We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Akala Lemus a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Akala, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
The mission of Positive Packages is to transmute negativity one positive package at a time.
The story behind the mission:
I am Dr. Akala (uh-call-uh) Lemus owner and curator of positivity at Positive Packages. I am originally from Golden, CO. I had been in Austin since 2012 pursuing a career as a NUCCA Chiropractor. After owning my own practice, Hands On Holistic Healing, for a few years, I started practicing in a much less conventional way in 2016 by making house calls. I facilitated my clients’ healing journey by teaching them how to heal themselves – breaking the cycle of co-dependency many health providers create.
I was free to pursue my passions for plant based cooking and real estate by 2017. I was just about to start a business that would help luxury property investors cash flow their investments. After 3.5 years of searching for funding, my partner and I were really close to doing a deal, and my mom needed an emergency hip replacement. So in September of 2020 I found myself in CO helping my mom heal.
She had some really awful tenants occupying her rental property. Not only were they not paying their rent, they were also committing serious crimes. Luckily, I was there to help my mother do an eviction. However, due to COVID, there were rules in place that didn’t allow for the normal eviction process, so they got to stay for another month. I installed a security camera, because I was worried about my mothers safety, and I knew these people were up to no good. Unfortunately, I was right.
Trigger warning – on Sat Oct 24, 2020 I was on the phone with my aunt in Utah, and my phone kept pinging me with notifications from the security system I had just installed the day before. I saw that I had missed >900 notifications and freaked out when I saw a swarm of police on the property. I was immediately concerned for my mother’s safety.
I scrolled to see if I could determine if she was ok. The first scene I saw was the tenant, and two men rolling into the frame.. Then the tenant stood up, pulled out a gun, shot it between the two men still on the ground. The bullet ricocheted, and hit one of the men on the ground in the face. I was able to confirm that my mother had not been harmed, but now I was holding evidence that would later convict the person responsible for this horrendous crime.
This incident changed my life for the next 2 years (honestly, even though it’s not as present in my daily life anymore, it does bother me). I had to go through the whole eviction process to get his girlfriend, and accomplice, off the property after this incident, which took another 6 months, believe it or not. Later, in March of 2021, only two days after finally arriving back to Austin to pursue my real estate career, and move on with my life, I was subpoenaed to appear in court in CO in June 2021 as the lead witness in the murder trial.
This incident was the catalyst to creating Positive Packages.
I was done with negativity. My life had been turned upside down going to help my mom heal. Not only did I get sucked into her drama, but I left a relationship and business I was growing to be there for her.
After that incident, I was obviously going to be in CO for much longer than anticipated. In order to take my mind off of current events, I decided to curate a package to send to the person I was missing most in Austin, TX in Nov 2020. I wanted to convince him that Colorado was the best place on Earth. So I curated several trinkets that reminded me specifically of CO, hoping it might make him want to come and visit me, and put them in a package. I wrapped everything in gold tissue paper to make it an extra special unwrapping experience.
The morning I was going to deliver the package, he sent me a message that said, “sending positive thoughts to you.” I went to mail the package and replied, “sending you a positive package” with a photo of the tracking info.
After sending that message, I thought about how good it felt to buy art from local artists, support local business and send positive vibes from a place that meant so much to me, like CO. As well as how much it took my mind off of what I was dealing with.
I thought to myself, “What if this was my life? What if I became a curator of positivity, and I spent every day spreading positivity into the world!?”
I immediately checked to see if www.PositivePackages.com was available – it was. And here I am, Akala Lemus ovvner + curator ov posi+ivity at Positive Packages.
I created the logo, had a friend digitize it, and curated the first package complete with branded packaging within 28 days.
There are so many reasons why someone would benefit from giving/receiving more positive vibes in this crazy unpredictable adventure called life. I know I am not the only person who has had to contend with negative energies. And that is exactly why I felt it was my duty to bring Positive Packages forth. I honestly feel like we all could use a Positive Package every once in a while. Whether it is from a friend or loved one that sees we could use a pick me up, or to celebrate an achievement or honor a new phase of life. Or if it is a gift we give to ourselves in honor of self love, encouragement to keep going or just because we want to treat ourselves! It is the perfect gift for all ages and genders. Who wouldn’t want a Positive Package?
The purpose behind every package is to transmute negativity one package at a time. How we do it is by offering people the opportunity to both give and receive luxury sensory gift package experiences. Each Positive Package experience gets the positive currents flowing from the very beginning with every thoughtful detail of our packaging. To the very end with the carefully curated items that add to and heighten those positive waves! Check out what we have to offer, www.PositivePackages.com, and be a part of spreading positive vibes far and wide!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am most excited about the big idea of Positive Packages. We are just getting started. As we grow, we will be able to offer many more themed sensory gift package experiences. As well as giving people the option to create their own packages filled with locally, ethically and sustainably sourced, products.
