Make Healthy Living Easy and Enjoyable

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ruth Bigley, founder of The Bigley Basics, located in Lancaster, PA, USA.

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

I am a food and wellness blogger, recipe developer, and content creator. On my blog and social media channels, I share delicious and nutritious recipes and healthy living tips and tricks. I get to work with some of my favorite brands and share their amazing products with my audience through sponsored blog posts, recipes, and social media content. I also have the privilege of creating content for numerous food and wellness brands - recipes, videos, photos - you name it! It’s a dream job!

Tell us about yourself

After adopting a healthier lifestyle in high school and experiencing so many amazing benefits, I became passionate about helping others experience the same benefits that I experienced. I studied Psychology in college and then went on to get my health coaching certification from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN). Since experiencing the benefits of a healthy lifestyle in high school, it's been my goal to inspire others to live healthier lives - both in and out of the kitchen. I strive to educate others on the basics of healthy living and help them make simple and sustainable changes to their health. I want to show people that healthy living really can be simple, sustainable, and enjoyable!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I am so proud that I have been able to create for myself a full-time job that I am passionate about. Turning my food and wellness blogging hobby into a full-time job is my biggest accomplishment!

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

Setting boundaries with work is the hardest part! There's always more that needs to be done and more that could be done. I find it works the best for me to get crystal clear on what my boundaries are. Then, when extra work pops up, or my workload starts to eat into my personal life, I can push back and enforce my boundaries. Getting clear on your boundaries before enforcing them is a game-changer.

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

I would recommend formulating your new business around your passions, unique skills/gifts, and the needs of the world. Find a problem in the world that you deeply care about and figure out how you can contribute to the solution through your unique skills and gifts. You'll face ups and downs, hurdles, and setbacks in your business, but when you're deeply passionate about what you do and why you do it, you'll always be motivated to push on and overcome.
Make sure you're working "on" your business as much as you're working "in" your business. I actually learned this tip from my dad, an entrepreneur and small business owner. It's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks of your business and forget to vision cast and plan for the future. Make sure you're taking the time to look ahead and create a plan for the future. Vision casting and planning for the future will help you create the type of business you really desire to have. Don't get too busy working "in" your business that you forget to work "on" your business.
Work backwards. First, get clear on your long-term business goals. Then, work backwards. Figure out everything that needs to be done to accomplish your long-term business goals and create a plan to make it happen. This helps you ensure that everything you’re doing now moves you toward your long-term goals. It’s so easy to get caught up in busy work or “fluff” — wasting time on things that don't contribute toward your long-term goals. If you create your long-term goals first and then work backward and figure out the specific tasks needed to get done to accomplish those goals, you’ll have security in knowing that everything you’re doing each day is taking you one step closer to achieving your goals.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://thebigleybasics.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebigleybasics
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebigleybasics/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebigleybasics

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.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.