Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Rebecca Martin, Founder of Turned Leaf Nutrition, located in Summerville, SC, USA.

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

My clients come to me with digestive issues (like GERD, IBS, food intolerances), autoimmune diseases (like Hashimoto's thyroiditis), foggy brain or chronic fatigue, and hormonal imbalances (like PCOS). I take a look at their symptoms, activity level, lifestyle, stress level, and even ancestry to come up with a nutritional therapy plan customized to their body's unique imbalances and nutritional needs. So many of us are walking around normalizing things like bloat after meals or constipation for years and years. I help my clients return to optimal function so that they can accomplish their health goals.

Tell us about yourself

I found out that I have Celiac Disease in 2012 and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis in 2019. I tried everything I could to find normal digestion and a semblance of energy. It took me 10 years of chasing fads and trying diet programs (like shakes + food trackers) to learn that everyone has their own bio-individual solution to health. And through Nutritional Therapy, I found out exactly what my specific body needed to support our foundations – digestion, blood sugar regulation, hydration, mineral balance, and essential fatty acid balance. During my training, I was slapped in the face with the realization that there is so much misleading information out there around nutrition. I'd wasted years trying to trick my body into losing weight and getting more energy when I should have been focusing on what MY body was missing all along. It's a nuanced field, and that's the reason I got into it – to help people debunk the myths, cut through the clutter, and find peace. When I see the "ah-hah" moment click on my client's face, that's when I get motivated to help more people.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishments are my clients' accomplishments in achieving the health goals they set out to conquer. On the financial side, I'd say developing relationships with others in the wellness industry to create packages that helped me grow my business.

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

Not always having a steady paycheck is the hardest part about being a business owner, especially for small businesses that are starting. I also have the type of personality that thrives on crossing things off a list and being able to hang up my hat at the end of the day and walk away. That's pretty impossible when you have your own business. Your to-do list is never-ending as you're constantly trying to grow, and it can be difficult to set defined working hours as you constantly feel the need to keep pushing.

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

  1. Define your ideal clientele. You can't be everything to everyone, and there is a set of target people with whom you probably would be most successful (especially if you're a service vs. a good). My personal example for Turned Leaf Nutrition is individuals interested in alternative and functional medicine who might have an autoimmune disorder or severe gut issues. Someone who has tried everything in the western medicine world and gone to all of the specialists but hasn't found relief. These people find the most success with my nutritional programs because they're serious about resolving their health issues and are seeking alternative options.
  2. Identify where and how that ideal clientele interacts. Continuing with my personal example, I found my ideal clientele is likely already a patient at an alternative medicine practice. For example, maybe they are seeing a chiropractor or acupuncturist.
  3. Network and partner with businesses that align with your clientele and services. In my personal example, I reached out to very successful chiropractic practices in my area after researching their health philosophies. I found our goals and mindsets to be very similar. I also noticed they didn't have a nutrition program per se. After meeting with them, I discovered that nutrition is something they'd been wanting to offer but didn't have the manpower to get started or manage it. We developed a partnership, and now I'm working with their clients offering nutrition plans and packages.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

It's really easy to fall victim to the imposter syndrome - feeling like you're not good enough to be helping people or selling your goods. I still do this sometimes after two years of being in business. Know that it's not true! You wouldn't have clients and customers if that were the case. It's also really easy to feel like a failure if things don't work out or you change your mind and pivot in a new direction. If you try something, you're never a failure. Do what you love, and if you decide what you're doing isn't filling your cup anymore, don't be afraid to scrap it and find something new! Life is short, and yes, starting and running a business is challenging, but it should also be enjoyable. Forget perceptions, and focus on the joy.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: http://aturnedleaf.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aturnedleaf/

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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