"I think an entrepreneur is someone who thinks outside the box. They look at everything as an opportunity to learn, add value, and create something that doesn’t currently exist"
Rachel Scheer Tweet
Rachel Scheer is a Functional Medicine Nutritionist who received her degree from Baylor University in Nutrition Science and Dietetics and became certified in functional medicine through the Kalish Institute. Rachel has a private practice in Dallas, TX where she specializes in addressing the root cause of chronic illness and optimizing the body through nutrition and lifestyle modifications. She’s been featured in Men’s Health, Train for Her, WFAA Good Morning Texas, USA Today and Star Tribune. Rachel’s journey as a nutritionist began in weight-loss and athletic performance. However, a couple years into her practice she began to suffer from severe gastrointestinal dysfunction (IBS.)
After many false diagnoses, spending thousands of dollars on doctor visits and tests, and one doctor even suggesting the removal of her entire large intestine, Rachel decided to take her health into her own hands. Using her knowledge in nutrition and dietetics Rachel became an expert on gut health and hormonal balance and completed her certification in functional medicine through the Kalish Institute. Rachel says “using a functional approach and focusing on the health of the gut microbiome saved [her] life. All disease begins and ends in the gut, so rather than putting a ‘band-aid’ over an issue I.e. medications/drugs/surgery, we need to get to the root cause and that’s what functional medicine comes in. My gut issues came from a bacteria imbalance or gut dysbiosis, and once I was able to address that through diet, stress, supplements, and lifestyle changes I was able to heal my body and avoid surgery.” Rachel’s nutrition philosophy is one that looks at the total person. She uses functional lab testing to address the root cause of any imbalances in the body and creates a customized program consisting of dietary recommendations, supplements, and lifestyle modifications to optimize your health and well-being.
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Thank you so much for giving us your time! Before we begin, could you introduce yourself to our readers and take us through what exactly your company does and what your vision is for its future?
Rachel Scheer: Yes, thank you so much for having me here today! I am a certified functional medicine nutritionist with my degree in Nutrition Science and Dietetics from Baylor University. My private practice, Rachel Scheer Nutrition, is located here in the Dallas area where I have a team of Registered Dietitians and Nurse Practitioners.
At Rachel Scheer Nutrition, we help people get to the root cause of their health issues, heal, and optimize their body and mind. We do this through extensive lab testing, looking at your gut microbiome, food sensitivities, hormones and adrenals, hidden toxins, and micronutrient testing and create you a customized nutrition and lifestyle plan.
My personal journey as a dietitian began in weight-loss and athletic performance. However, a couple years into my practice I began to suffer from severe gastrointestinal dysfunction (IBS.) After many false diagnoses, spending thousands of dollars on doctor visits and tests, and one doctor even suggesting the removal of my entire large intestine, I decided to take my health into my own hands.
Using my knowledge in nutrition and dietetics I became an expert on gut health and completed my certification in functional medicine through the Kalish Institute. Using a functional approach and focusing on the health of the gut microbiome saved my life. All disease begins and ends in the gut, so rather than putting a ‘band-aid’ over an issue I.e. medications/drugs/surgery, we need to get to the root cause and that’s what functional medicine comes in. My gut issues came from a bacteria imbalance or gut dysbiosis, and once I was able to address that through diet, stress, supplements, and lifestyle changes I was able to heal my body and avoid surgery.
Gut health is the foundation for everything we do with my practice. The gut is connected to literally every other system in the body, from your hormones and brain function to your metabolism and immune system. If the gut is off, everything else will be off.
My vision for Rachel Scheer Nutrition is to change the way the world thinks about health. I want to empower people to take control of their health using functional medicine to address the root cause of their health issues and make the necessary dietary and lifestyle changes to not only heal but create a life that is so good.
NO child ever says I want to be a CEO/entrepreneur when I grow up. What did you want to be and how did you get where you are today?
Rachel Scheer: I definitely have always had an innate desire to be an entrepreneur, I think. I grew up in Minnesota and when I was 5 years old, I would dig up fishing worms from my backyard and sell them, sort of like a little lemonade stand!
I also grew up as a gymnast and dancer, so my passion has always revolved around fitness and nutrition. I knew when I graduated from high-school I wanted to help people better themselves, but I didn’t know exactly what that looked like. For a while I thought I wanted to be a doctor but decided to go the nutrition and dietetics route instead.
