STP 90 | James and Heather
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[00:00:00]
James Marland: Hello, and welcome to the Scaling Therapy Practice. This is your host, James Marland. This is the show where we empower mission driven leaders to launch life changing online courses. Today, I have a great special guest for you. It's Heather Fishbach. She is the owner of Flourish Health Intervention. No, wait.
Flourish Health. What is that word? I N V E R E M E R E.
Heather Fischbuch: It's the town I live in Vermeer.
James Marland: Invermere. Okay. Flourish Health Invermere. Oh, that's the name of your practice.
Heather Fischbuch: Yes.
James Marland: Oh, I told you I failed phonics, right? I'm just going to leave that in. I think [00:01:00] that's funny. Okay. Flourish Health Invermere. And, uh, she is helping people with her practice. And, um, starting to launch some online courses. I loved her story and I thought it would be very relevant to the audience as they start thinking about what they're going to offer.
Just a small, small bit about Heather before she, uh, introduces, uh, tells us about herself. Heather's a holistic health practitioner of more than 40 years in the discipline of massage therapy, nutrition, herbal medicine, and aromatherapy. and acupuncture traditional Chinese medicine. So you got a wealth of information.
And, uh, we met, we met recently in a networking course of it. And I love hearing her story and I wanted to her to share her story with the audience and invite her on the show. So Heather, welcome to the show.
Heather Fischbuch: Thank you. And I [00:02:00] really love that your podcast empowers people. I enjoy that word and I aspire to it.
James Marland: Well, um, your, your story is, um, empowering me. So tell me a little bit about your history. You have a lot of, you know, in your bio, you have 40 years of experience. Tell us, tell us, uh, how you came to this point.
Heather Fischbuch: Sure. um, initially I wanted to be a physiotherapist. was 373rd on the waiting list at my, uh, university closest to me. And so I look at some other alternatives because it would have taken me. years of general study sciences to get honors and then get accepted. that seemed like a, a long path. instead I went into rehabilitation. I worked with disabled folks for a while, and then I became a massage therapist. [00:03:00] And loved that. It did what I wanted in the realm of helping people recover. And, um, I actually excelled at that and actually taught that for a number of years. I had a 10 year science project in the aromatherapy and herbal realm, I distilled native plants from Alberta and British Columbia, where I live, and presented at the World Aromatherapy Conference. So it really whet my appetite for that, uh, research aspect and science and art combination in holistic medicine. So aromatherapy is so much more than just making things smell good. There's actual chemistry and herbal medicine involved, and I dove deep into that 50 plants. like I say, a 10 year science project that really empowered my life and put my kids through college.
So, um, then, um, I bought [00:04:00] a spa and wore my hands out because spa work can be very intense, doing massage for 8 or 10 hours a day. And I needed to go retrain and I still loved holistic medicine. So then I retrained as a Doctor of Chinese medicine and acupuncture. it was really a culmination, a connecting of the dots of all of those science aspects and the art aspect, and even the spirit aspect of the energy work and body work and, and sacredness of being in another's personal space in such a, an intimate trusting situation. So the acupuncture and TCM gets into that and it really treats body, mind, and spirit simultaneously. So, uh, rebranded. closed the spa, opened the clinic, and now, uh, historically, the World Health Organization, [00:05:00] um, lists 150 diseases that acupuncture can, uh, um, very successfully treat, ranging from infertility to migraines to eczema to, um, sciatica to degenerative risks and arthritis.
Like, it's very, very wide. Um, and, and we use, we really look at root causes. So I, it's a real love affair that I'm having with this very holistic medicine. And I think the story you're wanting to pull from me is how I kind of saved my own life using it.
James Marland: Yes. So you've been very successful in what you've done. You know, you can't put your kids through college without being successful in that realm. You've rebranded yourself a couple times. You keep reinventing yourself. Um, and when, when we talked, we're, we're, we're, uh, we're talking about digital courses or digital products and [00:06:00] you're doing a very, it seems like in person hands on thing.
And also. Um, you, you tell, you were saying you had to, you had to find a different way because something happened that kind of took away some of your, what you were doing. So, uh, yeah, keep, continue on the story. You've been very successful. You rebranded, and then something happened. What happened to, to make you start, uh, to, for the change?
