We had the good fortune of connecting with Dori Bell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dori, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?

The most important factor behind my success is realizing I could (and should) define success on my own terms. What you hear from business coaches and inspirational speakers are the steps they took to achieve their idea of success, which may not align with yours. Maybe you don’t need 1,000 employees and a multi-million dollar business to get you where you want to go in your life. Or maybe you do – but at some point you need to turn off the volume of what other people are saying is success, and listen to yourself.

My goal is to create a business that supports my dreams and quality of life. For me, that means I’m staying a business of one person, with the occasional need for a subcontractor. I am not on every social media platform, and only occasionally on the ones on which I engage. I don’t hustle 24/7. I thoughtfully approach new opportunities and say no to many of them. This is a huge step forward for me, as I used to grab at anything that came my way and wore myself out trying to be everywhere all the time. My quality of life and the quality of my business engagements has improved exponentially since deciding for myself what success is.

The day I realized what I want for my life, not just my business, and listened to my own voice, was the day my brand started to feel successful and grow.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

I own two businesses that sound very different but actually share a mission: to help people get where they want to go. Through my work as an aromatherapist at The Blossom Bar I offer custom essential oil blends that help people achieve their goals, from wellness to interpersonal to creative. With my digital marketing business Blossom Creative I specialize in creating websites that are built from the ground up to generate sales. My goal is to help other entrepreneurs and small businesses make their websites their best employee.

Anyone in business for themselves probably shares my problem of idea overload. I want to do all the things. I’ve learned to streamline and listen carefully to what my clients/industry actually want, as opposed to whatever shiny object idea is glittering in my brain at that moment.

If I could pass along one secret to other entrepreneurs it would be the importance of tapping into your innate creativity. Aromatherapy offers a beautifully fragrant and gently powerful means of unleashing your creative spirit, and I employ it in my digital marketing business every day. To stand out in today’s noisy market, presenting your business in a distinctive way is crucial. Aromatherapy provides support for centering and grounding yourself, and seeing your business through the unique lens of YOU.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I moved to the middle of the country last year, to Manhattan, KS. It’s about as different as I could get from the other Manhattan I lived near for the 25 years previous. One of the charms of prairie life is the quiet. You hear about that from people but until you experience it every day for a while, you don’t realize how necessary it feels to have that space to think without so much noise. I’ve had a few visitors since moving here and they are pleasantly surprised by how much there is to do. We have access to stunning trails through the Flint Hills (not all of Kansas is flat it turns out!), delicious steaks from local farms, countryside that is reminiscent of Ireland, college sports, and fantastic Kansas City music and BBQ. The people are lovely and down-to-earth. There’s no traffic. One of the local shops sells a t-shirt that says “Kansas: It’s not that bad!” It’s actually really great here!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So many people, books, organizations, conversations, and moments have gone into creating my life and story. One organization central to my growth personally and professionally has been Believe Inspire Grow (BIG), a women’s networking group for entrepreneurs. Through BIG I met business-changing mentors like Mallika Malhotra, Susan Vernicek, and Sarah Walton. I’ve gained experience talking about my business and offers with passion and confidence. I’ve made life-long friends and have a vibrant network of generous women who support my business and me with referrals and advice. I encourage any business owner out there to find a supportive network. It can be isolating to be in business for yourself, and BIG has helped me stay connected!

Website: https://www.blossomcreativeonline.com and https://www.theblossombar.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblossombar

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorieldridge/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblossombar

Image Credits
Photos by Clara Wang Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.