Inspired by her childhood-fostered love for everything eco, pursing Herbal Medicine was a natural progression for Natasha. As an herbalist, she works with her clients through one-on-one coaching as well as the online and offline courses she provides. Natasha also teaches foraging skills through her London-based Urban Adventure outings. Her interview inspires us to embrace our early mistakes as valuable lessons and reminds us the importance of avoiding placing a deadline on “success”.
What inspired you to become a holistic entrepreneur?
I grew up in a house filled with 60s music and the 60s culture affected me at a fundamental level. I came to love everything eco, combined with my newfound pagan spirituality I couldn’t help but find Herbal Medicine.
Tell us about your business or practice.
I run a healthy lifestyle blog with online and offline courses and coaching one to one. I especially enjoy running Urban Adventure outings where we go across London foraging and end up somewhere healthy to eat after.
What has been one of your favorite moments as a business owner thus far?
I have most enjoyed seeing women come together a bond during my course on women’s health. So lovely to see women as friends not enemies.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in running your business or practice?
My own expectations of success.
How have you overcome those challenges?
Lots of meditation and reflection.
How do you find new clients?
I play the long game by building relationships in different communities online and offline.
What have you found to be most effective in securing new clients to sign up for your services?
Word of mouth referrals are the most reliable source of new patients. Nurture your patients and they will nurture you.
What do you do to keep your existing clients engaged in the long term?
I have created Wellbeing Plans which are 3.5 month long treatment programmes in which we go through diet, lifestyle, emotional effects on the body and look at the anatomy and physiology of their problem. This is complemented by an ever-evolving bespoke herbal medicine prescription.
As your own boss, what is your best strategy for staying focused and productive during your workday?
I carve out regular working hours for myself and I set to-do lists in my diary on the right days. I clock in and out at regular hours.
If you could start your business over again from the beginning, what would you do differently?
Nothing. I wouldn’t want to risk losing anything I’ve gained from the experience as it has naturally evolved.
What were some of the first mistakes you made that you would tell a new holistic entrepreneur to avoid?
Avoid putting a deadline on “success”. Think more creatively about how you define that. And make do with doing things as cheaply as possible for as long as possible till your clientele grows enough to warrant expansion. Unless of course, you’ve got loads of capital!
What are the top three business tools or resources you couldn’t live without?
I couldn’t live without buffer. I couldn’t live without wordpress. I couldn’t live without my diary.
What has been your most effective method for growing your business?
It’s hard to say it has been one thing but rather a constant in running a business. I find that a variety of things is actually key. I enjoy teaching and that seems to help raise my profile. But I can’t guarantee those students will turn into patients.
What is the craziest thing you’ve ever for done for your business?
Stood on a bench and shouted across a garden, to a bunch of complete strangers, that a guided walk is about to start. Not my ideal scenario for starting a peaceful walk around a herb garden!
What is your favorite indulgence?
Chocolate
Most memorable place you’ve ever visited?
Yosemite
Last book you read?
Light is the New Black by Rebecca Campbell
If you could only have one kind of food for the rest of your life, it would be…
Salad
What is your go-to breakfast?
Boiled eggs
What do you find most fascinating about the human body?
Hormone cascades
What do you love most about being an entrepreneur?
The flexibility
Natasha Richardson is an Herbalist based out of London, UK. You can find out more about her and her business, Forage Botanicals, by visiting www.foragebotanicals.co.uk.
