Heather: Hello Dietitian Bosses! Today, I'm thrilled to be in conversation with Kristen Keenan, a valued member of the Dietitian Boss Academy. Kristen, thank you for joining us today.
Kristen: Thank you for having me, Heather.
Heather: To start off, could you share a bit about yourself? Where can we find you and what niche are you currently focusing on?
Kristen: Of course! I've been a dietitian for five years with a background in public health. While my current job has an oncology emphasis, my true passion lies in pregnancy, postpartum, and fertility-related nutrition. You can find me on Instagram @nourishfertility, where I share valuable fertility information.
Heather: It's fascinating how many professionals discover their true passion as they progress in their careers. What was your process like in choosing fertility as your primary focus?
Kristen: Initially aiming to work in the prenatal realm, I found myself drawn towards fertility due to its impactful nature. Although torn between pregnancy, postpartum, and fertility, I gradually honed in on fertility through research and market analysis. I found fulfillment in supporting individuals not only during their fertility journey but also through pregnancy and postpartum, forming lasting relationships.
Heather: That's a significant transition and a rewarding one at that. Did you encounter any challenges in committing to fertility as your niche?
Kristen: As a perfectionist, I hesitated—I was unsure if I was making the right decision! However, with guidance from the Dietitian Boss program, I embraced the importance of a specific niche. Conducting thorough market research helped solidify my choice and reaffirmed my dedication to fertility nutrition.
I simply made the decision to take the leap and create a separate Instagram account to promote my nutrition services. By promoting it on my personal account, I found that things became smoother. Focusing on a specific niche surrounding business affirmations enhanced my messaging, allowing me to provide valuable education that resonated with my audience. While my follower count may not have skyrocketed, the engagement and quality of interactions increased significantly within my niche.
Heather: That's incredibly insightful. Quality engagement with your audience is crucial in building a meaningful online presence rather than just focusing on numbers. Now, let's shift gears to discuss mindset. What was your mindset like before joining our community, and how has it evolved through your journey in the Dietitian Boss Academy?
Kristen: Prior to joining the Dietitian Boss Academy, I harbored doubts about my ability to become an entrepreneur and manage my own nutrition business. However, with time and support, my confidence grew, especially after navigating through the challenges of the internship. It made me realize that resilience and a growth mindset are key factors in achieving success in any venture.
Your guidance and a supportive community helped me overcome my fears and embrace the idea of showing up consistently, which ultimately leads to progress and success. Integrating business affirmations and positive mindset practices from the academy into my routine significantly boosted my belief in my potential and capability to succeed.
Heather: Your transformation and dedication to cultivating a positive mindset are truly commendable. It's inspiring to witness your growth and unwavering commitment to your goals. And that’s one of the reasons we start off with mindset in the Academy—starting a business takes a lot of courage, and there are always new things to navigate.
We also have to deal with perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and being in the “dietitian box” of not feeling like we should be in sales. Were you exploring business affirmations before, or is this something you started with Dietitian Boss?
Kristen: I was definitely thinking about it, but Dietitian Boss was really good about showing me a step-by-step process. Sometimes managing all the little details can be an obstacle, and you helped me through that.
Heather: Did putting yourself out there scare you?
Kristen: Absolutely. I’m someone who wants to do things right the first time, and it’s scary to not know if you’re doing things correctly. Once again, that’s where all of you were very helpful! It was inspiring to see how you put yourself out there, and it gave me the confidence to think about my journey differently.
Heather: It’s very common with high achievers like dietitians to struggle with imperfection—especially after all the testing in school. That’s why we encourage everyone to get their face out there. What’s your North Star and driving force in your dietitian private practice?
Kristen: I wanted to work part-time so I could be with my family, but also achieve my financial goals. Corporate jobs can’t often deliver that, but private practice has.
Heather: Can you talk about what it was like before and after the Dietitian Boss Academy?
Kristen: Mindset was huge for me. I started small with just some friends and family, and the Academy gave me the confidence to just keep showing up and trust that I can make this business successful.
Once it got started, I also wanted to do some one-on-one counseling. I started advertising, and now I’ve developed that part of the business too. Other things I’ve worked on are things that lay the groundwork for a business. Dietitians aren’t necessarily accountants, after all. Becoming an LLC, getting licensing, and being legally compliant were all big successes for me.
I also started marketing to people in my industry, and that was a big mental hurdle as well. Again, it’s about having a positive mindset and putting yourself out there to be successful.
Heather: How is it going? Are you still nurturing those relationships?
Kristen: I probably reach out once a month, and creating new resources and content is something the Academy also helped with. Wanting to be supportive of other people and generating success through positive business affirmations is at the heart of being a private dietitian, and that’s what you’re always looking to nurture.
Heather: What words of encouragement do you have for dietitians out there who are considering starting a private practice?
Kristen: Long-term, you will definitely see success roll around if you work hard, so don’t get discouraged! With good time management skills and showing up every day to keep working, the answers will come. I had to balance out enthusiasm with avoiding burnout from working all the time, and I eventually began focusing on enjoying what I do. That’s how you create freedom and space in your private practice.
Heather: It’s great to hear that you’ve been able to create those boundaries for yourself. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us! Can you remind our listeners one more time where they can connect with you?
Kristen: I’m on Instagram @nourishfertility. I have a Facebook page, Nourish Fertility, and I'm starting to learn TikTok.
Heather: Thank you so much, Kristen. And we're grateful for everyone listening today. If you're looking for support to start, grow, and scale your dietitian private practice, I want to invite you to work with me and my team.
Go for your dreams. Create the life that you want to live and you can do it. We know you can do it, and we're here at Dietitian Boss to support you in taking that leap with positive business affirmations and a bridge to catch you in case you need some support. So we're really grateful, Kristen, for sharing your story.
Visit us at dietitianboss.com and we look forward to connecting.
