Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Paulina Szara, Founder of Science & Soul, located in Encinitas, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Science & Soul is a functional meal delivery company that was created to promote a low inflammatory lifestyle. We deliver organic, plant-based, gluten-free, low-glycemic ready-to-eat meals throughout San Diego. We place a strong emphasis on functional foods and nutrition, meaning we offer a personalized approach to optimizing the health of our clients based on their personal needs. Science & Soul is an effort to cultivate a deeper connection between mind and body intelligence using food as medicine. Our clients have informed wellness enthusiasts that take their health and wellness very seriously with their on-to-go lifestyles.
Tell us about yourself
Ever since I was a teenager, I have always had a natural inclination towards holistic health and nurturing others. I spent many years of my young adult life overcoming health obstacles which is what ultimately led me to find my passion in helping others. The opportunity to start this business fell into my lap just prior to the 2020 pandemic. I just moved to California from Chicago with a mission to find a job in the wellness space. A friend reached out asking if I could prepare meals for him, and soon after, I recognized there were more people out there with the same dietary needs that I had. I spend a lot of my free time reading and studying the latest in functional nutrition and wellness so I can better understand the needs of my health as well as my clients. What lights me up is knowing the meals we intentionally prepare at Science & Soul contribute to optimizing the health of our clients and community.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Moving across the country and building a business from scratch while cultivating relationships with some of the most inspiring people ever: my clients! Knowing I have been able to help or inspire one person is the greatest gift and accomplishment in itself.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Knowing when to "turn off" as running a business can very easily become a 24/7 hour job. I've had to practice creating boundaries in my personal and professional life because I can get carried away with a "no days off" mentality because there is always work to be done and because I truly love what I do. I work in a field where I have to hold space for my clients, so managing my personal time and energy is very important to ensure I can always show up as my best self.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Approach your decision-making from a place of abundance. Adopting this type of mindset will really set you apart because your decisions will be true and authentic to you you and your brand.
- Don't worry about what others think and get past the fear of putting yourself out there, whether it be on the internet or in person.
- It's OK to rest. You are not in a race with anyone else, so don't compare yourself to other brands or companies. Stay in your lane and focus.
Authenticity does not lie. Always be honest and make yourself proud!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.sciencesoulnutrition.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sciencensoul/
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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