Creating a successful practice with nutritionist, Lisa Stanton-Smith
Clinical nutritionist, Lisa Stanton-Smith, entered the natural health industry with gusto supporting patients particularly athletes and those with gut issues.
Now, Lisa is sharing her wisdom and experience in clinical practice with students and graduates wanting to establish their careers in the field. With the upcoming launch of "Inception", Lisa shares a little about her approach and how the program may be the key to your success.
Lisa also has shared a great resource for those who are starting their own business in the natural health industry or are looking to grow their practice. Read below to find out more!
Q&A with Nutritionist, Lisa Stanton-Smith.
1. Lisa, tell us a little about yourself and the type of practitioner you are.
I'm a clinical nutritionist with a keen interest in sports nutrition and gut health. As a former elite track runner, I love helping clients reach new personal bests and overcome cycles of injuries or illness by optimizing their nutritional strategies. I struggled with this personally over the years, so I understand the challenges and pressures all too intimately.
But equally rewarding, is the opportunity to help someone overcome IBS after years of struggle. They are such different areas of practice but keep my job really interesting! I think we tend to attract people who have at least some similar personality traits or passions as us. So I'm lucky to work with lots of healthcare practitioners as clients too, and many highly motivated, type-A personalities.
2. If you could give two pieces of advice to someone starting in the natural health industry, what would they be?
Trust yourself would be my number 1 tip. Trust that you've done enough research, study, treatment and support for each of your clients. Trust that you know enough and are enough to attract the type of clients you want to help. Trust that there will always be enough people and enough clients for you to thrive in practice, even if it doesn't look like it straight away.
And secondly, be patient. It can take time to build a name for yourself as a practitioner and to build a consistent, steady practice. That time is different for each of us.
Trust that there will always be enough people and enough clients for you to thrive in practice, even if it doesn't look like it straight away.
3. What has been a defining moment for you as a practitioner so far in your career?
Gosh, I feel there's been a few! So many seemingly little things along the way were so pivotal to my growth as well. But I guess COVID has been one the most defining without a doubt. For good and bad reasons.
4. You’ve started building a community of practitioners looking to support each other to reach their goals. Can you explain where this interest has come from?
I created something on a much smaller scale initially: when I left the physical practice I was working in to become a 100% online practitioner. I think connection is really important, and since graduating I've always had in the back of my mind that I would do something like this. Two things forced me to step into this sooner than I envisioned though.
One, working with a UK based business coach and having a network of supportive healthcare practitioners and coaches around the world to share our experiences with. It made me realise how much I wanted an Aussie version of this.
And secondly: the collective struggle that COVID created for clients, and then the roll-on effect this can have on many practitioners. I wanted a space to support those helping others.
5. Tell me about your latest offering, "Inception".
Inception is the program I wish I had access to upon graduating, or in the first year or two of practice. It's the cumulation of my learnings over the last 3 years: working in physical practice both as a subcontractor and as my own boss, to working solely online. It's a combination of strategy and mindset shifts that have allowed me to grow a practice that supports hundreds of clients, as well as supports me. Inception includes an 8 module course, fortnightly group Q&A calls and a supportive space to share our journey, at a price point that is more realistic to those starting out.
Inception is the program I wish I had access to upon graduating, or in the first year or two of practice.
Download Lisa’s Inception guide to start your journey to a thriving nutrition practice. Click here for your copy.
6. Why do you think goal setting is key to your success as a practitioner or business?
Goal setting was instilled in me at a pretty early age, so I'm a big proponent of it. I think it enables us greater focus and resilience in what steps we need to take to achieve our desired outcomes.
It provides clarity in marketing, extra learnings (i,e CPE activity) and our ideal clients. It also helps us get clear on what sort of life we want to live, and what legacy we want to leave behind. This can help build momentum and provide motivation on days when it is tough.
7. Can you share a little more about the power of mindset?
I think my earliest teachings on mindset were in regard to improving my athletic performance. I remember years ago, after a week-long intensive spent on improving my mindset for performance, I knocked 15 seconds off my 1500m p.b. At the level I was running: gains from training and/or conditions of the race could not have predicted that huge jump. I've always appreciated that mindset was important, but that week highlighted just how much a difference it can make.
Nowadays, I know it can make the difference between a wildly profitable month or an 'average month'. I know it makes a difference in the type of clients I attract and in my consistency. I think anyone who achieved any level of success, in any field will vouch for the power of the mind. And whilst we all define success differently, I think if nothing more: mindset allows you to experience greater joy and resilience in your journey.
8. How can someone get on board with the Inception course?
Firstly, come and join us in The Healthcare Tribe private FB group. And send me an email at lisa@lssnutrition.com.au or shoot me a DM via Instagram or FB.
