Hemla, a holistic therapist specializing in Color Therapy, uses her past experience as an educator to teach and guide others in a more holistic way. Her interview inspires us to believe in ourselves and to follow our own intuition in our personal and professional lives.
What inspired you to become a holistic entrepreneur?
I was always drawn to crystals and color, even as a 15 year old I took my pocket money and spent it buying crystals. I began to read about their healing properties and took Lapis Lazuli with me to all my exams so that it would help me stay calm and help my concentration!
My fascination with color took me on a journey to explore the meaning of colors at a deeper level. Although I taught and guided children and adults during my years as a teacher. I wanted to “teach and guide” in a more holistic way. I wanted to help people build their self-esteems, learn to accept themselves and understand themselves. I began exploring a variety of therapies and extracting aspects of them to create my own personal brand. My speciality being Color Therapy.
Tell us about your business or practice.
My business is aimed at people who are on a journey to learn more about themselves. To explore themselves more deeply and release outdated or inhibiting beliefs that detrimentally affect their self-esteem. My aim is to guide my clients to feel included, safe and relaxed in what can be an intimate experience of self discovery.
What is your current business model?
My current business model has a few aspects to cater to a variety of needs.
- 1:1 sessions are individually tailored for each client. This offers a client a unique experience based on what their needs are at the time of the session.
- I also conduct virtual sessions for individuals via Skype and Facetime in different countries.
- I offer packages with incentives eg: buy 10 sessions and get the 11th free
- I offer products relating to my therapies, eg: custom blended Angel Sprays & Crystals
What has been one of your favorite moments as a business owner thus far?
When people are in awe of just how much the different colors they choose tells them about where they are right now in their lives or when they come back and tell me they cannot believe that the little bottles of Color Therapy that they took home to apply to their bodies actually helped to shift the old limited thinking patterns!
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in running your business or practice?
Creating a steady flow of regular clients
How have you overcome those challenges?
By networking and offering special offers. By talking at esoteric book shops and venues that appreciate what I do.
How do you find new clients?
By networking
Having a website
Having a yelp page
What have you found to be most effective in securing new clients to sign up for your services?
Yelp reviews and website
What do you do to keep your existing clients engaged in the long term?
Offer them special rates and make sure that each session is tailored to their individual needs.
As your own boss, what is your best strategy for staying focused and productive during your workday?
By pre planning and scheduling clients, me time and social time to network is for me a healthy way to plan my week.
If you could start your business over again from the beginning, what would you do differently?
I would have set up my website at the beginning and asked all my clients for testimonials. I would have also made sure that I had all my clients email addresses.
What were some of the first mistakes you made that you would tell a new holistic entrepreneur to avoid?
Believe that you are amazing and that people really need what you have to give in your own unique way. Don’t try and conform because others tell you that it is the correct way, rather follow your intuition.
What are the top three business tools or resources you couldn’t live without?
Internet/ computer
social media
website
What has been your most effective method for growing your business?
Word of mouth combined with yelp reviews
What is the craziest thing you’ve ever for done for your business?
Relocated to a new country and started again from scratch!
What is your favorite indulgence?
Scallops and truffles
Most exotic thing you’ve ever eaten?
Mangosteens
Most memorable place you’ve ever visited?
London and a South African safari
Last book you read?
The Wild Oats Project
If you could only have one kind of food for the rest of your life, it would be…
Rice
What is your go-to breakfast?
Toast and eggs!
What do you find most fascinating about the human body?
Someone’s Eyes!
What do you love most about being an entrepreneur?
That I get to create and learn and grow and only I am responsible for me and that I don’t have to answer to anyone else.
Hemla Makan-Dullabh is a Holistic Therapist based out of Palo Alto, California. You can find out more about her and her business, 7 Rays Holistic Center, at www.7raysholisticcenter.com.