After I graduated from Baylor, I worked as a dietitian for a hospital and even Lifetime fitness. I was a TERRIBLE employee. I hated being told what to do and follow guidelines that I didn’t often believe in… I found myself doing what I had to at my job and then going home each day and working on my side-hustle…
I would post on Instagram my workouts, nutrition tips, recipes, before/after photos, and motivational content. I actually was not doing it at all to build a business, I was honestly just so passionate about fitness and nutrition. I was a living example of what I preached, and people saw that and wanted to work with me.
I eventually started to take on nutrition coaching clients, meeting them in Starbucks, and getting them incredible results. I didn’t have a fancy office, or even a practice like I do now today. I had a message, passion, and added value to everyone I met.
Eventually my social media grew to over a quarter million following on Instagram and I had so many people that wanted to work with me that I eventually made the leap to going all in on building my own business and nutrition practice.
My nutrition practice initially began with a focus on weight-loss and athletic performance, but after my own health issues I expanded it to functional medicine.
I am where I am at today, and attract the people that I do, because I understand my clients. I am a walking billboard for everything my business stands for. I am a fitness model, athlete, and entrepreneur, and I have completely lost my health to the point that no doctor could figure it out. Thrown on dozens of medications and even almost having my entire large intestine removed because of how serious my gut issues where. I have been thought everything my clients have been through and came out on the other side. Now I get to use the exact approach that healed me with other people.
Tell us something about yourself that others in your organization might be surprised to know.
Rachel Scheer: Sometimes it may look like I have everything figured out, but honestly every day is a new adventure. No one has it all figured out, but I do my best every single day by showing up, doing the work, and adding value to everyone I meet. If you can do that every day, I truly believe that things will fall into place the way they are supposed to.
Many readers may wonder how to become an entrepreneur but what is an entrepreneur? How would you define it?
Rachel Scheer: I think an entrepreneur is someone who thinks outside the box. They look at everything as an opportunity to learn, add value, and create something that doesn’t currently exist. They know that their success is based on what they can think and create. Their mind is their most valuable asset, because if they can think it, they can create it.
What is the importance of having a supportive and inclusive culture?
Rachel Scheer: At Rachel Scheer Nutrition, having a culture that is supporting and inclusive is important because we are essentially not only all entrepreneurs within a business, but we are a team of leaders building other leaders. Everyone on my team has to be:
- Committed to growth, personally, professionally, and within the organization
- Committed to making an impact and inspiring the lives of people
- Committed to learning and staying up to date on the latest nutrition and functional medicine practices
- Committed exceeding expectations
- Relentlessly disciplined and highly motivated
We are looking for impact players. People who don’t just want to do the bare minimum, but want to add such massive value, grow, and impact the lives of other people.
If there are any cracks in our culture, it is my job as the owner to plug the holes and set expectations accordingly. My team also knows that they can come to me about anything, whether that’s personal or professional struggles. This has allowed everyone on my team to know that they have a voice, are valued, and are supported in the work that they do.
How can a leader be disruptive in the post covid world?
Rachel Scheer: By challenging the status quo—we need more leaders who can actually LEAD by being an example of what is possible. Playing small does nothing for the world. When you make a stand, go after what you want, and speak unapologetically, you give other people the freedom to do it, too.
If a 5-year-old asked you to describe your job, what would you tell them?
Rachel Scheer: I help people live a healthier and better life using testing and nutrition.
Share with us one of the most difficult decisions you had to make for your company that benefited your employees or customers. What made this decision so difficult and what were the positive impacts?
Rachel Scheer: Right at the start of Covid, I decided to I hire a business coach, 3 new dietitians, and a full time assistant. I am a big believer that HOW is not always the best way, but rather WHO–Who can help me achieve the goals I have? Who can help me think in different ways? It ended up being the best decision I ever made and it 10x my business within a year, and now we can service that many more people and make a greater impact.
Leaders are usually asked about their most useful qualities but let’s change things up a bit. What is your most useless talent?
Rachel Scheer: I am a creator. Ever since I was a kid, I was blessed with a big imagination that I still carry today. This has helped me think big and imagine everything that I now have today and where my business will be going in the future!
Thank you so much for your time but before we finish things off, we do have one more question. If you wrote a book about your life until today, what would the title be?
Rachel Scheer: I actually plan on writing a book in the near future! It will be called “Heal” and about how trauma manifests in the body through chronic disease, toxic habits, and relationships and how we can use the power of functional medicine to heal out bodies and mind.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Rachel Scheer for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Rachel Scheer or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
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