Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in publication but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jamie Rockymore-Bess, Founder of Helpful Living Magazine, located in Owings Mills, MD, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Helpful Living Magazine is a mental health magazine. We provide mental health education, and our mantra is ending the stigma one issue at a time. Our goal is to provide education to individuals who are thinking about therapy, in treatment, or know someone who is dealing with mental health challenges. There is a lack of mental health education which causes hesitancy in treatment. A person can wait years before they actually receive treatment, and the reason being is because of the stigma behind mental health. We are closing the gap by displaying articles from clinicians, people with lived experiences, and entrepreneurs that provide programs to help individuals with their mental health journey. We all have mental health, and now is the time to take them seriously.
Tell us about yourself
I started Helpful Living Magazine in 2019 after working at a psychiatric facility as a discharge coordinator. My job at the time was to coordinate patients' discharge and provide outpatient treatment. There was a disconnect with patients wanting outpatient services, and it was due to the stigma or lack of education. Once I realized that I wanted to create something for people to read to get a better understanding of mental health.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is starting the magazine and staying with it. After the second year, I started a subscription service, and now I am getting recognized from all different countries. I sent the magazine to multiple states in the U.S, but internationally as a major accomplishment, I sent the magazine to Turkey, the U.K, and Canada, which is still mind-blowing to me.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things as a business owner is balancing life, especially if you have children or someone to whom you dedicate your time to.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Get started now! You do not have to be a perfectionist; in the beginning, you grow as you learn, and that is the beauty of it all. Join social media groups that connect to your business. It is a great way to network and never be afraid to ask for help. Also, YouTube is a great resource for learning how to do something.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Mental health is major; please be sure you are practicing self-care no matter what that looks like. We often think of self-care as getting a massage or a manicure and pedicure; self-care can be sitting in a room for five minutes and doing meditation or doing nothing at all. Have a list of things you like to do and implement them in your daily or weekly routine. If you need support or want to know more about mental health education, visit our website and join our email list to receive a free issue of one of our digital magazines.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.helpfullivingmag.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helpfullivingmag/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-rockymore-bess-10872b37/
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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