Lex Kogan began working with Ibogaine medicine in the year 2000 and is a leading voice in the recovery industry. He’s a proponent for ibogaine therapy which utilizes the compound in opioid addiction detox and recovery. Lex is a man who believes strongly in helping those in need help themselves through induced by trance states that occur under the influence of psychotropic substances. Kogan’s enthusiasm for specialized addiction interruption has led to beneficial results for people suffering from depression and anxiety as well. He’s the founder of Envision Recovery, a treatment center that offers natural healing therapy in Costa Rica.
Lex is the director of Envision Recovery. He spends time on the phone with new clients every day and spends most of his time is with clients that are recovering from opioid detox at the center.
He began working for himself at the age of twenty after training under a pioneer of ibogaine therapy based out of Florida in the year 2000.
He is a father that enjoys doing anything that his daughter enjoys. Whether it is drawing, playing music, or exploring the outdoors, Lex is at his happiest when they are together.
How did you get started in this business? What inspired you to start this business?
When I was twenty, I lived in Gainesville Florida and managed an independent bookstore where I was introduced to Eric Taub, who was an original advocate for the use of ibogaine as an addiction interrupter. Taub introduced me to the medicine and presented the compound as a catalyzer of self growth through auto induced exploration of the subconscious mind.
After experiencing the medicine for myself, I began treating his clients which were people from all over the world that had heard of ibogaine therapy and were willing to travel to the Caribbean Islands to have the experience.
How do you make money?
I support my family with the money I generate through my recovery center.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
I became profitable within the first year of opening Envision in Costa Rica.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
When I first opened up the center, I had no idea at all if people would be interested in our services. For one U.S. based clients would have to travel to Costa Rica for treatment and that was a completely new phenomenon at the time. The idea of traveling to Costa Rica ended up being attractive to many which was a pleasant surprise and a positive thing for me to discover as well.
How did you get your first customer?
My first customer discovered my services through the internet and contacted me through our website.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
The internet is the main generator of interest in our services is the educational written material that we publish on our websites. I like to concentrate on very specific subjects of interest in regards to ibogaine therapy. I this way, future clients have a chance to explore ideas and our treatment protocols by reading our writings.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
The most difficult decision that I‘ve made in the last few months was declining to treat someone that was very interested in experiencing ibogaine. There are times that we decline therapy sessions due to anomalies in electrocardiography of people interested in taking ibogaine as an addiction interrupter. Turning someone away is always challenging when they have a sincere drive to change their lifestyle for the better.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
I think what makes me successful is the way that I communicate with people prior to and throughout their recovery. Ibogaine is a little-known substance and people have specific questions that require personal experience in order to answer them accurately.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
For me there is not a single moment but many. The most satisfying moments occur each and every time a client wakes up from a detox session and is withdrawal-free. It’s an awesome event and a unique blessing to be able to witness it first hand.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
I am excited about continuing to do what we do as the interest in ibogaine flourishes. Every new client has a unique story that they bring to us – they are the inspiration.
What business books have inspired you?
There is a Chinese classic text titled Tao te Ching that has historically inspired artists and poets around the world. Essentially it is a book that describes the cosmos and all things in it. I apply some of the simple philosophy of it to business as well as to life.
What is a recent purchase you have made that’s helped with your business?
I enjoy being creative in regards to the ambiance of our facility. I recently added new lighting to our center, specifically rock salt lamps. They add an aesthetic that correlates well with the settings that we provide.