Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Andrea Mendoza, founder, and CEO of The ScoliClinic, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

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

The ScoliClinic is British Columbia's premier private clinic dedicated to treating children, teens, and adults with scoliosis, Scheuermann's Kyphosis, and other spinal conditions. We strive to deliver the highest quality physio and RMT treatment for our clients, whether they are locally based or travel to us from abroad. Our diverse team of Schroth-trained therapists advocates for conservative management approaches by educating our clients, our peers, and the public on the role of early identification and treatment. Since 2016, The ScoliClinic has been committed to helping grow and aging spines with scoliosis stand tall from the inside out by acknowledging our clients' physical, emotional, and social needs.

Tell us about yourself

I've always been motivated to serve others using my talents and skills. The ScoliClinic was started to serve a need in the community - to provide non-operative treatment to people with spinal conditions like scoliosis, which (at the time) did not yet exist in BC. As I've grown in my career, I realize I enjoy working towards large, complex, multi-layered problems. Helping people who are low-income or are from other marginalized populations to access specialty healthcare services is a huge, seemingly impossible task. I'm motivated each day to think about what small steps I can make to move the needle in that direction. Whether it's in updating our operations to be more client-centered, to putting out impactful information on social media, or engaging with various stakeholders into the community to create new initiatives, I enjoy working with others to develop the programs and offerings that further service the scoliosis community.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Creating a workspace and company that encourages staff to lean into their strengths and contribute those to our clients and our organization.

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

The personal attachment that inevitably develops - we become so invested in our service, our reputation in the community, our staff's well-being and career satisfaction, our clients progress - it has taken significant effort and self-awareness to process and separate myself from the happenings in the business and maintain a boundary and grounded approach to running the business.

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

  1. Consider if you really want to sign up for ALL the aspects of the business. The joys, rewards, connections, satisfaction... as well as the heartbreak, risk, and stress (mental, emotional, and financial!). It can be an absolutely fulfilling career path if you accept all that you've signed up for.
  2. Get a coach right from the start. My business coach focused primarily on me and my leadership skills, and the business growth followed.
  3. Be resourceful! There are SO many options and resources for new business owners - you can access wonderful advice, models, templates, funding... everything you need is at your fingertips. You'll just need to scan the landscape and choose which advice feels right for your needs and your business.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

The beauty of starting a business is the opportunity to design an offering for the world in exactly the way you want it - whether it's to suit your own priorities in life or to put out new ideas into the world to serve others or a mix of both!

If you think someone else is offering something similar to your idea, you're probably right - but they're not doing it in the exact way that you uniquely can. There are unlimited markets for unlimited kinds of services. If you're clear on your unique advantage, you will find cheerleaders who believe in you and your business.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://scoliclinic.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thescoliclinic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thescoliclinic/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreamendoza21/

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.