Business: Heart of Wellness
Owner: David Sauro
Website: www.heartofwellness.us
We are excited to showcase David’s business, Heart of Wellness. We recently had the opportunity to redesign and rebuild the HOW website using a modern layout and featuring HOW videos, programs, and an easy-to-access online form to join the free HOW COmmunity. We hope you learn something new below and check out the new and improved HOW website to learn even more.
How did your business get started?
In the fall of 2012, after attending several short workshops on health-related topics, I felt the nudge, to create a half day program that would inspire people to make simple life-style changes. Three important aspects of health were explored: nutrition, movement, and attitude. They became the foundation of HOW and created our model: the Tripod for a Healthy Heart. I recruited three fitness instructors from the health club in Hyannis where I was a member. In 2013, HOW, which is an acronym for Heart of Wellness, was established. That April we presented the first HOW program to the community, which also became a fund-raiser for a high school student who had passed away suddenly from a heart related issue. We raised over $6,000 that day along with providing information to the forty-six people in attendance on healthy heart related topics. That event became the motivation for me to continue with this concept. Shortly after that “HOW” received IRS approval to become a 501c3 non-profit.
Tell us about yourself.
Being involved in athletics has been a big part of my life from my youth to now as a senior citizen. From playing football in high school and at a small college for two years to running road races and marathons and to most recently enjoying the benefits of weight training and pool workouts I have always stayed active. After graduating in Business Management from Suffolk University, I started my career in construction management, and I now have over 40 years of experience in this profession. My part-time second career started in 2013, founding HOW, as an educational non-profit with a focus on living healthy and happy. Recently I became certified in Mindfulness, Wellness Life Coach, and Qigong for Health and Healing. I am supported in my mission and passion for healthier communities by my wife Janice, along with our three grown daughters and five grandchildren.
Where do you find inspiration?
I like to start my day by reading two short reflections. One from “The Secret” and the closing line reads “Today is the best day of my life.” The second reading is from a book written by Jon Gordon and the closing line reads “So today and every day I will be positive and strive to make a positive impact on the world.” These two readings help me to live with an “attitude of gratitude” so that I am open to all the love, joy, and positive energy of the day and that encourages me to find inspiration in all the little messages that I receive daily.
What do you love about your business?
The challenge of bringing updated information to others on health and happiness; this requires doing research to give inspiration to make positive choices. I love doing the research, reading the newest studies, and watching videos to keep current with the latest findings and then writing articles and creating videos that become attractive to the followers of HOW. This also helps me to stay focused on my own personal health and happiness life-style choices.
What are some ways that you promote your business?
Since the first event that HOW offered back in 2013, we have offered free programs to the community through the local library and the YMCA, although COVID put a halt on them. For the past two years, HOW has articles that have been published, once a month in the local weekly newspaper the Barnstable Patriot. Also, we offer “Wellness Wednesday” posts emailed to our mailing list and Facebook followers. As with most businesses today, we do our best to be active through various social media platforms.
Do you have any advice for other business owners?
Being in business for yourself is like any other relationship in your life. First, and most important is to love the work that you do. Next, you must be willing to make sacrifices of your time and energy, along with being flexible to making adjustments every day. Also, have an open line of communication with those that are important to the success of your business. Every single day be ready to deal with the obstacles and challenges that you will face. Be positive and grateful for the opportunity you have with your business to make an impact on your community and be extremely grateful for the wonderful clients that you serve.
**If you are a COLEwebdev client and you would like to be included in our Business of the Month please contact Desiree @ [email protected]