The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
There have been many challenges, as there inevitably are when you run your own business. One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced was rebuilding my business after taking a two-year break during COVID-19 to be with my young daughters. Transitioning my practice to an online format required learning new technology and dealing with initial teething issues to ensure smooth telehealth consultations.
Educating people to understand the benefits of naturopathy has been another ongoing challenge. I address this through consistent education via social media, sharing patient success stories, and providing valuable content about natural health on my blog.
Getting back into practice was tough on my self-confidence, but it has also been a period of significant personal growth. I’ve had to remind myself that I have the expertise and passion to make a real difference in the health and well-being of mums and children. This journey has reinforced my commitment to helping families thrive naturally, even when faced with challenges.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Running my own naturopathic practice offers both rewarding advantages and significant challenges. On the positive side, I can pursue further education in my specific areas of interest, which are children’s health and maternal wellness. I can also maintain a flexible schedule that allows me to spend more time with my daughters and attend things like sporting events, dancing classes and be there to pick them up from school. I genuinely love what I do and educating others about healthier, happier living is deeply fulfilling.
However, as a solo business owner, this journey requires a high level of self-motivation. There isn’t anyone else coming to manage my finances and marketing. Additionally, the solitude of doing it alone can be tough, and the responsibility for all these roles within my business rests solely on my shoulders. Balancing these aspects has led to substantial personal and professional growth, reinforcing my commitment to helping mums and children achieve optimal health naturally. In saying this, having a close-knit group of other Naturopaths that I went to university with has been life changing. We can bounce ideas off each other, help with tricky questions and just be that support for each other; this is a definite pro.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
This is an exciting question. I would like to expand my business to employ another Naturopath and also enter into a physical clinic space again. Working online is very flexible and has many benefits, but there is nothing quite like the face-to-face consult experience. The dream would be to offer both online and in person, depending on client need! I’d also love to build up my herbal medicine dispensary and offer herbal dispensing to my community. If you have a cold, you can just drop in and grab an immune mix, or an antiviral cream for your child’s hand, foot and mouth. Wouldn’t that be wonderful!
Visit alysiachick.com to find out more about the services she offers. You can also connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.
