups that go from nothing to superstars "overnight" often brush over all of the incredibly long days and hard work that the founders put in to achieve that success. Starting and running a business is HARD.
  2. The second tip, following the first, is that it's all worth it! Everything that you put into your vision goes directly to what you're trying to create, along with going to the bottom line. I guess the piece of advice here is that there is so much to do in getting something off the ground and not to let yourself get bogged down. Prioritize items and focus on bite-sized chunks that aren't overwhelming to you, especially out of the gate.
  3. And the third tip is that it's really hard going it alone. There are definitely pros and cons to having a co-founder, or if not an official co-founder, at least someone to share tasks with and to bounce ideas off. I've found for me that I really like having a partner in crime, with the biggest reason being that you can feed off each other's energy to keep your vision moving forward.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I quit the 9 - 5 back in 2011; I think it was, doing some freelance work before I bit the bullet and started my first company. It was something where if I knew what I was getting into, there's a good chance I might not have taken that first step. But having taken that step, I can't even imagine going back to a "normal" job. Starting and running my own business is more gratifying than almost anything else I've done. And even with all the difficulties and ups and downs, the benefits far outweigh any potential downside, in my humble opinion.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://ravel.health/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ravelhealth/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ravel_health/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RavelHealth
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ravel-health/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.