#011 - From Nurse to Holistic Health CEO - Nikki Barkhaus

From Nurse to Holistic Health Entrepreneur: Nikki Barkhaus’ Journey to Functional Wellness 🌱

In this episode of The Hidden Hustle, Nikki Barkhaus shares her powerful story of leaving a 20-year nursing career to start the Wholistic Health Center in Altoona, Iowa. We dive into the emotional turning point that led her to functional medicine, and the mission that drives her to help others heal at the root level.

Whether you're battling burnout, questioning traditional medicine, or thinking about starting your own wellness practice—this episode delivers inspiration and hard-earned wisdom.

How to contact Nikki with Wholistic Health Center:

• Website: https://www.wholistichealthctr.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WholisticHealthCenterIA
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholistichealthcenter/
• Phone: (515) 979-7800
• Email: info@wholistichealthctr.com

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Chapters

• 0:00 Intro
• 1:21 Seminar Takeaways & Stress Impact on Health
• 4:03 Meet Nikki Barkhaus & the Start of Holistic Health Center
• 6:18 From Nurse to Holistic Practitioner
• 8:22 Searching for Better Outcomes in Pediatric Care
• 10:04 The Leap Into Entrepreneurship
• 13:06 Starting a Business in the Middle of COVID
• 15:13 Marketing Struggles & Learning Business on the Fly
• 19:10 Faith, Loss, and the Push to Help Others
• 22:03 Advice for Families Not Getting Answers from Doctors
• 24:00 The Vision: Virtual Expansion & Group Coaching
• 26:51 Leaving a Legacy of Care in the Community
• 30:42 How Passion Beats Comfort in Career Choices
• 34:25 Lessons She Wishes She Knew Starting Out
• 37:23 Stress, Gut Health & Taking Care of Yourself First
• 39:19 May Promotions & The Power of Root-Cause Wellness
• 42:15 Outro

Transcript

00:00:00:00 - 00:00:04:03
Unknown
always think to myself, like, if I only knew this information like 20 years ago,

00:00:04:03 - 00:00:06:13
Unknown
you know, maybe he'd still be here, but,

00:00:10:08 - 00:00:10:21
Unknown
we cannot take

00:00:10:21 - 00:00:14:20
Unknown
care of others until we first take care of ourselves. Right.

00:00:14:20 - 00:00:22:13
Unknown
you can know and do all the things, but if you're a hot mess yourself, like you're going to have a hard time helping other people, you know,

00:00:22:13 - 00:00:29:11
Unknown
I really, really stress that to my people now, is self-care like, it's not selfish.

00:00:29:17 - 00:00:30:05
Unknown
You know,

00:00:30:05 - 00:00:32:22
Unknown
we tell our patients that, you know, you have to remember why you're doing this.

00:00:32:22 - 00:00:35:21
Unknown
Why did you come to us? Why did you seek out

00:00:35:21 - 00:00:39:04
Unknown
this type of health care option? You know,

00:00:47:22 - 00:01:21:02
Unknown
So how's life catching up after the. You went to a summit writer? I went to a seminar in, Idaho. Yeah. Yeah. It's great. It was so nice out there. I love it out there. That's the third or fourth year. Maybe that, they've had it out there, and I think they're going to keep it there. They just tried a different location last year in Dallas, and it was okay, but yeah, it wasn't quite as conducive to, you know, what they want and the culture and the food and like all the things that they, you know, promote and so they decided, and the headquarters for the company is in Idaho.

00:01:21:04 - 00:01:42:19
Unknown
So it just works out easier for them. You know, I think they tried to accommodate the people coming by, having it at a location that might have more direct flights. Right. You know, because, I mean, there's really not a direct flight right from the Midwest. How long was it? The flight, the the whole the conference. It started Thursday ended Saturday night, which we ducked out a little bit early.

00:01:42:19 - 00:02:01:04
Unknown
I was a little sad, but, I had things I had to get back home for, for Sunday, and, so we left at, like, noon. So we missed like, half of the day, but it's always recorded too. So yeah, that's nice. I can just. What all do they, go over there or what do they. Yeah. So eco is so core Bioscience is is a company I use for supplementation.

00:02:01:04 - 00:02:26:15
Unknown
And they're, they're one of my favorite because they, just the nature of their product. I mean, it's just really effective, really powerful. When we go after like toxicities and, you know, restoring function to the body. So it's really good support there. So, they do they bring in like speakers for all kinds of things. And really, I felt like this, this it's always a mix, you know?

00:02:26:21 - 00:02:54:20
Unknown
But I felt like this conference really spoke to a lot with, stress and the impacts of stress. You know, whether that's mental, physical, emotional, like toxicities, like there's so many different kinds of stress, you know, but I feel like that was a really big, focus, I guess. And then one of my favorite things I, actually was going to bring the book with you to show you, I picked it up, like, on the last day I heard the guide or.

00:02:54:20 - 00:03:16:20
Unknown
No, I heard, someone talking about the book. Oh, someone sat down next to me and had the book, and I was like, oh, where'd you get this book? It's called The Fulfilled Practitioner. And she's like, oh, they're free out there on their table. And I was like, free. Okay. So I, went and grabbed it and it's the it's the guy, that works together with, a gentleman that comes in and does our breathwork sessions with us every day.

