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

Shannon, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

There’s a popular idea that we don’t regret the things we did in life as much as we regret the things we didn’t do when reflecting at the end of our lives. Having witnessed many deaths and been there at the end of patient’s lives as an ICU nurse, I can say that this is a true statement. I have asked so many elderly patients what advice they would give to the younger generation and the common theme was “TRAVEL!” It didn’t matter if they did it or not, it was their message to pass on. Travel for some requires taking risks- going to new places, being exposed to new cultures, and experiencing life outside of the comfort zone. When I realized that healthcare was more like “sick care”, I wanted to explore how to be healthier. I studied on my own, got certified in integrative care, and even took my elderly patients advice and traveled to other countries as research to see what countries with higher health ratings than the United States were doing towards health. When I decided to share what I had learned through my study of functional medicine and use this approach and this knowledge to start a business, I had no idea what I was doing! I was a nurse, what did I know about running a business?! I took a risk and decided to start my own business and in a sense- I learned as I went and I flew by the seat of my pants. Working at Google headquarters as an RN/Health Coach helped launch my new path as a business owner. Afterall, most who leave Google, end up going for their own “startup” business- I was just following suit. I always kept one foot in the door at the hospital just in case this all blew up in my face. Looking back, I would have done things differently starting out, but I took a risk and I made it happen. I became an entrepreneur with no formal training or experience. I have no regrets about this risk taking transformation in my career, but oh man did I learn a lot! The truth was- I was successful on the front side of business. The back office work was a mess! I have learned since then that I needed systems in place and I needed an assistant. I most certainly did things the hard way those first couple of years! I will never regret taking the risk from leaving my comfort zone at the bedside to exploring other paths. I took my passion for helping people with health towards a more preventative plan and it has been one interesting adventure!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As a nurse with over 18 years of experience at the bedside in critical care and cardiac matters, it only made sense that I cared about health and wellbeing. The last thing any nurse wants to do is become a patient themselves. The system is a mess and prevention is not at the forefront of care in the United States. It is up to us to take care of ourselves. Learning about functional medicine and holistic health became a journey towards my own well being and a focus for teaching others the same. From my first health coaching client, to working as a RN/Health Coach at Google, to starting my own coaching business, and expanding it to becoming a health consultant for private practices- I have developed a unique approach to helping others with health. I have the balance of the knowledge from modern medicine plus the wisdom of holistic care. I am an integrative nurse. I bridge the gap between the two areas. We need both! After being asked to present to several tech companies in the Bay Area and working with a large healthcare system in San Diego- I was now on the path for becoming a sought after speaker. I was honored to present at health forums and had opportunities to work with San Diego school districts. Currently, I am working with an amazing doctor to present seminars and events for Customs and Border Patrol. We do full day events on sleep, movement, nutrition, stress, and hormones. It is amazing to help the communities of people who are trying to protect and serve us. We need our communities to be strong and healthy.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Anyone can gain the knowledge and even the skills to become healthy. A lot of it actually has to do with getting back to the basics of how the human body works, how nature works, and how the two work synergistically together. However, to be successful in this field- you must be an example of what you are teaching. I remember in school- our gym teachers were obese. It was kind of ironic how they were yelling at us to run and move, yet they were not doing any of what they were telling us to do and it was obvious they were not taking care of themselves. You have to be a walking example of what you are teaching. Will you do it perfectly? Absolutely not! But there is a difference between a health leader and a health marketer. Be a leader! The second thing you must learn to do is read your audience! You need to connect with people when talking about personal or sensitive topics. Learning how to read verbal and non verbal cues from those you are trying to reach is very important. As the saying goes, no one cares what you know until they know you care. Connection and building rapport are important life skills to be successful in this field.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was that ” I can do it all on my own.” Society likes to brag about being independent and relying on no one else to accomplish your goals. While it is our responsibility to take care of ourselves and check off our goals list, no one accomplished life on their own. We are not designed that way! Someone had to raise you- now whether or not they did a good job of raising you- it still brought you to where you are now. Friends and community have been support systems along the way. Running a business is no exception to this rule. However, in my beginning years in business- I thought I could do it on my own. The nurse with no business mindset nor skills was going to “figure it out”. Unfortunately, I did it all the hard way and it caught up with me. It was harder and more exhausting than I thought and to be honest- I didn’t even like the back office stuff. It drained me from my front office passion. Eventually, I got on board with a business mentor and far too late in the game- an assistant to do the back office work that I didn’t have time for. Both of these people were needed sooner than later. Finding great business partners is hard, but once you have them, it makes the whole purpose that much more meaningful. Building with others is more rewarding than solo success. Letting others contribute their talents and skills, so you can focus on yours is key!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theintegrativenurse.info
• Instagram: the.integrative.nurse
• Facebook: The Integrative Nurse
• Linkedin: Shannon Truax
• Twitter: youheartlife