Heather Fischbuch: So about two years ago, um, I've always been very physically active. you can tell from my little headshot here, but
James Marland: Hmm.
Heather Fischbuch: I'm, I'm slender and I have a six pack and I'm over 60. Um, and I climb mountains and I ride bikes and I hang glide and paraglide off of mountains. So had a very active, healthy life. And unfortunately, three of my four grandparents died of strokes and my dad has a heart condition. [00:07:00] So there is a genetic predisposition to that. I was aware of that. I was taking all the nutritional supplements for that. I had a stroke at the age of 60. I, um, first, initially I thought, man, I've got a headache. quite right here. I've got a headache. My thinking's not clear. My hand feels like it's got a pinched nerve. It's dropping things. I was actually dropping acupuncture needles, which is not a good thing to do. So, you know, I do have another hand. So I used that hand the other, that day and, um, went home early because of this nasty headache and made myself some, some soup and tea. But I couldn't. the temperature on the left side of my face of the soup. And that's when it dawned on me, this is more than a pinch nerve. is a stroke. So then I went and looked in the mirror and did the tests. And yes, I was having a stroke. So again, my thinking [00:08:00] wasn't super clear at that time. so I phoned up my best friend and said, Hey, could you come over? I think I might need to go and driven to the hospital. I didn't think to phone the ambulance for some reason. And she said, yeah, I'll be there in half an hour. So I said, okay, that gives me time to plunk in some needles. So I treated myself.
We are trained as acupuncturists to treat strokes. And usually I see a person. Two to four weeks after they've had the stroke and they're already kind of paralyzed and we're doing the big recovery. I did the acupuncture while the stroke was happening, maybe a couple hours after it initially started, but the the paralysis hadn't fully set in.
My face was sagging and my hand felt like more like a flipper than a hand. But I could still, you know, move, I could still talk, I could still do this stuff. Um, so anyway, I did the, the needles. I also did a technique called Moxibustion, which is basically heat along those [00:09:00] meridians that were affected in my face and my hands, my one hand. And, um, my friend arrived there, we went and got checked up by the doctor, and the hour, my face and hand had bounced back. I had the headache. So, you know, they ran the, the usual test and they said, well, perhaps it was a TIA, which is a small stroke. And they said, well, we'll send you for a CT scan.
And that happened a few days later. And, uh, it wasn't a small stroke. It was about, I'll, I'll use inches for you. One and a half inch by one inch, size of a toonie in our, in our coinage here in Canada, and, uh, at the right occipital edge of my brain, to the left hemisphere of my body probably would have been, um, severely paralyzed had I not done those points and [00:10:00] moxibustion immediately while it was happening. So I feel very fortunate that I knew which points to use. I had used them previously in clinic with other clients who had experienced strokes in their and it worked like a charm. So I am living proof how effective it is. have acupuncture when, uh, very close to when you're actually having a problem. Um, so that left me quite weakened and I
James Marland: Yeah.
Heather Fischbuch: I had a heart condition that had led up to this. So that,
James Marland: Hmm.
Heather Fischbuch: that predisposition was there, um, because I was fit, I, and a doctor myself, I was pretty light on the system, and we went through this whole pandemic when people weren't really seen in doctor's office, they were phoned. So I, um. I had been complaining for a few years of palpitations and my doctor, being [00:11:00] a white middle aged man, said, patted me on the head and said, Oh, it's menopause, dear. You just need to get fitter. Knowing my fitness level was pretty high, but
James Marland: Yeah. Yeah.
Heather Fischbuch: me to get fitter, which was probably not the right thing to do. I forgive him. He wasn't aware of how bad it was and I didn't push the issue. And we've moved on. So, um, the heart condition with the lingering weakness from the stroke, like I say, I got my feeling back, I got my face back, I could still see, think, and do, but my energy level was pretty zapped. If I worked for two hours, I would need to nap for three hours. that was my impetus to look at, I need to do something online that I don't need to actually physically go and massage and be present with people that I need to have an online diversification of my income using my skills, using my brain, which was still [00:12:00] working relatively well and coaching people and teaching them how to be empowered and optimize their health using the skills that I want to share. So that's, I went and took some training. That brings us
James Marland: Yeah, you, you ran into a problem that a lot of people might run into, um, because of your health, but you, you either couldn't do what you were doing before, or you just ran out of time and energy. Like, we all, we all have limited time and energy. Unfortunately, yours got, like, severely cut short by the, the physical issues, but I think we can all relate to You know, I just don't have enough time.
