An Inspired Chat with Diana Hernandez of Tolleson

We recently had the chance to connect with Diana Hernandez and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Diana, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
My first task is coffee. I cannot start my day without my coffee. Before I start working on what my business requires from me, my cat, Squishy, gets her meds. After meds and coffee is finished, I check my email to determine what needs a response now, can be handled later, and what can be deleted. Anything that doesn’t require immediate attention gets spread throughout the time I give my business.
After emails, I head into Canva to create my Instagram post for the month. That takes up most of my day. Depending on the day and time, it can range from inventory, to prepping for a market, to also making sure post are up. It can also be making online orders that was submitted the day before. Not all of this, but most can be accomplished in my first 90 minutes of the day, just because of being organized and planning the day before.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi loves! My name is Diana Hernandez and I’m the proud owner/operator of Essentials By Diana. I’m a certified aromatherapist who is currently in school, working on my professional certification.
I make different essential oil blends, using my knowledge, to help with different ailments. I offer it in either a vial with a roller ball or a lotion. I’m not just here to sell you a product and “hope it works”, I’m also here to offer knowledge into the aromatherapy world. I’ve had multiple clients tell me that the information I’ve provided them was not disclosed to them prior to obtaining an essential oil, and while that makes me upset, I’m glad to be of service.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Breaking bonds is breaking trust. When trust is broken, you will be questioning whether a person is lying or telling the truth. There is no relationship without trust.

What can restore that trust is taking the time to acknowledge something is wrong and working with the person whose trust is broke to repair it. You may have broken the trust, but it doesn’t get fixed on its own.

I believe that’s what’s happened in the aromatherapy world. There is much misinformation out there and not enough correct information that people don’t know if they can trust it or not. I’ve had many people tell me they don’t trust a brand of essential oils because of X,Y, and Z or they don’t trust it because they’ve heard horror stories about them from friends or family. I’m here to help rebuild that trust in aromatherapy and essential oils. While I understand I’m just one person fighting for it, I believe one person can make a difference.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
This year, actually. I almost gave up this year because life had hit me so hard and so much that I just felt like I wasn’t going anything good, that I wasn’t living up to my goal, that I wasn’t making a difference.

That all changed at one market. I had many clients/customers tell me that I was doing a good thing. I was talking with fellow vendors about how it’s hard for a growing business to make plans for the future because there are so many factors to be considered, and half of those don’t even happen! I also had a client tell me that I had changed their perspective because of the insight I provided. Did that mean they were willing to try it again? No, but they had a new insight to consider and they would need time to get there.

That one market, those vendors, and that one client was all it took for me to change my perspective. I talked everything over with my business friends and my husband and it helped me. I sat myself down and gave myself a pep talk that made me angry that I was so ready to throw everything away over one negative thought. Life happens but it means rolling with it. Life may knock you down 6 times but get up 7.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
A tiger doesn’t change its stripes just because someone isn’t watching it. The way you see me in public is how I am in private. As I’ve been told by many people, if my mouth doesn’t say it, my face will. I have no filter and I’m proud of the person I’ve become. I have fought myself, my environment, and people to break free of a cage that I refused to be in. I’m my most authentic self and if someone doesn’t like that, it’s just because our vibes don’t match.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’ve had a tough look at this in recent years. During my working years, I was a hostess, a server, a busser, a dishwasher, a cook, a manager, a cashier, a pharmacy technician and an operations specialist. While those roles fit during my time in them, I never truly felt it was me. It felt like it was a position placed upon me by someone who thought I was good enough for them. I never felt like it was something I was born to do. While those roles have helped me in my career, they weren’t who I was, but they will always be a part of me that I accept.

I always knew I was ment to help people. I thought it meant the medical world. Stepping into pharmacy tech, I thought it would suit me best, but I found the role unfulfilling, but it was a step towards my goal of becoming a CRN. I ended up leaving the program after some time because I kept hitting road blocks and thought fighting through them was what I was supposed to do. Apparently, it wasn’t.

When I came into my current role, my career, I have found some things aren’t mean to be fought for. Hitting a road block is a temporary situation, not a permanent one. And I kept hitting permanent situations.
Since learning this, I learned that I didn’t give up on who I was supposed to be. I gave up others expectations of me. Today, I’m doing what I was born to do. I have said it numerous times since stepping into my role. I love what I do and I don’t want to stop.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://essentialsbydiana.square.site
• Instagram: @essentiallybydiana