00:03:16:20 - 00:03:49:08
Unknown
There they have this this, practitioner do breathwork. It's a kind of a specialty. And, so this this gentleman works with him, and, and he wrote a book about, you know, being a practitioner because he's, you know, walk that walk and he knows what that's like. And so he took a, you know, direction to kind of help other practitioners that have been down that road and, I mean, I literally opened the book, start reading, and I was like, you wrote this book about me, you know, and in my head like, oh my goodness, this is like, so he's describing these oh, well, right here.

00:03:49:10 - 00:04:03:02
Unknown
Right. You know, so, yeah, it's good. I'm already like halfway done with the book. Like I just, I read it on the plane, I read it, you know, as much as I could the next day. And I'm still like, reading it, trying to get through it, but yeah, I'm already like, halfway through it, so it's good stuff.

00:04:03:04 - 00:04:26:00
Unknown
So for everybody listening, this is Nikki Berkus. She is, a part of Holistic Health Center in Altoona, Iowa. Tell us a little bit about what you do. Yeah. So holistic health center I founded in January of 2020 of all the years to found a business, but, Holistic Health Center is really, based on, functional health.

00:04:26:00 - 00:04:55:02
Unknown
We're really looking at, you know, alternative ways that we can help people restore health and function to their body when they have either been dealing with a chronic illness or condition for, you know, much of their life, or maybe it's a new one, maybe they just found out and they just don't really like or want to go down, the path of maybe traditional medicine, or maybe they just want to integrate them, you know, maybe they want to just see how they can work together, you know, and, and get them over this hump.

00:04:55:04 - 00:05:15:19
Unknown
Or, you know, we have weight loss, too. So we work, functionally with people to reset, their metabolism, reset their hormones to make their bodies work for them, not against them. So we, we really like that program. We we've had a lot of success with that. Myself and all of our staff have done the program all but one maybe.

00:05:15:21 - 00:05:31:10
Unknown
And, yeah. So we just have a big passion for that. It wasn't something I ever sought out to do, you know, as my part of my business, the doctor that actually I went through the program with, encouraged me to you know, when I started my business, he was like, hey, I need more people to help me out with this.

00:05:31:10 - 00:05:49:07
Unknown
You know, I'm doing this, and there's so many people that need this and and want this, you know, I need I need help. So I was like, okay, maybe. And and, you know, a couple months later, I was like, okay, sure, let's do it. Yeah, yeah, I love it. So yeah. Yeah. So and I have now a health coach that helps me out with, one of my best friends, actually, who I took through the program.

00:05:49:07 - 00:06:18:13
Unknown
She works for me, and, so she she does that with me, too. And then we have a lot of detoxification therapies, so devices in our office that help people in a supportive way through the journey that they're in with us. You know, things that help with, lymphatic movement, you know, getting rid of the waste in your body more efficiently and more effectively, bringing your body to a really calm, parasympathetic state to help it release things, because that's really what has to happen.

00:06:18:13 - 00:06:36:14
Unknown
You know, if our bodies are two tense and stressed, it can't let go of things that are that are there, take orgies takes longer and it's just harder, you know, red light therapy is another option we have, which is really great for mitochondrial support, again, helping in the weight loss. Realm. And then foot baths, we have that as well.

00:06:36:14 - 00:06:56:11
Unknown
So just a nice that's for detoxing for that. Yeah. And a grounding that we have like for things actually. So yeah. Nice. Yeah. So how did you get into all this. How did you start or how did you get into holistic medicine. Yeah. So I my background's a nurse, right? I'm a registered nurse. Still holding on that license.

00:06:56:11 - 00:07:18:10
Unknown
We'll never let that go. That's too much work to just let that go. And honestly, like, it's easier for me to get accounts in, like, places I want to work with, you know, in my own business, having that license, too. So, but and working in, in, traditional health care, like, over 20 years, was very, very, you know, educating and rewarding.

00:07:18:10 - 00:07:34:11
Unknown
And I met so many people and learned so many things. And then I just as I got older, I just started kind of having my own issues going on. And so, I knew if I went to a doctor with what I'm feeling and experiencing right now, I know the drill. I know what they're going to want me to do.

00:07:34:11 - 00:07:53:03
Unknown
I know where they're gonna tell me to go or what test. And, you know, so I, I just was like, starting to question and asking around because I had been going to a chiropractor for quite a few years at that point. You know, and knew, you know, a little about the natural health world and how there's other things that can help the body, through, through her.

00:07:53:03 - 00:08:22:04
Unknown
And so, you know, I just started asking more questions. And a gal I worked with, actually a coworker, mine, her and I started talking and, about this, you know, like, just there's gotta be other ways to help our patients, you know? But we're, you know, when you're working for another entity, you know, as a nurse, you know, you're just a staff member, and you, you, you know, you have to follow the ethics and rules of, you know, what you're able to tell a person in that role, right?

00:08:22:06 - 00:08:57:14
Unknown
But, you know, it's just got frustrating. And to see, like, so many sick kids, you know, we were in pediatrics who worked in pediatric, home care. And so, you know, to see so many sick kids, and the frustration of the parents and, you know, the financial burden and the emotional stress, like, there has to be something better, you know, and and also like, why, why is there so much illness and disease, you know, so, yeah, through just asking the questions and talking to people, you know, I actually my coworker found this, person that was new to town doing a natural health business, you know, and so she started kind

00:08:57:14 - 00:09:14:14
Unknown
of following her and then made an appointment, went and it's like, yeah, it was it was different. But you should do it like you should go, you know. So, you know, I did. You know, I started following her and then, you know, made the appointment, went in and had had some things checked out and I was really not sure what happened after that appointment.

