How Valeria Hernandez created a mindful fitness coaching business and avoided creativity burnout

Find out how the wellness coach and Creator Fellowship Winner Valeria Hernandez is creating an online company that has been successful, encouraging women to adopt plants-based diets that honor their culture.

As Valeria Hernandez was confronted with challenges to her health, she realized the value of intuitive eating and plants-based nutrition. Eager to apply this knowledge to the traditional cooking methods, Valeria started crafting authentic Mexican meals using ingredients that are vegan.

Today, Valeria shares those discoveries through VegiVale  which is a wellness business that is based on plants that assists clients to eat healthier fruit and vegetables, savor the cultural foods they love and live more energetic lives.

The creator's path wasn't always smooth sailing.

Along the way, Valeria faced a toxic hustle culture in the online market and was pressured to conform to the flow of events, even when her gut was pulling her in a different direction. Then, she learned to transform her thinking of an employee and become a decision-making business owner, balancing a growing business with a typical 9-5 working schedule.

In tackling these obstacles, Valeria was able to sculpt her dream business, create an environment that is sustainable for her work and life, and create her own unique path.

Here's how Valeria has inspired women to embrace plant-based foods which honor their roots as well as establishing a coaching business grounded in authenticity throughout the process.

Getting started with wellness

In the beginning she was living in a town in which she had no friends. When she graduated from college, and moving into full-time employment, Valeria was lonely. Her physical health was not great as well. Valeria has been on the vegan lifestyle for a couple of years, but was unable to find satisfying and satisfying meals.

"I sort of fumbled it with my vegan journey. I was eating french fries and salad at the college dining hall, and it was not allowing me to get all my nutrients. It was not surprising I didn't feel great."

Realizing there was a way to deal with both issues simultaneously, Valeria found connections within the vegan community. The health coach she hired was who was a specialist in veganism and was able to identify the food items she should eat to stay fit, fulfill the nutritional requirements of her body, and have a better overall experience all over .

Utilizing the lessons that her coach instructed her led to making a 180deg shift. Motivated, Valeria become a health coach in order to help people lead their lives to the best possible standard.

Valeria began coaching through a network marketing company however she wasn't a fan of the fact that the focus of the program was on dieting and weight loss. She felt limited by the approach of one-to-many coaching, and was stressed due to the constant pressure to amass more customers.

Valeria wanted to create the perfect, personalized experience to her customers that would give the client more flexibility. Then, 2020 happened.

With the world in chaos Valeria thought it was time to do things the way she wanted to.

First few clients to be found

Then Valeria discovered she could reach out on her connections from the past for experience, and then develop her idea for a business.

In the beginning, Valeria leveraged contacts she'd made through networks marketing. The people she contacted already knew her coaching style and wanted an experience that was intimate and personal.

Next, Valeria reached out to her circle of friends she met in her school, community connections as well as family connections and also to friends from the same circle.

Initially, it was nerve-wracking to talk about the business plan she had in mind to "real-life" friends and loved ones, but these people proved to be one of her greatest fans.

From there, Valeria's business grew. "I began doing one-on-one coaching, and I truly enjoyed it," Valeria tells us.

"I've pivoted a couple of different directions in my work, but my main desire is helping others eat more plants. It's not my intention to force people to change to a vegan diet. A majority of my clients aren't even vegetarians However, my focus is on helping clients eat better plants and listen to their bodies."

The option of niche-seating

Once she had her first clients to her credit, Valeria had a better grasp of the way she wanted her company to look like. The next thing she had to do was identify her audience. But the thought of narrowing her clienteleas well as the pool of potential customers -- seemed daunting initially.

"It's tempting to want to create something that will benefit everyone and help as many people as you can."

Now, Valeria believes that serving the needs of a particular segment is a key element that is what makes her company stand out. She decided to focus on providing services to women of color since she noticed these clients often had the same problems she faced firsthand.

"I realized this could be an awesome subset of people that I serve as a Latina I know what they're experiencing. I'm able to speak about certain issues that they're struggling with that maybe other individuals wouldn't."

Valeria designed her program in order to aid women of color incorporate their ethnic cuisines into their food.

"I help them reconnect to their traditional foods, as people are often told that cultural foods are not healthy but that's not always accurate," Valeria elaborates. "That mentality is rooted in the diet culture and white supremacy. dismantling all of that by aiding people in their health is the goal I'm pursuing."

"There are seven billion people on the planet. When you try to help everyone and talk to all it's really talking to nobody. It's a lot more powerful to concentrate only a select segment of people with whom you've developed a relationship with... since they understand that you're talking directly to the people they are talking to."

Using for a streamlined simple business

After having a clear idea of her business plan and pinpointing her ideal customer, Valeria turned to to establish her online home base. She currently sells fitness coaching sessions as well as a digital cookbook of plants-based Mexican dishes on her site.

As a user, Valeria knew making different accounts for different platforms to access one creator's work was frustrating. Valeria didn't want to force her clients through the same experience.

" simplifies the process for the business owner and on the client's side. "Customers only need one login and can use it to access all the products they bought from me."

