Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Katy Gaston, Founder of Katy Gaston Nutrition, located in San Francisco, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a dietitian with a virtual private practice based in San Francisco, CA, where I help clients with an eating disorder and disordered eating recovery. I love to incorporate intuitive eating and body acceptance which to me really turns into an intuitive life by building that inner trust and wisdom. I want to be a guiding light into another way of being, and that being a recovered and intuitive eater is definitely possible!
Tell us about yourself
I always knew that I wanted to have my own private practice. I have always felt like I was an entrepreneur at heart, but that doesn't mean that it has been easy for me to embrace that. So much of my work and learning over the past couple of years of being in business for myself has been mindset shifts. It has also been starting up therapy again when I recognized how much I was really holding myself back from building and growing this business and working through those blocks as they come. I love what I do when I allow myself to be an imperfect human and embrace my strengths because Hustle Culture can so easily align with your desire for perfection. I have recently been really bringing creativity into my personal life and my business life, as being an artist is so much of what lights my soul on fire but is something I rarely "allow" myself to do. Which I am working through. :)
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment has to be my day-to-day resilience. There are going to be so many highs and lows of being in business for yourself, but at the end of the day, the thing I can do is show up and figure out how I can keep showing up because working for myself is the goal that is deeply rooted in my soul. It's hard to show up on the days of lows, but also sometimes hard to show up when you feel like you are stepping out of your comfort zone (in a good way). So I just work through how I can keep showing up, through it all.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I went from a steady, M-F, 9-5 clinical job into working for myself. First, it feels unstable, whether that be income, client load, workload, etc. But then it realizes you have to create your own stability as much as possible. When you work for someone else, then yes, you might have a steady paycheck, but that is one container to feel stable. When you can't offer yourself that as much with your business (especially in the beginning), you have to get creative with figuring out what stability looks like for you and your business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Slow and steady consistency is more valuable than sprinting and then burning out.
- It is always going to take longer than you think it will or want it to.
- Always refill your own cup first - meaning put your time and energy first, prioritize rest and recharging.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I think a lot of the time, we talk about how difficult it is to run your own business, which it definitely is. But I also want to highlight the benefits - you get to create it in any way that you want it to look, and you get to say what you do with your time and energy. It is tough at times but incredibly empowering.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.katygaston.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katyg.rd/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katyg_rd/
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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