4 takeaways from 5 years as a business owner

This month I celebrated five years as a small business owner, a big departure from nearly two decades as an employee of the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and New World Symphony. 

To say it has been the most rewarding and challenging part of my career is an understatement. 

Small business has given me a platform to do the work I’m called to do, yet it requires constant inner work to know my purpose -- and business savvy to build a model around it. 

My approach resonates with my clients, though – nearly 90% are founders of arts and social impact organizations, people who are translating their passions and purpose into practice and progress. I’m grateful that I’ve been able to help them as a grant writer, executive coach, and now, through energy healing. 

As The Business Healer, I’m still an executive coach, but I channel energy to help my clients remove personal obstacles and move forward faster. I show how inner work can help them become powerful, nurturing leaders whose organizations manifest their vision.

My approach isn’t for everyone; plenty of small business owners make money without ever looking within. But I firmly believe that in a world full of choices, inner work is the guide to success.  That belief is rooted in my own experience. Here are four lessons I’ve learned from five years as a small business owner:

1. You are the source of your own security.

You always have been, even when someone else sent you a regular paycheck. It all flows through you, because of you, wherever it comes from. As a business owner, you get to enjoy that—and often, to enjoy extending that to others. It’s a privilege to be in charge of providing your own dollars. And it’s a joy to create dollars for others.

It took me a while, and a lot of inner work, to rewire my brain to not just embrace, but also be joyful about, being responsible for my own paycheck. It’s been the most rewarding experience, and I’m grateful every day for my courage to start a business, and for my amazing clients who 

1. Don’t be distracted by your zone of excellence—go for your genius.

Leaning into your superpowers and staying in your genius zone is the path to purpose, passion, and profit. Don’t let what you’re good at, but which isn’t your real work this lifetime, distract you from sharing your gifts. Things will move faster and be more prosperous when you trust.

When I shifted from grant writing and consulting to combining that work with energy healing, people were actually supportive of me, and also—to my surprise—they were interested in learning more. If I’d remained in my zone of excellence, I wouldn’t be reaping the reward of leaning into my superpowers, and doing even more impactful work.

1. It’s OK, reinvent yourself.

Even if you think you are weird, embrace it, in real time, in front of everyone. When you evolve and share who you really are, people see you doing the work. Instead of rejecting you, they will adjust their understanding and expectations of you. They’ll also feel more connected to you and your work when your “why” is clearer. 

Since changing my business name to The Business Healer, several people have said, “Oh, I get it. That really is what you do!” Far from being confused or weirded out, the majority of people have been curious and supportive of me stepping more authentically into this version of me. Today, as The Business Healer, I help individuals extend consciousness to the areas of professional life and leadership. I’ll never look back.

1. Your business will always show where you need to invest in yourself.

Whether it’s money stuff, confidence, faith in yourself and your choices, how to lead people, or the way your unique family shaped how you show up under pressure, your business will put it front and center, so you can see it. The rest is up to you.

I was hesitant in the past to invest in myself, but as a small business owner, I see my own limitations showing up in my business. I want to minimize those limitations so I can be fully in my zone of genius for my clients, so they get amazing results. That’s why I lean into my own growth. I have a coach, an accountability partner, and regularly invest in programs that help me learn, shed what doesn’t serve me, and transform. I did the math; the ROI on investing in my healing and growth has always been between 10-100x or more. 

My own healing transformation evolved how I approach success. Investing in my inner growth has always, significantly led to business growth and success. I see it in others, too: behind every successful venture is a person, deeply committed to their success. That’s how I know that guided, supported inner work, paired with healing, is a pathway to incredible results. Leaders I work with need not compromise on being true to themselves, true to their gifts and purpose, and true to the impact they desire to create.

I know, because I see this happening in huge, transformative ways with my clients and my own business. One year in as The Business Healer, more and more business leaders are turning to me asking how to use healing as a tool to amplify success. With energy, we can finally break free from negative patterns and old traumas, and birth new realities that align with how we want to experience our work. 

I am SO grateful for you, your support, and the opportunity to do this work together with you. Thank you for an amazing first year!

Love, The Business Healer