059: Dr. Phil Carson | Carson Natural

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Dr. Phillip Carson is a registered pharmacist who enjoys sharing the story of how alternative therapies changed his own health and promoting natural alternatives and integrative nutritional solutions to health problems. Passionate about teaching and encouraging people how to live more balanced, healthier and vibrant lives, Dr. Phil believes in equipping people with the knowledge to make the right choices for optimal health.

Background

When Dr. Carson graduated pharmacy school in 1985, he was already working in a job he loved for a national chain with a pharmacy in his hometown. One year later, he was promoted to store manager. Feeling unprepared for the responsibility, he experienced so much stress in his new role that he developed ulcers. He decided to leave that job to take a position with a mom-and-pop pharmacy, where he felt much more at home. He was there for over ten years.

Journey to Natural Health

During that time, Dr. Phil encountered many patients seeking answers when their needs were not met by traditional medicine. He came to realize that the medications he was paid to dispense often offered only temporary symptom relief and left people still suffering. Patients were asking him questions about natural alternatives. But while he was trained in the background and history of natural medicine, he knew nothing about its practical application. To help himself and his patients, he began attending seminars and meetings to learn as much as he could. The more he learned, the more excited and passionate he became about natural remedies. In fact, he was inspired to start his own business.

Business Success and Failure

In 1999, Dr. Phil opened his first store, Smithville pharmacy. It did so well that a few years later, in 2006, he opened a second store, designed to sell only natural products and natural medicine; the Carson Natural Health & Wellness Center. Both businesses were thriving when the financial crisis of 2008 struck. By the end of 2009, Dr. Phil had closed both of his stores and lost everything except his house. He also was half a million dollars in debt.

This began a difficult time of deep personal struggle. Each night Dr. Phil would walk along a country road near his home, praying and meditating to find relief. One evening, an affirmation came to him: “I am happy, I am healthy, I am whole.” He repeated it over and over, even though he felt as far from happy, healthy and whole as he could be at that time. Gradually, his outlook improved. He was inspired with new ideas. And he took a job as a pharmacist.

Turnaround

In 2012, a friend came to Dr. Phil and told him he wanted to open his own store. He needed a pharmacist and he asked Dr. Phil to partner with him. Although Dr. Phil had no money to invest in the venture and felt wary of the risk, he and his wife decided to go for it. In lieu of investing cash, Dr. Phil contributed equipment and worked six months without compensation. The business took off and a year later Dr. Phil had to quit his other job to devote himself full time to the successful new business, of which he owned 25 percent.

In 2016, he sold most of his shares for a return that was large enough to re-establish Carson Natural online, where it is thriving today. It also enabled Dr. Phil to partner with a local medical doctor to co-found the Life Transformation Medical Center, a provider of primary medical care, integrative medical care and wellness programs that opened its doors in March of 2017.

New Success

Today, in addition to owning two successful wellness practices, Dr. Phil is a speaker, coach, author, and podcaster. His mission is to help patients address their health problems with the best natural solutions possible. He works with people to get the most out of their lives by uncovering the root cause of their health issues. Patients come to him with problems and leave with renewed hope that they can be healthy again. He has not only consistently improved the quality of life for many of his patients, but he has also literally saved a few of them.

Dr. Phil discovered that true health and happiness comes from finding balance in seven key areas, so he developed a simple plan anyone can use. In his new book, How to Live Until You Die, he makes it simpler than ever to unlock a healthier, happier, and more whole you, so today can mark a new beginning of total health.