00:09:14:14 - 00:09:29:20
Unknown
I remember going to my car and just sitting there for a minute going, I don't know what that was, but, but okay. I mean, like, I was open, you know, to, like, going down that path. I was like, hey, this is what you've been looking for. You just what you've been like, curious about. So why not, you know?

00:09:30:00 - 00:09:50:21
Unknown
Yeah. So. And I didn't tell my husband how much it costs. I don't think to this day he knows what I spent on that, but, you know, it's fine. Well, that was a long time ago, so, So, Yeah. So I went down that path, and I, I started seeing, like, some changes in my own health and, and self and, feeling good, you know, feeling a lot better.

00:09:50:21 - 00:10:04:06
Unknown
And, then I was all excited about, like, how do I get a job here, you know, how do I what can I do? You know, like, I, I know I'm not going to get paid what I can pay now, but, like, I don't even care at that point. Like, I was just like, I need I need to find something different.

00:10:04:06 - 00:10:22:19
Unknown
I just started, like, really, you know, reaching out to my higher power and, and asking, you know, where do I go, where, you know, guide me, lead me like, tell me what to do because I, I just felt this strong at that point. Just a really strong desire to want to do something different to help people. Like, I knew I wanted to help people.

00:10:22:19 - 00:10:48:00
Unknown
I knew I still want to be a nurse. I just need to figure out, like, how do I do that in a different space, right. You know that I that that I felt like I was more aligned with at that point in my life, you know? So, yeah, I, you know, she the gal I was seeing, you know, it was like, well, I don't really have a job here, you know, but if you want to be trained, you know, and doing what I do, like, I can tell you where to go, you know, and I was like, oh, well, okay.

00:10:48:00 - 00:11:13:11
Unknown
I didn't know that was a thing I could do. I never even thought of that, you know? So, yeah. So, you know, I went and did the training and, and, you know, plan was to work in that office, again, I think, you know, I'm a big believer of people come into your life for a reason. Yeah, they some stay, some go, you know, and so, you know, a few months later, I realized I needed to take a different path, you know, for myself.

00:11:13:11 - 00:11:30:16
Unknown
And then again, reaching out to people and just talking about the situation and how I was feeling, you know, and I just got validation from others that. Yeah, yeah, you know, you can do this. Just go do your own thing. Yeah. Go do your own thing. Go to start a business. And I was like, what? That sounds terrifying.

00:11:30:16 - 00:11:53:00
Unknown
But I mean, like, okay, like, yeah, I'm kind of one of those, just jump in, you know, like the it's terrifying. But, you know, I, I didn't I never had a business degree, you know, I never took business courses. I kind of started that way right out of high school. But that quickly got boring for me. And so, yeah, I just, I knew nothing about having a business.

00:11:53:00 - 00:12:07:09
Unknown
I just knew I wanted to help people, and this is I wanted to do this, you know, and and all the people that were supporting me and telling me I could do it were, you know, really the reason why I did it. You know, I probably wouldn't have ever come up with this on my own. And I don't know where I would have ended up, you know, at that point.

00:12:07:09 - 00:12:30:04
Unknown
But, thank goodness I had people in my corner and, that chiropractor I told you about that doctor, right? That we did the weight loss program with. Yeah, he had told me in the course of my, you know, going to training for for what I was doing with, with, nutrition response testing, that if I ever needed space to do this, like, hey, let me know, you know, so, you know, in the back of my head I'm like, oh, I'm fine.

00:12:30:04 - 00:12:48:13
Unknown
Like, I won't, I won't need that, you know? But thanks. You know? And then it turns out, you know, I did need him, you know. So again, I just feel like I give so much to God because I just feel like that's really how everything happened in this space for me. Yeah. And still to this day, like, I rely on that, man.

00:12:48:13 - 00:13:06:11
Unknown
Like, more than anything. Because, like, you know, it's not easy being a business owner. It really isn't. You know, I mean, there's definitely ups and downs, you know, along the way. So, I, Yeah. So anyway, Doctor Corey, he's the guy that kind of gave me the space to land. It was 30 minutes from my house.

00:13:06:11 - 00:13:29:00
Unknown
Not ideal, but, I mean, at least it was a space, right? And then, you know, the time, you know, who knew at the time? Covid. Yeah. Yeah, that wonderful year. So I was a little, you know, which was a little, actually a lot challenging to start a business in the midst of all that, you know, I mean, he never had to shut down his office, you know, a health care provider, like, he he was, you know, centers that could.

00:13:29:00 - 00:13:46:12
Unknown
Yeah, he could stay open. So, but, you know, people weren't really going anywhere either, you know. So despite the fact that he was open, it was a struggle to get people in the door. You know, but we we did. We could, you know, try to just keep marketing and, and doing as much as we could. And, well, me, it was really just me.

00:13:46:12 - 00:14:09:17
Unknown
You know, I was I was my own person and doing all the thing, wearing all the hats. So, as the summer went on. So that was January 2020. As the summer went on, I, started realizing that I probably needed to get out and get closer to home. And I kept driving by a space that was available and Altoona, three minutes from my house.

00:14:09:19 - 00:14:30:02
Unknown
And, yeah. So I, I took that next leap and ended up, in my hometown, close to work, close to home. So that worked out. And that really shifted my business, really shifted my business. So, yeah, dove in locally, like, are most of your clients local or do they travel to see you? Yeah, most most are local.

