Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dana Couillard, founder of Ripple Dynamics Inc, located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

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

I have created The Optimal Stress Toolkit. Its purpose is to help individuals learn how to make stress their ally. I help business leaders and professionals identify their optimal stress zone and learn how to work efficiently within that zone. My approach's uniqueness is that it is based on the fundamental principles of the power of perception and human behavior. It allows individuals to make substantial long-term changes to their perceptions to create new, more meaningful habits.

Tell us about yourself

I am a mentor, educator, and award-winning author. I started exploring the power of perception and its impact on my own journey through life. I have had two traveling companions for the last 20+ years: varying stress and anxiety levels and a come-and-go mild depression. I began to recognize similar symptoms in some of my clients and wanted to learn more about what was behind my two traveling companions.

I completed a later-in-life MA in Human Behavior related to the impact of depression and anxiety. This set off a decade-long search for more information about human behavior that I could use in my mentoring practice. Each time I used a concept or principle with a client, I had the opportunity to refine it and build on it with additional concepts.

This past year, I decided that I could focus on what I knew to help individuals learn to look at stress as an ally, not a constant enemy. I have made a difference in many of my clients' lives - very rewarding, to say the least! I go to bed each night knowing that I am on purpose in my life, and I wake up each morning knowing that I will be helping someone on their journey today!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Developing and launching the Optimal Stress Toolkit has been my biggest accomplishment. I have created an innovative tool/program that aligns with my values of helping others who are experiencing high stress, various levels of anxiety, feeling lack of purpose or out of focus, or overwhelmed. Helping them learn to move forward to a life that is more meaningful for them (professionally and/or personally drives me every day!

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

Because of my personality, one of the most difficult things for me has been building a meaningful network of people and getting the word out about my mentoring practice and my program. I had to learn and adapt to the concept that "I am enough" and not think what others may think about my practice. This has been a very freeing perspective to develop!

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

  1. Stayed focused on what drives you to make a difference for your customers or clients. To do this, you always need to be focused on understanding their needs and helping them develop strategies for meeting those needs.
  2. Learn about the Paradox of Choice! When faced with too many options or potential opportunities for your new business, the emotional brain becomes confused as to what you want it to do.
  3. Remember the 80% rule, especially if you have perfectionist tendencies. We absolutely cannot guess or anticipate everything we "think" our clients want to hear or see. This is called "mindreading" and is an irrational thought. If you wait until something feels like it is 100% done, you will feel the paralysis of not being able to take action. When something is 80% done, get it out in the world. You can adapt and change it as needed based on real-time information and feedback. I had to learn this one the hard way and through mentoring from another coach!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Have the courage to act and believe that you are enough - every day!!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.rippledynamics.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-couillard-39380a7/
Email: dana@rippledynamics.com

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.