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

Allison, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you take vacations? How do you keep things going – any advice for entrepreneurs who feel like they can’t step away from their business for a short vacation?

As a Wellness Coach, I work with some incredible high-achieving businesswomen, and one of the key themes that come up for my clients as we focus on prioritizing and improving their physical and mental health is not being able to rest, take breaks, or go on vacations.

It might seem counterintuitive, given the fast-paced world we live in, but genuine rest and rejuvenation is a crucial part of the success of any business owner.

My first ten years as an entrepreneur was a real hustle and grind, which I am grateful for as it helped me to create a life and business that I am truly proud of. However, if I could go back, I would have invested more in taking breaks and real vacations. I was afraid that something awful would happen if I took time off, so I kept pushing myself. And even when I did take a vacation, I was still working or beholden to my emails or constantly thinking about work.  This usually robbed me of being present, fully enjoying myself, and relaxing.  In most cases, I returned home, even more stressed and overwhelmed.

For most people who struggle with slowing down or taking breaks, the fear of missing out on opportunities can be overwhelming. But here’s the game-changer: taking a well-deserved break isn’t negligence; it’s an investment in ourselves and our businesses.

That breather doesn’t translate to missed chances or progress coming to a halt. Instead, it acts as a catalyst for supercharging creativity, effective problem-solving, and strategic thinking. Giving ourselves permission to disconnect during vacations opens the door to fresh perspectives, sparking innovation and nurturing a more balanced decision-making approach.

Over the past six months, I’ve traveled to France, Switzerland, Bali, Singapore, Croatia, and New Orleans. During these getaways, I prioritized the things that truly matter – joy, relaxation,  mental well-being, nurturing my relationship with my partner, and most importantly, strengthening the bond with myself.

The magic is in the results: every time I returned from these breaks, I felt like a brand-new woman. My mind was clear, my focus was razor-sharp, and I had fresh perspectives to share with my team.

And, nothing was lost or ruined because I was on those trips.

However, to take and truly enjoy the vacations, you will need the proper support and systems in place. A big shift for me was when I finally let go of the need to “do it all” and be a “superwoman”. I have a small but mighty team to support me and we use different tools, apps, and software to automate a lot of our systems so that things are streamlined and don’t always need me to be present for the business to run.

At first, it was really hard for me to delegate and start to release total control over my business but it has truly been a game changer and has allowed me to feel confident and comfortable to take breaks and vacations on a more regular basis.

I attribute a lot of my recent success to my ability to create real harmony between business and pleasure. Even if you can’t take two weeks off to spend in Croatia, you can do a staycation in your hometown or take a day off to take a day trip somewhere. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the experience of detaching so that you can immerse yourself in rest, pleasure, and joy.

Ultimately, embracing the significance of vacations and genuine detachment empowers us to understand that our well-being is the cornerstone of lasting success. Integrating periods of rest into our entrepreneurial journeys isn’t just a luxury – it’s a smart move toward thriving.

Allison, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

For the past 13 years, I have had the privilege to serve as a coach focusing on fitness, nutrition, self-care, and stress management, and that came out of my own journey of healing. I spent most of my young adult years battling depression and anxiety, which led to really unhealthy habits. I decided at 25 to quit my corporate job and took a year off to live in Switzerland to “find myself”.

It was during that year that I made my health and happiness my priority – I started to take walks daily, eat whole foods, improve my quality of sleep, read a lot of personal development books, and work out consistently. I  lost weight, my skin cleared up, and my depression and anxiety improved. However, when I returned to the States, I immediately started to gain weight, my skin broke out, and I noticed my mood was slipping down a slippery slope again.

That’s when I knew the value and importance of prioritizing your health and well-being. I started my journey by getting numerous certifications in personal training, nutrition, and life coaching, along with various modalities. It became a passion that soon turned into me realizing that this was my purpose.