00:14:30:02 - 00:14:47:06
Unknown
I would say within 20 30 minutes. Yeah. We have had some people come from out of town a little further away. And actually I have a virtual outreach too now, which I'm really trying to expand on. So, yeah, I have some I've worked with some people out of state to the find me. Yeah. Nice. Yeah. Very cool.

00:14:47:06 - 00:15:13:17
Unknown
Yeah. So what were some of the things starting out that, challenges, difficulties starting what were some of those things that, you know, were hurdles in the beginning? Oh, yeah. Just knowing how to bring people in, you know, because like I said, I didn't have a marketing degree. I didn't have, you know, that business background.

00:15:13:17 - 00:15:37:09
Unknown
I kind of was going off the wings of Doctor Corey, you know, a bit and their staff and, you know, his wife's amazing. She's she's super smart and helped him with all his, you know, marketing and things too. So I, I really just was kind of modeling, you know, and trying to to, you know, go from, from them and obviously, you know, you look at other people's other businesses that are similar to yours and what they're doing.

00:15:37:09 - 00:15:54:07
Unknown
And, you know, obviously social media is a huge a huge thing. As much as I hate it, it's like a love hate thing. I, you know, yeah. Everyone says you got to be on social media. I have a business. But then I think, like, okay, but business was business before social media was the thing. So why, why, why do we rely on that so much?

00:15:54:07 - 00:16:18:01
Unknown
You know? So anyway, just trying to figure out, like, you know, what's the best way to, you know, bring people in or attract people, you know, without on a low budget, you know, obviously, because when you first start, like, there isn't a lot of, you know, revenue. So, yeah, that's a big challenge. And then just knowing all the ins and outs of business, like the taxes, you know, I had no idea, like how many taxes?

00:16:18:03 - 00:16:37:18
Unknown
It's crazy. So yeah, that was like really an eye opener for me. And and you know, when I would talk to certain people, like, I got a lawyer, doctor Corey referred me to this, you know, attorney to start, like, an LLC, right. And so, like, got that, like, it felt really special, you know, and, and then, you know, some he would ask me like, well, do you have this?

00:16:37:18 - 00:16:53:01
Unknown
Well, do you have that? You know, I mean, in a reference to like, all the like, taxes stuff. And I was like, no, maybe I don't know. I don't know what that is. Tell me what that is. I'll tell you, I might be able to tell you that. So, yeah. I mean, just all those things that you just don't really like.

00:16:53:01 - 00:17:15:01
Unknown
I just didn't take the time to, like, learn because I wasn't I wasn't thinking of a time crunch. Like, I went from thinking I was going to work in someone else's office in like October, November of 19, 2018 to, oh, gosh, I'm starting my own business in January of 2020, you know? So I just didn't I just didn't have a lot of time to, like, sit back and go, okay, wait, let me put all my ducks in a row.

00:17:15:06 - 00:17:34:21
Unknown
You know, I just kind of went in the water. Yeah. And and hope for the best, you know, just hope to pray for the best. And, you know, it's worked out. I mean, I can't say it's perfect, you know, five years later, but, I've definitely learned a lot. Definitely learned a lot. And I, I had so much love and support from people, you know?

00:17:34:21 - 00:17:42:05
Unknown
And sometimes I feel like, am I going to ask a stupid question if I ask this? I'm a business owner. I should know this, right?

00:17:42:07 - 00:18:00:05
Unknown
But, you know, I, I don't think anyone's ever really made me feel that way. At least to my face. Right. So. So, yeah, I think that's, just kind of knowing what to do is really, you know, and then marketing, you know, getting, getting people to come and want to see you and, and, and, and how to make yourself different.

00:18:00:05 - 00:18:22:01
Unknown
You know, I think at the time five years ago, I was the only, like, holistic person, holistic practitioner, you know, in Altoona. And then I quickly like, here come, you know, 2 or 3 more, you know, and that's great. I mean, I think it's great because because we, we, at first I was a little bit like, oh, here comes a competition, you know?

00:18:22:02 - 00:18:40:08
Unknown
Right. Yeah. But, but no, I and when I stop and think about like, okay, how many chiropractors are within like a 1 or 2 mile radius, you know, like so many. And obviously they all survive and they all do well. And, you know, everyone there's something for everyone, right? So I just feel like when you resonate with the right person, you know, you're going to you're going to gravitate to that person.

00:18:40:08 - 00:18:59:22
Unknown
You know. And I always tell people to like, If I'm not the person for you, like, I can definitely give you some, you know, places, other places to go. But yeah, I think that's just, a learning curve is, is like knowing, like who your people are, you know, who who you want to attract, who your your, clients, your ideal clients are.

00:19:00:00 - 00:19:10:18
Unknown
Yeah, yeah, yeah. That will, I think that'll shine through. Yeah. So,

00:19:10:20 - 00:19:34:01
Unknown
What mindset shift helped you when you were leaving your your nursing degree? You know, what? Was there ever anything that, it's it's like, okay, I can take this leap. Was it, you know, just prayer or, something else that or, you know, a book you read something that it's like, okay, let's do this. What gave you that confidence to do it?

00:19:34:03 - 00:19:54:04
Unknown
I feel like maybe a couple of things. First of all, just the experience of seeing what I was seeing in the medical field, you know, and just that urge and yearning, I guess, to want to know better and want to do better for people. And and not to say that, like, traditional medicine is bad.

00:19:54:05 - 00:20:12:10
Unknown
I mean, like, it's got its place, right? I mean, if you get in a car accident, you have some emergency, like, obviously, like, you know, we need we need those people, like, they're obviously there for a reason. But I just for, for, like, managing health and chronic disease and illnesses. I just feel like, and just random symptoms that people come up with.

