How Valeria Hernandez built her mindfulness-based health coach business, while avoiding creative burnout |

Learn how health expert and Creator Fellowship Winner Valeria Hernandez has created an online company that has been successful, helping women embrace plants-based diets that honor their traditions.

As Valeria Hernandez encountered challenges with her health, she learned the value of intuitive eating and the benefits of plant-based diets. In a bid to bring this information to traditional recipes, Valeria started crafting authentic Mexican meals using ingredients that are vegan.

Today, Valeria shares those discoveries through VegiVale  which is a plant-based health coaching business that aids clients in eating more tasty veggies and fruits, relish their favorite foods from the culture they love, and live energized lives.

The creator's path was not always easy.

Through the course of her journey, Valeria faced a toxic hustle culture in the online space and felt pressured to follow the crowds regardless of her own instincts that led her in a distinct direction. She also learned how to change her mindset from employee to decision-making entrepreneur, balancing a growing enterprise with the regular 9-5 schedule.

In tackling these obstacles, Valeria managed to create her ideal business, establish an environment that is sustainable for her work and life, and create her own unique path.

Here's how Valeria inspires women to embrace plant-based foods that celebrate their heritage -- and building an organization for coaching that is rooted in authenticity throughout the process.

Getting started in the wellness space

At the time she was living in a place that was a place where no one knew her. Following her graduation from college and settling into a full-time job, Valeria was lonely. She was physically not feeling well either. Valeria was following a vegan diet for a several years and struggled to find satisfying and filling food options.

"I sort of fumbled it with my vegan journey. I resorted to having french fries and salads at the dining halls at my college and that often wasn't allowing me to get the full nutritional needs. It was not surprising I didn't feel great."

Finding a way to deal with both issues simultaneously, Valeria found connections within the vegan community. She hired a health professional that specialized in eating plant-based and learned what things she required to consume to keep her active, meet her nutritional requirements and have a better overall experience throughout the day. .

The lessons her coach given her resulted in making a 180deg shift. Motivated, Valeria become a health coach herself to help more people live their best lives.

Valeria began coaching through an organization that was a part of a network marketing However, she was not happy with how the program focused heavily on weight loss and dieting. It was difficult for her to be confined by the one-to-many coaching approach and was stressed out by being constantly pressured to acquire many more clients.

Valeria dreamed of creating an experience that was personalized and hands-on for her clients that gave her greater freedom. Then, 2020 happened.

With the world in turmoil, Valeria thought she was finally ready to tackle things her own way.

First few clients to be found

But then Valeria realized she could turn upon her network of contacts to build experience and flesh out her business concept.

The first step was to Valeria utilized contacts she'd established through network marketing. The people she contacted already knew her coaching style and were interested in an intimate, personal experience.

Then, Valeria reached out to the circle of people she met in her school, community connections, family connections, and mutual friends.

At first, it was a bit nerve-racking to talk about her business idea to "real-life" family members and friends ones. But, they proved to be some of her biggest fans.

Since then, her business grew. "I started one-on one coaching, and I truly, really loved that," she tells us.

"I've changed my mind a few various ways within my company however my primary desire is helping others to eat more plant-based foods. My goal is not to make anyone go vegan. Most of my clients don't even consider themselves vegetarians however, I am focused on helping clients eat better vegetables and to listen to their body."

The option of niche-seating

After a few customers under her belt, Valeria had a better grasp of the way she wanted her business to look like. Her next step was to identify her audience. The thought of narrowing her clienteleas well as the pool of potential clients was a bit daunting at first.

"It's tempting to want to design something to please everyone to help as many people as you can."

In the present, Valeria believes that serving a specific niche is what is what makes her company stand out. Her decision was to concentrate on servicing women of color as she observed that these customers often confronted the same challenges she faced on her own.

"I realized this could be a really cool subset of the people I work with as a Latina I can understand the struggles they're going through. I'm able to speak about specific things they would be experiencing that many persons would not."

Valeria designed her program to help women from different backgrounds to incorporate their cultural cuisines in their food choices.

"I aid people to reconnect with their food traditions because people are often told that traditional foods are unhealthy but that's not always true," Valeria elaborates. "That mindset comes from the diet culture and white supremacy. eliminating all that is based on helping people with their health is my goal."

"There are seven billion people in the world. If you want to aid everybody and speak to everybody but you're actually speaking to nobody. It's much more effective to concentrate on a small segment of people with whom you've developed a relationship with... since they understand that you're communicating specifically to the people they are talking to."

Utilizing for a more efficient and simplified company

After having a clear idea of her business plan and deciphering the target market, Valeria turned to to establish her online home base. She currently sells wellness coaching sessions and the cookbook online of plant-based Mexican recipes on her website.

As a user, Valeria knew making different logins for several platforms to get access to one creator's content was frustrating. She was not willing to put clients through the exact thing.

" simplifies the process both on the side of the entrepreneur and also on the client's part. "Customers have one login, and can use it to access all the products they bought from me."