I’ve had the privilege to coach and train professional athletes, executives, phenomenal mothers, and young adults, and speak at companies like Cisco, Genentech, Twitch, Cartier, and more.

My approach to helping my clients involves a holistic approach using my signature framework, The Nourished Life Blueprint, which is a step-by-step process that focuses on the improving the blocks that keep them stuck in unhealthy beliefs, habits, and patterns that negatively impact their physical and mental health.

When I started my journey to becoming a healthier, it required more than just counting macros or enduring grueling workouts. It meant looking deeper to upgrade my thoughts, break bad habits, and create new principles and patterns.  The process helped me to become the healthiest, happiest, and most fulfilled version of myself.

This is what the “Nourished Life” is all about.  My company, The Nourished Life, is not just a brand –  it truly is my North Star. It is how I aim to live my life and how I help to support my clients, as well.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

My love for Social Media runs deep! It’s  absolutely fascinating how it has revolutionized how we communicate, engage, connect, and learn. My business was born from Social Media, specifically Twitter. I started by sharing my daily meals, post-workout selfies, and links to health and wellness articles. As people took notice, inquiries about training and coaching began pouring in.

The true power of Social Media lies in the opportunity to have genuine connections with potential customers, tap into the power of storytelling, and position yourself exactly where your potential customers or clients interact daily.
Building a thriving community hinges on consistent presence and providing value.

However, this requires a clear understanding of a few fundamental aspects. First, grasp your brand values and voice. Consistency and authenticity are critical, as they draw people in. Second, define your target audience, customers, or community. This clarity paves the way for the final piece. Third, craft a message that deeply resonates with your ideal recipients. Once these are all in place, you have a solid foundation for building a strong and engaging social media audience.

In my experience, I nurtured my audience by consistently delivering value and sharing my points of view and expertise. It’s not just about pretty photos or the latest trends, it’s also about authentic engagement takes precedence.

Effective social media management extends beyond posting top-notch content; it involves actively responding to posts, engaging in conversations, and fostering relationships.

Brands that embrace their human side resonate deeply with consumers. As a business owner, Social Media becomes your bridge to achieving that connection.

For those finding Social Media overwhelming, consider enlisting help. Hire someone who understands your brand’s voice, creates a strong strategy, and possesses genuine passion and love for social media. You don’t have to do it all, especially if you don’t enjoy Social Media.

Neglecting or inconsistently approaching Social Media means leaving potential revenue untapped.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

One of the most critical aspects of running a business and being a business owner is cultivating a growth mindset. This journey isn’t for the faint of heart, and there will be moments when self-doubt or challenges emerge that could potentially jeopardize your business’s existence. I’ve made numerous costly mistakes, experienced many failed launches, and encountered some partnerships that turned sour.

While all of these were devastating, they did not break me.

Why? Because, I have built a strong mindset through developing the habit of personal development.

Every morning, I spend time to read books, listen to podcasts, and watch documentaries that contribute to fostering a growth mindset. I also encourage my clients to do the same and included it as the first lesson in my introductory audio coaching program,  “Unlock Your Nourished Life.” It also stands as a cornerstone in the foundation I establish with my clients to help them lose weight, adopt healthy habits, and prioritize their physical and mental health.

Among my all-time favorite personal development books are:

“We Should All Be Millionaires” by Rachel Rodgers

“The Compound Effect” by Darren Hardy

“The Five Second Rule” by Mel Robbins

“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho

“The Big Leap” by Gay Hendricks

I read these books every year to support my mental health and mindset.  Our beliefs dictate how we show up in the world, so it’s imperative that we do our part to cultivate them to be strong and supportive.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.AllisonTibbs.com
• Instagram: www.Instagram.com/AllisonTibbs
• Linkedin: www.LinkedIn.com/in/AllisonTibbs
• Podcast: www.ibuymyselfflowers.com

Image Credits
Photo credit: Brittney Jean Photography (Los Angeles), Mikey Chang (San Francisco), Kelly Robyn (Los Angeles).