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Inspired by a friend’s healing arts center, Robin Henrie dreamt of opening her own center—one day. Eventually, she channeled her life experience, including training in several Tai Chi forms, a Master’s in Communication Disorders, and a focus on healing, into Red Phoenix Healing Arts LLC, which she launched in 2022.
How, when, and why did you decide to start a business?
Robin: I always wanted to start a business when I retired, which was in June 2020. I had every intention of starting the business up as soon as the pandemic ended. But then I got diagnosed with breast cancer. I was going through that along with some other health conditions, so the business got put on hold for a while.
I’m passionate about helping other people, which informed my decision to become a speech and language pathologist during my career. After seeing how much tai chi and qigong have helped me with my various illnesses, I wanted to help others by sharing those modalities with them in my new business.
It wasn’t until 2022 when I woke up one day and said: You’re ready, let’s go. I decided to launch the business right then and there.
How did you go about starting the business?
Robin: I had friends who owned businesses and my husband is an MBA CPA who has his own business, so I was able to pick his brain a bit. I knew the bare bones about starting, like I knew I wanted an LLC. I also knew I needed additional resources.
I checked out the offerings from the Small Business Association and got in touch with some folks at SCORE. Then I connected with the EWBC staff, including Business Advisor Jeannette Dardenne and Program Manager Shelli McMillen, and we hit it off. I was blessed to have Jeannette as a mentor. She is phenomenal and has guided me every step of the way. I also had some video editing help from Ryan Salloum, a student at the University of Hartford - Barney School of Business.
Can you share some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a business owner?
Robin: The thing that I’m learning—which is absolutely astounding to me—is how much more there is to running a business than just doing the thing you love that you want people to pay you for.
Pricing is another challenge—and I’m still not convinced that I’ve got the right pricing. I’ve got one group of people I love, trust, and adore telling me not to undersell myself, but I also know the market will only pay so much. It’s a fairly wide split between knowing I’m worth this many dollars an hour, and the acceptance that people are only willing to pay this much. Finding that balance has been really challenging. My website has also been a challenge—that’s a work in progress.
Any advice for others?
Robin: Find your passion and follow it. And make time to take care of yourself. Be sure to focus on self-care because if you don’t, nothing else will matter.
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