Valeria also emphasizes that you don't need to employ the same instruments as the successful entrepreneurs with six or seven figures as you begin your career. The cost of these programs does not guarantee that you'll have the same results, and paying for the hefty monthly bills can add unnecessary pressure.

" really helps streamline things. I'm all about simplicities, especially at this stage of my career."

Help for fellow creators and entrepreneurs!

When asked what her advice is for budding entrepreneurs, Valeria stated how crucial it is to listen to your gut, discover your balance in life and work, take a stand to prioritize your physical and mental health.

Listen to your inner voice and go with what you feel is natural

In her time at the helm of the company VegiVale , Valeria learned that being your own person creates a unique business.

"Put your blinders on because it's easy to take a look at what everybody else is doing. If you see one hundred individuals doing something similar to this it's likely that you'll want to do that too," she remarks. "It's completely normal to make comparisons. .... The great thing about being a creator is the fact that you are one of a kind. Nobody else can accomplish your work the same way that you do."

"The amazing aspect of being a creative is that you are one of one of a unique kind. Nobody else can accomplish what you do, in the way that you execute it."

"Even even though there are millions of health coaches out there, I know what I am saying the message will be different in comparison to someone else saying similar things. Our words will be heard by various individuals. If you attempt to conform to the crowd, you'll will lose your unique voice."

The reason for this, Valeria explains, is your special sauce as a creator.

Valeria advises entrepreneurs to accept what they feel comfortable with, even if that means making your own choices in your space. "Everyone's on TikTok today," she points out, "There are so many health professionals on the platform, and I felt as if I was missing out. Then I joined the platform but it wasn't my vibe."

For Valeria This format seemed more real and fun.

"I can't say everything I need to say in fifteen to 60 seconds. However, newsletters have stood up to the tests of time. I'm looking for something lasting if I'm willing put my energy into it. If I were to follow the masses I'd do TikTok without noticing that it's hard for me and that I'm not enjoying the experience."

It's not that you shouldn't ignore anychallenge within your company, but if something makes you slack consider other options.

Establish a healthy work-life balance

Yet, many business owners are caught in the mistake of working too hard.

    Sometimes, the toxic hustle culture is the culprit.    

In her network marketing days, Valeria always felt pressured to work hard and gain more customers. She would work until dark every evening after her work hours and miss out on quality time with her family and friends.

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

    Sometimes, the creators work too much because they're passionate.    

"Creators are at greater risk since we enjoy the work we do. It is easy to blur the lines between overwork and passion as well as life and the creation of content. When you are really passionate about your work and what you want to achieve is clear, it's hard to turn off."

Valeria's suggestion: Take control of your time and organize your business to give you the work-life balance you deserve.

"I see numerous entrepreneurs and creatives leaving their nine to five only to replicate that structure within their businesses," Valeria says. "Why would you do that? What is the reason you would only have two days off in a week during the week on Saturday and Sunday? Wouldn't it be counterproductive?"

You're in charge, so you have the power to:

Take days off when needed.

Do less work and never feel guilty.

Choose to work with less clients, so that you can are able to have more time.

Make achievable goals for yourself on a realistic timeline.

Choose not to follow tradition just because it's popular.

"Don't lose sight of the things that matter," Valeria reminds fellow creators. "You are a person outside of the internet."

Make sure you are confident in making major choices

At the beginning of her venture, Valeria struggled to make crucial choices. She now realizes that listening to her intuition and taking a decision is crucial to moving forward.

"The way you function at work is quite different than how you function as an entrepreneur" she shares.

"In an ordinary job There are deadlines, tasks and procedures, however, you have someone guiding you. In entrepreneurship, it's all you. It's your turn to make the calls and making the decisions. You must be confident about the decisions you make."

It can create a lot of pressure on a brand-new creator. If she's having trouble deciding, Valeria reminds herself that "not making a decision is inherently a deliberation." This allows her to form her mind , and then execute a plan.

Prioritize your physical and mental well-being

Finally, Valeria emphasizes how important it is to take good care of your health. Throughout her journey, Valeria noticed that when she didn't feel well emotionally or physically, her business suffered. When she felt good and her business flourished, it was a success.

In order to keep health in the spotlight, Valeria follows the same tips she provides her coaching clients. "How can I instruct my clients to stay asleep eight hours a night, drink fluids, and consume their greens when I'm not?" she asks.

"I always think, 'if I were my client What would I advise me to do in this situation""

What's coming up for the VegiVale?

Valeria has already helped many women from diverse backgrounds live more healthy lives with her VegiVale-related contents  program, publications, and newsletter  as well as through her newsletter, and we are sure this is just the beginning.

"With the assistance by my virtual assistant we're currently developing an educational program that's scheduled to launch later this year. The course is in its early stages right now, but I wouldn't be able to complete the course if not for her help," Valeria notes.

Through embracing her distinctive voice, maintaining the balance of work and family taking tough choices, and putting health first, Valeria built a freeing and exciting online business. By establishing a solid foundation and a strong foundation, there's no limit. We can't wait for what else she creates the next time around!