As a founder, mentor, and startup strategist, I know firsthand that building something from the ground up, like growing a wellness company, is never easy. It takes vision, grit, patience, and relentless tenacity. That’s why conversations like the one I had with Trish Mock, founder of GOOD PSYCHE, are essential to share.
On my podcast Tenacity with Sonia C, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Trish to talk about her entrepreneurial journey. She grew up on her mother’s medicinal herb farm in Western New York. Eventually, she launched her wellness brand rooted in medicinal plants and mushrooms. This episode contains lessons for any startup founder navigating the challenging but rewarding business-building path.
Finding Inspiration at the Roots: How GOOD PSYCHE Began
One thing that stood out during our conversation was how deeply Trish’s upbringing shaped her path. Raised on a medicinal herb farm and mentored by her mother, a board-certified herbalist and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, Trish was immersed in the healing power of plants from a young age. This influenced her in growing her wellness company.
When she decided to leave her career in tech and build a business aligned with her passion, GOOD PSYCHE was born. This blend of ancient wisdom and modern entrepreneurship is a story many tech founders can relate to. It blends personal experiences into powerful innovation.
From Tech to Wellness: Making the Leap
Trish openly shared how she strategically transitioned from the tech world into the wellness industry. She didn’t just “fall into” entrepreneurship. Growing a wellness company was a purpose she pursued strategically. It was a reminder that great startups often start with a clear “why.”
At GOOD PSYCHE, Trish focused on creating effective, authentic products that reflect her deep respect for plant medicine. The product line, including the Glisten Up Face Mist featuring snow mushroom extract, combines natural healing with modern skincare science.
Her story is a powerful example for founders everywhere: you don’t have to abandon your corporate skills when you pivot industries. You leverage them.
The Realities of Startup Life: Patience, Testing, and Iteration
During our conversation, Trish emphasized a truth every founder needs to hear: building products, whether in wellness, tech, or beyond, takes time.
Product development for GOOD PSYCHE lasted over a year and a half. It involved multiple iterations, testing rounds, and learning curves. Growing her wellness company wasn’t just about creating a pretty label. It required ensuring real results and integrity behind every formula. This mirrors the process so many tech startups in Toronto and beyond face when launching an MVP (Minimum Viable Product). It reminds us that true entrepreneurship isn’t an overnight success. It’s a test of patience, perseverance, and willingness to learn.
Educating the Market: Breaking Through Skepticism
Another challenge Trish discussed is one I see often in startups educating the market.
GOOD PSYCHE’s products involve medicinal plants and mushrooms, topics that still face skepticism in the broader consumer world.
Instead of backing down, Trish leaned in, focusing on storytelling, education, and transparency to build trust with her audience. This trust-building is crucial for growing a wellness company, just as it is for tech founders launching disruptive or unfamiliar products. Winning hearts and minds often start with simply teaching.
Entrepreneurship is a Journey of Tenacity
At the heart of Trish’s story is pure, unwavering tenacity — the exact quality I celebrate on Tenacity with Sonia C.
It’s the ability to hold onto your vision even when the market is skeptical, product development is slow, and even pivoting feels scary.
GOOD PSYCHE is more than just a brand. It’s a testament to what can happen when passion, purpose, and persistence align. Growing a wellness company in this way is a lesson every startup founder, tech entrepreneur, and dreamer needs to hear.
Final Thoughts
I started Tenacity with Sonia C to give back to the startup community. I wanted to help tech founders, innovators, and creators navigate the messy, beautiful road of entrepreneurship by learning from those who have done it.
My conversation with Trish Mock is a powerful reminder that success is built on resilience, patience, and staying true to your “why,” no matter your industry, wellness, tech, beauty, or beyond.
If you’re a startup founder or aspiring entrepreneur, I encourage you to listen to the full episode. You’ll walk away inspired, informed, and ready to keep pushing forward.
🎧 Listen to the full episode of Tenacity with Sonia C featuring Trish Mock.
By Sonia Couto | Startup Mentor | Founder | Speaker | Host of Tenacity with Sonia C
