We had the good fortune of connecting with Brittany DeVall Heyden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brittany, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

Owning my own business has always been a dream of mine, partially because I come from a family of entrepreneurs, so dreaming, brainstorming, and designing business plans was not a new concept. When I first returned to school to finish my master’s degree, I didn’t really have a clear picture of the next steps, but because I had been sick for quite some time, I began studying holistic nutrition and health and wellness. I was fascinated by an alternative approach to health and well-being. At that moment, I decided to obtain a post-masters, become a nurse practitioner, and practice functional medicine. 

I live in a very rural part of Nebraska, so even though I knew the direction I wanted to take, I still didn’t know how to accomplish it. Deep down, I knew my purpose in life was to help thousands all over the world, but how was this possible due to my remote location? After doing a lot of research, I learned about Maggie Berghoff and her company that teaches entrepreneurs how to build an online health consulting business. I was intrigued and excited to have some guidance! I hired Maggie, hit the ground running and decided to build a virtual functional medicine health consulting business so I literally could help thousands all over the world!! It was the most exciting, yet scary venture; I was thrilled to have direction and pursue my life-long purpose. 

My family was a bit more skeptical and wanted me to have a clinic somewhere close to home. This would allow me to better serve the community I lived in. Plus, I wanted to utilize my nurse practitioner license that I worked so hard to obtain. So, while structuring my virtual consulting practice, I started the paperwork for a functional medicine clinic as well. Today, I am the owner of Renovaré Functional Medicine located in Bassett, Nebraska and Renovaré Consulting, a virtual health consulting practice. 

Please tell us more about your business. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today business-wise? Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way? What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

My Story:

The reason I am so passionate about functional medicine is due to a personal experience with declining health in my 30’s. I suffered from uncontrolled asthma, cardiac arrhythmias, and a very lengthy list of generalized symptoms such as brain fog, joint pain, rashes, acne, hives, chronic fatigue, migraines, etc. I tried the traditional approach, but the symptoms never went away, they were only minimized, and the medications sometimes made things much worse. Not until I began addressing the root-cause of the problems and the overwhelming toxicity within my body did I begin to get well! I had to address the environment, parasites within my body, and ultimately, I had to have my breast implants removed due to Breast Implant Illness. Once I got to the root of my problems, my life and health began to change! Because I was sick for so long and felt completely hopeless, I knew my purpose in life was to give others the hope of healing by looking at the root-cause!

My Brand:

The term renovaré is Latin for renew or restore and that is why I chose that name for my companies! Functional medicine provides a system to reverse illness, promote health and optimize function by addressing underlying causes, symptoms, and functional imbalances within the body. I work with my clients to renew, revive and restore function by optimizing health and well-being; therefore, improving the overall quality of life! 

Staying Focused:

Nothing about starting a business is easy! I think the biggest lesson is to always know your purpose and keep that vision clearly in your mind because there are days when you will struggle so much that you feel like giving up! If I would have lost sight of my vision or not felt so deeply about my calling in life, I could have easily quit and gotten a “normal” job. But I knew I was created for something far greater! 

What makes me unique:

Renovaré Consulting is a virtual health consulting practice for people wanting a one-on-one relationship with their coach, allowing them to transform their health and life! Each client has unique needs and goals when it comes to their health. Private coaching allows us the time necessary to address the health concerns and goals, formulate a plan that will work for the client while also having the accountability to help the client be successful. I work with clients for up to 6-months. They have text and email access so they can reach out with questions and feel fully supported the entire time! 

Renovaré Functional Medicine is the only functional medicine practice in north central Nebraska. This allows the people in my community and surrounding communities the opportunity to have access to alternative care without having to drive 3 hours to the city.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

This is a difficult question because Bassett has a population of 650; it is not your typical vacation spot. We appreciate wide open spaces, beautiful sunsets, and the peacefulness! So, a vacation here is very relaxed and laid-back. There are some beautiful creeks and rivers and lots of wildlife. You learn to enjoy a cup of coffee and breakfast on the deck, watching the wildlife and listening to the water ripple past you. The Niobrara River is very close, and people travel from all over to enjoy a weekend camping and tubing down the river. If you are ready for a peaceful vacation away from the city, appreciate the outdoors and serenity of a small town, the Sandhills of Nebraska is a great place to visit!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I must thank my family for all their love and support. They have stood by me while I pursued higher education, were patient while I sat countless hours in front of my computer and believed in me when I was the only one that could see my vision clearly! 

Website: https://brittanyheyden.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1brittanyheyden

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1brittanyheyden

Other: TikTok https://tiktok.com/@1brittanyheyden

Image Credits
Connie Olson Photography

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