Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelley Hoag.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kelley. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
I discovered behavioral health through my work with children with autism. Before I started Root to Rise, I was earning my Master’s of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis and worked a Registered Behavior Technician for an agency in LA with clients across the autism spectrum. I loved my job, but I didn’t love sitting in traffic going from client to client, the strict vacation policy and the total lack of flexibility. I felt trapped— in my job, in LA, in my relationship and frankly, in my own body.
I was offered a major promotion, but I knew if I accepted it, I would continue to feel stuck. So, I declined and moved back home to New York. I had always been interested in and passionate about all things health— meditation, movement, food and the psychology behind it all. As I thought about what I wanted to do with my next chapter, I realized that the principles of the behavior work I was studying could easily be applied to healthy habit change.
So, I enrolled in the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and developed a way to work with adult clients to blend the science of behavioral analysis with the intuitive approach of holistic health. From there, Root to Rise was born. After about a year and a half into living in Manhattan, I realized I wasn’t practicing what I preached. I wasn’t moving my body, I wasn’t being mindful, I was cold, and my six floor Chelsea walk up was way too expensive for what it was.
So, I decided to move back to LA. Something that shocked me almost as much as it shocked my family. In NY I felt stale and stagnant… I needed the sun and the liberty to get outside and go for a walk without needing six layers of clothing or being drenched from the humidity.
My boyfriend and I moved to West Hollywood into a two-bedroom apartment where I run Root to Rise— in the same neighborhood I lived in when I was feeling so low and so stuck. This entire process has come full circle. I had a vision for what I wanted, and I made it happen. It took a few cross-country moves, but I don’t have any regrets. Where I am today is exactly where I’m meant to be, both personally and professionally.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
With any kind of entrepreneurship, there is no smooth road. There are always going to be unexpected bumps along the way. For me, the learning curve was intense. I had a background in psychology and no business experience whatsoever. I felt like I was blindly throwing spaghetti at a wall and hoping something would stick.
About two years in, I realized I needed help if I wanted to scale Root to Rise in a big way, so I hired a business coach, and it was probably one of the best decisions I made thus far (thank you, Rochelle Bohannon! I highly recommend her).
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Root to Rise Health – what should we know?
I am a Behavioral Health Advisor and the Founder of Root to Rise. I collaborate with clients to achieve sustainable healthy habits— from an empowering morning routine to more intentional snacking.
I am so proud that so many people are interested in this type of work and recognize the need for it in their daily lives. I am one of the only professionals integrating behavior and intuition in this unique way, and people are gravitating towards it because it works! It’s got the science, and it’s got the woo-woo… it’s a harmonious blend of what people really crave.
The entire process is individualized and based around finding the root of the pain point, rather than a quick fix or putting a band-aid on the problem. This is the key to creating sustainable habits.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
As someone who identifies as a major Capricorn, I have to give credit to my strong will.
It’s what helped me forge a career out of two passions, create a successful company with no business background and follow through with what I knew was best for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.roottorisehealth.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/roottorisehealth
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/roottorisehealth
- Twitter: wwww.twitter.com/rtrhealth
Image Credit:
Ryon Odneal & Madison Crowley
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