We had the good fortune of connecting with Lyonie Charles and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lyonie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I initially decided to start my own business, I was working full-time as a family nurse practitioner. It was very challenging because I barely had time to do anything related to my business. Then, the coronavirus pandemic started and I couldn’t work full-time anymore due to my children having to stay home and attend school virtually. I needed flexibility at work but my employer said they couldn’t accommodate me because they didn’t have any part-time or per-diem positions available at the time. At that moment, I knew I had to start walking in my purpose by becoming an entrepreneur and do whatever I needed to do to start my business. I also knew that starting my own business meant I could make money while having the flexibility to care for my children, especially when they are sick or unable to attend school. Since starting my business, I have been able to do that. I continued to work full-time for my employer for a few months and then resigned so that I could run my business full-time. I knew that I had to continue working hard to earn the money that I needed to invest in my business and make entrepreneurship a reality. I also knew that I had a divine purpose that included helping others, especially those who could not afford high-quality health care. Once I realized my purpose, I decided to take the necessary steps to fulfill it. The beginning of my journey to entrepreneurship was difficult due to having a family to care for as well as working full-time. However, I don’t regret anything because having my own business is very rewarding. In addition, I am fulfilling my purpose by providing affordable and high-quality health care services to people who are unable to afford them. I believe that with faith, commitment, and dedication, becoming a successful entrepreneur can be accomplished.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
After I got baptized, I realized it was my God-given purpose to help people. I also knew that opening a direct primary care clinic would allow me to provide high-quality health care services that are affordable to individuals in the community. I chose to open my clinic in the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic because I knew individuals in my community would need access to these affordable health care services. I chose the direct primary care model because it gives me an alternative to fee-for-service insurance billing. Instead of billing insurance companies, I charge my clients a monthly membership fee that covers unlimited office visits, unlimited access to the provider, transparent pricing, no co-pay or deductibles, and same-day or next-day appointments. In addition to direct primary care, my company offers various aesthetic services including acne treatments, hydrofacials, medical grade chemical peels, and microneedling. I’m very proud of myself because I had a successful career as a nurse practitioner and have become an entrepreneur. My advice to people who want to start a business is you have to have an entrepreneurial mindset before starting any business. If your mind is in the right place, you will be successful. It was easy for me to start a business because I have an entrepreneurial mindset. Getting proper training and coaching before starting a business will help you avoid wasting money and it’s cost-effective. In addition, you have to be organized or you’ll be frustrated along the way. My company, LoveLee 4life, has a mission to help individuals who have a low-esteem look great inside and out and build their self-esteem. We want to help people who are having a bad day have a better day. If they’re going through something, we want to help them get through it. If they are overweight, we want to help them lose weight. If they are feeling unattractive, we want to provide aesthetic services that will make them look and feel beautiful. Lastly, we want to provide sexual health services to improve men and women’s sexual health.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are a few good places that I could take my best friend or any other visitor in my area. First, I would give them a tour of City Place , which is the center of entertainment located in downtown West Palm Beach. They could go shopping or just look around the area. I would also give them a tour of downtown West Palm Beach. Next, I would take them to Singer Island and Palm Beach Island to hang out on the beautiful beaches. The views are breathtaking so I know they would enjoy the trip. Lastly, I would take them to eat at Frigate’s Waterfront Bar & Grill located in North Palm Beach. They could sit outside under a palm tree by the waterfront and enjoy casual fine dining, handcrafted drinks, and island music.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are two people that I want to credit and recognize for my story and they are my parents. My parents immigrated from Haiti to the United States, and didn’t speak English when they arrived here. After a few years of living here, they became entrepreneurs. They worked very hard to get to that point and were a great team. They managed to have a very successful business because of their hard work and dedication. Both of my parents have passed away and never got a chance to see me become an entrepreneur. However, they were the ones who motivated and encouraged me to do what I do and to never give up. In addition, they were my supporters and mentors, and always pushed me to be the best at whatever I decided to do.

Website: https://lovelee4life.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelee4lifellc/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lovelee4life
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lovelee4lifellc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelee4life
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lovelee-4life-north-palm-beach?osq=lovelee+4life
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUEPrSVzsfrbwSdntUfQOg

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