Words of Wellness with Shelly

Defying Boundaries: Dr. Harleen Grewal's Inspiring Journey in Wellness and Entrepreneurship

Shelly Jefferis Season 2 Episode 68

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Uncover the inspiring journey of Dr. Harleen Grewal, a fearless entrepreneur who proves that with determination and strategic thinking, the sky's the limit. From her disciplined upbringing in England and India to her bold leap to America with only $5,000, Dr. Grewal exemplifies persistence in the face of obstacles. As a board-certified pediatric dentist and the owner of both a dental practice and a med spa, her story is a testament to embracing challenges and transforming them into opportunities. Learn how she turned a struggling dental office into a thriving business, highlighting the importance of teamwork and a clear mission.

Join us as we explore the fascinating intersection of wellness and entrepreneurship through Dr. Grewal's ventures, Skyline Smiles and MindBody Infusion. Discover how the pandemic inspired her innovative approach to healthcare, offering mobile COVID testing and a holistic view of patient care that integrates physical health and mental well-being. Dr. Grewal's vision extends beyond traditional practices, showcasing the importance of feeling good and looking good as interconnected elements of a healthy lifestyle.

Balancing professional ambitions with family life is no small feat, yet Dr. Grewal shares her insights on managing a flourishing career while maintaining her role as a mother. By involving her children in daily activities, she instills in them a strong work ethic and business acumen. Her journey encourages listeners to harness supportive networks, pursue their dreams with determination, and prioritize wellness in every facet of life. Tune in to be inspired by her remarkable story and learn how to make informed choices that enhance your quality of life.


CONNECT WITH DR.HARLEEN: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindbodyinfusionscv

https://mindbodyinfusion.com/

https://www.instagram.com/skylinesmilessc

https://skylinesmilessc.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dds007


Moms Who FLourish Wellness Event: https://app.cohere.live/contribution-view/673ea8be143c986b26ea7bcc/p_2d4c04bb-1e4b-49ed-bbd6-945a74b253eb/about

CONNECT WITH SHELLY:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellnesswithshellyj
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShellyNeumannJefferis

"Purge Your Pantry" Special pricing for WOW listeners:
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High quality, clean nutrition and beauty products: https://shellyjefferis.isagenix


Thank you for listening to the Words of Wellness podcast with Shelly Jefferis. I am honored and so grateful to have you here and it would mean the world to me if you could take a minute to follow, leave a 5-star review and share the podcast with anyone you love and anyone you feel could benefit from the message.

Thank you and God Bless!
And remember to do something for yourself, for your wellness on this day!

In Health,
Shelly Jefferis

Speaker 1:

You know, never take no for an answer. And then two, the most important one is never leave any stone unturned, because if you do, then you can't expect to be successful. I do not leave any stone unturned. I will give it my all. I, you know. Just have that motivation and keep going. Don't get discouraged, and you will achieve what you want in life and you will achieve what you want in life.

Speaker 2:

Do you get confused by all of the information that bombard us every day on ways to improve our overall health and our overall wellness? Do you often feel stuck, unmotivated or struggle to reach your wellness goals? Do you have questions as to what exercises you should be doing, what foods you should or should not be eating, how to improve your overall emotional and mental well-being? Hello everyone, I am so excited to welcome you to Words of Wellness. My name is Shelly Jeffries and I will be your host. My goal is to answer these questions and so much more to share tips, education and inspiration around all of the components of wellness through solo and guest episodes. With 35 plus years as a health and wellness professional, a retired college professor, a speaker and a multi-passionate entrepreneur, I certainly have lots to share. However, my biggest goal and inspiration in doing this podcast is to share the wellness stories of others with you, to bring in guests who can share their journeys so that we can all learn together while making an impact on the health, the wellness and lives of all of you, our listeners. The ultimate hope is that you leave today with even just one nugget that can enhance the quality of your life and that you will. We all will, now and into the future, live our best quality of lives, full of energy, happiness and joy. Now let's dive into our message for today. Hello everyone, and welcome back to Words of Wellness.

Speaker 2:

My name is Shelly Jeffries and and I will be your host today and I am very excited to share with you all my guest today.

