How Valeria Hernandez built a mindful health coaching business while avoiding creative burnout |

Discover how wellness trainer and Creator Fellowship Winner Valeria Hernandez is creating an online business that is successful and inspiring women to embrace plant-based foods that celebrate their heritage.

As Valeria Hernandez encountered challenges with her health, she discovered the value of intuitive eating and plant-based nutrition. Eager to apply this knowledge to recipes that were based on traditional methods, Valeria started crafting authentic Mexican meals using ingredients that are vegan.

Today, Valeria shares those discoveries via VegiVale  which is a company that offers a plant-based health coach business. It assists clients to eat healthier veggies and fruits, relish food that they enjoy and live more energetic lives.

The creator's path wasn't always smooth sailing.

In the process, Valeria faced a toxic hustle culture in the online space and felt pressured to follow the crowds, even when her gut was pulling her in a different direction. She also learned how to shift her perspective of an employee and become a decision-making business owner, balancing a growing business with a regular 9-5 schedule.

In tackling these obstacles, Valeria managed to create her ideal business, establish an efficient work-life balance and discover her unique way to go.

Here's how Valeria inspires women to embrace the plant-based diet that honor their culture -- and building the business of coaching based on authenticity throughout the process.

Getting started in the wellness space

At the time the time, she was in a place where she didn't know anyone. Following her graduation from college and transitioning into a full-time job, Valeria was lonely. She wasn't feeling great physically too. Valeria was following a vegan diet for a few years but struggled to come up with satisfying and nutritious meals.

"I just kind of winged that it was a vegan thing. I went the route of eating fries with salad in the dining hall at college, and that often wasn't allowing me to get all my nutrients. Therefore, it wasn't surprising that I wasn't feeling great."

Finding a way to tackle both problems simultaneously, Valeria found connections within the vegan community. The health coach she hired was who specialized in plant-based eating and learned what food items she should eat to stay fit, fulfill the nutritional requirements of her body, and be healthier all over .

Applying what her coach had given her resulted in making a 180deg shift. Inspired, Valeria become a health coach in order to help people live their best lives.

Valeria began coaching through the network marketing firm However, she was not happy with how the program focused heavily on diets and weight loss. She felt limited by the single-to-many approach to coaching and stressed by the constant pressure to amass additional clients.

Valeria was aspired to provide an experience that was personalized and hands-on to her customers that would give her greater freedom. Then, 2020 happened.

Amidst worldwide chaos Valeria decided that it was time to do things her own way.

The first clients we meet

Then Valeria realized she could turn upon her network of contacts for experience, and then flesh out her business concept.

In the beginning, Valeria utilized contacts she'd established via networking marketing. These individuals already knew and appreciated Valeria's style of coaching and were interested in a high-touch, one-on-one experience.

Following that, Valeria reached out to her friends from the group she met in her school, community connections, family connections, and mutual friends.

Initially, it was nerve-wracking when she discussed her idea for a business with "real-life" acquaintances and beloved ones, but these people proved to be the biggest supporters of her.

The business blossomed. "I started one-on one coaching and really, really loved that," she tells us.

"I've switched around a few different ways in my business, but my main desire is helping others consume more vegetables. It's not my intention to force people to go vegan. Many of my customers aren't even vegetarians however, I am focused on helping clients eat better vegetables and to listen to their bodies."

The choice to narrow down

With her first few clients in her portfolio, Valeria had a better understanding of what she wanted her business to appear like. The next thing she had to do was identify her audience. However, the idea of narrowing her target audience- and pool of prospective clients -- was intimidating initially.

"It's tempting to want to design something to please everyone and assist as many as you can."

Now, Valeria believes that serving a specific niche is what distinguishes her business. Her decision was to concentrate on providing services to women of color since she observed that these customers often confronted the same challenges she faced on her own.

"I thought this might be a really cool subset of my clients as a Latina I can understand the struggles they're experiencing. I'm able to speak about certain issues that they're having difficulty with, that other persons wouldn't."

Valeria designed her program in order to aid women of color incorporate their ethnic cuisines in their food choices.

"I assist people in reconnecting with their cultural foods because it is often believed that food choices aren't healthy but that's not always accurate," Valeria elaborates. "That mentality is rooted in the diet culture and white supremacy, so dismantling all of that by helping people with their health is what I'm all about."

"There seven billion people on the planet. When you try to help everyone and talk to all but you're actually speaking to no one. It's much more effective in the event that you concentrate on a small group of people that you've developed a relationship with... as they understand that you're speaking exclusively to them."

Making use of a simplified, simplified business

After solidifying her business concept and identifying her target audience, Valeria turned to to establish her online home base. Valeria currently offers wellness coaching sessions as well as an digital cookbook of plant-based Mexican food items on her site.

Being a customer, Valeria knew making different accounts for different platforms to access one creator's content was frustrating. She didn't want to put clients through the exact process.

" simplifies the process both on the side of the entrepreneur and also on the client's part. [Customers] have one login, and they can access all the products they bought from me."

