There are more women entrepreneurs than ever before, in a wide variety of industries. Although we often hear about success stories of women entrepreneurs and professionals, rarely do we get an inside look at the personal challenges that came with that success. To change that, I started a series of interviews with women entrepreneurs and professionals who had a life changing experience or catalyst that led them to start and grow their businesses. They are real women with everyday struggles and conflicts, but have learned to embrace and engage their purpose. Susie Garcia is the founder of Nutrition for Your Lifestyle and an award-winning Dietitian. While going to school for a marketing degree, Susie was creating a culture of empowered eaters by addressing better food habits. Since re-devoting her time and attention to her nutrition counseling business, she has become an international consulting service, a #1 International Best Selling author, motivational speaker, nutrition expert and is the co-author of Psyched to be Skinny and Start Right Marketing. Susie has appeared on ABC, CBS, and FOX affiliate television stations, NPR affiliate Radio, internet radio, and filmed over twenty healthy cooking videos for eHow.com.

What were some of the challenges that you faced, when you first started your business?

I had to figure out how I wanted to see clients. The way I’m doing things now is quite a bit different than I was then. I started out thinking I’m just going to make house calls because that’s going to be extra service and I don’t have to get an office and deal with overhead. I was calling on physicians in a medical group and one of the doctors referred me to a lot of clients in Oakland. I ended up subleasing an office, which I was not familiar with, in a therapist practice at a great rate. So, figuring out where and how I was going to see clients was a big challenge. Now, I do the majority of my work virtually.

What tough decisions have you had to make recently?

I left a networking group that I had been in for two years. It was a tough decision because I am a very social person and I love to go out, I love to meet people and to hang out with people. I love connecting people. Part of being a good networker or referral source is that you can ask me, “Do you know somebody that does this?” And I probably know three or four. This particular group, I helped start one of the chapters and I had been actively participating for years but the relationship wasn’t reciprocal. I think after that amount of time I had spent working within the group and being in a leadership role, I was just done with it. It was hard. It’s not a personal decision, it’s a business decision, but it feels personal. I’m constantly evaluating the groups that I’m in.

What skills were you able to bring over from your previous work experience that you found to be most helpful or practical in your business?

One of the skills that I learned as the Director of Research and Development for a food manufacturing company was recipe development, menu development, meal planning – the owner of the company was a genius at meal planning. I knew how to do it but she taught me some techniques that not only have I used in my personal life but that I can teach my clients which set me apart from some of the other nutrition and health coaches. Also, I’ve always kept up with my technical and computer skills. I’m the tech friend when a person doesn’t know how to set up their phone, you know, “Can you get these pictures off for me?” I’m that person.

What’s your hardest ongoing task?

Hardest, as in “I don’t want to do it?” or technically hard? (laughs) I don’t follow-up as fast as I should. I’m very good at follow-up, but it’s not always fast. My goal is within 24 hours. It would be great if it were in 2. I also need to manage my to-do list. I have a virtual assistant and another gal that I’m thinking about bringing on. I have a folder with names from e-mail sign ups, and they are not added to my email database yet. It’s not technical, but it needs to get done.