I just don't have enough energy to do everything I need to do everything I want to do and um And you're a helper by nature like you're a helper and a healer And a, uh, trainer, a coach by nature. And [00:13:00] so you started looking for other ways to, to, you said, diversify your income, but still help people earn a living doing what you are good at.
And you, you came up with online courses or an online product. Um, how did you, uh, how did you find, uh, the courses that you were looking for? Um, did you do a search? Did you talk to people?
Heather Fischbuch: well, in my past, I had taught massage schools before my 10 year science project in aromatherapy, I had taught internationally, uh, to audiences interested in aromatherapy. And in my practice, my traditional Chinese medicine practice, I really saw how significant sleep was to become, to be a pillar of people's good health. those three things really jumped out at me, is the aromatherapy I've done multiple times, [00:14:00] the various massage techniques I've done multiple times in multiple ways. And the sleep is such a need for so many, whether, you know, so I, I sort of honed in on those three as initial, and who knows where it may go in the future, but those were very familiar topics to me that I'd either taught in the past. I felt well versed enough that I could really do quality presentations on. I did my market research, I, you know, I did my phoning around to, and emailing around to 30 or 50 people. Kind of gaining their perspective and their, their identification and what are their priorities in any of those three and um, made courses from them. it was a slow process. I, like I say, I was still very much recovering. So even, you know, I would do my two [00:15:00] hours of clinic work just to keep the cash flowing. And I did offer, um, an aromatherapy one. Because it was easy. I did offer it as a hybrid, both in person and via zoom. So that was interesting.
First time I'd done a hybrid type course. And, um, and then the second one was totally online. and that was the sleep strategies for insomniacs. And. Felt quite successful with that in that I got great testimonials and yes, I was able to impact their sleep patterns in just a four week period. We met once a week for an hour and then they would have homework that I would assign during the lesson and they would work on it and each of the participants had progress. I'm not going to say they are cured, but they had significant progress.
James Marland: So, uh, I, I, I love how you explained what you [00:16:00] did and, um, you, you were able to launch, um, but we both know that having an idea and launching courses, uh, it just doesn't happen. There's like work and problems to work out as you went through. So can you remember what's a problem that you had that you had to work out and how did you solve it?
With, uh, this is a wide open question because there could be there's right at this point. Like I have an idea and I launched a course in between. There's this chasm of problems that can happen. So what was one of your problems and how did you solve it? Yeah, go ahead.
Heather Fischbuch: very hands on person, and often those personalities aren't very technically So, I would say technology was my big hurdle. did, um, find a few resources that had that technology piece, adapted or, or dialed in. [00:17:00] So I used those platforms. I don't know if you want me to name names, but there, there are platforms out there, such as Rizuku,
James Marland: Mm
Heather Fischbuch: uh, Coaches Console that
James Marland: hmm. Mm hmm.
Heather Fischbuch: that are a plug and play that you fit your bits of information into its format. um, so I use those. And I became much more adept at zoom than I ever was prior to that. Um, and
James Marland: Do you have a paid paid zoom account? Probably.
Heather Fischbuch: yes, and it's been worth it. Like I use it, if not daily, at least several times a week. And, um, yeah, it's become a real pillar of, of my evolving business. so
James Marland: Did you use Rizuku at first or did you try to offer it low tech just through zoom or did you go straight to a platform?
Heather Fischbuch: I have, I both the first two courses I've [00:18:00] offered. straight through Zoom. Well, first one was a hybrid. So in person and Zoom combo. Second one was straight through Zoom with
James Marland: Okay.
Heather Fischbuch: and homework on the Zoom. Um, and those, I'm using those models and putting the lessons into Rizuku and those lessons now live on my website. So it's
James Marland: Yeah.
Heather Fischbuch: um, I, I do like some of the other platforms. as Teachable and Udemy, uh, I'm sure there's several others that host courses, but having it on my website, I control the price on the some of
James Marland: Hmm. Yep.
