Today we’d like to introduce you to Mili Shah.
Mili, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I always loved health and the human body and had originally planned to study medicine after completing my bachelors. After seeing my parents struggle with their health, and watch doctors struggle with their care, I realized that practicing medicine in that way was not my calling. I felt lost for a while until 2008, about 10 years ago, the vision for my path as a holistic doctor started to take form.
I had just quit a job with a financial company. I was stressed, depressed, disconnected from myself and intuition, and my body was also failing. I was in pain, and fatigued, and having witnessed my parents and other adults live their lives in pain, and constantly fatigued I thought it was normal.
So, while on vacation in San Diego, my sister sat down with me, so we could list out some options for what would be my next steps. I was stoked on Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. The concept of it all was so intriguing and having studied philosophy in college, it felt like a natural fit.
There was an acupuncture school less than a mile away from my parent’s house in NY. I started in January of 2009 and have not looked back since. All of my belief systems around work really solidified for me at the end of 2009. I was happy but still chronically fatigued and working too much. By the end of that year, I was working two jobs and going to school full time. I had a sore throat for 2 months and was finally diagnosed with Epstein Barre (mononucleosis). My organs were enlarged so I was placed on bedrest, and was forced to stop everything and rest for a few months.
I received acupuncture during this time, and it was the only thing that helped with the organ distress. Within two treatments my energy started to come back, and the pain subsided, but I still needed to rest. Bedrest leaves a lot of time for self-reflection, and I decided that if I am going to work that hard, I should do it somewhere beautiful. So, I planned my move to San Diego, CA for August 2010, and began school at PCOM (Pacific College of Oriental Medicine) in Mission Valley to complete my Masters.
The school itself was a nurturing environment where my teachers were not only mentors but they helped me work through some of my own health issues and recovery from pain. The coursework was difficult and challenging but I finished my Masters in 2014, and have been practicing since then. In 2016 I started my Doctorate and completed it in 2018.
I now carry my own experiences in health with me in my practice and use what I learn in my everyday life. I think my own journey allows me to approach healing in a way that is relatable to those seeking help. I’ve been there, I’ve walked through the fire and have come out the other side ready to help others do the same.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been easy! I joke that this is Mili’s practice version 5.0. I had a specific vision when I graduated and the path has taken on it’s own form. I had a specific vision when I graduated with my Masters, and although the vision hasn’t changed too much, the path to get there has.
My advice to someone just starting on their journey:
HAVE A CLEAR VISION of what you want to provide, who you want to provide it to and how to get there. For me simply stating that I will be providing acupuncture to the city of San Diego wasn’t enough. I needed to get specific, beyond the technicalities and see the bigger picture. I started my practice (version 0.0) in 2015 without the roadmap and it was difficult! I found myself scrambling for information and looking for ways to optimize my business without really knowing what I needed. I also didn’t have clarity on what it is that I provide (beyond acupuncture), what my ideal workflow would be or who my ideal patient/client is. Getting clear on what you are providing and to whom will help you direct your energy towards that and not on a million other things. If you don’t know, start doing things you are passionate about and take not of what energizes or drains you. Prioritize accordingly.
REACH OUT TO MENTORS AND COLLEAGUES. Whatever you are doing now, there is somebody out there who has done something similar. I suggest finding somebody who is practicing (or running their business) in the way you want to, and reach out to them. I have no shame in meeting with my mentors and asking tons of questions. My colleagues and I have a group chat going where we can discuss practice management questions as well as difficult cases. Open up to people who want to help you! Receive all the help you can!
MAKE A BUSINESS PLAN. I wish I had started with this. There are tons of templates on the internet and making that business plan was the best thing I could have done for myself. It is the foundation of what I have created now. I created timelines, financial projections, and all the items I needed carefully put together in a document that I curated based on that clarity I was talking about before. I am mostly a creative type, so doing the logistical planning was tough, but essential. It’s make everything easier. If I need to know what to do next, I can reference that document first, then my mentors and colleagues.
GET COMFORTABLE WITH MONEY. This was difficult for me because of some of the belief systems around money that I grew up with. See Money for the abundant offering that it is, and start healing your relationship with it. Create a relationship with it. Look at your debt, get comfortable with your debt, and create a compassionate plan to get out of that. Definitely, seek help from people if you need help with any of it. Then look at what you can reasonably make, and start making a financial plan for yourself. Money is what takes care of us in this world, having it and knowing how to use it to your advantage, in a loving way, will up level you and your business.
TRUST YOUR INTUITION. I would start every day checking in with yourself and working through some mental blocks so that your own intuition can come through strong. I feel like I received a lot of advice, and I still do, but I am strong in my desire to create something specific. People will have great ideas, and you might see someone doing something really cool, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it too! FOMO can derail you from your path and keeping your eye on the prize, and understanding your actions pay off in the long term is important to keep in mind when there are a lot of flashy things in your periphery.