00:20:12:10 - 00:20:30:05
Unknown
The doctor can't seem to tell them why. You know, I just felt like, That was a space I wanted to know more about and help people in. And my dad, I, I watched him go through in 2017, he was diagnosed with, like a blood cancer that turns to leukemia. And in 2018, he passed away. It was very short.

00:20:30:05 - 00:20:49:17
Unknown
I mean, like eight months. And, I mean, he had been sick most of his life with other things, you know, diabetes and heart disease. And he was a Vietnam veteran. So, I mean, there's that, you know, the exposure to the chemicals. And so I knew, like, there was definitely some other things I wanted to learn more about so that I could help people like him.

00:20:49:17 - 00:21:13:19
Unknown
I always think to myself, like, if I only knew this information like 20 years ago, you know, ten years ago, whatever. You know, you know, maybe he'd still be here, but, yeah. And then, like, even some of my patients I was working with, like I said, in pediatrics, I, I actually I got to the point where I was like, I'm referring my patients to people who I know doctors wouldn't refer them to.

00:21:13:21 - 00:21:37:10
Unknown
Like, I'm kind of breaking the rules a little bit here. Right? So I feel like I should probably step away before, you know someone comes means like, hey, you can't do that. That's, you know, not part of your job. Yeah. But, I mean, those people, those kids were getting better outside of what the doctors were recommending for them, you know, medical doctors.

00:21:37:13 - 00:22:03:07
Unknown
So I just, you know, I think that really, for me, just made me want to just walk away. What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to somebody with a child or themselves or someone else they know? That is experiencing some of that. They're not seeing results with a doctor. How would you advise them? I mean, do your research, right?

00:22:03:07 - 00:22:21:20
Unknown
I mean, find, you know, someone who, and another thing to it comes down to insurance for some people, you know, that's a big deal. Of course. You know, some people can't afford to pay cash or credit cards, you know, to to a service that doesn't cover their insurance. So that's kind of a hurdle, you know, for some people.

00:22:21:22 - 00:22:49:22
Unknown
Unfortunately, insurance doesn't really like our kind of money that that is. Right. Weird. But yeah. So, you know, it kind of comes down to that sometimes too, for people. They, they want to take a different route, but they just can't because they can't afford it, you know, but, still do your research because even even without seeing, a person like me, holistic practitioner, functional nutrition practitioner, you can still find a lot of information out there just following people like me.

00:22:49:22 - 00:23:12:16
Unknown
You know, like the social media. This is where the social media piece kind of comes in handy, right? And learning. There's so many people that even I follow, you know, in this space that I look up to. And there are mentors, you know, that I, that I really, value and and respect and they, they teach me things all the time, you know, just watch a post or watch a webinar or something like that.

00:23:12:16 - 00:23:31:19
Unknown
And, and I can learn so much, just by watching those people. So if you can't afford it, you know, to find someone that isn't covered by your insurance, I would say like go out on the social media pages and just type, you know, holistic, whatever. You know, you probably gonna get a whole bunch of things. I haven't typed it, but I'm sure, like my symptom holistic remedy.

00:23:31:19 - 00:23:51:07
Unknown
Right? Yeah. Right. GPT I don't know, it's kind of a new thing. Yeah. So I think, like, just just seek out the people in the, in the information, you know, that you're really looking for outside of what your doctor is, advising. Yeah.

00:23:51:10 - 00:24:19:20
Unknown
So what's the the next five years look like for the holistic health center? Oh, the next five years, I am working on a couple things I really want to. Like I said earlier, expand my virtual presence. So, just. Yeah, reaching out to the masses, you know, like, there's a lot of people around here, of course, but, I really want to have a bigger reach, you know, working online and virtually with people.

00:24:19:22 - 00:24:40:23
Unknown
So there's that, also, group programs, those last two years, I've went to this conference I was telling you about, group programs have really, like, reached out at me, like, I just, like, gravitated like, I went to a couple of luncheon learns, or I went to a lunch, learn and then listened to, a gal talk about group programs and then this book I'm reading that I was telling you about.

00:24:41:00 - 00:24:57:03
Unknown
He also at the end, I'm can't wait to get to the end, because that's where he's going to talk about group programs, too. But yeah, I think that's a way to like, leverage my time better, right? Like working with a group of people on a specific problem. So like, let's say it's a gut reset, a gut problem.

00:24:57:03 - 00:25:18:03
Unknown
You know, we're we're working people that have gut issues. And, so that would be like a program we would advertise. There's a lot leading up to that, you know, to, to get people to want to do that. I've learned. So that's like the pieces I'm trying to, like, put together and organize, you know, over the next few months and, and upcoming years.

00:25:18:03 - 00:25:37:23
Unknown
But, yeah, that's definitely something I want to do. We did do a little bit of a trial on that with our weight loss maybe a couple of years ago. I want to say where we, I mean, I don't advertise it very well, of course. Like, it's just not my realm. So I just kind of, like, did a little, a little thing where we had, I don't know, maybe there was 5 or 6 people that came on our, our call.

00:25:37:23 - 00:26:01:00
Unknown
You know, we did like a, zoom. Yeah. Deal and talked about the program and the benefits and all the things, you know. And out of that, I think we had two people join, which I thought was pretty good of, you know. Yeah. And I don't know why we didn't do it again, but I, you know, I don't know, I think we just, you know, you get caught up in your day to day things and you just kind of, I don't know, forget about something 30% close, right?

