Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jeanine Adinaro, President of Third Coast Herb Company, Inc., located in Austin, TX, USA.

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

We make a line of high-quality, traditional herbal supplements based on Chinese herbal formulas, made in the USA, and packaged for health-savvy Americans. Of course, we provide amazing products, but our top priority is helping people feel empowered to make the healthiest choices that meet their needs.

Tell us about yourself

I was trained as an acupuncturist, which in the state of Texas includes extensive training in traditional Chinese herbs. I even spent time in China studying, where I saw miraculous things done with herbs. When I finished school and started working as an acupuncturist, I realized that ordinary people did not have good access to Chinese herbs or herbal education, and I decided to change that. I have an electronic file where I store the emails we have received over the years from people telling us how our products have changed their health and live for the better. I look there whenever I need a reminder of why I need to slog through the less rewarding aspects of business that are common to all businesses.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is staying in business for almost 16 years. There were plenty of times when we tried things that did not work, and we had to pivot. But the point is we kept going.

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

I once heard that the value of a business is the sum of all the problems it has overcome. As a business owner, I get hit with new and different problems every day. And there's no playbook that says how to solve it. I just have to get creative, focus on our core business values, and remember that what we do helps people.

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

  1. Set aside regular time to think big thoughts.
  2. Take a course on the fundamentals of accounting. It doesn't have to be a fancy one- there are lots of free ones available online. But you have to be able to read your own financial statements.
  3. Scrub your own toilets. I have seen plenty of businesses fail because the owners paid people to do jobs, they were more than capable of doing but thought it was beneath them. Especially in the beginning, nothing is beneath you.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.herbalogic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Herbalogic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herbalogic/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Herbalogic
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanine-adinaro-7b2091a/

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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