As we begin transitioning into the summer season, I’m celebrating with a new blog series called Lessons in Entrepreneurship. In this series, I’ll be highlighting some truly awesome businesses and entrepreneurs and how they have grown and sustained their empires.

Today, we’re hearing from Alison Kucich, a certified functional nutrition practitioner, certified health supportive chef, and founder of Eighty Nutrition.

Read on to learn:

• How Alison helps women get on a health path with long term benefits.
• How she uses social media to grow her business and the mistakes she’s made with social media
• And what mindset tricks you can do to stay the course in business

What is your main product or service and why are you so passionate about it?

Our most popular products are our seasonal Real Food Cleanses and our monthly Workweek Resets, which provide a healthy framework for any woman to make sustainable habit changes and reverse some of the symptoms she may experience while working, running a household, caring for children, etc. 

So often, you meet a woman who appears to have it all, but she is really struggling with her health, energy, appearance, mood, libido and overall quality of life. Our programs help women get on a path that is sustainable, empowering and delivers long-term benefits.

What is one trait of a successful entrepreneur?

Successful entrepreneurs have grit: a combination of determination, courage, follow-through and resilience. 

What is your favorite free or inexpensive resource that has made the biggest impact on your business and why?

Social media platforms allow you to create business pages and profiles for no cost, and those are important ways to establish a presence.

I take advantage of all the free resources I can get: Mailchimp for newsletters, Typeform for client forms and surveys, and Canva to create social media posts. One area where I never skimped was in design and branding: it’s not my wheelhouse. That has worked to my advantage, because I can use these customized, professional-quality products with every free resource I find.

What is your morning routine?

My morning routine is a glass of lemon water, a cup of black coffee, getting my kids fed and ready for school and then a workout. I have a hard time getting into work mode without the workout. With my kids home during the pandemic, my routine has shifted a bit and it now involves home schooling!

How are you currently marketing your business?

I market Eighty through social media platforms, in local magazines and through my newsletter.

What have you tried in marketing in the past that didn’t work?

I learned the expensive way that paying Facebook and Instagram for promotions often does not pan out. They have specific algorithms that preclude small business from reaching the masses unless you know what you’re doing.

What is a piece of advice you’d give someone new or struggling in business?

I’d suggest they write down the reason they started their business and who they intend to serve with their products on a note card and keep it close at hand. It’s so easy to get off course when new or struggling, and it helps to be reminded of why we’re doing what we do.