Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Julie Johnson, Founder of Seven Seeds Acupuncture, located in Wheat Ridge, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I opened Seven Seeds Acupuncture in the fall of 2018 with the intention of providing high-quality holistic healthcare to people in the Denver metro area who wanted to feel better and who were ready to take an active role in maintaining their health. In the clinic, I help adults of all ages with stress management, pain relief, mental well-being, pregnancy wellness, women's health concerns, and a wide variety of other health goals and challenges. My goal is to provide symptom relief while promoting overall mental and physical well-being. The majority of my patients understand that prevention is the best medicine, and they are interested in using acupuncture in conjunction with positive lifestyle habits to promote optimal health in the long run.
Tell us about yourself
I became interested in health and wellness many years ago during a time in which I was grappling with challenging life circumstances. I came to understand that our health serves as the basis of our experience in the world. The way I see it, when we make intentional choices to support our mental, physical, and emotional well-being, we are planting the seeds of health. When we care for those seeds over time, they take root and grow strong. Those small daily choices ultimately create strength and stability in our bodies, minds, and emotions. When we are strong and stable in these areas, we can thrive. We have the vitality and capacity to pursue our goals in life, and we can also more easily weather the challenges that life always brings.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I would say that my biggest accomplishment as a business owner was my perseverance through the pandemic. My clinic was young when the pandemic started, but I refused to allow it to dissolve and instead came out stronger on the other side.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Aside from the pandemic, my biggest challenge as a one-woman shop is to maintain my own health and well-being in the midst of this endeavor in which I am responsible for everything related to the business, and the work is never truly finished. I thrive in the space of clinical work, but the other aspects of running the business don't always fall under my natural skill sets. I overcome this by maintaining strong boundaries in my schedule and by prioritizing healthy home-cooked meals and ample exercise, sleep, and downtime. I can't truly teach self-care to my clients without actively practicing it for myself.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
First of all, I would remind anyone looking to start a business that growth is an organic process. Start small and within your area of expertise, and then allow the business to grow and develop naturally over time. Secondly, I would urge them to remember self-care. A business owner's work is never done, so it's essential to know your limits and to take care of yourself through the process. Lastly, if you are going to start a business, it must be doing something that you are really passionate about. It's not an easy process to start a business from scratch, but if your values and commitment are aligned, they will support you on an ongoing basis.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.sevenseedsacupuncture.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sevenseedsacupuncture
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sevenseedsacupuncture/
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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