We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gene Clerkin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Gene, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Looking back, my biggest transformations came from moments of uncertainty. Chiropractic school. It was a huge financial and time investment with no guarantees—but it changed my life.
Later, struggling with my health, I discovered a year-long functional nutrition program. It cost $26,000, and I didn’t have the money. But I knew I had to do it. I literally used credit card checks to pay for it. It was terrifying—but it helped me heal and gave me the tools to help thousands of others.
Years later, I invested in a coaching program to pull together all the tools I had—chiropractic, nutrition, healing—into something I could share with others. Again, huge commitment and big investment. Again, so worth it. That led to more growth and even bigger dreams.
Most recently, my wife and I bought a 200-year-old inn to host wellness retreats and music events. It checks so many boxes for us… and yet, it’s a massive undertaking. We’re in the uncertainty right now. But I know the rewards will be some of the greatest of our lives.
Here’s the truth: growth doesn’t happen when everything is easy. It happens when we step into the unknown. If we avoid discomfort, life eventually forces it on us anyway. Might as well do it on our own terms.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I started my chiropractic practice in 1994 with a donation box on the wall and a focus on healing and human potential—far beyond just treating back pain. The results were powerful and life-changing for many of my clients.

But not long into my career, I began facing serious inflammation-related health challenges that were debilitating and persistent. That struggle led me to functional nutrition and functional medicine. Through that journey, I was able to heal myself—so much so that after being sidelined for 15 years, I returned to the ice playing hockey at age 50.

This personal transformation inspired me to incorporate functional wellness into my practice. Today, while I still offer chiropractic, it’s integrated within a broader wellness program focused on true, lasting health.

Over the years, I discovered that what I love most is mentoring and coaching—guiding people through deep personal transformation. That led me to create my Live Your Best Life coaching framework, built around three pillars:
Vision – Clarifying what you truly want and mapping the path to get there
Vehicle – Optimizing your body, your vehicle for life
Verve – Tapping into your passion and purpose

Most recently, my wife and I purchased the historic Monadnock Inn, where we now host immersive wellness retreats. It’s a dream come true—a space where people can reset, reconnect, and experience hands-on healing in a supportive community.

What I’m most proud of is bringing everything I’ve learned—from chiropractic to functional wellness to personal healing—and weaving it into a meaningful, transformative experience for others. Helping people reclaim their health and rediscover their purpose is what this journey has always been about.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I have learned is that you don’t have to figure it out on your own. For many years, I was guilty of this mindset, both in business—trying to solve all problems by myself—and in my health, adopting the same approach. Sure, we can work things out independently, but the learning curve can sometimes outweigh the benefits of doing so.
When I discovered the right mentors in various areas of my life, including business and health, I realized that having guidance significantly accelerated my progress. Despite being somewhat introverted and preferring to keep to myself, I regularly engage with coaches. I usually work with one or two coaches at a time, whether they are helping me in business, personal growth, or healing arts.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Growing my clientele has been about offering something truly unique—something people can’t easily find elsewhere. In the health and wellness space, where everyone from chiropractors and acupuncturists to health coaches and naturopaths is offering help for chronic issues, it’s easy for clients to feel overwhelmed and under-served.

What sets us apart is our root-cause approach. We don’t guess—we uncover the specific reasons behind chronic symptoms, whether it’s heavy metals, environmental toxins, stealth infections, or deeper imbalances. Very few practitioners, even in holistic circles, go that deep.

We also provide a comprehensive program, not a piecemeal approach. People often come to us saying, “I tried nutrition,” or “Supplements didn’t work.” That’s usually because they only addressed one piece of the puzzle. We guide clients through a complete, integrated plan—covering nutrition, detox, digestive health, stress, lifestyle, and more—while coaching them on how to sustain real change.

In short, we combine specificity, structure, and mentorship in a way that’s rare. That’s what makes our work effective—and what naturally attracts the right clients to us.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.monadnocknaturalhealth.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MonadnockNaturalHealth/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcGrlrAoNRojlh24UsIFjLg

Image Credits

Andrea Wesche is responsible for the main image, the Inn and the family on the porch swing.