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Episode Summary

We all place different values on various aspects of our existence, such as economic independence, respect, family, compassion, and so on. Whatever you hold dear identifies you as a person.

Corene is joined in this episode by Shizu Okusa, the founder of Apothekary, to discuss what it took for Shizu to create her business, how value had a major role in the business’s success, and how you should be calling people in rather than out. If you are an entrepreneur who is struggling to deal with all of the noise that is associated with the role, this episode will provide you with some personal insights to help you along your entrepreneurial journey.

“When it’s upfront hard, it makes for an easier future. When it’s upfront easy, it makes for a harder future.” – Shizu Okusa

What you will learn:

1. How to use core values to create a super successful business and happy life.
2. The power of language in creating a tone and environment for deeper communication.
3. The process of getting clear on core values.

Topics you will hear:

• The importance of aligning with your core values.
• The importance of having a mission aligned with your values.
• How to find your core values.
• How do you put a source of herbs and adaptogens for your product?
• The negative side of being on a reality TV show.
• Don’t get jaded by expectations.

Some snippets from the episode:

[00:01:04]
Shizu Okusa is a Wall Street refugee and a lifelong entrepreneur. She’s also the founder of Apothecary, the world’s first plant based pharmacy. Their goal is always to keep toxins out and not bring them in. They believe that through their plant based medicine that we have the ability to unite the body, mind and soul in the balance.

[00:03:00]
There’s a lot of really big businesses out there in the world that started in DC. A lot of serious businesses, big nationwide businesses that started just as a dream, a thought right here in the DC area.

[00:06:27]
When we know who we are deep down, that’s when I think you get to step into the things that you’re talking about. As an entrepreneur, doing something that really is in full congruency with whom you are. That has to be a huge part of it.

[00:07:40]
In many ways, it’s like the first business. The first company is so much practice to get you to the next place. From an alignment perspective, it was like, I learned so much about what I didn’t want. And then from there, things just happen a little more naturally and organically.

[00:10:53]
When people start talking about core values, it’s like, kind of boring and kind of unsexy, right? But it’s actually the sexiest thing you can possibly talk about when you’re talking about creating a super successful business. Clarity is huge because so often right now, everything can feels very uncertain.

[00:12:55]
Calling people in is an invitation to explore the hard stuff. It also breeds just a tone and environment for deeper open communication. I encourage everyone to have a very rigorous hiring process and screening process.

[00:22:20]
The industry of herbs and adaptogens is incredibly fragmented. We’re very much like a global sourcing of herbs. We are launching our first liquid format actually coming out in a month. It’s a tincture.

[00:25:13]
Real herbalism is not pill form. You can think of Four Sigmatic and Mud Water as much more of a food company than a supplement company. Athletic Greens has like, over 50 SKUs and we custom formulate all of them.

[00:28:01]
Two years ago, you were hiring your first employee, and now yeah, that’s 47 employees. That’s that’s huge amount of growth over a short amount of time. I’d love to hear a super expander story or two if you want to share too.

[00:30:27]
We filmed for Shark Tank in 2020. Everything went great, but Mark Cuban was so harsh. He made me cry on air. I really had a hard time after that. Bad things are always ends up as good things, right?

[00:37:50]
Don’t get jaded by the fact that your expectations in reality might be quite different. Keep that continuous sort of joy and childlike curiosity. We all essentially want the same thing. It truly is just to improve our own experience here on this planet for ourselves.

Related Episodes

Designing Your Business Around Your Core Values with Virginia Frischkorn
Taking Intimate Women’s Health Mainstream with the Founders of Lady Suite
Naturally High with Infrared Light: Success Through Career Shifts with Katie Kaps

Resources

Connect with Shizu on IG @shizuokusa
Check out her amazing products: https://apothekary.co/
Connect with her also on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shizu-okusa-87a25415/

Connect with me on IG @corene.phelps

Summary Keywords

people, apothecary, supplements, questions, entrepreneur, business, create, super, pills, values, feel, medicine, core values, pill form, hiring, aligned, life, buy, herbs, food