We were lucky to catch up with Megan Epps recently and have shared our conversation below.
Megan, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
My husband and I hold a set of core family values, and one of the most pivotal among them is GRIT. To me, grit and resilience are deeply intertwined. We cherish this value because it embodies our commitment to consistently showing up, not just in business and our personal relationships, but in all aspects of our lives, especially when it’s most challenging.
Resilience, as I see it, isn’t just about bouncing back; it’s about growing stronger through adversity. It’s a skill honed by choosing to rise above when faced with significant challenges. Throughout my life, I’ve encountered my share of difficulties, but enduring long-term hardships has been the true test of my resilience. These experiences have taught me just how resilient I can be, pushing me to cultivate this trait further. Resilience is something that is developed each time you face hardship, setbacks, or challenges. It is cultivated though acknowledging one’s situation and then choosing to continue to persevere towards your goals and values despite the obstacle in front of you.
Life inevitably presents us with tough situations, but I believe that the true measure of our character is reflected in how we respond to these challenges. No one escapes life without some scars, but it’s our resilience in the face of adversity that truly defines us.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I love chiropractic—not just because I am a chiropractor, but because I was drawn to what this profession stands for. Chiropractic care uniquely champions natural healing. It’s not only about alleviating symptoms like back pain but also about correcting neurostructural shifts, enhancing how the brain communicates with the body, and vastly improving overall health. In simpler terms, we help people heal naturally, without relying on drugs or surgery.
Many people have misconceptions about what chiropractic involves. In our two clinics, one Dover, DE and the other in Lewes, DE, my husband, Frank, and I, focus on family care, which includes specialized services like prenatal and pediatric chiropractic care. This including helping with more complex cases such as feeding struggles for infants, postpartum care, autism, ADHD, and behavior challenges. I have been in the chiropractic profession for over 10 years, and have been a doctor of Chiropractic for 4, and what is so beautiful about that is that I have seen so many people regain their health and better connect deeper with those who love.
When a person has health struggles, it can permeate all aspects of life, often trapping people in a cycle of stress and making their nervous system sympathetic dominant. This state can affect everything from personal relationships to performance at school or work. Our adjustments help regulate the nervous system, helping families unwind and adapt better to their environment, creating individuals who are more adaptable and deeply connected to their community and themselves.
Moreover, being a chiropractor allows me the privilege of running a business with my husband. Owning our practice goes beyond the day-to-day operations; it’s about nurturing a culture of health and connection. Healing is not done in isolation rather it happens within a community, and we are proud to foster a space where people can reconnect with their health and feel part of a supportive community.
Leadership is also quite a passion of mine. It pushes me to continuously hone my skills, ensuring that I can offer the best care possible and inspire others on their health journeys. Through chiropractic, I not only contribute to healing but also lead by example, creating a place where natural wellness can truly thrive. I am immensely proud of the businesses we have built, which not only supports healing but also enriches our community.
As I grow and develop, I see a future where I expand the leadership into retreats to help with the mindset of healing and growth. I feel like the future is full of opportunities and I am so excited for the possibilities. Many people don’t realize the hard work and dedication that comes with building a brand, business, and community. It truly takes grit and determination and I proud of what has been created and what is to come.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Achieving greatness in any field is a complex journey but there are some key skills and qualities that can help you be successful in any situation. I also could not just pick three, so forgive me, as I have picked four (my favorite number by the way.)
1. Know your values
Values are often discussed either abstractly or a way to show up and promote a company. The way I look at values is an agreement on how to live your life between you and yourself. When times get hard, we always fall back on our habits, so if you infuse your habits with your values, you are setting yourself up for success. There are a lot of exercises out there on defining values, but once you have them, you need to take the word and define it and then expand on that by writing down how you will exemplify this value in your life going forward. This demands consistent reflection and the courage to act according to your principles, even when faced with challenges or when it would be easier to compromise. Living by your values influences your decisions, guides your behavior, and shapes your interactions. This authenticity not only fosters trust and respect among peers but also builds a strong personal and professional identity that can endure the test of time and adversity. This will also help you attract into your circle the right people.
2. Collaborate
When it comes to business (and even life), there is a BIG myth in America about “pulling yourself up by your boot straps.” This idea that people are self made in the term that they did it without support or collaboration is a lie that we all need to stop collectively buying into. In your community and field there are wonderful people with shared values and big dreams just like you. Imagine if you connected and instead of each building your own small community, you were able to expand your reach and help more people, get your message out to a broader audience and attract more of your favorite people to work with! Collaboration is the key to all of this. I use to think that I had to do everything myself. It was all on me. That has led to moments of burnout. When I started building a team and collaborating with other community members, it was a game changer for myself and my business. Collaboration is not just about pooling resources but also about combining different perspectives, skills, and experiences to achieve a common goal. Iron sharpens irons and you need to work with other great people to get better and grow more.
3. Taking Full Ownership
What I find that sets most high achievers apart from others is that they take full responsibility in their achievement and failures (which I like to call growth moments.) When you commit to full ownership of all aspects of your life, amazing things happen. I have worked with people that if anything goes wrong it is always someone or something else fault. How frustrating. Although challenging to say that you will take responsible for all things in your life, I found it is also rewarding. The hard part is, when things go wrong, you are responsible. BUT! when you are responsible, you can fix things as well. It also changes your mindset. I find when I realize that I am the creator of my life and actions then I get to create things that are good, that are fun, and that are rewarding! Ownership empowers you to control your destiny rather than being a passive participant in your own life. It cultivates a sense of agency and responsibility, which are critical for sustained success and improvement.
4. Be persistent.
This might be the most important trait. Have you ever seen the picture of a person digging and they give up right before they hit diamonds? There is so much truth to it. As we embark on journeys of building a business, a career, a family, a life…we will have set backs or unexpected circumstances. How you respond is critical to the outcome. So many times, I had a goal I was going for and it took years longer to achieve. I went back to graduate school at 30, I got married to the love of my life at 35, I have built a business and grew it to the best it has been in 4 years. Time is abstract, and we make up deadlines or listen too much to society. Decided what kind of life you want. Define who you want to become. Then, work towards that relentlessly. You will surprise yourself how much you will get done and how great things will turn out when you don’t give up.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Every time you grow and level up, you will be faced with new challenges. I am a believe you are given opportunity and challenges that are equal to what you can handle in life. With each new opportunity or challenge, I have to go back to my values on this one. There are two big things that I find are most helpful to either overcome challenges and develop skills to be successful, and that is grit and curiosity.
Curiosity cultivates a state of openness, priming you for learning and exploration. It’s crucial for anyone committed to lifelong learning. Whether you’re developing new skills, tackling problems, or pursuing goals, curiosity facilitates the process. It transforms challenges into opportunities for understanding, redefining problems as puzzles that are intriguing rather than daunting.
Following curiosity, grit is equally essential. Grit is the tenacity to persevere through difficulties. In my household, our motto is “just get it done,” reflecting our commitment to pushing forward, no matter the obstacles. This blend of curiosity and grit is powerful; together, they equip you to thrive in virtually any situation. By maintaining curiosity, you stay eager and open to new knowledge, while grit drives you to persist and conquer challenges. This combination ensures continuous growth and progress, setting a foundation for success in all aspects of life.
Contact Info:
- Website: doverhealthcarecenter.com / www.302chiropractic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.meganepps/
Image Credits
Frank Chi
