Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Worful.
Gina, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I never expected my story to turn out the way it did. I thought my future was laid out before me with a flawless business plan and a passion for my practice. But every embarrassing or painful life lesson got me to the fulfillment that I have today.
I was living in Michigan when six years ago, I became a registered dietitian and was eager to get out and start changing lives. My sister and I started up a corporate wellness company called, Team NutriFit and got our first gig with a software development company called, Stardock. We poured our hearts and souls into that program that awarded them the Governor’s Silver Level Healthy Workplace Award two years in a row. We were rapidly expanding and developing community and kids programs. We were on fire and dominating our dreams.
But after four years of working together, my relationship with my sister went south as business partners and life hit me like a train wreck. My business and relationship were emotionally crushing me, so I walked away from the passion that created my identity, along with the 10k I had invested in it. I was crushed. I fell into an ugly mix of severe anxiety and depression from the lack of clarity in my future and feelings of failure. I went into a downward spiral and lost more money on impulsive, panic-driven business decisions, stopped taking care of my health, and broke up with my boyfriend.
Eventually, I had to call a truce in my life. I set decision making aside and just traveled for a while. For the first time, I traveled west to Las Vegas, San Diego, up through Arizona, and Utah. The space to travel alone and experience the world changed my life. I loved San Diego so much that I came back a few times and on the third “vacation” I ended up getting an apartment on the day I was flying home to Michigan. Two weeks later, still full of anxiety and fear, I put whatever I could fit in my car with no plan and headed west. I moved into my new apartment with two incredible women, Missy Lopez and Heather Foat, who became a major part of my healing journey. I learned how to let go of the pain and fall in love with life again by exploring nature and building my confidence by learning how to skydive.
Over time (lots of time), I had to let go of the false belief that my business failure made me a failure and realize that it was a necessary part of my journey. Learning how my thoughts influenced my actions and how I took care of myself led me to write and publish the book, Mastering Mindfulness. Today, Mastering Mindfulness has grown into an intensive signature program, an academic textbook used at Universities, and as my keynote speaking session that is featured nation-wide at conferences and at one of the top wellness spas in the world, Cal-a-Vie Spa Havens.
I realized that if you want to be an entrepreneur and go after your dreams, failures are a must to experience. If you don’t have them, you’re not pushing out of your comfort zone. And when they arrive, giving up forever is the only fail. It’s not about what you go through, it’s what you grow though. Every challenge was only a stepping stone to finding the fulfillment that I have reached and still striving for today as author and speaker, Gina B – Registered Dietitian, Master of Human Nutrition 🙂
Has it been a smooth road?
I explained many of the struggles in the last part… don’t tempt me… I could go on 🙂
Here are a few things I learned:
1. Don’t fall in love with your business. Yep, don’t do it. When you become emotionally attached you make bad business decisions based on your heart and not what’s always best for your business. And if things change, it can emotionally crush you. Don’t get too attached to it so it can continue to grow and evolve for the best.
2. Collaborations are key. 1 + 1 does not equal 2. When you collaborate with other people beautiful opportunities can be created. Just be careful when choosing your business partner and make it legally binding…
3. Expect “failures” and see them as valuable learning lessons. The only ones who reach success didn’t quit when failures arise. They are a positive sign of growth.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Gina B story. Tell us more about the business.
As a registered dietitian and professional speaker, I am nationally recognized as Gina B – helping you be inspired and be empowered to be the best version of yourself. Mastering Mindfulness is my true passion that empowers people to understand why they sabotage their health goals and take back control over their future.
It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
My favorites for…
Business and inspiration: Gary Vaynerchuk, Tony Robbins, Earl Nightengale
Public Speaking: Michael Port
Communication: Arel Moodie, Art of Likeability podcast
Nutrition-Based Science: Dr. Datis Kharrazian
Other amazing resources: SCORE in San Diego offers incredible workshops for $20 and business coaching for free.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Gina-B.com
- Email: TheGreatG@Gina-B.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/Gina_B_dietitian
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/GinaBnutrition
Image Credit:
Ed Plozi: Remarkable Retouching
Ian Gutierrez – Fides RexVisuals
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