00:26:01:00 - 00:26:32:05
Unknown
You got to, you know, just get more leads. I know, I know, right. So these are the things, like, I'm trying to, I guess, hone in on it and get more, you know, comfortable with, you know, doing and organizing and you know. Yeah. And I think sometimes like my systems, I feel like, you know, that is another thing I just need to kind of make easier, you know, looking to like, be more, oh, you know, where, where everything I use is a little more adaptable to each other, you know, integrated, I guess.

00:26:32:07 - 00:26:51:09
Unknown
That's hard. Yeah. And you know, the budget is always a thing. You know, you gotta make sure it's not going to bust the budget, you know, trying to make things work for you the way you want to efficiently. Right. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Long term. What kind of legacy do you want to leave with your business? Yeah.

00:26:51:10 - 00:27:07:15
Unknown
I really want people to know that I am a person that really cares. You know, I, I truly have a passion for wanting to help others. I mean, I think that's why I know. That's why I became a nurse. And I think that goes way back to my, my childhood. I, funny thing is that I always wanted to be a beautician.

00:27:07:18 - 00:27:29:18
Unknown
I grew up, like, wanting to, like, make people look pretty and feel good. Right. And, for some reason, my dad discouraged me in that, like, thinking I wasn't going to make any money. I don't know, I mean, maybe back in the 70s or 80s, it wasn't a big deal, big thing. But I feel like now, you know, there's a baseball in every corner, so I like I might have been pretty good at this, you know, and and I'm kind of a little bit there.

00:27:29:18 - 00:27:48:22
Unknown
Oops. Sorry. I'm kind of a little bit there with my, my office because we do call it a natural health spa, you know, because we have so many tools that we use in, in a spa like setting, you know, like our fluorescent machines, very tranquil, very relaxing. So it was the red light, you know? So I feel like we're kind of in the flow bath, you know, it's I feel like we're kind of like on that path a little bit.

00:27:48:23 - 00:28:21:18
Unknown
So I've always, like I said, cared about people and I just really want my legacy to be, you know, I want to be known as someone who wanted better outcomes for not only herself and her family and friends, but her community. You know, I really care about where I was born and raised and where I still live now to this day, and where my business is, you know, most people I want to know about, most people that I feel like a lot of people don't really hang around in the community and, and, you know, stay where they were born and raised.

00:28:21:18 - 00:28:54:05
Unknown
But, I don't know, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there's more people than I think. But then I have a business there. You know, I think that's a pretty, unusual, accomplishment. Maybe, you know. Yeah. So, yeah, I, I just, want people to know that I, I, I truly care about, health and wellness and living your best life because life is so short, you know, and I feel like we can do better at making it the best life we can have.

00:28:54:07 - 00:29:16:02
Unknown
Yeah. In the time we have. Yeah, yeah. That's awesome. For someone who's feeling stuck in a job that no longer fits with your experience. Getting into a whole another. I mean, it's an adjacent industry, but, what would you say to them? They're stuck in a job that no longer fits. Like I was kind of. I mean, not stuck.

00:29:16:02 - 00:29:39:16
Unknown
I shouldn't, they're stuck. This is a really hard decision, actually, because, I had a very comfortable salary, you know, I didn't have to, like, around the place. You know, I just to do my day to day, you know, patient load. So that was a little, little hard. But, I think when you have enough passion and,

00:29:39:18 - 00:30:00:20
Unknown
Yeah, I just really think, like, the passion for what you do really drives you. Yeah. You know, and so you kind of just don't. You don't worry too much about the things like the finances or the salary, you know, you're like, I'll build it. I'll make money. You know, by the grace of God, you know, things are going to go the way I want it to, you know, and I know for some people it doesn't turn out that way.

00:30:00:20 - 00:30:20:20
Unknown
But, I again, I think, like if your heart and soul is poured into it and I noticed that even even now, like, sometimes I'll just get kind of, you know, oh, here, you know, day to day, I'm doing my patients, I'm doing my thing, you know, and then on my days off, my days off, I'm, I'm doing my other things.

00:30:20:20 - 00:30:42:11
Unknown
You know, it's usually a business, something with the business. But then, like, I got my personal things I wanted to do, right? And sometimes I. I'm not thinking about my future goals as much as I should be, you know, to get where I really want to be. I feel like that always has to be in your head. That always has to be in the back of your mind to to get you where you want to go and to make you successful.

00:30:42:11 - 00:30:59:09
Unknown
You know, if you really want to stand out from others, you know, you really have to always be thinking like, what's my next move? What's my next, you know, thing? But yeah, I think I think your passion truly drives you that, you know, so just always remembering your why. And we tell our people that we tell our patients that, you know, you have to remember why you're doing this.

00:30:59:09 - 00:31:23:20
Unknown
Why did you come to us? Why did you seek out this type of health care option? You know, because it's going to be hard, you know, no matter the journey. You know, being a business owner, trying to change your health and life style, it's hard, you know, and you have to make decisions that you, maybe wouldn't normally make, you know, in changing those day to day habits and, and things that you do.

00:31:23:22 - 00:31:45:00
Unknown
But you have to remember why you're doing it, you know, and the outcome that you're trying to achieve, whether that's success or health or you know, happiness. You know, you just have to remember why you are doing it. So I think getting out of a job that doesn't suit you, and I actually this is a conversation I have was on my patients and, I love it.

