Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christal DeHay. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Christal, appreciate you joining us today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.
My journey to establish my own natural medicine business began in the field of bodywork. Upon completion of my master’s degree program in acupuncture, I was working as a neuromuscular massage therapist and practicing craniosacral therapy. This was my foot-in-the-door that allowed me to learn both my trade and how to establish and run a successful business.
I started working with my first mentor as a subcontractor in another practice for nearly 10 years (3 while in school and 7 post grad). This allowed me to not only improve my skills but to observe how a business runs from the ground up. This was an unforgettable and necessary experience that increased my knowledge in patient care, nutritional aspects of health and forming effective treatment plans along with the nuances of good practice management. During this time, I was able to establish a strong client base while working toward opening the doors to my own practice.
My second mentor had created a successful and profitable clinic in Houston, Texas. It was during this tutelage that I learned the importance of building systems. Systems within a business are used to align your purpose with structure required for sustainability. Procedures needed to be established for smooth check in/out, scheduling, intake, follow-up, electronic medical records, bookkeeping, product and herb ordering, opening and closing the clinic for the day; the list goes on. These things eventually become second nature but not without forming the framework as to how each aspect of the business runs. You can’t throw a puzzle on a table and expect all the pieces to land in place. Likewise, you can’t build it all at once. One of my stumbling blocks in the beginning was trying to do too much at one time. You need to be slow and methodical ensuring all of your pieces click together.
This mentor also taught me how to generate better self-discipline and courage to step out on my own in practice. A strong sense of purpose, “your why,” coupled with discipline and a strong work ethic is the only way to survive as an entrepreneur. Success in any field is not guaranteed nor is it just handed to you. It is earned by your efforts and will. If I would have done anything differently it would have been to slow down and not rush the process. I would have savored being able to create my own entity. This is a blessing many cannot afford and should be honored as it is truly the American dream. I am not where I want to be at this point yet I have come very far and taking the time to reflect on that renews my will to continue to grow my practice, serve my community, and achieve the goals I set out to accomplish.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
My name is Christal DeHay, and I am the owner, acupuncture physician, and herbalist at Deep Roots Family Wellness. I work with some of the most exceptionally talented healers and therapists in South Florida. We provide acupuncture, herbal and homeopathic medicine, nutritional therapy, craniosacral therapy, LED light therapy as well as various forms of manual therapy such as reflexology, prenatal, postpartum, reproductive bodywork and lymphatic drainage. Our apothecary stocks a wide variety of organic and wild harvested herbal medicines, nutritional and homeopathic remedies, and CBD products. In many cases we integrate these medicines and treatment modalities to meet individual patients’ needs and while providing an individualized, structured care plan that is easy for them to follow. This allows our team to guide the patient toward achieving their health and wellness goals.
Deep Roots was created with our diverse community in mind. A place where your health and your choices about your health matter. We have created a welcoming environment where our patients feel at ease and are able to express themselves without fear or judgment when working toward their health goals. We find that this is integral for achieving optimal outcomes from the treatments we provide. We work in conjunction with standard allopathic treatments and welcome those who choose to treat primarily by natural medicines and therapies. We cross refer with many local Primary Care offices, Rehabilitation centers and IVF fertility clinics.
Our wellness clinic has received the honor of being listed “Best of the City” in Cooper City & Davie, FL 3 years in a row. We pride ourselves on the fact that 80% of our new patients are referred to us by other patients or people in the community who have witnessed their friends and loved ones receive life-changing benefits from our work. So, we very much look forward to helping YOUR friends, family, and loved ones on THEIR journey to a more joyful, energetic, healthy life.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
You learn many of lessons in business, especially when forming your own. I thought when I started that I could not lead others. My persona was that of a doer not a leader. I had this vision in my mind of what a leader should look like, dress like, and sound like and this was not me. I have since come to learn that leading comes from the heart. Having compassion and dedication to your team and your mission are the most vital criteria for leadership. There were times when being in the role of leadership was very uncomfortable and difficult for me. I was the one making most if not all of the decisions; I needed to learn to delegate the smaller things to my team. I would have moments where I felt imposter syndrome. I think many who run a business and are put into a leadership role come to have this feeling at some point. The ego can be harsh. I chose to lead from the heart, lead with compassion, lead with the trust that those who work alongside me know their art and their craft and this makes my role as leader much easier. Choosing a strong team, people who hold the same values as you, those who are passionate about the work they do, and have a strong work ethic is essential. You are able to work towards something together and create something everyone can be proud of.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I read a lot of John Maxwell’s work including, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth. Currently I am reading Jim Kwik’s work, Limitless. I listen regularly to podcasts by Ed Mylett, The Ed Mylett Show and Andy Frisella The MFCEO Project. I found all of these resources to be helpful when continuing to learn about leadership, business, and how to live a more purposeful and successful life in all areas including family which is the most important to me. Yet, I would say one of the most influential books was given to me by my mentor Chris Axelrad, called The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, written by Mark Manson. After reading this book a light switch turned on. It taught me that I actually don’t have to care about every little detail of life. I was micromanaging, nit picking and controlling every little area within my life in turn making myself miserable as well as those around me for reasons such as not wanting to hurt others, caring what others thought more than my own thoughts and feelings. Although I still struggle with worrying too much at times, wanting to control and not just trusting the process; I have learned to enjoy the process more and have found letting go and well, not giving a f*ck makes my life much more enjoyable.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.deeprootsholistic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deeprootsfamilywellness/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeepRootsFamilyWellness/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/christal-dehay-05079b167