Ask UPLIFT: Be the Light Clinical Supervision and Consulting
Owning and operating a small business is a journey. Whether it’s slinging drinks, hiring employees, navigating finances, learning new tax codes, or carving out a space to make your own, each journey is different. UPLIFT is Women of Cincy’s directory of women-led products, services, and businesses. Each month, we will ask one or more UPLIFT entrepreneurs about their journeys.
This month, we asked Rachael E. DuBose, founder and owner of Be the Light Clinical Supervision and Consulting, about her experiences as a small business owner.
Why did you start your business?
I started Be the Light to fill in the gaps I saw with access to quality counseling services at the height of the pandemic. I thought about private practice before but didn't take the risk/jump/leap until the need became too great to ignore.
What are some of the challenges of being a small business?
One of the major challenges of being a small business has been staying the course when the financial flow is more of a slow drip. Because I am my boss, what I make is up to me, versus being an employee and it being a set amount based on what someone else has created.
How has starting a small business changed your mindset?
Starting a small business has forced me to work on negative self-talk and challenge cognitive distortions. When those thoughts creep up, I ask myself whether or not they are rooted in reality and what proof I have that taking this risk will or won't work. That has been super helpful!
What support systems do you rely on, professionally and/or personally?
I am so grateful to have an amazing support system that includes my spouse, family, friends, and colleagues. As a mental health counselor, it is easy for me to challenge my clients to lean on their support system and even harder for me to practice what I preach. My support system helps me understand that I can't do it alone and, most importantly, I don't have to.
What does community support mean to you?
To me, community support means establishing and maintaining relationships, seeking guidance from knowledgeable resources, and leading your community by example.
Thank you, Rachael! You can find Rachael at Be the Light Clinical Supervision and Consulting. You can check out Be the Light and all of our UPLIFT business here.
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