Heather Fischbuch: they put 50 percent off prices on and I don't control the price. I'm still debating about, um, putting them on some of those other existing platforms and Rizuku has a good robust platform as well. um, it might be found [00:19:00] there. Um, my income is still pretty modest to be honest with this. It is a process. I still very much need to work in my clinic to pay the bills, it's, it's the big, I'm looking at the big picture and you know, in the one to two years from now, really wanting to see my income become half from online work and half person work. And, and that is evolving.
James Marland: I think that's a big point though, that you, you, you put out there, you have a long term plan and you're working the plan and you realize your expectations are optimistic, but realistic, you know, like, yes, if I keep doing this, I have to keep working at it, but if I keep doing the right things, I can build, uh, uh, an online income system that can replace my system.
It's not, uh, Unless you catch lightning in a bottle. That's the reality for most of us. That we [00:20:00] work at it. We develop those relationships. We solve those problems. We get better at our craft. We deliver our service. We grow. And then we just keep doing the same steps over and over again. Um,
Heather Fischbuch: It's
James Marland: also I, I would say that.
One of the things, um, one of the things that I, I should have learned that I didn't do is I did buy a platform first, which was great. Cause I needed a webpage and I needed a place to host my podcast, but. I think I bought a, I use Kajabi. I love Kajabi. I will, I tell people to use Kajabi because it has all inclusive platform services, but I should have probably done a low tech solution, you know, through zoom or whatever, instead of paying, you know, 120 a month or whatever, whatever I'm paying for Kajabi, I could have done it for much cheaper with, uh, with, uh, the, the low tech.
You know, hey, we're going to meet on zoom. Here's the here's [00:21:00] the word document that we're going off of and we're going to just do it And that you know, that's a much cheaper way to do it than buying a platform However, the only way to scale is to automate some of those things And that is what the platform does it automates the the the student experience the the courses the payment processing um Communication that's what that's what When, when you're ready to grow, you got to find ways to scale.
And I think the platforms help you. Okay. So you were about to say something. Uh, what, what did I cut you off?
Heather Fischbuch: no, your, your point is very valid and I agree with the bulk of it. I have found out in, through this first two courses that I've offered that I really don't enjoy the marketing aspect of it. I enjoy the presentation, I enjoy the interaction with the clients. That's what I got from my patients in my clinic and that's what I get.
I feel that [00:22:00] that go back to our word empowering from the start. I feel like I'm empowering people. When I'm sharing that information, I feel like I'm bugging them when I'm sending them 15 emails to sign up for my course. So resolution in, in coping with those feelings, because I think many of us experienced that, is to go back to something that I did in my 10 year science project. To, is, then I was, I was touted as a regional export expert in that I would tour, you know, Western states and, and provinces speaking at any aromatherapy group that, that wanted me including the world aromatherapy council. So, you know, I toured my, my signature offering and there is one of the 20 [00:23:00] years. Tad Hargrave, who has a course called marketing for hippies. kind of identified with that. He, he really, um, and he's partnered up with another fellow who has done really well in, online platforms and marketing and offering courses and in, like I say, that hippie or alternative health realm, um, and touring or speaking engagements. And I would much rather have them meet me at an in person speaking event come to your local arthritis society or your local migraine sufferers meeting. annual general meeting or, you know, your infertility support group or [00:24:00] whatever. And I go and speak and they, they hear me and they realize that I've got a diversity of skills that I can to their root causes and, and provide some support and, um, direction in their healing. in identifying that path, That's my path forward, I'm going to be touring or finding affiliates to host my work. So perhaps some of your audience might be affiliates. Um, that I come in, do a presentation, and in that affiliation, perhaps they come and do a presentation to my audience. Because I have a thousand very loyal patients in my, uh, corner of British Columbia. And, you know, if we were to bring in a speaker from or Washington or Ontario or whatever, I would put that out to my clients. And, you know, that affiliate marketing, [00:25:00] um, referrals are a great source of trust. And I have used in the past very successfully, and I will be using that going forward
James Marland: Yeah. I think, um, There's a lot of points you made there. One of the big two, I have two big ones. One, I think when we help each other, you know, the course creators and the helpers and the healers, when we help each other, everybody climbs the mountain together. You said you climbed mountains, right? Isn't it much better to climb when you're, well, maybe.