Valeria is also clear that you don't need to use the same expensive instruments as the successful entrepreneurs with six or seven figures as you begin your career. Using those pricey programs doesn't guarantee that you'll have identical results. Additionally, having to pay for huge bill payments can create unnecessary pressure.

" really helps streamline things. I'm all for simplicity in particular at this time within my company."

Tips for other creators and entrepreneurs!

When asked what her advice is for budding entrepreneurs, Valeria said that it is to listen to your gut, discover the balance between work and life, make a decision in your decision-making, and put the emphasis on both mental and physical health.

Be aware of your own voice and follow what feels natural

Through her experience building the company VegiVale , Valeria learned that being your own person is what makes your company unique.

"Put your blinders back because it's so tempting to see what everyone other people are doing. If you see one hundred people doing this one thing, you're going to be tempted to follow suit," she remarks. "It's normal to be tempted to judge others. .... The great thing about being a creator is the fact that you are one of a one of a kind. No one can do your work the way you do it."

"The wonderful aspect of being a creative is that you are one of one of a kind. There is no one else who can achieve exactly what you are doing, the manner you approach it."

"Even even though there are millions of health coaches on the market, I'm sure when I say something, it will land differently than when someone else says the same thing. Our words will be heard by various groups of people. When you try to follow the norm, you'll lose that unique voice."

What this, Valeria explains, is your unique sauce when you are a writer.

Valeria is also adamant that entrepreneurs embrace what feels good, even if that means taking a different approach than others within your field. "Everyone's on TikTok at the moment," she points out, "There are so many health coaches there, and I felt as if I was not being seen. When I first joined, it was a bit of a shock, and it was not my style."

For Valeria the format was more genuine and enjoyable.

"I am unable to say everything that I need to say in just 15 or 60 seconds. However, newsletters have stood the tests of time. I want something more timeless if I'm going put my energy into it. If I listened to the people and did TikTok without noticing that it's difficult for me and that I don't enjoy the experience."

It's not that you should brush aside everychallenge within your company, but if something makes you slack consider alternative options.

Create a balanced work-life balance

Yet, many business owners fall into the easy mistake of working too hard.

    Sometimes, toxic hustle culture is at fault.    

In the days of network marketing, Valeria always felt pressured to be productive and find clients. Her schedule was full of work each night after working a regular job, and then miss precious time with loved ones.

However, hustling around the clock didn't yield results, and Valeria's mental health deteriorated because she missed her friends and family.

    In other instances, designers overwork because they're passionate.    

"Creators have a higher risk of being harmed since we enjoy the work we do. We tend to blur the line between work and passion as well as life and the creation of content. When you're really enthusiastic about what you do and your vision will be difficult to turn off."

Valeria's advice: Take charge of your schedule and structure your business in order to provide you with the work-life balance you deserve.

"I observe numerous creators and entrepreneurs who have quit their day jobs and then re-create that same structure in their business," Valeria says. "Why would you do that? Why would you only take two days off a week on Saturday and Sunday? Isn't that defeating the purpose?"

The power is yours, and you have the power to:

Take days off when needed.

Reduce your hours and not feel shameful.

Make a decision to have fewer clients so you are able to have more time.

Make achievable goals for yourself with a reasonable timeframe.

Do not follow the tradition simply because it's familiar.

"Don't forget what's most important," Valeria reminds fellow creators. "You can live a full life that isn't just online."

Trust yourself when making big decisions

Early in her business, Valeria struggled to make critical decision. Today, she is aware the importance of listening to her instincts and committing is critical in advancing her business.

"The manner you operate in a nine-to-five job is quite different than how you operate as an entrepreneur" she says.

"In the traditional work environment, there are deadlines, projects and procedures, however, it's a team that guides you. For entrepreneurship, it's entirely you. The only person who can make decisions is you. making choices, and you must be confident about the decisions you make."

It can create an enormous amount of stress for a new creator. When she's struggling with indecision, Valeria reminds herself that "not making a choice is inherently a choice." This allows her to form her mind , and then execute an action plan.

Make sure you are taking care of your mental and physical health

In the end, Valeria emphasizes how important it is to take care of yourself. Throughout her journey, Valeria noticed that when she was not feeling well physically or mentally the business was affected. When she felt good and her business flourished, it was a success.

To keep wellness at the forefront, Valeria follows the same guidelines she offers her coaching clients. "How do I convince my clients to sleep at least eight hours each night, drink fluids, and consume their greens when I'm not doing that?" she says.

"I often think about if I were my own client What would I advise me to do in this situation What would I tell myself to do?"

What's the next step for the VegiVale?

Valeria has already assisted many women from diverse backgrounds live more healthy lives with her VegiVale-related contents  program, publications, and newsletter , and we know this is just the beginning.

"With the aid from my assistant virtual, we're currently developing an educational program that's scheduled to launch in the coming months. It's still in the infant stage at present, however I wouldn't be able to work on it without the assistance of her," Valeria notes.

Through embracing her distinctive voice, keeping the balance of work and family and making difficult decisions and prioritizing wellness, Valeria built a freeing and exciting online venture. By establishing a solid foundation, the sky's the limit. We're excited for what else she creates in the future!