Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sharla Goodwin, Owner of TSMTS The School of Meditation & Transformative Studies, located in Bouctouche, NB, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am the owner of The School of Meditation & Transformative Studies, the only school in Canada that provides award-winning, industry-approved, evidence-based Mind Body Education training programs in holistic well-being therapies.
My clients are primarily people who want to become certified in Meditation Teaching & Therapy, Empowerment, and Holistic Coaching. I also have some clients who take the base training of Meditation Teaching for personal development.
Along with the school, I offer to coach new entrepreneurs and people who are thinking about starting a business to get clear on what they want to provide and visible so that they can start making money and living the life they envision for themselves.
Tell us about yourself
I grew up being a rule-follower and people-pleaser, so instead of listening to myself, I listened to my parents, teachers, and society. I went to university to get a "good education and good job with a pension." But after just a few years of working as a Registered Dietitian, I was bored. I started wanting something different, something more. I spent thousands of dollars in training and business ventures that didn't work out, BUT they did open my eyes to a whole new field of personal development.
I started learning and meditating. Before long, I recommended meditation to my nutrition clients to help them with mindful eating and listening to their bodies for satiety cues. I became a Certified Meditation Teacher and Holistic Counselor a few years later.
In January 2022, I got the license to be a training provider in Canada, offering eight different certification programs to help others reach their own entrepreneurial goals, all while bringing this important work to the world.
That's what motivates me - to help others create a life that they love by doing this important and helpful work.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Figuring most of it out on my own - precisely the tech stuff. ,I didn't know what copy was a freebie or landing page just a few years ago! I also produced and hosted my podcast for a year. I'm most proud of myself for constantly listening to myself and making it okay to shift and change and make it all work. That's a beautiful entrepreneurial journey!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The loneliness and isolation are what make it most difficult. Especially in the beginning stages - you know you want to create and offer something, but you're not always able to talk to people in your day-to-day life about it because they don't understand.
In this loneliness, you must constantly be your motivator even when you haven't yet gotten the results - so that's all very difficult. That's why finding a coach or community helps immensely!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
There are so many tips! But I'd say these are the most important:
- Done is better than perfect, and perfect doesn't exist.
- Don't worry about your branding or getting your messaging just right because it will probably change anyway.
- Get help! Whether it's one-on-one coaching, a group program,, or any other type of community, surrounding yourself with other entrepreneurs will help you immensely! It also allows you to reach your goals more quickly.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://thesmts.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesmts
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharla-goodwin/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thesmts/
https://www.instagram.com/sharlagoodwin/
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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