Dr. Ryan Shelton Zenith Labs is a medical professional and proponent of natural health. As the company’s Medical Research Director, Dr. Shelton is responsible for creating a regimen of natural treatments backed by science.
Dr. Shelton practices medicine in Hawaii, where he uses holistic and complementary medicine to help his patients achieve optimal health and wellness. He became interested in a medical career at a young age, and by the age of five, he was telling family members and friends that he wanted to be a doctor. He was inspired by the wish to heal the sick and create healthy lives for all of his patients.
As an undergraduate, he majored in biochemistry and then went on to medical school. After just a year of medical school, Dr. Shelton dropped out because he was unhappy with the type of medicine he was being taught to practice.
Dr. Ryan Shelton Zenith Labs reenrolled in college. There, he received a philosophy degree, which he credits for his patient and long-term view of treating and preventing chronic disease holistically. He later returned to medical school and received his degree.
Dr. Shelton believes that treating patients holistically is the best way to preserve their health and prevent chronic disease. He believes that food is medicine, and he uses natural and traditional therapies to help patients balance their systems.
Dr. Shelton’s belief in supporting wellness as healthcare rather than focusing on disease care has attracted many like-minded patients. His work with Zenith Labs complements his successful medical practice.
How did you get started in this business?
My medical practice inspired me to start this business. I have always been interested in natural wellness and complementary medicine, and I believe that food is medicine. My focus is on the fact that doctors should be able to help their patients prevent chronic disease using a holistic approach to their lives: what they eat, what their stress levels are like, et cetera. Zenith Labs produces supplements that I am proud to offer to my patients.
How do you make money?
We make money through the sale of supplements on our website. We have supplements that are targeted toward blood sugar, hearing, longevity, mental health, weight loss, and vision, among many other focus areas.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
Businesses always take some time to become profitable. At the beginning, I was researching and developing supplements on my own time. As the company began to flourish, we began to see returns on our investment. We have built a strong and loyal customer following over the years.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
Yes, I doubted that we would ever make enough sales to become profitable. At the time, I was trying to work on the marketing of our products. It seemed that we weren’t getting very much attention online. Fortunately, a word-of-mouth movement began around our products, and friends kept telling friends how our products had made a difference in their lives. This groundswell of interest helped us become profitable.
How did you get your first customer?
I started out by providing supplements to my patients in my own practice. They were able to help me tweak the formulas and optimize the products for the best possible results. I credit my Hawaii patients for being my guiding models for how our supplements are supposed to work.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
Social media has been excellent for us. We are active on Facebook and Instagram, and we are able to make our products stand out from the crowd using our excellent ingredients. I enjoy seeing our customer base build thanks to Instagram. It is a great way to attract millennial consumers who are interested in starting a healthy life journey while they are still in their twenties or thirties.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
I had to rethink a new supplement that I was researching. I decided that I wasn’t ready to release it to the market. I will come back to it later on, but it took up a great deal of my time in the development stage, and I am frustrated that I couldn’t move forward with it. My first priorities are quality and safety, and I would never release a product that wasn’t excellent.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
I have a deep level of intellectual curiosity. This was only pushed further by my experience getting my philosophy degree. I enjoy scientific inquiry, and I also have a high amount of compassion for my clients and anyone who is experiencing medical difficulties. My priority is to catch people before they have developed a chronic illness and reset their systems so that they will be able to move forward with a healthy body and mind.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Making our first online sale was a huge moment for me. I was excited that someone new wanted to become one of our customers. I enjoy hearing about how our customers do with our products, and I am always willing to take constructive feedback.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
We will continue to develop new supplements for various conditions. We will continue to offer excellent products to the community, and we will teach people that everyone is capable of reaching a state of mental and physical wellness.
What business books have inspired you?
As a natural medicine doctor, The Modern Herbal Dispensatory is a great starting point for plants that I want to use in my products. I believe in researching traditional and complementary medicine in order to create my supplements.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t be afraid to drop out of medical school and search for your own path in life. If you don’t feel comfortable fitting into the mold that traditional medical school wants you to be shoehorned into, don’t feel pressured to stay.
Are you willing to be a mentor? If so, how should someone contact you?
I have a few individuals I already mentor, so my plate is full. However, I highly recommend that everyone find a mentor.