Speaker 2:

She is a true embodiment of a powerhouse woman and you will all hear very soon she owns and runs two businesses.

Speaker 2:

One is called Skyline Smiles and the other is called MindBody Infusion, and I'm going to have her share in just a moment how she got involved with her businesses and a little bit about her background. But I want to just share. I met her just a few short years ago and I knew right away that I loved her energy and I loved her ability to just go after things and not hesitate, and she's done that with her businesses. She's done that with anything that I've presented to her and I am really proud to say, and honored to say, that she is a sponsor of our upcoming Moms who Flourish event, which is our local event this Saturday, February 8th, for moms to just really start to prioritize their wellness, their self-care, and really become empowered to do so, and so I'm really grateful to her for being a sponsor of our event, and I really am excited for her to share her background with you all, and so you can all get to know Dr Harleen Gruel like I do. So welcome to the show.

Speaker 1:

Thank you, Shelly. Thank you for such a warm introduction and it's honestly a pleasure to know you and I'm so glad that we crossed paths and God put you in my life. So everything happens for a reason and you know I'm really glad to be part of this journey with you on Moms who Flourish and just to be able to talk and, you know, share my experience and however I can motivate other moms and business owners to succeed and, yep, so my name is Dr Harleen Grewal.

Speaker 1:

I am a dentist by profession. I am also a board certified pediatric dentist and I also own a med spa and the third business I kind of own and help operate is my husband's neurology practice, which is Advanced Center for Neurology and Headache, and I honestly love doing all of it. So my question is do you sleep? I definitely do.

Speaker 2:

Plan and do you sleep Well, and that's the thing that I knew from the beginning that you, the way you approach everything, is just very professionally and very positively and lots of high energy and and that's you know, that's what it takes to do. I think everything that you're doing and I have to just really second what you said earlier I'm just really grateful that our paths crossed as well and I really consider you as a mentor and I love watching you do what you do, and I would love for you to share a little bit of your background, kind of how you got involved with your businesses. What was it like prior to got involved with your businesses? What was it like prior to? And you have a really amazing story of when you actually even came to the United States, right?

Speaker 1:

Yes, love for you to share that a little bit with our listeners, of course, so I was born in England and my parents sent me to India when I was 10 years old. So we actually moved together. So we moved together and they wanted me to grow up in a more conservative environment where and have a better education and schooling. So they sent me up to the Himalayas in a boarding school. So it's a Catholic boarding school run by nuns. There was a lot of discipline, a lot of you know. Everything had to be done and performed by the, by the book. Every, you know, wake up with the bell in the morning. Everything was timed. So I think that just instilled a lot of discipline in me and morally, like telling the truth, ethics and all that because that leads you to be a successful and ethical entrepreneur, because you can always make money doing the right thing. So did that.

Speaker 1:

And then I went to dental school in India, in Punjab. After I was done, I told my parents I'm going to America, peace out. And they said, no, you can't go by yourself. We have to find you somebody to get married to and then you can go. But I told them no, this is my journey in my life and I will go to America. And I took five thousand dollars in my pocket. I flew in, I landed in Los Angeles and there started my journey being an American, and I went to dental school again at USC, because you have to do a two year program to qualify to practice dentistry here in the United States. Two-year program to you know, qualify to practice dentistry here in the United States.

Speaker 1:

I did that, I finished and then I thought, well, I haven't found a guy to get married to yet. What do I do with myself? So my friends, they were all like you know what? You'd be a great kids dentist, why don't you go and do a specialty residency program? And I thought, yeah, I got time and let me do that. So I applied to a few programs and I got into Lutheran Medical Center in Holyoke, massachusetts.

Speaker 1:

So I was there for two years on the East Coast and that's where I bumped into my husband. He was doing a neurology residency in upstate New York and we met, we got married, and then we moved to Tucson Arizona. And we met, we got married, and then we moved to Tucson Arizona. So, tucson Arizona, he was doing his fellowship in clinical neurophys and I started to work at a corporate dental office called Pacific Dental Services. I took over an office that was in about $500,000 of debt. They had a lot of patients, but it just wasn't managed and run properly by the dentist that was working there. So I went in, I fired the entire staff, I rehired my own people and by the end of the year I actually produced them a surplus of $1.8 million. So I just always had a knack for business, and if I put my mind to something, I'm going to make sure it happens. By hook or crook to something, I'm going to make sure it happens by hook or crook, it will happen.

