Jesus Take The Wheel Moment

~My Business Story~

The first major hurdle when starting my energy work practice was to find clients - people who would be willing to let me practice on them. 

I started by offering free sessions, capped at 50, so I didn’t get out of hand and spiral into the healer wound. At that time, I had a beautiful mentor (who became a friend) offer me guidance in how to get started. She said - do 50, no more or you will never be able to charge. 

50 is a lot. 

Like a lot, lot. 

I couldn’t pay that many people to come in, to offer their time and to believe in me. It felt insurmountable and somewhere along the way I lost count and got no where near 50.  

Even though it was free, no one came back and it seemed like very few recommended me (this is so typical when you first start out). I started to give up. I pulled back for a while. Put my freshly made cards away and cringed when I’d open my wallet and see a clump of 5 cards, ready to hand out when people would ask. They stayed the same 5 cards until they got thrown out. 

I felt like a fool. This is part of my story I’ve detached from and rarely, if ever, speak about. I can’t remember sharing this part before where I felt embarrassed. 

My whole personality is about being capable and confident. I played thick skin pretty well and my sharp tongue has saved me and burned me many times. 

I learned pretty early on to have my own back. We learn many places - home, school, friendships, jobs, church, etc. how to protect our ego. Your personality develops as your best defense mechanism and I must say - I have wholeheartedly used mine. 

Personalities are formed as defense mechanisms….I mean this. Everything you do is because you feel safe doing it, carefully crafted by your stunning personality. 

How my business story changed, I could’ve never predicted, didn’t seem possible. 

I met a single client with a network so vast and a disposition that made people trust her….and we clicked. 

The rest is history. 

For the life of me I can’t remember how Ingrid found me, but she did. Ingrid is a gorgeous, tall, Swede with a wild personality. I was, and remain, incredibly amused by what she says and does. She is like drinking water after standing in a desert for 12 hours, that’s the only way I can describe how refreshing she is. 

Because she is this magnetic force with a heart of gold, she has an enormous friend circle. After our session, my schedule exploded with “Ingrid recommended me”. It was awe inspiring to see how many people one person touched and equally amazing to follow was how many more there would come after they told their friend and they told their friend. 

This one session, one person, created a steady flow of clients for years to come. 

I’m telling you this because you can’t always know what will cause a ripple of change that leads you to somewhere you never thought you’d be. 

I always thought having clients was about marketing (and it helps) but it can be as grass roots as meeting the right person and having an incredible connection. Referrals are the main source of my clientele, some from social media, and on there I’m continuously making serendipitous connections. 

I guess the only advice I could give that would apply to everyone is, just be present. 

Be present with who you are 

You don’t have to pretend to have years of experience when you don’t. 

AND have confidence in the innate ability you use when you’re not getting paid. You’ve got decades of experience using this - you’re not “new”.

I think we all go through a mimicking stage at some point that guides us into who we really are as energy workers. 

Naturally, if you remain present with yourself, you’ll grow and evolve out of that and become the mentor one day. 

Be present to new opportunities

These opportunities will have you feeling like you want to say no and convincing yourself it’s stupid or you don’t have time. 

It’s actually insane how much we want to hang onto what we’re currently doing and have something new happen. How can they exist together?

So much control. 

Once you release control around what everything has to look like, you’ll find your magic (re: Ingrid)

Be present with people

Don’t think about what you have to do or say next, really listen. Try feeling the words over intellectualizing what they mean. 

So many people talk with their eyes but we’re afraid to look into them and completely miss the humanness. When you’re listening like this, curiosity replaces judgment. 

Relax worrying about judgment from them to you. That’s the real problem, always worried about how you’ll look. No more of that, listen with all of you. 

Be present with where you are in your work

Maybe it’s not the right time. 

I wasn’t my best self or practitioner when I was going through major emotional hurdles. If I had clients, I would cancel. I did this for myself and them. I can’t think of them when I’m acutely in my own pain or confusion, leading me to have a strong lens when reading their energy. 

I haven’t found a way around this yet. 

Seeing clients, pretending you can be present, isn’t fair to you either. Your emotions deserve space and if you can make a living holding it for others, you can hold it for yourself. As much as you’re able, be emotionally neutral so you’re able to BE instead of think. 

There will always be moments of insecurity and I hope you find your way back. You’re lost in your head, worrying about the outcome, hoping to impress. Trust without attachment to outcome. 

Learning and inner knowing - strive for this over perfection. When you hold yourself to the task of knowing everything, you won’t be able to hear anything else. 

Discernment is key, and be open. 

If I don’t agree with something I challenge myself to figure out what I would have to believe to get there, creating connection over separation. 

This is my Jesus Take The Wheel Business Story, would love to hear yours in life, love or business! You can send them to melanie@melaniedawnyoga.com I read them all