Discover Your Healthiest Self - Wild Lilac Wellness

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Zarya Rubin, CEO of Wild Lilac Wellness, located in Portland, OR, USA.

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

I'm a Functional Medicine physician, coach, and speaker. I help high-achieving women in midlife let go of toxic stress and burnout so they can heal from the inside out and truly thrive. Functional medicine is a unique lens that looks at the whole person, holistically, from an environmental, genetic, and biochemical basis to really get to the root cause of what is happening, rather than just treating individual symptoms with band-aid solutions. It's a lot of detective work! I currently offer 1:1 coaching, group programs, and workshops. I love appearing on podcasts, as a featured speaker at a conference or summit, or really any opportunity where I can inspire folks to create a life they love and embrace all aspects of health - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. We often take our health for granted until we don't have it - and the last few years have been an incredible example of how important it is to have a strong foundation of healthy habits and lifestyle.

Tell us about yourself

I'm a multi-passionate entrepreneur and have had more careers than most - I've been a physician, an opera singer, worked in advertising, a pharmaceutical executive, a professional actress, a translator, and more! It became very clear to me that a career in conventional medicine was not for me - I'm a very square peg in a very round hole. I was going to have to chart my own path and define my own success. I love waking up every day and not knowing exactly what the day will bring; each day is unique and different, and I make my own schedule. I am driven to inspire and help others - I think that's truly why I was put here, to tell stories that change lives.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I recently was part of a panel discussion at Harvard about career pivots in midlife - I was there with the Hollywood actress Meredith Salenger, who is married to Patton Oswalt, Ketanji Brown Jackson's freshman roommate and a Buddhist monk! It was a life-changing experience, and I had to pinch myself, wondering how I got there. I also feel like my biggest accomplishments are yet to come!

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

I think knowing when to shut things off and knowing how to prioritize - as a business owner; you could theoretically be working 24/7, especially with the way technology is today. It's easy to justify just checking one more email or posting one more thing on social media, but the reality is that you need to unplug and connect with your family and friends; you need to feed your soul with your own outside pursuits so you are better able to tackle the work. I also think as a solopreneur, it can be really hard to gauge what activities need your attention the most - what are the business-building, and revenue-generating activities, vs. what are the mundane day-to-day tasks that you have to complete as well. It's easy to get caught up in shiny object syndrome!

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

Choose something because you are passionate about it, not because someone else says you should. I think it's easy to fall prey to other people's opinions about what kind of business you should start, but ultimately, if you didn't choose it, it will be very hard to stay motivated when the going gets tough.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. Starting a business isn't something they teach you in school - certainly not medical school! It's a different skill set and requires a lot of specific technical and strategic knowledge. I've worked with a number of terrific coaches that have also informed my coaching skills and practice. When you learn from experts, you get to skip steps and don't have to reinvent the wheel.
Don't be afraid to walk away. Quitting isn't a dirty word, but I think people are very afraid to abandon something they have started. But successful entrepreneurs are often not overnight successes with their first venture. Businesses fail. Ideas fizzle. Sometimes things are not the right fit, and that's OK. The concept of sunk costs is very real, but the sooner you turn the ship around, the sooner you'll be sailing in the right direction.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.wildlilacwellness.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildlilacwellness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildlilacwellness/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaryarubinmd/

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.