Time you wake up: 7:40 am
Morning routine: I meditate for 20 minutes, then I have tea and listen to either NPR or a podcast. Recently I’ve been detoxing from politics (not always successfully), so I’ve been listening to spiritual talks.
Best habit: Daily meditation
Worst habit: I binge watch TV shows if they’re good.
Personal philosophy: Serve others; do the best I can
Book you are reading now: “Understanding Power” by Noam Chomsky
Most used apps: Sonos for music
Time you go to sleep: Between 10 pm - 11 pm
Tell me about your choice to open your own clinic and become your own boss: what motivated you? What were your fears and challenges, and how did you overcome them?
I’ve always liked the look and smell of Chinese Herbs and have been fascinated with Eastern Philosophies and ways of treating the body even years before practicing Chinese Medicine. I used to live in New York City and would go to Chinatown often to be immersed in the colorful world of Chinese food and herbs and products.
How long did it take for you to get your business running the way you've always imagined it? In other words, how did you "get on your feet"?
I started my practice out of my apartment, because I was operating with a very low budget. This was surely one of the biggest challenges in the beginning. However, within 6 months I moved into a nice big clinic space here in the Mission and today, almost 7 years later, I practice in a fully equipped 3 treatment room clinic.
What do you enjoy most about your role in patient care?
Being my own boss has been a wonderful experience. I set my own schedule, take 3 day weekends, travel, and I get to do what I love most, which is to help people feel better.
A challenge of being my own boss is that I have to oversee all aspects of my business, even the ones that don’t come so easily, such as bookkeeping and marketing. For this reason, I hired a business coach, who recommended getting professional headshots. This is where Valentina comes in: she’s been an integral part in my public appearance - her images not only portray the true essence of who I am and what I do, but also the space and surroundings I practice in.
Having a community of talented friends and colleagues around me has been key to the success of my practice.
How do you balance your work and personal life?
In order to balance the demands of running a clinic I take long weekends, and often I leave the city and go into nature. In my spare time I also like to play music, read, go on long walks, go on meditation retreats, do archery, and visit the many naturally occurring hot springs in California.
What are some of your personal and/or professional goals for the future?
A goal of mine for the future is to open up a tea house in the San Francisco, a place where people can come to relax and ground, a place of community and respite of the city hustle and bustle. A big part of my spirituality and inner growth is to make an impact on the community that lasts even after I’m long gone. It is my hope that my clinic and my future tea house will provide the community with resources for many years to come.
Contact Information:
Address: 2460 Mission Street Suite 104 in San Francisco CA 94110
Web: TreeofQi.com
Tel: (415) 424-3479
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