Speaker 2:

Well, that's amazing. That is amazing and that's one of the first things that I noticed right away from you, and I, just I, I love that determination and tenacity and and and drive that you have and you know it's, it's like you're saying it's, it pays off when you put your mind and set your mind to it and you're just that perfect example and wow, so how long? So you turned that around in just a year's time, Yep, and then how much longer were you there?

Speaker 1:

I was there for another four years, so it was a very profitable, very well-run, efficient pediatric dental office, and so I had four columns, we had four assistants, I had two front desk staff and but every it was mainly the team building that you need in a business for it to be successful. One, it's not a one man show, it's the entire team. So just building the team and and you know, sometimes you got to fire a lot of people to get the right one. And you know I did not have a problem with that because I was. I had a mission and I had a goal, and you're either on the train with me or you're not.

Speaker 2:

So I love that Absolutely, and that's the thing. I think that it doesn't happen enough. You know we get too caught up in how someone is going to feel or are we going to hurt their feelings, or this or that, the other, but when it comes down to it, this is what has to happen. If you're not running smoothly, successfully, you have to take those steps, and that's just great. I mean, you did it and obviously proof that what you did paid off, and that's amazing. So you were there for five years total then Five years.

Speaker 1:

So I learned a lot. And the other thing is learn and absorb whatever you can. Every opportunity is a learning moment, a learning opportunity, and I just did not give up. I kept going and learning and absorbing and I had, you know, I wasn't ashamed of things that I didn't know, but I put my effort of things that I didn't know, but I put my effort into learning it and getting to know what to do.

Speaker 2:

So I'm just curious, harleen, as I'm listening do you think, like, where do you, where did you get this skill? Do you think how much of it comes from coming from another country and really having to learn just the culture of coming to a whole new environment and the language and all of that? Do you think that was the big motivating factor? Or do you get this from, like your dad, your mom or maybe a combination? I?

Speaker 1:

would think it's a combination, but especially for me, I want it to be in this country, I want it to be successful. I just did not want to take whatever's given to me. I wanted what I wanted and I was ready to give it my all.

Speaker 2:

So, having that motivation and just knowing that you can do anything in life and become whatever you want in life, I love that Well, that really you sum that up on your social media when you say born to shine, because that's absolutely you and what you are sharing and I just I love that and I think you know for our listeners I feel like really kind of take that to heart, because not enough of us do that and have that inner knowing and being in confidence to to go out in the world and know that we can do and accomplish whatever we set our minds to.

Speaker 2:

And you know, I know our, our mind speaking of can get in the way and we have the little voice. Sometimes it gets in the way, but ultimately it's like you're saying you just have this vision and you just you just keep moving forward with that train and you, you continue to do that. So I love what you're doing for everyone in general when it just comes to overall wellness, because you're not only helping with just our oral health, which is important, but also the whole body with your mind body infusion. So how did that come to be? Did you know you were going to do both or did that just kind of evolve over time?

Speaker 1:

yeah, there's an interesting story with that too. So we moved here from Tucson in 2017. And because my husband's whole family is from here and they've been living here for the last 40 years. So you know, and I knew, we had kids. It's it's not. It's important to be around grandparents and family and it takes a village to raise kids. So it's great that we're here. We have a lot of help and, you know, they have that bond with the family and especially grandparents. It's such a special bond. So that was the reason we moved here.

Speaker 1:

I initially started helping my husband open up his neurology practice. He's an amazing doctor and I'm a good business person, so the combination made a great team effort. I opened up his practice. I was pregnant with my first child and I didn't want to be around the laughing gas and nitrous oxide while, you know, I'm working. So I thought let me put my effort to helping him open up his practice. I did that. And then I also, you know, took over managing my father in law's pain management practice as well, and with that, you know, took over managing my father-in-law's pain management practice as well, and with that, you know, he let me cut a lot of fat out. I, you know, we consolidated things. We took the you know, the profitability to the next level.