Positive Packages started with a package that I created being a curator of other people’s art. As I got feedback, mainly on pricing, I realized I needed to pivot. It was a hard/easy decision. Meaning it was hard to let go of the package I created because I had spent money to buy products and brand an experience that didn’t seem to motivate people to make purchases at the rate I expected. It was easy, because I was able to unleash another facet of creativity!
AK Apothakary is a brand I started to help my mom create a legacy. Her garden is something that she has poured her everything into for my whole life. But, no one knows it exists other than the people who have been to her house.
While I was home for so long helping her with all that drama I mentioned, I saw her passion in a new light because of my enthusiasm for creating scalable businesses, and her relentlessness. She literally had just had a hip replacement, but after only two weeks of healing, she was out in her garden weeding and braiding the ivy to keep it growing where she wanted it.
It was obvious to me at that moment how much her garden meant to her. I want to celebrate her passion by giving people a way to interact with the flowers she grows.
I created a new package called The Pampering Positive Package that uses products I create via AK Apothakary using flowers from my mother’s garden.
Creating items I also make for this first package has helped me offer a package at a much lower cost to customers. Now packages are moving locally at a more steady pace; it’s working! Next stage is marketing so people know Positive Packages exists.
I have pivoted several times in my life regarding “my career.” Each time was just as scary, or more scary, than the last. But every pivot led to growth, increased life experience and a greater sense of inner joy and peace.
Being able to conquer fear, doubt and uncertainty that life brings is something that I am proud of, and undoubtedly sets me apart from those who are too scared or don’t trust themselves enough to take that leap of faith into themselves and do what is calling them to move or take action.
Astrology has been a tool that has helped me be able to better understand myself, and navigate life’s uncertainty. Art, music, dance, breathwork, meditation, yoga, nature walks, and expressing myself through creating plant based recipes also helps me find balance and figure out what the next right thing for me to do is.
Lastly, I would like people to understand how impactful giving and/or receiving a gift can be. Especially giving/receiving a Positive Package. We live in a time where the human species just experienced an extended period of time of societal separation, and mental health issues are at an all time high.
Positive Packages are sensory gift package experiences that spark positive vibes from just the box alone. The contents of every Positive Package are always hand crafted, locally, ethically and sustainably sourced and are gift wrapped in gold to remind the recipient that they are worthy.
Positive Packages shifts one’s vibrations to a higher frequency, which has a ripple effect, no doubt. If you’d like to test it out for yourself, use code: SharetheLove at check out and save $20 when you spend >$100 at www.PositivePackages.com!
If you have creations that you would like to sell with Positive Packages, visit our website to learn more! We are always looking for new creations to include in our gift package experiences.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
I have had multiple businesses, and I do not come from wealth or affluence. I have always had to lean into myself and exhibit true value to receive support and traction. For me, funding any of my small businesses has required creativity, resourcefulness, relentless determination and sacrifice.
Positive Packages was the lowest initial investment I have ever needed to start a business. Which is one of the main reasons I moved on the idea. At the time, I had been without any income of my own since I closed the doors of my Chiropractic practice in 2016. I had a few clients I worked with virtually here and there, but there was no consistency at all. By the time I was helping my mom heal from the hip replacement in 2020, I had no income to speak of at all. I also had no vehicle. My grandma was kind enough to let me use her car to start driving for Lyft. I felt extremely unsafe doing that job, and was grateful to learn about Instacart. I happily delivered groceries instead of driving strangers around, and worked as much as I could so I was able to get my own car by Nov 2020. My aunt and a good friend saw how hard I had been working, and helped me with a loan for the down payment. With my own new wheels under me, I was able to continue to work hard and have some capital to buy the first items I curated for the first package I sent to Austin.
Once I created Positive Packages Nov 2020, I worked and worked to have enough money to pay for the car, insurance and began to have enough funds to purchase a few of the first items that went into the Welcome Home Positive Package. I also paid someone to help me digitize the logo I designed. Then, I found a local box company that helped me create the packages I designed and put the logo on them. I was able to source a few items that I wanted. I paid cash for everything. My credit was destroyed after letting go of my practice. So I have been with no credit since 2017 and have had to learn to live within my means and pay cash for everything I need. The first package was sent out from someone winning a raffle on Christmas Eve 2020. And now Positive Packages was real! And, I had spent less than $1000 while supporting 9 artists, and small businesses.
