Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Michelle Robinson, Founder of Urban Bodywork & Apothecary, located in Long Beach, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a Holistic Healing Practitioner. This includes Therapeutic Massage, Reiki Healing & Sound Therapy. Next door to my healing practice, I have a wellness apothecary. Full of essential oils, metaphysical items, crystals & stones...incense, candles, and more.
Tell us about yourself
I have over 750 hours of initial training in Therapeutic Massage and many years of devotion to continued education, along with immense discipline and commitment to my own personal Yoga practice and study over the last 15 years. I am a Certified Yoga Teacher with 200 hrs of training, and this passion has provided me with a unique understanding of the human body and a deep desire to work with people not only on a physical level but also educate others about the holistic nature of massage, the satisfaction of retaining your natural movement and the balancing of the heart and soul that is received from touch.
Over my lifetime and very organically, I have developed a functional mastery in the art of creating space for wellness. It makes sense to me that healing in the emotional body thru the physical body is ever present at Urban Bodywork & Apothecary. I have spent many years specifically training in Shiatsu, Reflexology, Acupressure, Deep Tissue, Aromatherapy & other bodywork techniques.
I also love to incorporate the power of Healing Essential oils harvested mindfully from our Earth as anointing for the body and heart, along with aromatherapy during massage.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
That's a challenging question. I would say my greatest accomplishment has been just the accumulation of years of experience. Having the mindset that allowed me to put in the work resulted in experience. I feel that I have now stepped into a flow with my business that was trial and error for a long time.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Learning to budget my time between my personal life and business life. I am always looking for ways to simplify and be sure my energy is being used properly. I love the work I do, so it's easy for me to work too much and burn out. Balance is always a topic and goal.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Talk to everyone you can in business about business. Listen to their advice, but definitely follow your own heart to make your dream look the way you envisioned.
- Do not tune in to any negativity regarding it being risky, a bad economy, or that it will be too hard on your own. Your success is completely dependent on your effort and keeping a positive mindset.
- Check-in with yourself every day by looking at your activities and plan of action for the day by asking yourself, "What will grow me and my business today?" Make lists. Be accountable to yourself that every day you are doing things that create growth. Someday there will be more growth than money, but that ok because growth means success.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.urbanbodyworkandapothecary.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urbanbodybeautyapothecary
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urbanbodywork.apothecary/
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.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.