I'm just assuming it's better to climb in a group with friends than by yourself, right?
Heather Fischbuch: much. And we support each other and we learn from each other. you share that, that joy of moments
James Marland: Yeah, you made it to the top. It's so much better when you're doing it with other people, like, let's all help each other get to the top. Like, that's, that's what,
Heather Fischbuch: relationships, you know, whether you're building [00:26:00] relationships with your potential clients. or you're building relationships with your cohorts, your other people that are in
James Marland: Mm hmm. Mm
Heather Fischbuch: shoes as you, um, walking the same walk. You can commiserate over the challenges. You can say, Hey, I found a solution for that. You know, you like you with your Kajabi or me with my
James Marland: hmm. Mm hmm.
Heather Fischbuch: This worked really well for that component. Try it out. Maybe it'll work for you too.
James Marland: Yeah.
Heather Fischbuch: Little tips are, are invaluable.
James Marland: Yeah, absolutely. Um, and, uh, somebody said, uh, what, like, if you're all taking a, excuse me, if you're all taking a bus to Disneyland, You're all excited to go to Disneyland like if we're all you you just get on the bus and you have a good time And you share the stories. It's like a it's like a party like I want to have a party with my friends Building these online courses.
Um, what is the other point I was gonna make? [00:27:00] Oh, so I, I really resonate with like, not wanting to sell to people. Like I feel like selling is a lot of manipulation and twisting people's arms and, and, uh, manipulating the timetable and saying, Oh, you're not going to get this bonus or this thing. If you don't sign up now, or it's only offered, I can only offer my digital course for the next, You know, 30 days like that's not true.
You can offer a digital course whenever like it's, it's digital. It's, it's always there. There's no, there's no limits on bits. So I just feel manipulated sometimes. So I, I, I don't like to do that. To people, but I, I asked this question in a, in a, in a group mastermind yesterday, it was really yesterday. Um, and Danny, Danny, the, the, um, person who was answering the questions when I said, Oh, I don't like selling and I don't like manipulating people.
And he's like, well, you know, that's a red flag. Or he [00:28:00] said something like that's a red flag. Um, because he said, selling is awesome. I'm like, really selling is awesome. Like how, how can selling be awesome? And he's like, when I'm, I'm paraphrasing, but basically when I'm selling, I am helping people in the, I am solving their problems.
And when you look at it, like, Oh, I can solve your problem. Selling is awesome because then you get to get energized by what you, what you can do the best. You know, for you, you're like, I I love to help people with their sleep or you know You can solve all those problems and when when you solve those problems for them It really energizes you you're you're helping your dream client get their dream result It helps them and you feel good about it And what if you could just do that every day over and over and over again?
How cool? Would that be? To solve problems for people with your [00:29:00] superpower every day. I'm just really excited about, um, the online courses, online course business, your online course, uh, as you get it like optimized, just think how many people you can help with their sleep problem or their pain problem in the next year.
It's, it's going to be awesome.
Heather Fischbuch: Yeah, it's transformational, and I think, you know, that's, they really talk about in courses, their pain island and their pleasure island. You're the boat between the two.
James Marland: Yes. And you try, you take people over and over again.
Heather Fischbuch: it. Yeah. So, you know, I think there is that transformational and it doesn't have to be manipulative, but I think with the power of affiliate marketing, the power of, of people and developing relationships.
Thanks. rather than just bombarding them with volume [00:30:00] been
James Marland: hmm.
Heather Fischbuch: made peace with it. would rather stick to a group of, you know, even half a dozen people. In a, in a church basement, you know, that want to
James Marland: Yeah.
Heather Fischbuch: insomnia options to, we'll all meet at like 1. 30 in the morning.
James Marland: Because that's when they're up.
Oh, that's perfect.
Heather Fischbuch: So, you know, I'd rather, cause then they, they see my. They, they feel my honestness and, and for their topic. It doesn't translate on a black and white email. And I
James Marland: Mm hmm.