Valeria also emphasizes that you do not need to use the same expensive equipment as entrepreneurs earning six or seven figures when you're first starting out. Utilizing these expensive programs won't ensure that you'll get identical results. Additionally, having to pay for huge monthly bills can add excessive pressure.

" is a great way to streamline the process. I'm all about simplicities in particular at this time of my career."

Tips for other creators and entrepreneurs!

When asked what advice she has for aspiring entrepreneurs, Valeria stated how crucial it is to listen to your inner voice, establish a your balance in life and work, take a stand to prioritize your both mental and physical health.

Listen to your inner voice and then follow the natural instincts that come to you.

In her time at the helm of VegiVale , Valeria learned that doing your own thing creates a unique business.

"Put your blinders in since it's tempting to look at what everyone other people are doing. If you see one hundred people who are doing the same thing, you're going to want to do that too," she remarks. "It's absolutely natural to compare .... The great thing about being a creator is that you are one of a particular kind. No one can do exactly what you are doing in the same way that you do."

"The beautiful part about being a writer is the fact that you're unique of one of a one of a kind. There is no one else who can achieve what you do, in the way that you execute it."

"Even though there are thousands of health coaches out there, I know when I say something that it is going to be received differently as opposed to when someone else is saying similar things. The messages we share will resonate with various people. When you try to follow the norm, you'll lose that unique voice."

What this, Valeria explains, is your unique sauce for being a creator.

Valeria is also adamant that entrepreneurs embrace what feels good regardless of making your own choices within your field. "Everyone's using TikTok right now," she points out, "There are so many health coaches there, and I felt as if I was missing out. When I first joined, it was a bit of a shock however, it didn't match my kind of vibe."

For Valeria the format was more genuine and enjoyable.

"I can't say everything I want to say in fifteen to 60 seconds. However, newsletters have stood the tests of time. I'm looking for something time-bound if I'm planning to invest energy into it. If I were to follow the masses, I would do TikTok and ignore the fact that I find it difficult and that I don't enjoy it."

It's not that you shouldn't ignore everychallenge that you face in your work If something is causing you feel like you're dragging your feet you should think about alternatives.

Find a balance between work and life.

Yet, many business owners get caught in the trap of working too much.

    Sometimes, toxic hustle culture can be the cause.    

In her network marketing days, Valeria always felt pressured to work hard and gain more customers. Her schedule was full of work every evening after her work hours and miss out on quality time with her family and friends.

The constant hustle didn't produce the desired results and Valeria's mental health deteriorated because she missed her friends and family.

    Sometimes, the creators overwork because they're passionate.    

"Creators are more at risk because we love what we do. We often blur the line between overwork and passion, life and content creation. When you are really passionate about what you do and what you want to achieve is clear, it's hard to switch off."

Valeria's suggestion: Take control of your work schedule and plan your company to ensure you have the work-life balance you deserve.

"I observe so many entrepreneurs and creators who have quit their day jobs only to replicate that structure within their businesses," Valeria says. "Why why would you want to do this? What is the reason you would only have two days off in a week during the week on Saturday and Sunday? Isn't that defeating the purpose?"

You're the boss, therefore you can:

Take days off when needed.

Work fewer hours without feeling guilty.

Make a decision to have less clients, so that you can get more time to yourself.

Make achievable goals for yourself in a time-bound, realistic plan.

Do not follow the tradition simply because you're familiar with it.

"Don't forget what's most important," Valeria reminds fellow creators. "You are a person outside of the internet."

Trust yourself when making big choices

Early in her business, Valeria struggled to make crucial decision. She now realizes that listening to her gut and committing is critical to moving forward.

"The manner you operate at work is quite different than how you work as an entrepreneur" she explains.

"In a traditional job, there are deadlines, tasks, and steps, but it's a team that guides you. In entrepreneurship, it's all yours. It's your turn to make the calls and making decisions, and you have to feel confident about these decisions."

It's a lot of pressure on a brand-new creator. When she's stuck and struggling, Valeria reminds herself that "not making a choice is inherently a choice." This can help her to make her thoughts and implement the plan.

It is important to prioritize your physical and mental well-being

In the end, Valeria emphasizes how important it is to take good care of yourself. Through her entire journey, Valeria noticed that when she wasn't feeling good emotionally or physically the business was affected. When she felt good the business thrived.

To keep wellness at the forefront, Valeria follows the same advice she gives her coaching clients. "How do I convince my clients to stay asleep eight hours a evening, drink plenty of water, and eat their greens when I'm not doing that?" she says.

"I always ask myself, "If I were my own client how would I instruct me to say in this circumstance?'"

What's next for VeviVale?

Valeria has helped numerous women from diverse backgrounds live more healthy lives with her VegiVale-related contents  programmes, workshops and newsletter , and we know it's only the beginning.

"With the aid of my virtual assistant we're currently developing a course which will launch at the end of this year. It's still in the infant stages right now, but I'd be unable to develop it if it weren't for the assistance of her," Valeria notes.

By leaning into her unique voice, maintaining an appropriate balance between work and life and making difficult decisions as well as putting wellness first, Valeria built a freeing and exciting online business. With solid foundations, the sky's the limit. We're excited to find out what the artist creates the next time around!