I get to photograph amazing entrepreneurs who are focused on helping people make positive changes in their life and business. It wouldn’t be right of me to only share the photographs I’ve created, so in addition I’m also sharing the story that makes up these great people. Hopefully something in their stories will inspire you to make changes and take action in your own life. If they can do it, so can you!
First up is holistic health and wellness coach Erin Wathen.
For many entrepreneurs, the journey is usually never a straight line. Can you tell us about how you came to be a wellness coach? Is it something you always knew you wanted to do or did something happen in your own life to bring you here?
I was always very active as a kid, and played sports, had a gym membership in high school… I never paid much attention to the parts of nutrition I didn’t like – such as sugar being the devil!!
Keep in mind, I went to college in the mid 90s when everything was all about FatFree so having a giant vat of Diet Coke and a large froYo with Gummy Bears was considered a good idea.
It wasn’t until I got serious about why I couldn’t drop the 5 pounds that I thought was the problem, that I had to own up to how much sugar and artificial sweetener I was consuming on a daily basis. Which was enough to choke a horse.
I had been teaching Spin, Pilates and Yoga and it wasn’t until I stopped it with the crazy sugar and fake sugar that I was able to drop what ended up being 15 pounds.
I knew I had to help other people, which got me on the road to being a health coach, which lead to a Food Addiction Counselor then an author…
What drives you to help people with their weight / health / fitness?
A desire to turn the pain and discomfort I went through to serve others.
I also see a huge need in America for people that truly do not know how to manage their feelings and they are turning to food, because that is what they are trained to do. It isn’t because they’re bad or lazy or uneducated. They just need to be taught a better way.
How much do you think having the right mindset plays a role in our decisions around food and fitness?
It’s everything and the only thing that matters in long term success.
This is why quick fixes never take. Resets, detoxes, 21 day fad diets before your wedding never lead to lasting change because our mindset stays the same. We are looking for a short term solution for a long term problem.
I go back to the Taylor Swift song (keep in mind, I taught Spin for 12 years) BadBlood “Band-Aids over Bullet Holes”.
If we do not take a long, hard look at why we gained the weight, and what is going to change moving forward in how we manage our life, we will gain it back.
What have been the key elements that have helped you grow as an entrepreneur? Ex – books, mentors, coaches, programs, networking, etc
Books
- Rachel Hollis – Girl Wash Your Face
- Jen Sincero – You are a Badass
- Brooke Castillo – Self Coaching 101
- David-Schwartz – The Magic of Thinking Big
Mentors
- Brooke Castillo
Coaches
- Cameo Gore Mucha
- Suzanne Dams
I know you’re a mom of 2 school age kids. How are you able to juggle motherhood and your biz? Any tips you can give to other moms wanting to start a business?
Get serious and get organized.
Brooke Castillo jokes about how many Moms have “Jobbys” a job that is basically a hobby. Which is totally cool, as that is how I looked at teaching group exercise. I did it when it worked for me. I never made much money, just enough to pay for my high end legging habit and iTunes downloads. I enjoyed it, but I wasn’t very dedicated about it.
When I started my business, I knew what it felt like to not be serious about working while having kids, so I didn’t make the same mistakes twice.
- I got out of everything that wasn’t crucial to my business and my family. At the time, I was working for free aka volunteering all over the place. Those were giant energy and time sucks. I put in years running school book fairs, raising money for breast cancer research and being the President of our local Swim and Tennis Club. Maybe one day I will volunteer again, I knew I couldn’t do it and launch a business.
- I got up close and personal with my schedule. I booked vacations a year out, or else they wouldn’t get done. I scheduled all of my workouts for the next months, so there wasn’t any internal discussion when I was writing my book.
The biggest mistake I made my first year, and I always advise new Mom businesswomen, especially those of us who work from home – make office hours and STICK TO THEM.
I was always working and it wasn’t always necessarily the best work product because I wasn’t focused. I had my laptop in the kitchen, in the dining room, in the my bedroom. Now, I only work in my office during working hours. I only take calls in my office during working hours. I only respond to true emergency emails during working hours.
Now I stop at dinner time, unless I have a dinner commitment or I am out of town at a conference.
I do not have client calls on Fridays, and I do not work on the weekends the only exception being Sunday nights. For one hour max on Sunday night, after my kids are in bed, I will plan out my week, even how long it takes me to drive back and forth to school.
I have a fun coloring book/planner my friend makes and I can see any potential potholes and it isn’t electronic so it doesn’t keep me up. I try to get to bed early on Sunday as you never know what the week will bring and let’s face it, we never regret getting extra sleep.
And now a few personal questions to get to know Erin even better…
What is your favorite book and why?
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, a classic that never gets old. The story of Francie the protagonist always slays me. What I got from it when I was 10 and first reading it is very different than now, when I am more mature, or at least older.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of your business?
I took up surfing a few years ago. Unfortunately, I don’t get to do it as often as I wish living in the Tri-State area, but I love it.
I’m a foodie and am always fascinated about what everyone’s favorite snack is. I’m on Team Salty – LOVE potato chips although I now rarely eat them. I will eat nuts instead, my favorite being pistachios. So what about you – Team Salty or Team Sweet?
I was Team Sweet for so many years, I feel like I went through a lifetimes supply of sweet already. I love having spiced and flavored guacamole.
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I’m so excited for Erin! She just launched a book called “Why Can’t I Stick To My Diet?”
The book is available in stores and online.
To learn more about wellness, connect with Erin online at:
Website: Erin Wathen Wellness
Facebook: erinwathenwellness
Instagram: @erinwathenwellness
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