Heather Fischbuch: we, we all develop our mailing lists. We have lead magnets, whether we're on social media or whatever. The world is changing.
And I think 10 [00:31:00] years ago with the start of online courses and particularly in the last four or five huge expansion into online courses, we are bombarded by them now, and we're kind of craving that personal connection again. And I feel really good about getting back 20 years ago. my 10 year science project of aromatherapy, of being the regional expert and going and speaking at that person's college or that friend's aromatherapy club or this person's migraine suffers and weekly meeting or whatever and, and providing them that, that boat from pain island to pleasure island to that group of people and then selling them, how you sign up for my three month course. Let's get
James Marland: hmm.
Heather Fischbuch: better or feeling better or less migraines or whatever. And so I go and do my, [00:32:00] my freebie, which they receive value from in that hour or two that they're there. They, they
James Marland: For sure. Mm
Heather Fischbuch: they get three or four tips to help them off of their pain Island and maybe onto the boat. then we'll sail them the rest of the way, if they sign up for their, you know, whatever course that I'm offering. And so that's sort of where I'm at now is devising this. Signature touring workshop, whether I tour it virtually or tour it in person, is yet to be determined, or some hybrid of both,
James Marland: hmm.
Heather Fischbuch: developing these affiliate relationships, which I feel These podcasts can very much lend themselves to in getting the word out about what's working for me and developing those partnerships with other people that want to, uh, work compatibly in that realm.
James Marland: Awesome. So I have two questions left. One is in a year, and we come back and [00:33:00] talk again, you know, what are we celebrating? What, what, what, uh, what are the good things that have happened for you, Heather?
Heather Fischbuch: Well, I have gently put it out there and I use gently very selectively. I don't want to be rigid. I don't want to be black and white in my life. I want to be. Gentle and allowing things to happen. I would love to take several months off next winter maybe meet you virtually from someplace
James Marland: hmm.
Heather Fischbuch: tropical.
That's not having a tropical storm as you might
James Marland: I know.
Heather Fischbuch: the near future in your neighborhood, but, um, yeah, uh, you know, I'm at that age that I'd love to go somewhere warm for part of the winters and still have a decent income in those months.
James Marland: Mm hmm.
Heather Fischbuch: 10 or so hours a week that I can tune in to offer courses or, uh, meet with clients virtually. So that's my goal is, um, within one year to be able to do that. whether I'm someplace warmer [00:34:00] or in my own lovely backyard, cause it is really lovely. I live in the Rocky mountains of British Columbia and I like skiing as well as This place is tropical. So anyway, um, the, the choice or the, the ability to make income, um, online, as well as in my in person on clinic, uh, is really appealing.
So I'd like half my income to be coming from online sources.
James Marland: Neat. So, uh, where can we find you online? Like, what are you offering now? And, uh, where can people look up what you have on the intranet internet?
Heather Fischbuch: Um, my, uh, my website is flourishinghealth. ca. That's CA because I'm in Canada. And, um, I do have several courses on there. Okay. the Sleep Strategies for Insomniacs is a great course. The Aromatherapy Personalized for Your [00:35:00] Autonomic Nervous System Body Type uh, kind of a pretty awesome course that will make aromatherapy more effective for anybody who takes it. they're, they're very reasonably priced. Um, and I'm excited to offer those on my website, and like I say, down the road I may put them on other platforms. I'm also on social media, Flourishing Health Invermere on Facebook, Flourishing underscore Health underscore on Instagram, and Heather Fischbach on LinkedIn. And you can
James Marland: Great.
Heather Fischbuch: get my tips and, and, uh, points there.
James Marland: I'll definitely put those in the show notes. Well, Heather, this has been delightful. I really enjoyed talking with you and hearing your story and just your perseverance, but also your heart for helping people live better lives. This has been a wonderful conversation. Thanks so much for being on the show.
Heather Fischbuch: Thank you too. I've, [00:36:00] it's been great meeting you and hearing what you're doing. And I appreciate this podcast wish I would have heard something like it myself a couple of years ago. So I appreciate your work as well.
James Marland: Well, thank you. So this is James Marlin for the scaling therapy practice. It's now time to go put your mission in motion.
That's it.
Heather Fischbuch: Beautiful.
