Wellness Incorporated: The Health Entrepreneur's Handbook

by Jennifer Buchanan

The essential guide for every entrepreneur in the health and wellness field—whether for-profit or non-profit, public or private.

Health and wellness businesses have unique challenges, opportunities, and metrics—until now there has never been a business resource specifically for health entrepreneurs. Renowned music therapist Jennifer Buchanan shows you how to measure your success and deliver your service in a way that blends health, heart, and mastery. It is possible to build a business that endures, without compromising your own health and values.

Like many health entrepreneurs, Buchanan started with a huge mission. She wanted to help people in their pursuit of optimum health. But after running her business for twenty years, even with thousands of clients and a loyal staff, she felt burned out and not sure if her business would make it. Rather than quit, Buchanan went on an intense quest to prove her company’s viability and identify the key components of successful healthcare practices—and in Wellness Incorporated she shares these essential elements so your own business can prosper.

Wellness Incorporated offers nine simple steps for starting or revitalizing your health business. You’ll learn how to establish your dream, scale your business, share your message with the world, increase equity for all, take care of yourself while you’re doing good work for others, and more. And yes, the good work can continue without Buchanan shows you how to create a lasting legacy so your mission can endure without you. Filled with practical tips and inspiring examples, including Buchanan’s own journey, Wellness Incorporated is geared toward those who believe that taking care of your business is the best way to take care of others. Now that’s wellness, well played.

212 pages, Paperback

Published January 28, 2019

About the author

Jennifer witnessed the power of music as a young teen when her Grandad had his second stroke leaving him unable to speak or walk. It was Granny who asked her to bring her guitar to the hospital center and sing his favorite song. As she sang, she watched the face of the grumpy old man she thought she knew, turn into the tears of a man who wanted a more meaningful connection.

Uncertain times will always be with us. Perhaps music can be our proven constant. – Jennifer Buchanan, MTA, MBA

That moment was the beginning of her journey to becoming a Music Therapist.

Jennifer jokes that her speaking career started in elementary school when she won her school district’s speaking contest. She recognized the power of a message and how it could transform thoughts and support new ideas. Also during these formative years, John Denver visited her school where he sang his music, shared the film of him traveling along the west coast, and shared the message of loving our land. Jennifer witnessed firsthand the power of imagery, message, and music. When they are all blended together, they become the perfect anchor to a moment never to be forgotten.

I believe in the power of music for mental health and well-being and there is no other way I know to get out the work I have been doing for 30 years – exploring this power – than through a really well-crafted presentation. – Jennifer Buchanan, MTA, MBA

Her work today:

Jennifer is Founder and Visionary Architect of JB Music Therapy (JBMT), a music therapy company that has been instrumental in the implementation of hundreds of music therapy programs throughout Canada for 30 years and that has been thrice nominated for the Community Impact Award by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. JBMT currently employs a diverse team of 18 Certified Music Therapists.

As the author of two award-winning books – ‘Tune In‘ and ‘Wellness Incorporated‘ she has become a trusted source for media outlets across North America and has been featured in publications such as The Guardian and The Huffington Post. Her latest book, Wellness, Wellplayed: The Power of a Playlist was written for all of us who love to make the biggest impact possible while getting the most out of life – it equips busy, mindful people with tools and supports to engage with music in a deeper way.

As an invited keynote speaker at national and international conventions, Jennifer speaks on music and mental health, music therapy, and health entrepreneurship to a wide variety of education, healthcare, government, small business, and corporate wellness audiences.

Combining her music therapy experience with her MBA, Jennifer is the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Music Therapists. The Canadian music therapy community presented Jennifer with their two most prestigious awards – the Norma Sharpe Award for lifetime achievement and the Frani Award, named after her long-time mentor and friend.

How Jennifer can help and inspire your organization?

Jennifer’s Presentations help cultivate connections and foster improved well-being within individuals, workplaces, and communities. Jennifer speaks to large and small organizations about the benefits of music for memory, mood, and motivation. Her work as a Certified Music Therapist allows her to touch the lives of people at any age and any phase of life → from babies and toddlers → to corporate employees → to prison inmates → to musicians such as Don Felder, lead guitarist with The Eagles:

Reviews

[JoAnn Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A music therapist must read

While business books are filled with helpful and important information, they miss the social entrepreneur aspect highlighted in this book.

Two powerful sections include “Findings your blisspoint” and “Leaving a legacy ahead”. No cliff notes in this review. You need to read the book to grasp the power.

[Sindy Castellanos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gem for entrepreneurs who want to make their community service a successful company. Whether in the area of health, education or social impact. Reading it helps to understand the potential and internal resources that the entrepreneur already has; and know the principles of a profitable business. The author provides a clear instruction with steps, warnings, tips and tools to become a successful entrepreneur, with the possibility of changing the world.
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Este libro es una joya para emprendedores que desean hacer de su servicio a la comunidad, una empresa exitosa. Ya sea en el área de la salud, como de la educación o el impacto social. Leerlo ayuda a comprender el potencial y los recursos internos con los que ya cuenta el emprededor; y conocer los principios de un negocio rentable. La autora proporciona una clara instrucción con pasos, advertencias, consejos y herramientas para convertirse en un empresario exitoso, con la posibilidad de cambiar el mundo.

[Nicky Hirst · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting read. It targets the "health entrepreneur" and uses several terms I have never encountered before. It includes useful quotes and tips, including practical ones such as have a good chair to optimistic people achieve more.

I especially like the questions at the end of each chapter which are there to help you reflect and move your business on.