00:31:45:00 - 00:32:00:22
Unknown
I've had a few lately, actually, that have come back to me. You know, they come to me and they're telling me how stressed they are about their job. They're they're executives at companies. They're they're directors of programs at universities, you know, things like that. And it's stressful. I mean, that's a that's a big job. You know, it's a lot on your plate.

00:32:01:00 - 00:32:30:04
Unknown
And, and they're burnout. You know, they're they're they're just burnout and stressed and they don't sleep. And, you know, everything's kind of going wrong, in their health. And so, I had that heart to heart with people like, you know, sometimes you just have to make a choice. That's maybe not financially fitting. Yeah, but for your health, for your happiness, for your mental emotional sake, you just have to move on, you know?

00:32:30:04 - 00:32:45:05
Unknown
You got to find something that brings you joy. Yeah. If you don't wake up in the morning, get excited about what you're doing and where you're going, you probably should find something else to do, you know? And for some people, I know that's hard, you know, because obviously, you know, you're we're we're kind of raised in a culture of, hey, everybody go to college.

00:32:45:05 - 00:33:15:10
Unknown
That's the thing to do. You know, go get $50,000 in debt and then go work for, you know, 40, right? And, you know, that's that's rough. I mean, I mean, even I as a nurse, you know, I, I had to do that, you know, starting out, but, yeah, I, I just think when you have a passion for something and I've told my kids this too, like, if you have a talent, if you have a passion, I go find that, go chase that, you know, don't don't waste it, you know?

00:33:15:12 - 00:33:34:22
Unknown
Yeah, I think I think, it's scary to do things that are out of your comfort zone. Of course, you know, to move from something that's really comfortable and content, you know, contentment to something that is a little more risky. And, you don't really know. You're a little uncertain. But, Yeah, I just feel like you don't know if you don't try.

00:33:35:00 - 00:33:57:15
Unknown
Yeah. You know. Yeah, it won't feel like work if you. If that's what you love. Right, right. I've noticed that, you know, myself working in construction and then, and then into my new venture. Now it's, I'll work 12 hour days and on the weekends, and it doesn't even feel like work. I'm having fun doing it. Yeah.

00:33:57:16 - 00:34:07:21
Unknown
Like so. Yeah. That's awesome. I think that's when you know. Right. Right.

00:34:07:23 - 00:34:25:00
Unknown
What's one thing you wish you knew earlier in your journey of as a business owner or in your health, as a business owner or in my health?

00:34:25:02 - 00:34:46:01
Unknown
As a business owner, I would say, I wish I knew more about owning a business. I don't know how that's kind of broad. I guess I just wish I do wish sometimes I would have maybe taken a little bit of time instead of just jumping in the water, you know, even if it's just like, I don't know, a month, I don't know.

00:34:46:02 - 00:35:03:17
Unknown
I don't know what how much time I would have needed, but I feel like I think you got to learn by doing it. So I know you really do. And that's basically what I did. But, you know, when I, when I kind of look at, like other people again, and, you know, this is probably the downfall of, of doing that.

00:35:03:19 - 00:35:25:12
Unknown
You know, you, you kind of compare yourself to others, you know, a lot. But I just feel like I look at other people and I'm like, how did they do that? Like, they must have had some great resource that I just don't know about, you know, like, how did they find that resource? I need to find that resource and, you know, do that.

00:35:25:12 - 00:35:47:17
Unknown
Maybe I should have done that in the beginning. Maybe I should have taken the time to do that. You know, I don't know, I think, I mean, there's pros and cons both ways, I guess, you know, you can know more, but I think just doing is is really, like you said, just part of just the experience, I guess, and growth, the growth, you know, you're going to make mistakes.

00:35:47:17 - 00:36:11:05
Unknown
And certainly I have, you know, and I, I'm sure I still do in some regard, you know, but you learn from those mistakes and again, you reach out to the people that, that you can trust and, that are going to give you honest feedback, you know, what what was the question, again, about my health or, what's one thing you wish you knew earlier in your journey?

00:36:11:07 - 00:36:16:21
Unknown
Earlier in my journey.

00:36:16:23 - 00:36:39:00
Unknown
I wish I knew earlier in my journey how impactful food is on my gut, because that's one thing I really struggled with. And still, you know, even being who I am and doing what I do, I still to be really mindful, I mean of, you know, what goes in my body because there's certain things that just don't agree with me, you know?

00:36:39:02 - 00:37:01:12
Unknown
So as much, as much healing as I have done, you know, there's always things I feel like if you if you let that get out of control just a little bit, it's going to come back to haunt you, you know, in ways that now I recognize. But 20, 30 years ago, like, I didn't recognize, you know, which was, oh, I feel terrible what happened.

00:37:01:13 - 00:37:22:23
Unknown
Right. Like, why did I. Yeah. Why am I on the toilet all the time or why, why why am I in pain? You know, and not only like the food, but just like all the other things, you know, like how much stress impacts. You know, I actually learned that in nursing school, and I didn't really take it to heart until till I kind of got into this journey.

00:37:23:01 - 00:37:43:10
Unknown
But I remember my instructors, it was almost like everything they were teaching about, like certain, you know, diseases or illnesses we were learning about as we were in nursing school. Right. And they talk about like, okay, what are the doctors do to to correct this or. No, they'll say, like, what was the cause of this, you know, XYZ problem that we're talking about?

