Running a Multi-Six Figure Business, Losing it all Publicly, Addiction & Rising From the Ashes
In the world of digital entrepreneurship, stories of resilience and rebirth are not just inspiring—they're essential. Recently, we had the privilege of sitting down with Alicia Jones, the force behind Rising Phoenix Wellness, to discuss her journey from rock bottom to building a thriving, purpose-driven business.
The Early Days of Entrepreneurship
Alicia's entrepreneurial spirit sparked early. From lemonade stands at age seven to clothing swaps at eleven, she always had a knack for business. Her first foray into the digital space was as an online fitness coach, building a successful business with her then-husband.
The Fall: When Success Leads to Burnout
At its peak, their fitness coaching business was bringing in $350,000 to $400,000 annually. However, the lack of systems and boundaries led to burnout. Alicia shares, "It was stressful. The money was good. The clients were great. But the overall process of my day-to-day felt very stressful."
This stress eventually contributed to the breakdown of her marriage and a spiral into alcoholism. Alicia lost her business, her marriage, and nearly lost custody of her children.
The Turning Point
Rock bottom became the foundation for Alicia's comeback. She recalls, "I had that realization that I had worked so hard to build a business and to build a beautiful marriage and a beautiful family. And because of fucking Tito's vodka, I'm going to let all of that just crumble."
Rising from the Ashes: The Birth of Rising Phoenix Wellness
After getting sober and rebuilding her life, Alicia launched Rising Phoenix Wellness. This time, her approach was different:
1. Purpose-Driven Mission: "How can I service people by using the strengths that I've learned throughout my hardest days?"
2. Community-Focused: Building a sisterhood of women supporting each other.
3. Authenticity and Transparency: Sharing her journey openly, connecting with clients on a deeper level.
The Results of a Mindset Shift
Within months of launching, Rising Phoenix Wellness was bringing in multiple five-figure months. Alicia attributes this success to her mindset shift:
"If I can just detach from the financial aspect of things and look at it as a form of energy exchange... How can I service this person and be somebody that really actually helps to change their life?"
Key Takeaways for Entrepreneurs
1. Have a Strong Mission: A true purpose behind your business prevents burnout and attracts loyal clients.
2. Be Open and Transparent: Authenticity resonates with your audience.
3. Build a Community: Focus on creating connections among your clients or audience members.
4. Learn from Mistakes: Implement systems and strategies to prevent history from repeating itself.
Looking Forward
Alicia's plans for the future include expanding her community, fine-tuning her one-on-one coaching, adding team members, and potentially launching apparel and retreats.
Her advice for entrepreneurs? "Do what you can with what you have, where you are." It's a reminder that progress, not perfection, is the key to building a successful and fulfilling business.
Alicia Jones' story is a powerful reminder that in the world of digital entrepreneurship, our greatest setbacks can become the foundation for our most significant comebacks. By focusing on purpose, community, and authenticity, we can build businesses that not only thrive financially but also make a real difference in people's lives.