Speaker 1:

And then came COVID and during COVID, you know, I had this vision of the test and infuse, just like they did in Florida. I had this vision of the test and infuse just like they did in Florida. So I was doing mobile COVID testing and we ordered monoclonal antibodies and I hired my own nurses and I was sending them over to people's homes to infuse them. So, you know, while my dental office was being built. So you know, I just took that opportunity to serve the community and make money at the same time Like you can make money doing the right thing. And it helped a lot of people. People were calling me because the hospitals weren't giving out the monoclonal infusions because they were busy with so many people dying Um, and we knew if you're positive, you need to that infusion right away. So test and infuse was the way to go and I'm really happy I was able to save a lot of lives. I think A lot of damage that you know people could have had if they had prolonged COVID. So the monoclonal antibodies actually reduced the time of the infection. So people got back better, they went to work sooner Didn't infect so many other people that came in their paths.

Speaker 1:

So, you know, while I was doing that, I thought, hey, we could open up a med spa with vitamin infusions and things that would help people's vitality and nutrient levels get back on track. So I opened up my dental office, skyline Smiles, and then we opened up MindBody Infusion and we started with the basic things of you know, nutrition and infusions and Botox and fillers, and then over time, over the year, we just started adding in different treatments for weight loss, body sculpting, facial treatments, because if you look good, you absolutely feel good. You know, just in the morning when you do your hair and makeup, it makes you feel so amazing. So just keeping you know your body's nutrients up to date and just going to a place where you're taking care of, where you, you can take care of your body, your teeth, at the same time, so that it was just a great approach.

Speaker 1:

So people come in, they get their dental cleanings and they get an infusion at the same time, so you're killing two birds with one stone. Because time is money, absolutely. I love that. That's how we came up with the concept of mind body infusion, because my husband's a neurologist, so he's the medical director. So it starts. Everything starts with the mind and then keeping your body and mind cohesive and function together. So that was the concept and you know we've had a lot of great success over the last three and a half years.

Speaker 2:

I love that. I'm so, I'm so happy for you in that regard too, and I think that it's such an important point also when it comes to our overall wellness. I mean, it's become more talked about as far as the mental approach, but it's really, it's really such a big part of it, like you're saying, when you, when you, when you look good, you feel good, when you feel good, you look good. It just all tied in and so much of that is a mental approach and so important. And I think sometimes, you know, years ago, I feel like, because I've been in this industry for so long, the mental side wasn't always brought in to the health and wellness side. And it's definitely. We know that it's connected. I mean, obviously it's connected, but I just I'm so happy that it's become more part of that whole equation.

Speaker 2:

When it comes to a person's overall health and wellness, there's not just the physical aspect, and I, you know, when I used to a person's overall health and wellness, there's not just the physical aspect, and I, you know, when I used to teach health and I would talk about it, and I feel like whenever we would talk about someone being healthy, we automatically go right to the physical part, yes, and it's so much more than that. And so you have been able to really integrate all of it in one. And for those of you who you know aren't maybe local and you might not be able to go into Dr Harleen's space, where she is running both of these businesses, it's just, it's incredible also how you have brought such a calming feel to your space, both the mind, body and infusion side, to the skyline smile side. And is that also your talent or did you bring someone in to do that?

Speaker 1:

It's a funny story is I fired three architects because I knew what I wanted. I want what I want and I will get it. So and I will make it happen. So you know, I had the vision and I really wanted the space to be for all the senses, Like I wanted aromatherapy in the room so it doesn't smell like a dental or a medical facility. I wanted TVs on the ceiling so you're distracted when you're getting your treatments done. I wanted headphones so people don't hear the sound of the machine, so they're nice and calm. I wanted grass on the ceiling, not on the floor.

Speaker 1:

I wanted it on the ceiling. So when people are looking up, they're looking at something peaceful and, you know, something that's soothing to your eyes. So a lot of people, a lot of the architects didn't weren't part of my vision. They said, oh, that's not going to happen. So I would say, well, I'll find somebody who's going to do it. Thank you very much.

