Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nina Manolson, owner and founder of Body-Peace with Nina, located in Somerville, MA, USA.

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

I'm a Body-Peace® Coach. I help women end their war with food and body and finally feel truly at home in themselves – as they are. I help my clients move past the deprivation-diet paradigm and into a compassionate and powerful way of eating & living, which creates deep, long-lasting change in partnership with their bodies. I take a deeply feminist, anti-diet, body-peace stance with all the work that I do! This work supports women of all ages and in every profession, for themselves and their friends, co-workers, clients, and family.

Tell us about yourself

My own food and body struggles led me to become a therapist, Health Coach, Psychology of Eating Coach, and Body-Trust® Provider. This journey helped me create Body-Peace® as a modality that truly helps women end the body-hate and shaming cycle. I'm so DONE with women wasting their time, energy, creativity, and brilliance on hating their bodies and wishing they hadn't eaten what they just ate!

Body-Peace® is my passion because we need women to own their power and brand of beauty instead of comparing themselves to others. When we feel at home in our skin, we are able to fully express ourselves and serve the world in the way that only each of us can.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I've been working with women and their relationship with food and body for 30 years, and I've been in the online space, working with women from all over the world, for 13 years. In the process, I've come to support an ever-growing network of women: individually, through group offerings (including retreats), and with online offerings (and podcast interviews to reach a wider audience). Personally, I've become more self-expressed as well - and am writing Body-Poems, to help deepen and enrich the conversations we have with and about our bodies.

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

Having your own business that you love is like having a baby. You care deeply, you want her to grow and evolve, and it's tempting as a good biz owner to spend all your time tending to your baby/biz. But it's important to get help - to grow your team - so a village can support you in raising your baby. And it's always important, just like for any good parent, to take breaks. Solopreneurs can feel like 24/7 parents, but we need to give ourselves space to breathe and play - our business can only benefit - when we practice what we preach and take care of ourselves.

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

  1. Get clear on who you help and how you help them.
  2. Get support from the very beginning. Contrary to what the name "solopreneur" implies, it's actually impossible to succeed if you're limited to thinking it's a solo sport!
  3. Give yourself compassion and patience as you develop your business. Growing a sustainable business that truly benefits others and feels aligned with your life takes time, you will make mistakes, but don't be too hard on yourself.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I'd love to hear from anyone with whom this conversation resonates. I have a get-acquainted form on my website, and I'd welcome interest from podcasters and others seeking presenters. For those who want to get started on the Body-Peace® Path, be sure to check out the Practicing Body-Peace Journal. It's a combination of a workbook and a twenty-question inquiry into your own relationship with food and body. Download it right here.

Where can people find you and your business?

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

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.