Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ashley Evans, owner of Wholeness With Ash, located in Atlanta, GA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a holistic wellness and mindset coach! I help my clients find wholeness in themselves through mind, body, and spirit work. My customers are people who want to find what health means to them but have limits and blocks in their way. They are open-minded and willing to dig deep and unearth old ideas and ways that aren't serving them any longer. By doing this, they will soon have tools that can further expand their wants and goals and meet them with joy and dedication. To then feel healthy and whole.
Tell us about yourself
I created Wholeness with Ash because I thought I was whole and healthy for a very long time, and it turns out I wasn't. I was on a diet after diet, restricted myself from really good food, and would exercise to punish myself for eating something "unhealthy" or eating "too much." After going through my coaching program and being in therapy, I soon realized that I was actually very sick. My mindset wasn't healthy, my body was tired all of the time, and I wasn't fun to go out to eat with. Going through my own healing journey, I realized mindset was super important. Why do I want these things, and what does health look like to me? Turns out, I just wanted to feel good. I wanted to feel healthy. I ditched working out to look a certain way and practiced intuitive movement and eating. By doing this, I could get a clear idea of what I needed at that moment. Was it a run? Or to nap? To yoga or to walk? This is where mindset comes in. If I chose to go for a walk or to rest, I would not beat myself up for it. I would not should myself of saying "you should run." I was easy on myself, kind, and patient. Once I started to finetune how I spoke to myself about myself, I felt better and felt more confident in who I was and felt like. I would do the same for food. I stopped eating "healthy" processed foods and ate real pasta. I also cook a lot with vegetables, but now I add butter. And I am kind to myself. It's all about balance! Once I learned to give my body what it needed, I actually started to look better. I looked healthy. I was fit! I focused on my mindset and what my body needed to feel grounded, and I leaned into my Spiritual side for that strength and guidance. This looked like meditating more, journaling, being in nature, etc., etc. This side of the trifecta looks so different for everyone, and one of my goals is to help my clients find what spirituality means to them! It could maybe mean just dancing alone to your favorite song, or being so grateful for your coffee in the morning. Once I got the hang of all of this for myself, I knew what my business would be about. Wholeness only comes from within, and I want to walk alongside people as they figure out what that means for them. I want people to stop restricting themselves and talking badly about themselves and to do what gives them life. I want people to feel healthy from the inside out so that they can truly thrive! Working with people and watching them start to love themselves a little bit more every week brings me so much fulfillment and purpose.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Hearing my clients tell me how their relationship to themselves, working out, and food has improved! I was once told that one of my clients started taking pictures of herself again, oh! What a freaking accomplishment!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Generating business is the hardest thing. I am not the best at keeping up with posting about my business online because I am not the biggest fan of being on my phone all of the time.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- You have to start somewhere, so start where you are. Not where you think you should be.
- When the going gets tough, keep on going. In other words, it will be tough. But when you start seeing your hard work bearing fruit and getting the right customers, it is all so worth it. Keep going.
- Don't be so hard on yourself. Show up daily and be your own best cheerleader.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.wholenesswithash.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleynicolevans/
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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