Speaker 1:

So, and you know, and I'm so glad, the way the space is designed. Now everything's open and transparent and light and bright and it just brings me so much joy walking in every morning. And so for the patients too, because they walk in a lot of it's it's a daunting experience going to a dentist sometimes, and a lot of times people have had childhood trauma going to a dentist. So you know, for the rest of their life they're, they're traumatized and they don't feel comfortable going into an office. It brings back those memories. So you walk into our dental office. It actually looks like an Apple store. So there's technology everywhere and there's, you know, it's nice and bright and light and smells great.

Speaker 1:

And so when I opened up the office, my intention was to make it a pediatric dental office, because that's what I specialized in. But I started getting adults walk through and said could you see me too? So and I thought hey, why say no to business? I, of course I'm. I'm a general dentist. First I only did extra two years of pediatric dentistry, so of course I can see them. And now 80% of my clients are actually adults and we do everything from veneers to implants, smile designs, invisalign. Just like I said, I don't take no for an answer. Somebody wants me to do something. I will figure out a way to do it.

Speaker 2:

So that is absolutely the case, for sure. And so again, just another inspirational point of when you have a vision and being told no, but you knew what you wanted and you had that vision and you did everything to get to that point and you did it. And I think that's so important. Again, you know, you hear stories and you hear success stories of individuals who keep getting no, told no, but they keep going after it and they finally do reach that point of what they had envisioned for so long and gosh, we all benefit from you having that again, that determination, because it's such a beautiful space and it is so calming and and I never thought of it like that walking into an Apple store, it's so, and it's so clean and just everything about it. I, every time I'm there, it's just, I just I love just being there. I feel like I guess I mean I told that you that last time I could just hang out there all day.

Speaker 1:

It reminds me of my boarding school days, because the concept was cleanliness is next to godliness. So, if it's not clean, how can you connect with God? If you can't connect with God, how can you connect with humans? So you know it's everything just is always pristine clean. You'll find me walking around with a Mr White at least a couple times a day.

Speaker 2:

I love that. That's a great. That's a great quote too, and it's almost like the having that clear workspace or having a clear head. It's the same kind of thing, right.

Speaker 1:

Just having having that clarity and the clean love it because they come into a very clean space. It's, you know, it's the health. It's a medical facility as well as the dental facility, so it has to be stick and span.

Speaker 2:

Well, and that's a great, that's a great tip for even in our houses, right, take, take every few months and just go through everything. It's kind of a daunting task to think of in our home, but it's. It's true. It's just like. I'm like that where I want to have a clear space, and it's just. It's always just. You just feel like so much more at ease and at peace and there's a reason behind that, right, I mean, that's that's, that's how it's meant to be.

Speaker 1:

So well, the way I do it is I just take everything out of the closet. Don't just take bits and pieces, take everything out and then put back. What you need organized, what you haven't used or don't need, give it to somebody that can use it or toss it yes, right, I've.

Speaker 2:

I've heard you. What you keep you're going to either have a key pile toss and then give away, I think is how it. And then also, what have you not used for a certain period of time? If you haven't used it in the last year, then you're not going to use it. Right, get rid of it. Get rid of it. And I like that we're talking about this, because this, again, is another aspect of our overall wellness Having that clear head and that you know clarity around what we're doing in our're doing in our home space, our workspace. It's so huge. Wow, I love this. We're just touching up on so many different topics. I am curious Because I see you having to expand at some point. Have you thought about that?

Speaker 1:

Every now and then I do, but I just have so much on my plate right now and I'm really enjoying what I do. And then, you know, as a mom, my kids are six and seven, so I also have to be a mom and spend time with them. So I'm happy with the businesses that I have and you know we're open to helping as many people as we can. So the expansion is going on at the same location with different services. I don't intend to open up a different location because I want to be able to enjoy the time with my husband and my kids as well, and they're here all the time. They love it here. They think it's Disneyland for them.

