Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Eva Vennari, Founder of The Elevate Institute, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Wouldn't it be great if every human body came with a user's manual? Sure, but would you use it? In my experience, most people don't read the instructions that come with their electronics. The thought is, "I know what I'm doing."
That's what I thought too. Then, I ended up with chronic fatigue in my teens, autoimmune disorder at 20, and infertility at 22, and the list goes on to include 27 other symptoms. Some were diagnosable. Others received the cold shoulder from the doctor, who turned his back on me and said, "You should get psychological help."
After 16 years of hiring and firing doctors who only wanted to prescribe depression medicine and perform random surgeries, I finally found what saved my life. I am a previously sick corporate ladder climber turned holistic health practitioner. Now, I help professionals clear chronic illnesses that don't show up on an x-ray; it's based on science and common sense, and it works when medicine, alone, won't.
I offer a method that takes the guesswork out of giving the body what it needs to heal. Mineral Balancing Science has been around for more than 50 years, and I include that in my REVEAL programs designed especially for professionals who don't have the time or money to waste on fads and trends that don't work. It's simple to do, runs in the background of your busy life, and can be done from anywhere.
Tell us about yourself
It was July 2011 when my now deceased x-husband passed away of a heart attack at the age of 45. Two weeks prior to his sudden death, we were on the phone. He was complaining about his own decline in health and rattled off one diagnosis after another. The list included diabetes, iron toxicity, and Hepatitis-C. As a newly certified practitioner, I offered my help. With his reply came a laugh, "No, no. My doctors have me. I'm on medication."
Now, not all medication is bad for you. It was the lack of his own involvement in his health that led to being on 17 different medications and thinking medicine alone would help him. He had become toxic and depleted, just like I had. But I took a different road. It was that phone call from the hospital to inform me of his death that I had a message to convey. "Be your own advocate."
This message is what encouraged me to open my doors for business on September 1, 2011. I've been helping professionals from Peru to Dubai overcome what they thought they'd have to live with for the rest of their lives. Every time I hear a story of recovery that changes their experience from one of resigned disappointment in their very existence to one that is in alignment with their sense of integrity, conscious living, and spirituality, I am encouraged to continue.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is being in business. It's unfortunate that so many helpful, holistic, and non-invasive modalities are lost to the world of those in need. It was touch and go for my business while I was building momentum, but once I focused my first and best energies of the day on my vision, I was able to replace my "day job" income within three months. I use intuition to build and run my practice. At the same time, I do have a business plan and corporate structure in the business world. I find it's the marriage of these two mindsets that make the difference. Because if I'm not in the world making money, I can't help make a difference for those in need.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
In particular, when it comes to being a health practitioner, there's a sense of wanting to help everyone. While I can help everyone, everyone is not my client. This is definitely not for those who just want a pill and are ok with never getting to the root of the problem or for those who like leaving their health care up to someone else. It is for those who want to know how to take the initiative, be the intuitive force for their own health journey, and be guided instead of herded.
Other than that, one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is hearing, "I'm sorry, I can't afford to work with you."
My reply is silent, "Say that to yourself, not me." I'm here to help those who see the value in caring for themselves regardless of insurance coverage.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Focus on the result you want to provide and create everything you offer from that space. For everyone who has ever had an idea and hasn't yet manifested it into the world as a service to your fellow human, remember two things:
- If you came into alignment with that stream of thought, it's yours to bring in.
- You're denying the rest of us your gifts until you do.
Be persistent because it, alone, is omnipotent. "Genius will not
unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not
make the world full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." - Calvin Coolidge.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I'm fascinated by human behavior. Any time I share what I offer, and someone says, "This is fantastic. I agree with everything you do. And, oh, I know someone who really needs you," and it isn't the person speaking, I don't understand it.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://theelevateinstitute.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eva.vennari
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evaheals/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reducemystresseva/
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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