7 lessons from my first two years of business

My sweet business just turned TWO – so I’ve been reflecting on what an awesome and wild ride this has been. Entrepreneurship has been one of the biggest expanders (along with devoted partnership and parenting), so today I want to share seven things I’ve learned from two years of running Sacred Nature Coaching.

1) The more I live in alignment, the better my life gets.

In my early 20s, I was in a relationship that systematically eroded my sense of self. Someday I’ll share the full story, but for now, understand that by the end of those two years, I didn’t trust anything about myself. I no longer trusted what I wanted to wear, who I should be friends with, or how I should speak to people.

As I recovered from that trauma, I vowed to never let that happen again. And, broadly speaking, I did a pretty good job living on my terms:

I quit grad school when I knew it wasn’t right,
I moved 7,000 miles away to a country I’d never even visited with a man I’d only known a few months but knew I’d spend my life with, and
I carved out a successful career using my talents as a listener and communicator in support of great causes.

*The beach vacation that didn’t get canceled for Covid!*

But there was a tugging in my soul for something different, and making the move to coaching became impossible to ignore. Since going all in on this dream, I have way less anxiety, way more freedom, and a tremendous amount of joy in my life. The more aligned I get, the more the tough stuff becomes easier to surf and the good stuff turns technicolor.

2) Cycles are real, and trusting them helps free us from shame.

Just like nature, I have periods of tremendous production, and periods of needing to lie low. The patriarchal and capitalist parts of our culture dictate that we should spend most of our time “being productive” – and sometimes I still fall into the trap of thinking that I should do/make/earn more more more.

Thank goodness nature shows us another way! Where I live, just outside D.C., harvest season has officially wrapped with the arrival of our first frost last night. Plants were brought inside or cut back. Production is, broadly speaking, over for now, and nutrients are being returned to the soil and will support future growth.

I took most of last summer off to spend time with family, and when I returned to work more regularly, the idea faucet was on full blast and the insights I had about my business were crystal clear. I know this wouldn’t have happened if I’d been stuck in a rote pattern of do do do.

3) The more I share the parts of myself that make me nervous, the more I draw in the right people.

If you had told me two years ago that this blazer-wearing career coach was going to be teaching grown-ups how to do magic and posting about connecting with ancestors on Instagram, I probably would have broken out in hives.

Allowing the “weird” parts of myself to be visible has been one of the biggest challenges and one of the most healing practices of the past year. And the more I do that, the more the people who need what I uniquely have to offer can find me. Thank you for being here!

4) Nervous system regulation is nonnegotiable.

Learning to regulate my nervous system changed my life, full stop. It’s why it’s an integral part of any course I teach and why I make sure every one of my clients is equipped with the tools you need to regulate your unique nervous system.

Regulating your nervous system means you can take the next right action – whether that’s fighting injustice, shepherding your kids through the bedtime routine, standing up to that jackass board member, or finally driving across a bridge.

5) Magic is real.

Little me – the one who made rose water and fairy lands and would get lost in magical books – is thrilled to know this is true!

*Durham, NC, street art knows the truth*

So much of what we consider magic is folk wisdom that women carried and passed on…until they were persecuted for doing so. Reclaiming our magic is in direct conflict with capitalism and the patriarchy.

As if that weren’t reason enough, working with magic also helps you hone your intuition, live a life with much greater ease, and find more delight and joy in the otherwise mundane.

I feel very called to earth magic: working with plants and stones, understanding nature’s cycles, exploring the wisdom of the cosmos. Keep playing until you find what resonates with you.

6) Support is essential.

A plant that flourishes in its natural environment can wither when brought indoors. Like plants, we thrive when we’re part of a healthy, supportive ecosystem.

I am so grateful to have a partner who encourages my work in every way. To have a coach who lovingly challenges me to expand further. To have friends and family who cheer me on. To have clients who share their experiences and affirm I’m on the right path.

Can you go it alone? Sure.

Will you get where you really want to go, faster, and with way more fun, if you allow people to help you out? Abso-frigging-lutely.

7) I’m excited for what’s unfolding.

My sweet business continues to surprise me with what it wants. The 1x1 coaching is absolutely staying (and getting a glow-up that I can’t wait to share very soon), but it’s also calling for me to expand and deepen into my roles as healer and teacher. (Eep, new growth edge!) I’ve started sharing more about my herbalism journey on Instagram, and am so excited to dig deeper into these tools and share them with you.

If you’re curious about some of the highlights from the past two years, check out this post:

Are you ready to bring more magic to your life?

Yes yes yes! Why wait for a new year’s resolution to start building the life your soul craves? Let’s explore what’s possible for you in a free, no sales pitch (ever) vision casting call. You can book it directly here. I’d love to talk with you.