New Year’s Day 2021, I met Arianna Horton, who became my product photographer, brand manager and best friend. She was kind enough to work for free until I was able to pay her for her services. She helped me create the first branded material to accompany the packages! She also took the photos with her fancy camera to make the products shine! Positive Packages was on its way! Several months later, she actually surprised me with a facelift to the original logo and wordmark I designed, and that is the version of the logo and wordmark you see today. She helped make the logo much more bold, and helped pull out the character of it. You can see the first design if you go all the way to the bottom of my first posts on IG. (If you ever need help with graphic design, I can’t recommend her enough – www.SourceVisionaryMedia.com)
The first Positive Package was sold to the Ritz Carlton Spa. I continued to reach out to spas, hotels and resorts. I also reached out to realtors as the gift was the perfect closing gift! I would go to open houses for free, and show them the package. And, the second sale was made to a realtor who gave the gift as a closing gift. I continued to find places where I could do in person demonstrations of the package for free. COVID made it a little tricky to reach realtors in their offices, but I would go to brokerages and do demos where I could. That was the third sale! Someone who was there visiting a realtor wanted to give it as a gift to someone who they had been visiting. And, this was when I knew Positive Packages would succeed.
I never sought out to make Positive Packages a hit overnight. I have been consistent, and stayed within my means to further its progress. Positive Packages has no debt. We do as much free marketing and advertising as we can to spread the word. I have had to pivot to keep it going, and have had to wear every single hat to stay debt free. I have learned how to graphic design to avoid paying out for as much as I can regarding web design for example. We are coming to the end of 2022 and have come very far! It will be exciting to see what happens this Christmas season, as our website is brand new and features several new packages now!
For anyone out there with an idea, I encourage you to see it through. Stay within your means. Time is an illusion. And money is energy. If you want to create something, DO IT! Go at your own pace, and stay in control of your own destiny. I have had businesses where I have accepted money to move faster. It wasn’t worth it. It’s been so wonderful to wake up everyday knowing that as much energy as I put into Positive Packages, that that much of Positive Packages will vibrate out into the world – and no one else can dictate that other than me. I have had to pause every now and then, for all sorts of reasons, including financial, and that’s ok. Because at the end of the day, it will always be there, waiting for me to put more energy into it!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I came from a very rough childhood. I am always surprised by people’s reactions when I tell them what I grew up with, they always tell me they couldn’t imagine I came from such a colorful background. To me, it’s always a surprise, because I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t had such a challenging background. It made me who I am.
One of the hardest things to break from being in a home where most of the money went to drugs instead of food, and a home where there was no trust or security due to multiple foster home stays is the mentality of lack and feeling “not good enough.”
I had a very successful practice where I was earning over $30K/month on average in collections. Even though I was earning a very comfortable living, I was still living like I was a scared little kid. Letting go of that practice was part of understanding that my value wasn’t dictated by my bank account, or from what I did.
It took several years after letting go of literally everything I owned and who I thought I was – Dr. Lemus – for me to realize my true value, and see myself worth. Writing about it is hard. I am realizing that verbalizing the reason behind why I couldn’t see or understand the true value of myself until I let everything I thought gave my life meaning go, may not make sense to many..but perhaps, for those on a similar journey, I don’t need to say more..
I recognize the transformation I have gone through, when I speak to my immediate family the most. I see how their attachment to the things they own keeps them from having more than they could ever want and more.
There was a time period in 2021, where I chose to live in my car during the winter in CO in 16-30 degree weather at night with my dog in order to reclaim my independence in this world. Despite the weather, there was no better time than now! Because, there could possibly be “no other time” in the uncertain future.
During this period in my life, I learned to practice gratitude for the simplicity of life. And, I experienced abundance to a new degree. Once I accepted and trusted it fully, I realized I would always be provided for. Anything I want in this life is a creation of my mind. It will, or it will not exist without my mental impulse creating it. Money is an energetic frequency that one can align itself with in order to create what the mind sees. I do my best to practice alignment and presence, keeping my thoughts and emotions in alignment with what I will to create in my life now. Like I mentioned, writing what I am learning to practice feels strange to put words to, but perhaps someone else will vibe with this transmission ~~~
Contact Info:
- Website: www.PositivePackages.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positive_packages/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pospacks
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akalalemus/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/pospacks
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP_99vohBeEQP7q6-Q-c3cw
- Other: www.AKApothakary.com
Image Credits
Arianna Horton www.SourceVIsionaryMedia.com