We had the good fortune of connecting with Natasha Henderson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natasha, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting a business has been a goal of mine for quite some time now. I’ve been in the healthcare field for almost 20 years and I knew it was time. I’ve had so many ideas and ways to promote health and wellness to the community where I was raised, grew up and now work in; and I every day I got up for work, I felt more and more drawn to creating a wellness clinic. For me, starting my own business was a way to not only create generational wealth but to truly make an impact in my own community. I knew it wouldn’t be easy at all and to be quite frank -I was terrified! Everything had to be just right… meaning the right time, the right purpose, the right brand, the right model, everything! My mission has been to make a difference, promote healthy lifestyles, and helping people to reach their wellness goals. More often than not, we as people only think about our health when we get sick or when its too late. I wanted to create a brand that focused on keeping people well, meaning talking about healthy foods, exercise, why its important to stay hydrated, coaching those who want to lose weight, and encouraging those who may not be ready yet. I’ve been inspired by some amazing nurse practitioners and I wanted to use my gifts and talents to bring a higher level of care to my community. It has been a rewarding journey so far. I’ve met some amazing people and I’m learning more and more every day. I continue to study and take training courses to make sure I stay up on the latest to share that with my patients. Eventually, my goals is to only work at my business and to expand my services to truly make an impact in my community.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the owner and operator of Essential Life Hydration & Wellness. We are located on the northside of Jacksonville, FL. We are a wellness clinic that offers medical weight loss, IV vitamin infusions, vitamin injections, health coaching, wellness and risk assessments and telehealth. One of our new services, body contouring, will be launching very soon. I’m most proud of the progress we’ve made in just a short time. I was worried at first that no one would come in but the flood gates have been open as soon as I opened. My community has been very, very supportive to me and many have taken charge of their health and are doing great. Because I am a small business, word of mouth means the world to me and many have referred their friends and families to me and they all come on a regular basis. I’m really, really excited about the future to grow our wellness clinic into something the northside of Jacksonville has never seen. What sets me apart from any other wellness clinic or med spa is that I personally see each and every person who walks in the door. I create an individualized plan of care to help each client reach their individual goal. I’m always a call or text away and developing a rapport with my clients is very important to me.

I’ve been blessed to have encountered over 260 clients in less than one year of being open only part time. However, this was not an easy feat at all. I’ve learned valuable lessons during this time that I try to share with others so that they won’t make the same mistakes and lose money like I did.

What I want the world to know about me is that this business was created from my heart. I am Essential Life Hydration and Wellness. When you see me or come to visit at the clinic, know that you’ll receive exceptional care always. My brand is based on health and wellness and how we can both help each client reach their goals.

My story and my journey has not been an easy one. I’ve been up and down, depressed, sad and felt worthless at one point in my life. Getting to this point has truly been heaven sent…. it just lets me know God isn’t done with me yet. I have so much more I want to do in my community.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In Jacksonville, there’s a lot of nice places to see and visit. I would start with watching the sunrise at one of Jacksonville’s beaches. Who doesn’t love peace in the morning?! There are nice eatery’s all over Jacksonville such as 5 Points, Riverside, Town Center and Beaches. Each of these area’s have a lot of variety. In our riverside area there is also the Cummer Museum for those who love art and the Riverwalk. Our downtown has several upscale restaurants if you want to dress up for a night on the town – Ruth’s Chris, Cowford Chophouse, and The Charthouse to name a few. If you fly into Jacksonville, the RiverCity Marketplace is close by for eating and shopping. The St. John’s Town Center has everything you can think of including Top Golf, iFly for indoor skydiving and more. If you love Caribbean food, you must visit Pink Salt Restaurant in San Marco. Don’t forget the Jacksonville Jaguars!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This journey has been amazing and I’ve been blessed to meet so many amazing people. I would like to shoutout a few people who have been instrumental in encouraging me on my journey.

First, my son William. He’s ultimately had the greatest sacrifice with having me as his mom. I’m a single parent and entrepreneur. He’s super supportive and always encourages me to be great (and its always when I really need to hear encouraging words).

My mom and sister, Christina are my two biggest supporters. They have always been there for me, always. I can’t even express my love for them in words. When I say ride or die, they are the epitome of that. My amazing and supportive friend who has been so encouraging and pushing me to step out and live my dream. He has been a key player in helping me get this far. I’m deeply thankful for his supportive, encouragement, and friendship.

Last but not least, I was blessed to meet and learn from an exceptional nurse practitioner – Veronica Smith. Taking her course was probably the best thing I’ve ever done. It opened by eyes to see there’s so much more I can do to truly make the impact that my heart desires. She’s taken time to sit down and talk with my about my “why” and gives precious tips and “jewels” to keep me encouraged. I’m truly thankful to have crossed paths with her.

Website: www.essentiallifehydration.com

Instagram: @essentiallifehydration

Linkedin: Natasha Henderson

Facebook: Essential Life Hydration & Wellness

Yelp: Essential Life Hydration & Wellness

Image Credits
Danni Harris Photography, Eriden Images

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