Q. Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans: We are a Toronto based healthcare team that focuses on naturopathic medicine and nutrition. We believe health is about feeling great and vibrant, and not just the lack of illness. Many of our patients come to us with chronic conditions that they’ve been dealing with for many years, and using a variety of tools we help them not just overcome their condition, but find true vitality. The principle of our method is to combine up to date modern science and medicine with traditional healing such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, and integrating lifestyle changes. These three pillars of science, lifestyle and traditional healing leads to profound healing with long lasting results.
Q. Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans: Dr. Joseph Steyr is a naturopathic doctor with a focus on digestion, fatigue and hormones. Before becoming a naturopath, Dr. Steyr completed a degree in biology, and then moved to Taiwan for several years where he was introduced to Traditional Chinese Medicine. He is currently a regular contributor to Attorney with a Life, does lunch and learn talks for downtown Bay Street law firms, and is a regular speaker at University of Toronto grad student health events.
Michelle Heighington is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist who also holds a degree in Medical Anthropology. While completing her degree at the University of Toronto, Michelle took part in an HIV/AIDS initiative internship in Namibia. She is a regular contributor to Attorney with a Life, and has spoken at various companies and law firms about health and wellness. She has also been a speaker with Dr. Steyr at University of Toronto grad student health events.
Q. What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
Ans: There are a variety of healthcare options out there, but there’s still a lack of true integrative healthcare. Looking around we saw that most healthcare providers offer one or two tools, and we felt Greystones needed to be a business that offered a wide variety of tools and options. The heart and soul of Greystones Health was to create a new and inspired way of seeing health, rather than being defined by the method of healing. We also feel education is an important component of what we do – we want to be able to put the ability for healing back into the individual’s hands.
Q. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: Whether you are starting a new business or finding a new healthy life, the key advice is the same
1. Persistence – long term success takes time and energy and there are always ups and downs, so it is important to have persistence
2. Learning – so much to learn about in life in general, need to focus on ways for us to grow
3. Don’t do it alone – there are so many amazing people out there, whether for health or business. Seeking out people who match your philosophies is important
Q. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans:
1. Passion – love what you do
2. Confidence – always hard times, need confidence
3. Respect – always going to be working with a variety of people, so you need to respect everyone and their individual styles
Q. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: At Greystones we work hard, 10-12 hours most days.
Q. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: Teamwork – we all bring different strengths to the table
High standards for our business, and for our patient’s health, drive us to achieve the best for both the patients and the people involved in the business
Time – we give a lot of time to every patient so that we can get their full story. This also allows us to connect the dots because we get the whole health history. We’re not just treating the individual concern, but we treat the whole person.
Q. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: Our patients are our best form of marketing, whether that’s putting online reviews up for us or telling other people the service and support they received from Greystones Health. Their stories are truly inspiring. Of course, we do a lot of talks, online marketing, and our commitment to education has us doing regular blogs and social media postings too.
Q. Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans: Our investment has truly been sweat equity – a lot of hours and using personal financing.
Q. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Be great at what you do. That comes from passion for what you do which drives you to learn, grow and become more experienced.
Q. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: We really want to start growing our philosophy of health to spread as far as possible. We see the possibilities as infinite. Right now there is a gap in terms of what people need for true healing. Our plan is to open up multiple clinic locations, and also have a healing centre retreat where people can incorporate the power of nature into their healing.
Q. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: There isn’t just one business. We’re learning from all types of businesses. But, however, the book “It all begins with Why” has been very influential for Dr. Steyr.
Q. How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: Very important – they are the first person patients see when they come into the clinic. We want our clinic to be a welcoming environment where people can come to heal.
Q. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: In terms of our patient’s health goals, we take a long term perspective. When you’re healing from the root cause, it’s not about a condition getting better in days or weeks, but it can often take months. However, this healing is sustainable and lasts years and even decades. Because we have experience, we stay committed to our patients’ health and never give up.
Q. What motivates you?
Ans: The success stories of our patients – hearing people who have had problems their whole life and are now free of that health concern – that is what motivates us.
Q. What are your ideals?
Ans: Our ideal is that all our patients achieve great health, not just be symptom free.
Q. How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: Patient feedback, reading books, educational events, listening to podcasts
Q. How do you define success?
Ans: Success is when our patients find the true health they desire.
Q. How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans: When you do great work with patients and you get referrals, it shows that we’ve done good work and it grows a successful customer base.
Q. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: Being an entrepreneur allows us to practice medicine in the way we truly believe in.
Q. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: When our patients achieve their health goals, and this has been on many occasions.
Q. What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
Ans: Culture of understanding, hope, and trust. We want people to feel comfortable to share their stories with us.
Q. Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: Listening to the patients
Q. Who has been your greatest inspiration?
Ans: Paul Farmer – love his idea of access to healthcare for everyone
Q. What book has inspired you the most? (OR what is your favorite book?)
Ans: Most of the books by Dr. Wayne Dyer
For more Information visit us at http://www.greystoneshealth.com/
Greystones Health
2 Carlton St. Suite 1522
Toronto, Ontario, M5B 1J3
Tel No.: 416-636-6675
Business Email ID: info@greystoneshealth.com
Business Hours: 9-5 (Mon – Fri)
