Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Gates.
Alison, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always been interested in the connection between nutrition and wellness and driven to find what works for my own unique biology. I studied physiology and neuroscience in school, and even though I ended up working as a Creative Director (which I also love), I’ve always been drawn to helping people figure out what uniquely helps them feel their best. I launched my wellness coaching business, Create Wellness Co, and Instagram @the.wellness.edit where I share my personal journey as well as interact with a community of people also looking to reduce sugar, eat clean, and address the emotional connection they have to food.
I have a lot of different things going on in my life: I work as a Creative Director for a major retail company, I have two children, I run multiple businesses, and I often am looking to fuel myself with something healthy that I need relatively quickly. My search to find a healthy snack led me to all the bars out there, and even though there are tons of options, I couldn’t find one that was vegan and also not full of grains, so-called ‘natural’ flavorings, and sugar. That inspired me to create Coastal bars, which are vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, grain-free and refined sugar-free! They are filling, and taste like cookie dough, and made from real food that you can feel good about eating. We plan to expand our line into other food items and we’re always wanting to hear from our customer about what they’re looking for. See more @coastalfoodco and coastalceanfood.com
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My path has definitely not been smooth or linear!
Similar to my approach to nutrition, I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all answer to how to start a business. I think it can be hard for some people to have the confidence to go for it when they’re younger, or in some cases, it’s the opposite: they’re overly confident without learning the skills they need to succeed first. You know yourself best. If you’re driven by security, then its probably best to have a part-time job while you’re starting out a new business idea. If you’re more of a risk-taker, then you might be more motivated to take a giant leap which forces you into succeeding in a new role. I’m a big believer in goal setting: plan out your goals, and actively take steps to achieve them each day, week and month. I’m also super visual, so having goals or images that tie back to them around me is a great motivator and reminder for what I’m working so hard!
We’d love to hear more about Coastal Clean Food Co.
My wellness business focuses on helping people introspectively explore their relationship with food, and make lasting changes in their lives to improve their health. I don’t try to focus on things like weight loss, but rather exploring what the core issues are that are causing unhealthily eating habits. I’m not a doctor, so I also help people find medical doctors and other partners that can help them run the tests they need to learn more about the symptoms they’re having.
My food business is different from the rest because it focuses on the anti-inflammatory style of eating, low-glycemic, minimally processed food that’s free of dairy and chemical additives.
Which women have inspired you in your life?
Candice Lopez- my graphic design instructor at SD City college. She changed my life by believing in me and telling me I was good enough to pursue art, which had always been a passion of mine.
Rhonda Patrick- a fellow San Diegan, and colleague of mine, who is teaching the world about the latest breakthroughs in science. She is incredibly smart and a trailblazer in her field.
Nancy Dynan – former colleague and VP at Nixon, who is a champion for women’s equality in the workplace. She was an incredible example of how to confidently lead in a corporate environment.
Pricing:
- Coastal bars are sold as an 8 pack for $24 online coastalcleanfood.com
Contact Info:
- Website: coastalcleanfood.com
- Email: coastalfoodco@gmail.com
- Instagram: @coastalfoodco
- Other: https://createwellness.co
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