Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Timaree Hagenburger, founder of The Nutrition Professor, located in Kissimmee, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
The impact of our food and lifestyle choices on our quality of life is profound! The daily decisions we make influence our physical and mental health so much more than most of us realize. Through my innovative and engaging cookbook, The Foodie Bar Way, our exceedingly fun community - The Foodie Bar Way of Life, and 1:1 Dietitian Nutrition Coaching, I help people learn to love the food that loves them back so that they can be the happiest, healthiest and most energetic version of themselves!
In The Foodie Bar Way of Life, we have a blast playing with plant-based whole foods (through virtual Cooking Demos, Meal Planning Parties, and Prep2Gethers), embracing joyful physical activity, and exploring wellness practices, along with sharing recipes, ideas, stories, and experiences, so that we can confidently create simple, delicious, and nutritious meals, take excellent care of ourselves to consistently live an energized life and alleviate the stress of trying to do it alone! From the veg-curious to the seasoned whole food plant-based veteran, our community is a safe place to learn, connect and experiment with new ways to nourish our "whole" selves!
Tell us about yourself
I am a plant-based registered dietitian nutritionist, a certified exercise physiologist with a master’s degree in public health, and over 20 years of experience as a college nutrition professor. While I have worked with thousands of people of all ages from many different cultures to achieve and surpass their health-related goals (improving their blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar levels, digestion, and energy, losing weight, and reducing/eliminating the need for medications), I also "walk the talk" in my own daily actions that support holistic wellness. You can find me eating nourishing plant-based whole food (that love me back), moving my body every day in ways that keep me strong and feeling energized, staying hydrated, and prioritizing physical and mental self-care.
Whether in my classroom with my college students discussing the contributors to insulin resistance, demonstrating a technique during a virtual cooking demo in my Foodie Bar Way of Life community, or in the produce area of the supermarket helping an unsuspecting shopper differentiate between parsley and cilantro (big mistake to bring home the “wrong” one), or on the sidelines of the soccer field connecting with a fellow mom about ways to include more legumes in the family meals, I constantly find ways to share my knowledge to help others. It truly gives me life and fills my soul! When I see my clients, members, or students applying what they are learning and seeing results that not only positively impact them but their whole family, I can hardly contain my joy. This is what keeps me going!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The excitement I feel to see my book, The Foodie Bar Way, in print, sign copies at conferences, festivals, speaking engagements, etc., and hear from people all over the world that it is bringing families together to enjoy the amazing food that loves them back, still rocks my world more than six years since that first copy arrived from the printer! And then, I took that accomplishment and brought it to LIFE!
After being in the college classroom for more than 19 years, we were forced to move to remote learning, and that opened up the world for me. I could reach people in their own homes, in real-time, and we could build authentic relationships, no matter how many miles were between us. So, I took the BIG plunge and created an online community in July 2021 to bring the Foodie Bar Way approach to LIFE!
The Foodie Bar Way of Life has members from all over the US, including Hawaii, and across the globe - South Africa, Norway, and Germany. Creating a business model where the value improves as each month passes and more resources are added, where the friendships grow stronger, and inspiration keeps flowing, where we are growing through what we are all going through feels amazing!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The "business" side of the business is the hardest part for me! The behind-the-scenes tasks associated with marketing, finances, etc., are not my favorite ways to spend time. I also struggle with delegating, so I end up doing most everything myself, which can be very time-intensive. My internal "idea generator" never seems to take a day off, so I can also get overwhelmed with "could do" tasks!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Get organized from the start! Use systems to help manage your calendar, resources, and tasks so that you can easily access the information you need when you need it.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help and find people who are further along in the process to mentor you!
- Expect to be uncomfortable. There is always confusion before learning. You have to keep walking forward, even though you are unsure. Find courage in knowing that your work will make a meaningful difference in your customers' lives. "Perfect" is the enemy of progress, so don't be paralyzed by self-imposed standards that are unrealistic. You can do this!
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
It can be exceedingly difficult to put yourself out in the world and ask others to help you reach potential customers. If you know anyone who would be interested in learning how nutritional excellence and overall wellness can be simple, satisfying, sustainable, AND FUN, please send them my way! Especially those who have taken care of everyone else, and now the time has come to focus on their own health goals (as blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, or blood sugar levels have been creeping up).
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://thenutritionprofessor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNutritionProfessor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_thenutritionprofessor/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timaree-hagenburger/
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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