We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Diana Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Diana, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?
The early days of starting my practice were fueled by equal parts passion, grit, and caffeine. I knew I wanted to create something radically different—a space where families, especially moms and their littles, could receive nervous system-based chiropractic care that was grounded in love, education, and results. So in February of 2020 (yep, right before COVID), I opened the doors to Cumming Family Chiropractic.
We built it out completely by hand—no contractors, just sweat equity. I laid the floors, painted the walls, and pieced everything together on a budget with a clear vision in mind. For the first 5 months, I ran completely solo. No front desk, no assistant, just me wearing all the hats—adjusting patients, answering calls, scrubbing toilets, and building the brand from the ground up.
My biggest challenge wasn’t the work ethic—it was marketing myself. I had to learn how to put myself out there, talk about what made our practice different, and build trust in a community that didn’t know me yet. But I held on to something a mentor once told me: “If you serve with love, the money will always come.” And it did.
If I could go back, I would’ve trusted my gut even more and outsourced the things that drained me sooner. I tried to DIY everything, and while that taught me a lot, it also slowed my growth. I’d also build my systems and automations earlier so I could’ve stepped into the CEO role faster.
My biggest advice for anyone starting their own practice? Get clear on your mission and who you serve. You don’t need to appeal to everyone—just your people. And don’t wait until you feel “ready”—you become ready by starting. You’re going to be uncomfortable either way, so you might as well be uncomfortable building your dream.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Hi! I’m Dr. Diana Smith, a pediatric, prenatal, and family chiropractor based in Cumming, Georgia. I’m also a mom of two (soon to be three!), a business coach for female chiropractors through my brand *Chiro Babe*, and someone who could talk about the nervous system and holistic living all day long.
I got into chiropractic care because I wanted to help families—especially moms—experience true wellness in a way that felt empowering, proactive, and rooted in science and intuition. After graduating and working in several practices that didn’t quite align with my values, I decided to open my own in 2020. I launched Cumming Family Chiropractic with a mission to provide nervous system-based care that goes beyond “cracking backs”—we’re all about *regulating stress*, optimizing function, and creating real change in the lives of the families we serve.
Our practice is unique in that we operate on a membership model (kind of like a gym for your nervous system), making care affordable and consistent. We also offer red light therapy, cold laser, and PEMF mat therapy, plus a curated selection of holistic wellness products we actually use ourselves. Our space is intentionally designed to feel more like your favorite local coffee shop than a sterile clinic—because healing happens best where you feel safe, seen, and supported.
The biggest problem we solve is *chronic stress.* Whether it’s in the form of sleep issues, anxiety, sensory challenges, immune burnout, or just feeling maxed out as a parent—we help rewire the way your body responds to stress so you can function and feel better from the inside out.
What sets us apart isn’t just our services—it’s the experience. We take time to educate, build relationships, and create community. We’re not the “quick pop in and out” type of place. We’re your people.
What I’m most proud of is the *impact.* Seeing a child who couldn’t sit still finally regulate. Watching a new mom feel confident and calm again. Helping families get their spark back—*that’s* why I do what I do.
For anyone new to my world, I want you to know that my brand—whether it’s my chiropractic office or my coaching biz—is about helping women take their power back. We’re here to support, educate, and uplift you. Healing isn’t about perfection—it’s about alignment. And I’m here to walk that journey with you.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Absolutely. A couple of years ago, I hired someone I considered a friend to help with an expansion project for my business. He posed as a licensed contractor, promised the world, and I believed him. What I didn’t know at the time was that he was actually a con artist. He ended up stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from me—money that I had saved, borrowed, and invested into my dream. It was not only a financial betrayal, but also a deep personal one.
I had to make some incredibly hard decisions to keep my business afloat. I took out capital, went into debt, and poured every ounce of energy I had into surviving. Most people probably would’ve filed for bankruptcy or walked away—but that’s not who I am. I filed criminal charges. He was arrested last year. And I’m still here, rebuilding and reclaiming everything I lost.
Resilience, to me, means getting back up and still choosing to serve with love. I’m working hard every day to pay off the debt and keep growing—not just financially, but spiritually and mentally too. God never promised this life would be easy, but He did promise that we would prosper through the struggle. And I’m living proof that you can be knocked down and still rise—stronger, wiser, and more grounded than ever.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Self-care. And I don’t just mean bubble baths and green smoothies (though I love both). I mean real, deep self-care—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
To succeed in business, especially in a service-based field like mine, your energy is everything. You have to be able to hold space for people while also protecting your own capacity. That means learning how to regulate your own nervous system, having boundaries, prioritizing rest, and investing in your mindset just as much as your marketing.
You can have all the certifications and skills in the world, but if you’re constantly burnt out or stuck in self-doubt, it’s hard to lead and grow. Success is an inside job. The more regulated, confident, and aligned you are, the more magnetic and sustainable your business becomes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cummingfamilychiropractic.com
- Instagram: @cummingfamilychiro
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cummingfamilychiropractic
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cumming-family-chiropractic-cumming?osq=cumming+family+chiropractic
- Other: https://campsite.bio/cummingfamilychiro
