Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Helen Pak-Harvey, Founder of Wholistics.Health, located in Efland, NC, USA.
What’s your business, and who are your customers?
Wholistics is a digital engagement platform focused on delivering actionable guidance on all dimensions of health to manage chronic conditions, disease prevention, and healthy living.
Tell us about yourself
Wholistics was born out of my belief that health is not only for those who can afford or understand it. We live in a society with significant health disparities – so I wanted to utilize the Wholistics offering to disseminate easy-to-understand knowledge and empower users to take charge of their own health. I wish I had the courage and confidence to do this sooner – it took many decades to realize that one can do truly meaningful work without sacrificing everything.
What’s your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Still being in business as the majority stakeholder with contracts to keep us viable for the time being.
What’s one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
There’s no 9 to 5 in the start-up world. I learned as much managing this start-up as I learned getting my Ph.D. in chemistry. From accounting, legal, marketing, product development, sales, technology, operations, and HR – I definitely feel like the jack of all trades and master of none.
What are the top tips you’d give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure you work with the right people. I met many investor types, accelerators, and other start-up helpers that were really not interested in helping my business.
- Squirrel savings away before you start. I worked for two years full-time and saved money to get the company off the ground and run the MVP pilot. I didn’t want to rely on family and friends (yet) and loans. You will sleep much better at night if you use your own funds.
- Dream big but start small and be ready to pivot. My business is a lot different than what it was three years ago, and it will probably be a lot different three years from now. This concerns investors as they see no clear pattern/focus, but a young company may need to pivot often to get to the right place. Be flexible to be able to do that – it’s ok.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://wholistics.health/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wholisticshealth
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WholisticsH
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wholistics-health/
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