Name: Jennifer Hoger
Occupation: Licensed Acupuncturist
Employer: Self employed, Jennifer Hoger Acupuncture (www.jenniferhogeracupuncture.com)
Job Title: Business Owner/Acupuncturist
What is your expertise?
I am a health expert. I have my masters in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). I practice gentle, effective acupuncture on an affordable sliding scale of $40-$65. I opened my own practice about a year and a half ago. I treat many different maladies using acupuncture, cupping, herbal therapy, yoga therapy (I’m also a certified yoga instructor), tui-na (oriental massage), and other modalities that all fit under the umbrella of TCM. Some patients come to me with pain or stress, others want to regulate their cycle. The patients I see, and what TCM can treat, really vary a lot. I especially love seeing people who are new to acupuncture, because they are usually nervous about needles and I am told that I am good at putting new patients at ease.
What are the three key steps that got you to where you are today?
1. Having a great support system in my family, who are also all in healthcare, has been invaluable.
2. Allowing time for self-care is extremely important for everyone, but I think especially if you’re in healthcare. You can’t take care of anyone if you don’t take care of yourself. This includes eating well, exercising, maintenance in the form of acupuncture, massage and chiropractic, meditation, and enjoying life in the moment!
3. Knowing when to ask for help. When you own your own business sometimes you want to do everything yourself. You have to know when to seek help, and not be afraid to ask.
What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?
Probably what most people who are starting their own business face: fear. I like the Henry Ford quote: “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” I try to focus on the “why” of what I am doing (helping people feel better, making acupuncture financially accessible), and my goals, and not let fear rule my decisions. Ultimately if you fail, the worst thing that can happen is you learn from your mistakes and do it better the next time around.
What has been your biggest success and how would you empower other women to achieve that success?
Making the decision to change my life. If you are unhappy in your job, relationship, or where you live- do something about it. It’s not worth being unhappy. Life is too short. (And frankly, you won’t live as long if you’re unhappy all the time!)
What advice would you give to an aspiring female business owner?
You will have to put yourself out there and do things that are outside of your comfort zone. So again, face your fears and know that you can make mistakes and learn from them. Go for it!
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an actress. I did that for a long time in Los Angeles and had some successes. However, I became less passionate about it over the years, and felt that I wasn’t helping people in a way I knew I could. I also didn’t want to live in Los Angeles anymore when I decided to change careers. These are the life changes I was referring to earlier. I still act occasionally and have an agent in Austin, but it’s amazing how different my life is now. I sometimes feel like I’m stepping into someone else’s reality- and I love it. Having my own business helping people lead healthier lives has been both empowering and rewarding, and living in Austin is fantastic!
