April plus Madison, April James
April plus Madison is a Wonderland-inspired wellness and arts enterprise. I am the founder and sole employee. Although I grew up taking vitamins and doing yoga, only during my doctoral studies did I embrace holistic wellness to heal from stress-induced weight gain, depression and tendonitis.
The following “Decade of Awfulness” pushed me further down this path. The unplanned viewing of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010) introduced me to Lewis Carroll’s works and my guardian angel, Madison Hatta, Sonneteer. These experiences opened my eyes to the amazing power of the arts to heal body, mind, and soul.
I serve others through my course, The ALICE Way: Dr. April’s 5-Step, Wonderland-Inspired Approach to Total Well-Being. It combines everything I learned to get through Harvard with everything I learned from Lewis Carroll and Alice’s Adventures to escape family dysfunction. I help people stress less and enjoy “adulting” more. In-person and online, I teach simple, fun, and effective wellness and art techniques that reduce stress and improve mental and physical health.
I also talk about my book, The Tenth Muse: How Maria Antonia Advanced the Pastoral Opera, which debuted at #1 in August 2023 and is an international bestseller.
Lewis Carroll says, “What’s the use of a book without pictures or conversations?” Similarly, what’s the use of dysfunctional situations if we can’t learn lessons from them and then help others with what we’ve learned? Through the years, I have encountered countless adults who have lost the joy they used to feel in being alive.
My services and products help adults rediscover their natural joy and playfulness to navigate life’s ups and downs better. My real-life inspirations include Louise Hay, who founded her publishing company, Hay House, when she was my age. Her company became a powerful force for good in the world, helping authors such as Dr. Wayne Dyer—another inspiration for me—gain international prominence.
My business combines wellness, spirituality and artistic creation. However, this is not “art for art’s sake”. Rather, I teach that the arts fulfill their true purpose when connected to the divine because the artform is imbued with the positive energy that leads to healing. I use my expertise in literature, visual art, performing arts, yoga, and other somatic techniques in my work.
I had heard of SCORE over the years from different people. I finally sought help from SCORE after paying thousands of dollars to other business coaches. I was tired of paying money to receive very little, if any, return on my investment of time and money. I also realized that removing the financial incentive from the coaching would help. Because my coach is bound by SCORE’s rules and code of ethics, I receive unbiased feedback rather than being sold on some coach’s next paid offer.
I have expanded my network and gained new speaking opportunities, for instance, my coach connected me to the organizer of the UpliftHER Conference this spring, and I was invited to be a panelist for the event.
Mila takes the time to listen to me. Mila immediately understood my business and me. She recognized that, although I am an artist, I desire more than a conventional artistic career. She has helped me clarify my business vision, prioritize tasks and develop a strategic plan.
Always on the lookout for ways to help me expand my impact and influence, she encourages me to apply for grants and attend networking events. She’s wonderful at finding resources I would not have found alone. Mila’s advice has helped me make important connections with individuals throughout Southwest Florida and elsewhere, which has led to new business opportunities. I officially became a sole proprietor in October 2021. My business is on track to break even by the end of 2024, thanks to Mila’s help.
The path to success is truly “The Long and Winding Road” of which the Beatles sang, but you don’t need to go it alone. Make sure you surround yourself with other entrepreneurs. Make sure your faith in our Creator and in yourself is rock-solid, because you will be tested over and over again. Make LeviTEA, i.e., joy and laughter, an everyday habit.
Realize that no one can build your business but you, however, you do not need to do it alone. You also don’t need to pay others to get the coaching or accountability partnering you can get for free through SCORE.
An experienced executive and independent thinker in all aspects of business management with proven...
