We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Whitney King. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Whitney below.
Whitney, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea for Wave of Mind was born from my personal journey through therapy. I had always struggled with anxiety and frequent panic attacks, feeling like I needed to constantly achieve something to prove my worth. Therapy transformed me, helping me shift my perception of myself, the world, and my ability to create the life I wanted. Despite this significant progress, I realized four years ago that I needed more structure to continue my healing journey.
The self-help world can be a double-edged sword. While it offers valuable tools, it’s often messy and sometimes even harmful. It’s challenging to discern which tools would be most effective and how to implement them. This gap in structured, reliable, and safe self-help tools led me to create Wave of Mind.
At the end of 2019, I assembled a team of therapists to explore how we could provide support that not only improves mental health but also builds resilience. We wanted to create a product that offers clinically-informed, evidence-based content, structured in a way that empowers people to harness their inner wisdom and build a strong foundation of awareness and wellbeing.
Our solution is a series of six guided journals, each designed to be used over the course of a month. These journals include weekly thought exercises and daily prompts, with each day’s content building on the previous days’ progress. This approach provides a structured, step-by-step path to healing and self-discovery.
Wave of Mind excites me because it addresses a significant problem: the need for structured, effective, and empowering mental health support. We’re offering a unique approach that combines clinical insights with practical exercises, helping people not just to heal, but to thrive. This endeavor is worthwhile because it provides the tools and structure that I wished I had during my own journey, and it has the potential to transform the lives of many others.
Whitney, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
About Me:
My journey into the mental health industry began with my personal experiences. I have always grappled with anxiety and frequent panic attacks, feeling the need to achieve constantly to validate my worth. Therapy played a crucial role in transforming my perspective of myself, the world, and my capacity to create the life I wanted. Despite making significant progress, I realized four years ago that I needed more structure to continue my healing journey. This realization inspired me to start Wave of Mind, with the goal of providing others with the same transformative tools and structured support I found so valuable.
How I Got Into the Industry:
My entry into the mental health industry was driven by my desire to share the profound benefits of therapy and structured support with a broader audience. I recognized a gap in the self-help market, which often lacks structure and can be overwhelming or even harmful. To address this, I assembled a team of therapists at the end of 2019 to develop a product that offers clinically-informed, evidence-based content designed to empower people on their healing journey.
Products and Services:
Wave of Mind offers a series of six guided journals, each designed for a month of use. These journals include weekly thought exercises and daily prompts, with each day building on the previous days’ progress. Our approach combines clinical insights with practical exercises, providing a structured, step-by-step path to healing and self-discovery.
Problems We Solve:
We address the need for structured, reliable, and empowering mental health support. The self-help world can be a confusing and sometimes harmful space. Our product provides clear, evidence-based guidance that helps users improve their mental health and build resilience. We empower people to harness their inner wisdom, fostering a strong foundation of awareness and wellbeing.
What Sets Us Apart:
Wave of Mind stands out because of our commitment to clinically-informed, evidence-based content presented in a structured format. Our team of therapists ensures that our products are not only effective but also safe and reliable. We focus on empowering our users, helping them become more resilient and self-aware.
What We Are Most Proud Of:
I am most proud of the tangible impact Wave of Mind has had on our users’ lives. Hearing stories of transformation and empowerment from our clients is incredibly rewarding. Our product has not only improved mental health but has also equipped people with the tools they need to navigate life’s challenges more effectively.
Key Messages for Potential Clients:
At Wave of Mind, our mission is to provide you with the tools and structure you need to transform your mental health and build resilience. Our guided journals are designed to support you every step of the way, helping you harness your inner wisdom and foster a strong foundation of awareness and wellbeing. We are committed to offering evidence-based, clinically-informed content that empowers you to thrive.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Unlearning Perfectionism: A Journey from Paralysis to Purposeful Action
As a high-achieving and often highly anxious person, my life has been a relentless pursuit of perfection. For years, I believed that anything less than perfect was simply not good enough. This mindset, while driving me to excel, also became a significant source of stress and anxiety. It wasn’t until I ventured into entrepreneurship that I truly began to understand the limitations of perfectionism.