Even if you are not a health entrepreneur, but an entrepreneur at any level, I suspect you will find something interesting to take away with you. This book would be especially useful, for example, for those struggling to retain staff or with their own well-being regardless of industry sector.

The book is well written and easy to read - with lots of noteworthy points.

It is written for the US market, but many of the points will "travel" for those setting up/improving businesses anywhere. Leases may vary and the stories given as examples may work better for a US audience but the advice from these can still be used globally. For example, the chapter talking about "finding your blisspoint" (which I especially enjoyed) reminds the reader that clients see us as constantly representing our brand "with every interaction, every communication, and every service we offer" and the culture code (from chapter one) where the reader is encouraged to always complete the statement “In everything we do, we believe in . . .” will always apply to successful businesses.

This is not your usual business book and I would recommend it as an interesting read and less dry than many books you may have tried in the past on this subject.

[Mina Chrys · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came by this book via Booktasters, in exchange for an honest review.

When I was given this book to review I was a little skeptical, I’m not really that much for non-fiction books, let alone entrepreneurial topics, but this was a great surprise.

As an entrepreneur myself, I usually tend to rely on instinct and proven formulas which have historically worked for me and my business, so it was really great to find a book that speaks of things I know and instinctively knos and put into practice, and actually puts a name on them.

This is really a handbook, one you can come back to when feeling a little lost or lacking and idea where to start, whether it be for a healthy assessment of your business, or getting a North on where you are headed, might be the direction you want to go, or it may be to try a change of direction.

It’s put into simple words, and it also deals with topics everyone can relate to, no matter if you are at the beginning, middle or at what you might think is the end, this book shows us there is always a way to get momentum and rethink your strategies, without an need to change your goal, your mission or your passion.

[CinderBelle615 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know what a “health entreprenuer” was. The book explained it well. From what I understood, it’s basically someone who runs a business but is conscious about the world around them and carries out their business in the spirit of helping others instead of just gaining money, money, money. And I think a lot of people forget that when they want to start a business. They concentrate and add up numbers and figures about how much money they’ll make a year doing whatever it is they want to start. I liked the author’s guidance in helping those who think this way, lead them off that mindset and help them focus on the importance of social responsibility and as well as emotional responsibility in and out of the business. I have my own little business so I am looking forward to incorporating many of her tips and advice into what I do. The anecdotes were fun and inspirational and I only wish the book were a bit longer.

[Nancy Poland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wellness Incorporated: The Health Entrepreneur's Handbook by Jennifer Buchanan is a well thought out book describing the process of setting up a health business as an entrepreneur. She provides 9 chapters on various topics from “Drive Your Dream,” to “Scale for Impact,” to “Leave a Legacy Ahead.” She teaches the aspiring entrepreneur, as well as current small business owners, how to build a successful and even profitable business in the health field (which is quite broad, she is a music therapist.) I particularly liked how she describes building a “clan culture” with her employees while bringing a meaningful service to stakeholders. Ms. Buchanan includes well-documented references, bringing in support from other professionals. I enjoyed this book, and should I ever expand my sole-proprietorship, I would certainly use this as a useful guide.

[Jonathan Beaber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had little understanding of what a Health Entrepreneur was and what all that entailed. After reading this book, I have a much better understanding of what it is, and what it is about. Jennifer Buchanan shows the principles of general entrepreneurship and explains what would be needed, and used for a business that is centered around the healthcare industry. The tips and everything through the chapters is really beneficial, and can help to start, and build a business, if that is what you are looking to do. This is a great book to learn, and understand, to better yourself in the realm of healthcare entrepreneurship. It has a high probability to help you in all of the areas needed to be successful.

[Het · Rating 4 out of 5]

As any startups goes, success mostly is equated with money that is the profit margins. We forget that a lot of things actually contribute to the what success could actually mean. This book highlights it all.
The very first chapter is a deal breaker ad to how the author herself feels her work isn't going well due to low profit margin but when actually broken down to questions that matter, she was actually doing well.
Just like her previous book, tune in, this too has systematically written chapters with tips, stories to make it relatable and some takeaway or thinking to do at the end of each chapter.
The book not only focuses on overall well being of the health entrepreneurs but also how it helps to work better and how it directly help you to reach your goals.

[Charlotte Vaughan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book to read in exchange for an honest review. Here is my review.

I am not the reader for whom this book was written. I am neither a health care professional nor an entrepreneur.

That being said, I enjoyed this book. I found it easy to read & easy to understand. I also found it so interesting that I was often bookmarking &/or highlighting terms & concepts & companies (including the author's own) & quotes so that I could (& did) look up more information.

And even though this is a book primarily about & for a health entrepreneur, there are principles & ideas espoused in this book that could help enhance any type of business, or even your personal life.

[Mylinda A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by this book. At first it seemed like one of those syrupy books that tell me I just have to believe in what I am doing at it will work. As I read the chapters I found more and more suggestions and stories that I could use in some way. The author sets up the chapters in a very helpful format. She gives ProTips, an Impact Story of some type, and 3 Questions at the end of each chapter. There is more to the chapters than that but those are the three sections I found of great use to me and what I do. I will definitely be using this book and rereading sections of it.

[Michelle Oucharek-Deo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer Buchanan has jumped into the difficult conversation about how health professionals who are in private practice can establish an ethically run business and still make a good living; deserve to make a good living. Wellness Incorporated is a well balanced piece of writing that includes practical tips as well as carefully chosen stories which demonstrate how one woman built a successful and ethically minded business and into a community hub. I highly recommend this book as it will expand your perception on how one can run their business responsibly and maintain economic viability.