Lila Volkas

Lila Volkas is a Certified Nutrition Consultant and founder of Kombucha to the People, which provides corporate team building workshops, public classes and kombucha products. She has taught more than 1000 people how to make kombucha in hundreds of workshops all over the world. She works with companies such as Google, AirBnB, and Atlassian to bring wellness into the workplace with her corporate workshops. Lila has a passion for helping people feel good in their bodies and empowering them to make educated decisions about their health. For more information visit: www.kombuchatothepeople.com

Where did the idea for Kombucha to the People come from?

The name “Kombucha to the People” came from my mission to empower as many people as possible with the tools to brew kombucha at home.

Brewing my first batch of kombucha back in 2012 changed my life. I made the connection between what I eat and how it makes me feel. I also realized that I could make much of what I purchased at the store at home in my kitchen. Making kombucha myself was not only more cost-effective, but gave me a sense of confidence and satisfaction.

I started teaching workshops in 2012 and as kombucha’s popularity has grown, so has the demand for my workshops. Kombucha to the People was born out of the booming kombucha market and my drive to inspire people to have a deep relationship with their food and their body.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

My typical workday looks like: waking up at 8am, sitting for my morning meditation, eating breakfast and getting started on my work. I always start my day with a savory breakfast that contains healthy fat and protein which helps maintain my energy throughout the day.

I do my best solo-focused work in the morning, so I try and schedule all meetings for the afternoon. If I have a workshop scheduled, then I prepare all the supplies I need in a designated area 1-2 days before so I never do a mad dash to get things ready.

I am a huge fan of lists! I make two to-do lists, one for things I have to do today and one for bigger projects that I can work on if I have time.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I bring my ideas to life through my in-person kombucha brewing workshops, kombucha products, social media posts and online content.

If I have an idea for an addition to my in-person workshop or a product, I just go for it. If it is financially possible, I will create the minimum of products necessary to get it out into the world to see if people want it.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I feel excited about finding sustainable alternatives instead of using soft plastics. From plastic free stores to compostable packaging, I think there are many creative solutions to solve our over-dependence on plastic.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I am a creator by nature. I feel most aligned when I am being creative. I feel a drive to make things, whether it is a new workshop, product, blog post or illustration.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Be patient and trust yourself, you will know when it’s working.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Calories in are not calories out. Healthy eating is about the quality of food you are eating and how you are eating it. A calorie from a hostess cupcake is not the same as a calorie of organic broccoli. The strategy of counting calories for weight loss is not sustainable or healthy and creates a disordered relationship to eating. To top it off, each person is unique and has their own personalized nutrition needs.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Keep creating. Even if one idea doesn’t work the way you thought it would, learn from the process and do it differently next time.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Identifying a problem and figuring out an extremely specific way to solve that problem, better than anyone else. I found there was a need for more healthy team building activities for companies. I used my expertise as a Certified Nutrition Consultant and kombucha brewer since 2012 to solve the need in my own creative way.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

I created products that didn’t have a market. I overcame these mistakes by learning from what didn’t work and not getting discouraged to try again.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Using kombucha SCOBYs to make plastic alternatives. The pellicle that grows on top of a brew of kombucha is a thick mat of cells, when dried and treated it can be a renewable material with lots of possibility!

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

A sunset sailing adventure on my friend’s boat around the Bay. I had a really fun outing and was able to support their sailing excursion business.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

I use trello boards to organize my to do lists and I love it!

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

Attached : The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find – And Keep – Love by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller. We play out our attachment styles in all our relationships, personal and professional. I think that self-awareness and a drive for personal growth are important qualities of a successful entrepreneur no matter the field.

What is your favorite quote?

‘Let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food’ – Hippocrates

Key Learnings:

• Find a problem and create a solution only you can provide.
• Continue to check in if your actions are aligned with the ‘why’ of your business.
• Keep creating no matter what!
• Value personal growth and continue to examine your patterns to be aligned in your business relationships.