Pursuit 365 Day 212: Rishma Dhalla

Rishma is a living example of a survivor and a go-getter. Surviving cancer and suffering in a toxic workplace, is what gave Rishma the push to take a leap of faith into entrepreneurship at the age of 50. Rishma stays motivated by her faith and her sons whom she loves more than life itself!

When you first started your career, how did you know you were ready and what made you start?

I chose to become an Occupational Therapist 30 years ago to empower people to improve the quality of their lives. I “serendipitously” fell upon this career path as an alternate to medical school.

What do you have going on that you’d like to share?

From fall prevention and home modification with seniors, to persistent pain and concussion management with car accident victims & veterans, to stress management with childcare providers, my business offers diverse services, and I have no intention of slowing down or stopping any time soon.

Where do you see yourself in five years? How do you envision your future?

I’m looking ahead to further expanding my stress management workshop offerings and dedicating ample time to my continued professional development. My future will include an ideal work/life balance and hopefully time to babysit grandkids!!

Do you have a mantra or phrase you live by? What is it?

I have three. The first one is, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change”. This reminds me to always remain open and consider alternate perspectives. The second one is, “How do you want to be remembered after you’re gone? Are you living that way now?” This reminds me to live NOW the way I would like to be remembered once I’m gone. The third one is, “What would you regret more?” This is the question I ask myself when I arrive at a crossroads in my life and have to choose between 2 options.

What keeps you motivated on a daily basis? I absolutely LOVE being an Occupational Therapist and being an entrepreneur. I love the creativity and freedom of both, and I love having control of my own time, and my own future.