Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erin Baskin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Erin, appreciate you joining us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.
Sometimes it feels like we just take jobs because they come along at the right time or are convenient, and since completing my service in the military, I’ve had several of those situations. It’s wonderful when something happens at just the right time or when you’re actively looking for change, but those opportunities are not always the ones that fill us with passion and excitement. Each of those opportunities played a role in getting me to this point, but a special combination of events gave me the push I needed to take the entrepreneurial leap.
It started with suddenly losing my mom to an aggressive cancer in 2019. It shattered me and I was in desperate need of some “good” in my life. Shortly thereafter I lost a position I had taken by convenience, and it felt like being kicked when I was already down. Out of desperation and desire to fill emptiness and heartache, I took on another role that seemed too good to be true… and it was.
In 18 months I’d experienced loss and heartache I never imagined possible. With two kids at home and a husband preparing to retire from the military, I felt lost and in desperate need of something fulfilling and purposeful. The pain of grieving and feelings of loss from continued occupational roadblocks lit a fire under me and suddenly I knew it was time to start over, doing things my way and with the intent of helping all those I came in contact with. I finally knew that my purpose was to help people, and that all the lessons learning over the last decade aided in the creation of a wellness practice dedicated to helping other people live long, healthy lives. We have so little control over the environment around us, but there is great power in taking ownership of ones physical self.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Upon leaving the military in 2010, I found myself searching for something emotionally and intellectually fulfilling. I ended up in the fitness industry, personal training for several years while earning 3 degrees in business. At my core, I knew I was meant to do something helping people and wanted to avoid sitting behind a desk. My introverted, active nature prevented me from enjoying that type of professional role.
I have always been a busy body and call myself a recovering distance runner, having found a passion for fitness as a teenager. My inability to remain stagnant and loss of too many family members due to chronic disease and cancer has lead me to the need to help other people prevent health issues. We cannot buy time, but we can certainly try to make the best of the time we are given by giving our bodies the best chance of survival and wellness.
Now, as a certified holistic nutritionist and sexual wellness educator, I can teach clients how to eliminate factors that create disease, improve mental wellness, and help to develop sexual relationships to their fullest potential. Using methods surrounding habit changes and natural supplementation, I am qualified to put power back into the hands of my clients. The concept is to keep it simple! Our lives are so incredibly complicated, unnecessarily, that controlling our health ought not to be. I simply teach the tools that people need to live their best, healthy lives.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
As an entrepreneur, being an engaging and genuine individual has been most beneficial. I am not a salesperson at heart and believe that reputation speaks for itself. Professionally, the best success has come from being open and honest, and making personal connections has most significantly benefitted me. My intent is to be the reliable source for simplifying the chaos in everyday life. Being relatable and compassionate allows me to connect and grow my business.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Networking! Connecting with people, in everyday situations and creating relationships with people of all backgrounds has been essential in building my reputation. Being transparent in every situation has helped to create professional relationships in all sorts of settings. People do not want to be fed lines and sought out as customers. I do not want to waste my time chasing people who are not interested in my services. By talking and connecting, the work takes care of itself. Networking becomes relatively simple when approached in this way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.qualifiedwellness.com
- Instagram: @qualified_wellness
- Facebook: Qualified Athletics & Wellness
- Other: erin.n.baskin@gmail.com