Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jessica Burke, founder of Equilibrium Registered Massage Therapy, located in Saint John, NB, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is a small clinic that helps heal the mind, body, and soul through therapeutic massage and Reiki. As well as multiple referrals to individuals outside of the small business in order to best aid in healing. It individualizes each client and their needs. My clients just yesterday were:
- Autoimmune disease
- Recovery from a double mastectomy
- Complete hip replacement
- Rhinoplasty for basal cell carcinoma
- Athlete: marathon runner
Each client is treated with all modalities of massage or Reiki, depending on what they need. If I personally do not have the tool modality or training to help them, I have a nutritionist, physiotherapist, chiropractor, energy worker, and psychotherapist. The list continues. The main goal of my business is to help people live their best life.
Tell us about yourself
I am a solo mother who has a young child and was working in a corporate job while taking my BA in university and running a household. I was beyond stressed and used Energy medicine and massage as coping tools, as well as antidepressants and anxiety medication. My father was suddenly very ill, and I ended up being laid off at the same time. I was given a severance package, and I knew it was a blessing. I realized how short life is; at the same time, a door opened for me to have a purpose in what I do every day. I volunteered for a couple of months doing all sorts of things, and all of them were helping people through a time in their life that was difficult and providing them with a non-judgmental, supportive person to be there for them. So I narrowed down my options to nursing or RMT. Nursing would never work where I am a solo parent, and there is shift work, etc. I risked everything going back to school at 32 years of age with a house and a child.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is opening in a pandemic and surviving my 1st year! Along with getting to wake up every day fulfilled that I love what I do, and I get to help people.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest part of being a small business owner is that you are never “off” as well as I deal with boundaries; you are always working.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure it is your passion.
- Make sure you are driven.
- Long as you have both, you will succeed.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://equilibriumrmt.clinicsense.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EquilibriumRMT
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equilibriumrmt/
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.