I just read great advice from Seth and he inspired me to write my own business tips.
Here are 10 that will help you thrive in your business. I started Shivaya Wellness back in ’07 with a different biz name and direction. I’ve come a long way but still follow these simple steps to keep my balance and stay focused.
1. You can do exactly what you want to do. Yes, that sounds pie-in-the-sky, but it’s true. It just may come in different forms than you expect. It’s not like I grew up thinking that I’d channel my intuitive abilities into a business. However, I always saw myself as a writer and teacher. These are fulfilled every day through my work.
2. Listen well, but be ever more discerning. Much of the advice out there is crap. Or it doesn’t fit because they aren’t you. Listen, but find your own unique way. Most of all, avoid skeptics and bitter folk who hate that you are taking a risk. You don’t have to convince anyone of the value of your life, or your work.
3. Patience rewards. It took me 4 years before making the leap to full-time (without a trust fund or a partner paying the bills) — and then a year or two of juggling very slim, nerve-wracking $$ months. If anything, being an entrepreneur requires a ton of faith and ten tons of patience. It has only been in the last year that I’ve seen the Wheel of Fortune turn. Once you’ve worked with enough people, they will help continue your business through repeat sessions and referrals. Remember: infinite patience produces immediate results (A Course in Miracles).
4. Goals and business plans are overrated. When someone asks my goals, my reply is: to have none. Maybe it’s age, wisdom or pure laziness, but I don’t chase after a list of goals in my business. What I desire is to be – and have enough money that provides the ease in which to do so. However, I regularly practice #8.
5. Be the eternal student. I constantly learn from my clients (many of whom are self-made), blogs, articles, books and being around other healers. I ask questions. I watch videos. I have sessions with intuitives to learn their techniques. I spend hours contemplating, “How can I express this idea to help my readers?” or “How can I adjust my business to stay interested?” I have degrees in English, but am not a perfect writer. I write, constantly edit and keep reading. I learn the ins & outs of WordPress and social media. I keep up. Being the eternal student keeps you fresh and interested in life — and injects your business with a constant source of enthusiasm.
6. Learn how to budget and be obsessively organized. This is the biggest fail I see with other healers: carelessness with and towards money. I keep a spreadsheet of all business transactions, as well as a personal budget. I have a line of credit I use sparingly. I make sure my bills are paid on time and over the minimum whenever possible. How you treat money in your personal life will most certainly bleed into your business, so hire an accountant/office manager if you have difficulty with this — and learn how to be obsessively organized. Be clear about rates/services, send invoices on time and follow through.
7. Look, act and be professional. Reputation is everything. Be sincere in your presentation and in your words. I quickly learned the value in being direct about rates, showing up early for a session and doing the absolute best I can. There is no room for laziness or taking clients for granted. They are providing you with two very rare resources: their time and money.
8. Get clear on your ideal client, ideal day and ideal rate. I only work with whom I care to work. This took me years to realize: I don’t have to work with everyone. There are plenty of healers for the overflow. Once I became clear on my ideal client and ideal day, my business transformed. I was also refreshingly clear and energized, rather than dragging around a perpetual exhaustion. When you start your business, you may have to take less-than-ideal gigs. But that doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice your ideals on the altar of drudgery. Get clear — and raise your rates accordingly.
9. As you grow and change, so will your business. Be flexible. I started out as a “Tarot reader” but that only encompasses a part of my business. I am a writer, consultant and mentor. If I had to be pinned down by a name, I’d say: healer. There are times that one tool of my skill set becomes more dominant than another. That’s okay. As long as I enjoy my work, the particular names don’t matter. I also know that my business may completely change in the future, and am open to the next step. Boredom is the biggest killer of a biz. Be flexible and practice #5.
10. Be proud of what you do. Whether you are a doctor, mechanic or witch, be proud of your work. It’s still kind of odd that I actually use Tarot cards in my business — but I love my work. There’s nothing better in life than giving someone hope.
