From Burnout to Business Growth: Why Changing Direction Was the Best Decision I Made

XFactor Business Growth Award - Elle Harrison

I can’t believe it’s been five years since C19 hit Australia. Just over five years ago, I was heavily pregnant with my son and made the very swollen 8-hour drive to the Gold Coast for Tammy Guest’s NatEx conference. That year, she also hosted the XFactor Awards—and to my surprise, I was announced as the winner of the Business Growth Award.

I still vividly remember trying to wrangle my heels back on so I could dance my way up onto the stage (pregnant shuffle-style and all).

That moment marked a huge turning point in my business journey. At the time, I had just shifted into offering VA and website services for other practitioners after completely burning out as a Naturopath. I’d doubled my income, had flexible work hours lined up before Asher arrived, and—for the first time in a long time—I actually felt excited about work again.

Since then, I’ve officially let go of my association registration and made the call not to return to clinic. And honestly? I have zero regrets.

Those four years of study, and the four years of running my own clinic, gave me deep insight into our industry—into how practitioners think, how patients feel, and what actually builds connection and trust online.

That insight has been the foundation of everything I do now:

Helping health and wellness professionals create aligned, impactful online presences so they can reach the right people and do more of the work they love—without the burnout.

That XFactor Business Growth Award wasn’t just about revenue.

It marked growth in:

– My impact

– My confidence (I never felt truly adequate as a practitioner)

– My lifestyle (I got to grow my family without compromising my time to work for someone else)

And to anyone out there who’s wondering if they can keep going in clinical practice—or who’s quietly questioning if it’s still the right fit—I want to say this:

You don’t have to keep doing 1:1 consults.

You don’t have to stay in a role that no longer feels aligned.

And you definitely don’t have to let go of your degree to make a meaningful impact.

There are so many ways to use your skills, knowledge and experience in more aligned, flexible, and fulfilling ways.

Work with a mentor (Tammy was mine!) to help you find clarity, and don’t be afraid to explore where your path might be leading next.

Just because you started in one place doesn’t mean you have to stay there.

Sometimes the detour leads you somewhere even better.

You’ve got options.

You’ve got skills.

And your work still matters—no matter what form it takes.