Believe in Second Chances

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sasha Williams, Co-Owner of Segunda Vida, located in San Juan del Sur, Rivas, Nicaragua.

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

My current undertaking is an adults-only, tropical wellness facility that I have been constructing in the mountains that overlook the volcanic island of Ometepe and the Pacific Ocean in Nicaragua. This facility is 100% vegan and focused on the revival of our connection to the natural order. People visit to decompress, regain strength, find peace and nourish their bodies through the use of food and plant medicine. I have been providing physical and mental health services in Canada, the US, and now Nicaragua for the last 15+ years.

Tell us about yourself

In 2009 I had been working in the Real Estate development and management industry for 11 years. This corporate work allowed me to travel, become a well-paid executive and hone my skills as a project manager. However, because of the lack of fulfillment, the long hours, and the thankless human interactions, I was left entirely burned out and disgusted with life. Due to a cancer diagnosis in 2002, I have been studying the impacts of stress, poor nutrition, and lack of exercise on the human body for my benefit. I decided to redirect my attention to my passion for movement and nutritional health to take control of my own health and also to share everything I possibly could with my community. Sick people raise sick people, and I was sick of seeing the impacts of that phenomenon. I started small, led classes at the local community colleges, high schools, and elementary schools, made corporate lunch and learn activities, wrote a cookbook, and continued private practice. I am motivated by the philosophy that if we embrace nature to our fullest ability, we can find contentment and abundant health in our lives.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I feel that if I am tuned into something "big" I push until I watch it come into being. I have sometimes felt that my goals were too lofty, but somehow, I have always been able to realize them. The end result isn't always 100% of what my original dream was, but with perseverance, I have gotten to a place where I can now share my personal philosophies on all-encompassing wellness. I think if we all can hold space for one another like this one I have built, even on a small scale from the comfort of our own homes, we can change the world.

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

Fear. Fear is the hardest thing to deal with, and self-doubt is next. You have to make a lot of really difficult decisions and ride a line of terror and joy all at once, most of the time. I would rather reckon with my fear than be an over-confident person living under a veil, but the fear can be a lot to hold mentally on a daily basis. Without good mentors, therapists, friends, and some downtime, it can eat you alive.

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

Know your REASON for wanting to do the thing. Make sure that reason is your own. Find people in the industry who can support you. Make sure they're on your side. Set boundaries around rest. Make sure you are recharging your batteries so that you don't lose sight of your why.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.segundavidasjds.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sashangray
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_sasha.williams_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasha-gray-28524128/

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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