In the early days of running Wave of Mind, I was frequently paralyzed by the sheer amount of work that needed to be done. The fear of making mistakes or being misjudged weighed heavily on me. I found myself overthinking and overcomplicating tasks, desperate to ensure that everything was flawless. This quest for perfection often led to inaction, as I waited for the perfect moment or the perfect plan before taking any steps forward.
One particular instance stands out in my memory. I was preparing to launch our first guided journal. I had meticulously planned every detail, scrutinizing each aspect to ensure it met my high standards. Despite this, I felt a constant nagging sense that it wasn’t perfect enough. Days turned into weeks as I revised and reworked, paralyzed by the fear of launching something imperfect.
It was during this period of paralysis that I had a crucial realization: if I waited until everything was perfect, I might never launch at all. The opportunity to make a positive impact would slip away. I had to unlearn the idea that perfection was a prerequisite for success. Instead, I needed to embrace the concept of “good enough” and recognize the value of taking concerted, conscientious, and strategic action.
With this new mindset, I decided to move forward. I launched the first journal, imperfections and all. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Users appreciated the value and structure it provided, even if it wasn’t flawless. AND, because we had a product to test, we were able to collect feedback and ultimately create a much more effective series of journals through continued consumer testing and product improvement. This experience taught me that action, even imperfect action, is far more valuable than a perfect plan never carried out.
Today, I continue to check myself for signs of overthinking and overcomplicating. I remind myself that in entrepreneurship, as in life, nothing is ever truly perfect. The key is to take purposeful steps forward, learn from the experience, and iterate along the way. This approach not only keeps me moving but also allows Wave of Mind to grow and evolve in ways that perfectionism would have stifled.
Unlearning perfectionism has been a challenging but essential part of my journey. It has taught me the importance of resilience, adaptability, and the power of taking action. Through this process, I’ve learned that striving for excellence is important, but allowing the pursuit of perfection to paralyze us can prevent us from achieving our true potential.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
In my experience, the cornerstone of effective team management and high morale is communication—specifically, over-communication. It’s not just about ensuring that everyone is on the same page, but about fostering an environment where clarity, understanding, and connection thrive. Here are some key insights I’ve learned through my journey:
Over Communicate and Then Communicate Some More:
Communication is the lifeblood of any successful team. It’s crucial to over-communicate to ensure that everyone understands not just the tasks at hand, but the broader mission and goals of the organization. This involves regular updates, open forums for feedback, and making sure that no one is left in the dark. Clear communication helps prevent misunderstandings and aligns everyone towards common objectives.
Effective Leadership is About Effective Mentorship:
Leadership isn’t just about giving orders; it’s about mentoring and guiding your team. This means taking the time to explain the why behind the work. When team members understand the purpose and significance of their tasks, they are more likely to feel motivated and engaged. Mentorship also involves being approachable and available to provide support and guidance whenever needed.
Align Incentives with Desired Outcomes:
One of the fundamental principles of management is aligning incentives with the outcomes you want to achieve. This may sound like management 101, but it’s incredibly important. Incentives should be structured in a way that motivates the team to perform at their best. Remember, no one will care about your business as much as you do, so it’s essential to create a system where your team feels genuinely valued and invested in the success of the organization.
Generous and Motivating Compensation:
While money isn’t the only motivator, it is an important one. Compensation should be generous and reflective of the value your team brings to the table. However, financial rewards alone are not enough. Pairing fair compensation with the right support systems ensures that your team has the resources and environment they need to succeed.
Empower Your Team:
Maintaining high morale is all about empowering the people who empower your mission. This means recognizing and celebrating achievements, providing opportunities for growth and development, and creating a culture of trust and respect. When team members feel empowered, they are more likely to take initiative, innovate, and contribute positively to the organization.
In summary, managing a team and maintaining high morale requires a multifaceted approach centered around communication, mentorship, and empowerment. By fostering an environment where your team feels valued, supported, and motivated, you can drive both individual and organizational success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.waveofmind.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waveofmind_co/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-king/
- Other: [email protected]