Speaker 1:

They're always like we want to go to mommy's office because they meet people, they see things and you know it's. It's great. It's a great way for me to teach them things. They make toothbrush packets in the office. They get a dollar per toothbrush packet they make. So they learn work ethic and they learn the importance of connecting with other people and how to be a good business owner, cause I'm not only a dentist, you also kind of become a therapist when you're working on people. So they got to understand the concept of how do you build those relationships with people?

Speaker 2:

Right, no, that's great. And the fact that they have fun being there and they can be a part of what you're doing. You're setting such a great example, professionally and personally, and showing how you can do it and be a great mom at the same time, and that's huge. I love that because that's such a huge part of why I started Moms who Flourish and it's always been such a huge value of mine as a mom to always put family first, value of mine as a mom to always put family first.

Speaker 2:

And you know it's not always easy and I know for some moms it's not always possible to to be home with their kids or to have their kids come to their workplace. And and I, you know I I'm sensitive to that and I always appreciate the the situations like what you have where they can be there. I think it's as much as we can, you know, incorporate them into what we're doing in our day-to-day lives. It's just so huge and you know, I, my husband, would always say these are, these are moments in times where we we can't ever get the time back and it's such, it's so true. You know, there there were instances through the years where he would say that I said you, you're, you're so right because now you know we're in the empty nest phase and boy it's. It goes so fast, you know. So I just I love that that you can have them be a part of what you're doing.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, they're. They're part of all our events, they're part of my social media. They're, you know, they're integral in the business. So, just making the business that way, that way, you know, you're teaching your kids too at the same time.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely, absolutely. Well, you know that I love you, my friend, and we could talk for a really long time, as we have said. What would you say to our listeners as far as any kind of an inspiration or advice to, to the, to the journey and the path that you've been on to encourage maybe someone like yourself to you know that maybe they're new to the country or they're wanting to start a business. What would be some just words of advice to anyone like that?

Speaker 1:

You know, never take no for an answer. And then two, the most important one is never leave any stone unturned, because if you do, then you can't expect to be successful. I do not leave any stone unturned. I will give it my all. I, you know. Just have that motivation and keep going. Don't get discouraged, and you will achieve what you want in life that's beautiful.

Speaker 2:

I love that. Well, I hope that you all take this to heart and, for any of you who are local to Santa Clarita, I hope you are able to visit Dr Harleen's office and come see her. You, like she said, two stones or two birds with one stone. I'm always rearranging expressions.

Speaker 2:

That's what I do best and, as you can hear, she's just a wonderful person to be around and I will put her contact information in the show notes. So, especially if you're, whether you're local or not, if you want to reach out to her and you know, see if maybe at some point you can come and see her and you know, come to her business in person and be able to have her work on you and always mind, body and teeth. Yes, and again for all of our listeners, take some time on this day to do something for your wellness. And again for those of you who are local, and if you haven't yet registered, we are having our event this Saturday, february 8th, and you will get to meet Dr Harleen and she will be sharing a little bit more again about her business. And again, just a huge, huge amount of gratitude to you for sponsoring our event and I thank you so much for being here today.

Speaker 2:

Thank you, shelly, it was a pleasure. It was really a lot of fun. We'll have to, we'll definitely have to do it again.

Speaker 1:

Yes, every time.

Speaker 2:

Yes, and thank you again, everyone for listening and have a beautiful, blessed rest of your week and until next time, we will see you on Words of Wellness. Thank you so much for tuning into today's episode. We'll see you on Words of Wellness. Thank you so much for tuning into today's episode.

Speaker 2:

I hope you gained value and enjoyed our time together as much as I did, and if you know someone who could benefit from today's episode, I would love and appreciate it if you could share with a friend or rate and review Words of Wellness so that more can hear this message. I love and appreciate you all. Thank you for listening and if you have any questions or topics you would like me to share in future episodes, please don't hesitate to reach out to me through my contact information that is shared in the show notes below. Again, thank you for tuning in to Words of Wellness. My name is Shelly Jeffries and I encourage you to do something for you, for your wellness, on this day. Until next time, I hope you all have a healthy, happy and blessed week. Thank you you.