Jaclyn Lineback Founded A Wellness & Longevity Company Focused On Providing Natural Alternative Solutions To Common Health Conditions

I am the founder and CEO of HartSpan, a wellness and longevity company focused on providing natural alternative solutions to common health conditions. At a young age, observing the health challenges of my grandparents, I developed a passion for longevity. Guided by my father, a chest physician, who values healthy lifestyle choices and prevention for his patients and in his own life, I learned to prioritize natural health solutions over pharmaceuticals. I made it my mission to make these solutions widely accessible, while providing information and education for others to extend their healthy years of life. Our first product, Khelp, is a functional supplement derived from seaweed and designed to combat acid reflux and heartburn, naturally and effectively. 

What motivated you to become an entrepreneur? Is having your own business something you always wanted?

I guess I would consider myself a lifelong entrepreneur. Some of my favorite board games as a kid were Monopoly and Cash Flow Quadrant, and you could usually find me at my lemonade stand on the weekends. In middle school I made soap, which I sold out of my locker, and eventually had a thriving babysitting business in high school. The entrepreneurial spark has always been there for me, but defining what that "real" business would be took time and exploration.

I always knew I wanted to make an impact on people's health and longevity, like my dad did as an MD, but I didn't know how to do that without a medical degree myself. I spent the first decade of my career cultivating entrepreneurial skills working at early-stage startups across diverse industries, from snowboarding to software. Entering the health and wellness sector was daunting, but I immersed myself and learned everything I could. I followed experts in the space, educated myself with books and podcasts, and talked to as many people as possible to figure out how to make my vision come to life, which eventually took the form of making natural health solutions widely accessible. 

If you don't have your exact business or product idea yet, immerse yourself in the industry you're passionate about. Learn as much as you can, talk to everyone, and stay observant. You'll find somewhere to add unique value!

How do you push through your worst times? What are some tips on how we can motivate ourselves when we’re not really feeling it?

In entrepreneurship, there are endless tough times. It's something you hear about constantly but don't fully grasp until you're in it. The pressure, emotion, and stress can be unbearable at times. To succeed as an entrepreneur, it is critical to be able to work through tough times often and manage emotions. For me, it's all about maintaining composure amidst chaos and having faith that I'll not only make it through but also find a viable solution. This is often easier said than done!

Compartmentalizing work and personal life is another key strategy. It's important to keep work stress from seeping into your personal life, which can be tricky as an entrepreneur. While you can't usually leave work at work, you can shift your focus to ensure that business stress doesn't infiltrate your personal space.

I've found meditation to be an incredibly useful tool in shifting focus, as well as taking breaks and changing my environment. Going for a walk, to the gym, or even running errands can help me reset. Then I can revisit the problem with a calmer, fresh perspective. It's all about discovering those moments of clarity amidst the craziness and trusting that, ultimately, I'll navigate through.

How did you get your mentor? Why did you choose them to be your mentor? What are some tips for people who are looking for mentors, but don’t really have them yet?

I've been fortunate to have several mentors, and each has played a significant role in my journey. When it comes to finding a mentor, I began by surveying my network—tapping into friends who are entrepreneurs, bosses, teachers, parents and parents' friends. I sought out people I considered successful, and not only those on my exact career path. I usually turn to different mentors with different needs. For instance, I'd turn to one for marketing, another for manufacturing, and yet another for financial advice – each bringing their own expertise to the table.

When looking for a mentor, it pays to be inquisitive and nurture relationships. If people like you and you're doing something interesting, they usually want to help. Those of us who have been in the trenches of entrepreneurship are often eager to pay it forward. While the common advice is to "add value" when seeking a mentor, that doesn't necessarily need to be something big. For busy mentors still deeply involved in running their businesses, small gestures such as liking and reposting social content, referring people to job openings, or writing reviews can make a meaningful impact. For those with more time on their hands, personal engagement, thank-you notes, and progress updates can be good ways to reciprocate.

One valuable resource for anyone seeking mentorship is SCORE, offering free area-specific mentorship with seasoned professionals. While I initially had several general business mentors, SCORE connected me with someone that had relevant industry expertise, which I needed. Make sure to research available mentors and request a specific pairing rather than getting matched through the system. That way you can really tailor your mentor to your needs. There are some incredible mentor volunteers available through the program.

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