BE CONSISTENT. People around you can sense if your mind is scattered. Create a routine and stick to it. Create an offering, and offer that in the way you say you will offer it, and then do it with everyone. I’ve been inconsistent in my first few months of practice and have seen some other new business owners do this too. I think FOMO has a bit to do with it too, but the offerings change and sometimes, there is more offered, and sometimes it falls short, and it feels like the owner is trying to figure out what works or will bring the best reaction. Truthfully, keeping it simple and offering good service or products consistently is the best way to gain traction.
BE TRUE TO YOURSELF. Don’t do anything that feels out of line or out of sync with your values. This is very important. It can be something seemingly small, like some business coach telling you to sell something to every one of your clients, but you feel like that’s not necessary. Get clear with your values, what you are offering to the world, why your potential clients need what you are offering and how it would enhance the community around you. Then go and do that.
Please tell us about your practice.
I’m a licensed acupuncturist but so much more! I provide specialized acupuncture and also you may experience some other modalities after your session is complete like cupping or heat therapy. I have also studied Neural Manipulation and Visceral Manipulation which are gentle therapies that help integrate the nervous system while working on the different layers of fascia in the body. The therapies are extremely profound.
I have a focus on mental health, gut issues and chronic pain, but honestly find myself treating all kinds of disorders because my approach is focused on finding the root cause of an issue. I love working with all types of people and usually see a variety of cases in a day. I also have an herbal pharmacy in my office where I am able to make custom formulas for my clients. I’ve also recently started producing some of my own blends for sale to the public.
I am most proud of the quality of service that I provide. I have spent a lot of time thinking about and creating the perfect patient experience where everyone who walks through my door receives quality care. From the moment of connection to the end of treatment, the whole person in front of me is considered and I want to make sure the people I come in contact with can feel that. Even if people choose not to receive treatment, they can walk away with something valuable.
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
Both my parents are entrepreneurs. The came to the U.S. in the last 70’s and started practicing Dentistry in NY in the 80’s. Their first few years in practice allowed us to move out of our small house in Queens, to a big house in the suburbs of Long Island. I would spend my Saturdays at my Dad’s office in Queens and would go to my mom’s Long Island office during the week. I started answering phones and taking appointments when I was 13! I was bred for this, and owning my own practice actually came pretty naturally for me. I also have the influence of other family members who have started and sold multiple businesses so the mindset around the business and an understanding that things take time was there from the beginning. I’m lucky to have so much support in that area.
In regards to health, wellness, and balance, I owe that to my grandmother, sister, and mother. My grandmother is the one who taught me about rhythms, cycles and eating for your body and the seasons. Whenever I was sick she would make her concoctions and I would feel better. I still prefer her ginger turmeric tea over anything else when I am feeling under the weather! My mom was (is) the greatest teacher of what it meant to be a working mom. She kind of nailed it. Now, as I go through some of the seemingly endless tasks associated with having a practice, I wonder how she did it all. I asked her recently and she said she just did it. So, there you go, be like Nike. My sister is the one who really taught me about balance, and eating healthy and keeping movement in my life. I’m pretty sure it’s because of her that I love broccoli so much and now watching her as she returns back to work after having 2 kids, I see her bring those principles of balance into her new paradigm of life.
Finally when it comes to personal development and the serape for your own truth, I owe that to the amazing men in my life. When my younger brother was a kid, he had this drive to constantly seek out the truth. As we got older, and as he opened himself up to the rest of the world, his suggestions for personal developments (books, courses, meditations etc.) opened me up to a whole new world and new ways to connect with my family. My Father taught me how to take risk and live without fear while rooted in compassion. Without seeing him take risks, fail and succeed with grace, while also staying grounded and providing for us I don’t know if I would have been able to take the risks I needed to take for me to forge my own path. My brother in-law taught me consistency and planning. For someone who is naturally creative, building and creating come naturally, but without a plan things can go awry. He helped me find the best way for me to focus on the details and create intention behind each action while also staying true to myself and my vision. Finally, my grandfather, an educator, created structure and balance for all of us, and encouraged me to question everything. As a teacher, I think he set the standard for me to be a forever student, and I am forever grateful for that.
Pricing:
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Initial session (2 hours) : $200
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Follow up session (1 hour) : $100
Contact Info:
- Address:
1835 El Cajon Boulevard, Suite C, San Diego, CA 92103
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Website: milishahdacm.com
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Phone: (619) 4916474
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Email: mili@milishahdacm.com
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Instagram/Facebook: @milishahdacm
Image Credit:
Julie Quinn
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