We recently connected with Laura McCann and have shared our conversation below.
Laura, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
I wouldn’t define myself as an optimist because I am so analytical and have a strong predisposition to being focused, heads down and getting things done. However, I have incredible will power and confidence and trust myself. These qualities allow me to see solutions instead of problems. I think like and artist and an engineer. I tackle problems like a dog does a bone. It’s in my nature.
When I was starting out in life, in college and figuring out who I was, I was fortunate enough to be introduced to the idea of personal transformation and participated in programs that were, at the time cutting edge. Three things stuck:
“If it’s to be it’s up to me”: The concept of accountability became my manifesto and I embraced accountability whole heartedly.
“Life is empty and meaningless”: The idea here is we are meaning making machines and our beliefs dictate our outcomes, why not then believe in what will get you what you want and where you want to be.
“What you see is what you get”: This concept embraces that if you pay close enough attention all the facts, information, and evidence is present. When you layer on your beliefs you can make this less clear, so don’t.
Building a vocabulary to support positivity and optimism is what makes a big difference. Today I know my aura personality is yellow. Yellow’s are optimists.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I founded Adoratherapy in 2015 to introduce aromatherapy to people who might not know, like myself what it was how to use it and its benefits. Initially my focus was on building the business, selling products and checking the boxes I thought mattered to investors and buyers. The business didn’t take off. We had some success but it was not sustainable and I saw that it was missing the “thing” that brands struggle to find, the reason for it’s being- in French they call this “la raison d’etre”.
It took a co-founder leaving, almost losing everything, considering bankruptcy and giving up to decide I wasn’t done. I’d figure it out. As I crawled along, licking my wounds and envisioning what this would look like Covid hit. I took a break to focus on pivoting and focused on learning more skills to move from a wholesale focus to DTC. I envisioned that if I could learn to sell online I could solve some of my problems.
The task at hand became to learn everything I could about ecommerce, social media, content creation, copy writing, photography, Public relations. I honed in initially teaching myself and at times getting support or coaching. It was thrilling to learn and to be able to bootstrap. Little by little I was able to see progress being made.
One day I had a dream to open a store. I heard a voice that told me to see if spaces were available in a prime location in Downtown Asheville. I followed through and lo and behold, a space was indeed opening up and before over thinking it I signed a lease.
From that moment on, my next learning phase began: opening a store and becoming a shopkeeper. This was an interesting time, as most places were closed, but Asheville was open and we slowly built a clientele, learned how to do what we do, and as we saw small successes we were able to reposition our branding, products, packaging and store to find our purpose. That’s when things started to get interesting. What was our purpose: reminding you to adore yourself and that you are your own healer.
Our aura and chakra reading studio and products became intrinsically linked and as we began to emerge as energy healers instead of business people, a whole aspect of myself blossomed and everything integrated.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I enjoyed school when I was young but had challenges in math. As a result I leaned towards liberal arts and creative subjects. I was a good B student at best. I was taught early on to not indulge in boredom. My mother was an artist supporting her three kids on a small income in a foreign country. She never complained, she never showed her fear, she was all courage and adventure. What an inspiration!
Later in college I studied fashion design. I learned the intricacies of drawing, painting, draping, pattern making and sewing. I loved how fashion was a business but also creative. Early in my career I was able to step into senior roles and was thrilled to see I could be both right and left brained.
My advice to people is to hone their analytical (this doesn’t mean math or science just discernement- Solar plexus), creative skills ( bringing things into the world that didn’t exist- Sacral Chakra) and Intuition ( third eye chakra). This combination is a foundation for success. It has been for me.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
I am an avid reader, somedays I spend at least an hour or two reading. These days it’s mostly business and things related to the beauty industry, but I have always sought out information through books. My favorites:
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand – I read this in my twenties and it hit a chord. The idea that we can be our best selves and pure of heart, motivated, incredibly successful and strong inspired me. Not many women in books are go getters but Dagny Taggart knocked my socks off. Back then they had not yet made the movies so you had to imagine her in your mind.
The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer – This is a business story and a spiritual story. Absolutely beautiful and I have since read all of his books and enjoyed them.
The I-Ching, the Chinese book of oracles – I have had a copy for over 40 years. I toss coins and ask a question and learn why things might be so. I love divination and this is a wonderful way to do it. I was introduced to the book by a family friend who had a near death experience.
Speaking of near death, I love all the Delores Cannon books that focus on past lives and reincarnation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://adoratherapy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adoratherapy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADORAtherapy/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauramccann31/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/adoratherapy
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOrGg2A9-X2UfEL1yK0cUFA
- Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adoratherapy
Image Credits
Keyan Riddick