00:37:43:10 - 00:38:22:04
Unknown
And literally almost everything they would say stress, stress, stress, stress, you know, and they also I'll never forget this. And I tell people this all the time, we cannot take care of ourselves or sorry, we cannot take care of others until we first take care of ourselves. Right. So yeah, you can know and do all the things, but if you're a hot mess yourself, like you're going to have a hard time helping other people, you know, and I think not only as a, as a, you know, nurse business owner, but as a mom, you know, I think that's a big message for, for moms, you know, working moms especially, you know, and

00:38:22:05 - 00:38:47:02
Unknown
working could be even if you're a stay at home mom. I mean, that's a lot of work. I did that for six months. It was rough for me. It wasn't my thing, but, Yeah. You know, it's hard to to be that role for everyone and then take care of yourself, too, you know? So I really, really stress that to my people now, is self-care like, it's not selfish.

00:38:47:08 - 00:39:03:22
Unknown
You know, people feel guilty. People feel like they're taking away from other people, their family or whatever their kids, you know, to take care of themselves. But that's not a selfish thing, you know, because if they don't, if you don't have good health, they're not going to have a good you, you know. And what what good is that?

00:39:03:22 - 00:39:19:09
Unknown
You know, what good are you to people who who are, needing you. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's awesome. Yeah. Anything, anything at the health center that, you guys are promoting right now

00:39:19:09 - 00:39:24:09
Unknown
Yeah. So we currently have a special going. May is a big, big month for me.

00:39:24:11 - 00:39:42:21
Unknown
So we have nurses Day, which was yesterday. This is actually Nurses Week. My birthday's in May as well. We have another staff, my admin assistant, Suzanne. Her birthday's this month as well. And Mother's day, you know, we're all we're all mothers at the office, so we always are a pretty big special in May. It's a big deal.

00:39:42:21 - 00:40:05:07
Unknown
Yes. Yeah. So this month, we are promoting our, we have two packages with our, two different packages with our, program. So our and our t r muscle testing program is a basic and a plus, and so is our metabolic weight loss, metabolic reset for weight loss. Basic and a plus. So we are offering the plus package for the basic price this month.

00:40:05:10 - 00:40:25:20
Unknown
Yeah. Very nice. Yeah. Yeah yeah it's a big deal. So yeah we and that's yeah, we, we take, discovery calls is how we kind of start the process with people so kind of just, you know, meeting, meeting and talking, you know, for 15, 20 minutes to figure out, you know, what is is what is they're dealing with how long they've been dealing with it.

00:40:25:21 - 00:40:48:05
Unknown
You know, what's worked, what hasn't. Yeah. You know, is there any obstacles getting in their way of, of coming to a place like this and doing a health health program? You know, because one thing we emphasize is, this isn't like a come in, get a couple of supplements and maybe talk about food and and go on your way, you know, like, we're not banned dating the problem like some offices.

00:40:48:05 - 00:41:05:21
Unknown
My, you know, some medical facilities, right? Yeah. We're looking for the root cause of why you feel that way in the first place. Right. And that goes deeper than just a supplement or food, you know? I mean, that's part of the equation, right? We we look at like five different things mainly. And that would be your diet, your rest, your ability to rest.

00:41:05:21 - 00:41:24:09
Unknown
How well do you rest your exercise. How much do you move or what do you do to move. Stress, you know, and how we can reduce that, how we can help you through that and, and the supplements. So there's really like five components that we put together in a personalized program for people. Yeah. Yeah. Very cool,

00:41:24:09 - 00:41:24:18
Unknown
very cool.

00:41:24:18 - 00:41:27:21
Unknown
So discovery call and assessment.

00:41:27:21 - 00:41:42:16
Unknown
What's the next step after that after the discovery call. Yeah. Yeah. So, so in the course of that phone call, you know, we get to the end and and ask them, you know, how committed are you to this? You know, how can they do to your health in this issue you're having. You know, and if it's like a 910 like, okay, great.

00:41:42:16 - 00:41:58:03
Unknown
Fantastic. Well, I think the next step is let's get you scheduled for whatever the program might be that we talked about, you know, or let's get those labs ordered, you know, if they're going to do lab work, we're going to get those ordered right away. You know, we have them, you know, pay for those, of course, before we order.

00:41:58:03 - 00:42:15:17
Unknown
And, and then. Yeah, and then we, we get them scheduled and have them come in, or get the labs run, and then we schedule after that to have them come in. And we just start their journey, you know, get them is awesome. Get them going. Yeah, yeah. That's awesome. Yeah. Well, where can people find you?

00:42:15:18 - 00:42:41:03
Unknown
We are in Altoona, 30 1/68 Street, southwest suite J in Altoona, which is near the intersection of Target and Walmart. I always tell people we're near that intersection. If you get there, you really close? Yeah. We are on Facebook. Instagram. You know, those social media, outlets, and online website, holistic health center, CTR, excuse me and holistic with a W.

00:42:41:03 - 00:42:56:10
Unknown
I was up to clarify that, I know people might think she didn't spell holistic, right. It's just an H. And like, I know it is, but, you know, holistic to me is like it's bringing in the whole body. It's the whole, you know, mind, body, spirit. Like we're not just dealing with one thing, it's the whole thing.

00:42:56:10 - 00:43:17:02
Unknown
So I just do the W on the front too. I like it, yeah I like it. Yeah. Awesome. Well thank you so much for, coming on the show. Any last thoughts? No, just just, you know, live it, live your life with joy, reduce your stress, eat well, and and life will be good. Yeah. Awesome. Thank you so much.

00:43:17:03 - 00:43:18:08
Unknown
Thanks, parks. Thank you.