Once upon a time, I embarked on a new journey of soul evolution that turned out to contain more depth and dimensions than I ever could have guessed.
It was when I began to truly answer my own Calling, and create a service-based business around it, that the mysteries of self-healing and the alchemy of living life fully began to transform me.
And in the process, I discovered all the ways in which business can be our medicine.
I became so curious about how conscious business-building can be such a potent vehicle for change, that I began to wonder about the experiences of other Visionary Entrepreneurs.
So…I decided to reach out and asked them some of the following questions:
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Question 1: In 3-5 sentences please tell us your unique Biz as Medicine story…how has your business been a catalyst for your OWN healing and personal development in ways that you could not have predicted?
Question 2: In what ways can Visionary businesses bring powerful medicine to the world going forward?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Biz as Medicine Stories
Kristyn Caetano Intuitive Business Strategist & Life Design Coach
Q1: I’ll start this off! My entrepreneurial journey has challenged me to look deep within myself over and over again, and to do the REAL work of healing my fears, limiting beliefs, and self-doubt (formerly disguised as indecision). It has stretched and strengthened me, taught me the magnitude of my own resilience, showed me the wisdom of vulnerability, instilled confidence, and helped me remember my true essence.
I’ve also realized just how vitally important it is for my own wellness to regularly get into“flow” state. Before that, I didn’t necessarily think of myself as “creative”, but I know now that I definitely am (and we all are).
This combination of being more self expressed, accessing creative flow state, constant healing and unfolding, and truly being of service to others and the planet is the daily medicine that my business brings me.
Q2: I see visionary business as a vehicle for both personal evolution and profound global change. We have an opportunity….I believe that we are being called to create and implement more holistic approaches to resource management, multi-dimensional health and healing, spiritual development, and human connection. It’s time for more visionary, innovative, and collaborative businesses that make a positive impact in the world to be birthed and sustained.
Bio: As an Intuitive Business Strategist, Lifestyle Coach, and Retreat Facilitator I help Healers and Coaches FULLY step into their Higher Calling so they can create more freedom and prosperity in their life, while making a positive impact in the world. I combine spiritual, energetic, and healing tools (plus lots of love) WITH straight-up practical business building and life design strategies to help visionary entrepreneurs overcome blocks, find clarity, and create their dream life+business. You can download my free Intuition Activation Toolkit HERE.
Kate Courageous Author, Life Coach, Creator of YourCourageousLife.com
Q1: Creating a business—growing a company, in fact—has been a powerful declaration of calling the shots in every domain of my life. I continue to find, over and over, that whatever limits I have in business are mirrored by limits that I have in life, and in that way, business becomes a vehicle for pushing against limits and seeing what else is possible. When I talk about courage, I’m really talking about how we come to trust ourselves completely, so whether I’m talking about personal growth or marketing or leading a life coach training program, that’s always the backbone of the conversation—which means that I’m practicing courage, too, in taking risks or stepping into uncertainty while trusting myself. Whatever I’m doing externally is something I’m also needing to do, internally.
Q2: We can bring powerful medicine by asking how we can serve the collective as well as the individual customer (and stop waiting for “someone else” to be the leader in doing that). The longer I’m in the coaching world, the more I take it as my responsibility to help clients see that the only good “working on yourself” does is if that turns into also empowering others, the collective, the wider world. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something, and we need to stop acting as isolated players and start looking at how we interact with others—“Living your dreams” isn’t enough in a world where other people have such limited access to privilege that they don’t bother to dream, in the first place, because those dreams seem so out of reach. One of the things that I’m doing more and more in my work is trying to have the conversation about how working on yourself isn’t just something you do in a vacuum; it’s something that we all do because we are citizens of the world.
Bio: Kate Swoboda, aka Kate Courageous, is the creator of YourCourageousLife.com and CoachingBlueprint.com, and director of the Courageous Living Coach Certification at TribeCLCC.com. She teaches people how to release old fear patterns and use research-backed strategies to create a powerful courage habit.
Tanya Geisler Leadership Coach and Speaker
Q1: Mine is a “be careful what you teach” cautionary tale, I’m afraid. Some time ago, I discovered that some deep wounding was related to my Impostor Complex. It was in the way. MY way. And so, I began to study it. Learn about it. And learn to unhook from it. And in doing so, I became a teacher, speaker and…reluctant expert. And here’s how the Universe works; to make sure we are in integrity with the thing we are here to teach, we get tested with our subject matter, BY our subject matter on the regular. Stress testing our teachings, in a matter of speaking. So far, my processes are holding fast, but every time I’m invited to speak from a bigger stage? Well, the Impostor Complex waves hello. (And I wave hello back from behind the mic.)
Q2: Speak, operate and lead from your truth. Your medicine is yours and yours alone, so do not try to have it look like, taste like or smell like anyone else’s is to dishonour the truth of your own gifts. It is yours. Honour it as such.
Bio: Tanya is a certified Leadership Coach, TEDxWomen speaker, and writer who teaches women how to step into their starring roles, own their authority, and overcome the Impostor Complex in their life, in their work, and in their life’s work. www.tanyageisler.com.
Kylie Slavik Digital Marketing Story Expert
Q1: I was a burnt out massage therapist doing one on one healing work when a Cherokee Medicine Woman and seer named Franchelle told me “You are meant to be an entrepreneur. If you don’t stop trading time for dollars you are holding your soul back a grade in school.” I didn’t see myself as an entrepreneur, but the next day I went to a bookstore, bought a book on internet marketing, and never looked back.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but birthing a business into the world held every specific key I needed to heal my life. Learning self-respect, boundaries, how to show up when I didn’t feel like it, communication, leadership, and bringing deep visions into concrete, manifest reality… all of these are the benchmarks of business as medicine and it continues to unfold and astound me every single day.
Q2: Business IS the way to bring powerful medicine into the world because it requires innovation, abundance consciousness and boundary pushing beyond most people’s wildest imaginings. All of these qualities are required to move through the most pressing and critical challenges humanity faces such as poverty, disease, political oppression, violence, sexism, racism and environmental degradation. It’s all connected.
Bio: Kylie has helped design hundreds of marketing funnels and sequences, most notably bringing in $2.5 million in 12 weeks in the women’s coaching industry. She is focused on bridging the gap between digital marketing and raising consciousness, as well as “changing the global story” with her pioneered story methods. www.kylieslavik.com.
Jen Mavros SOULpreneur, Educator, Energy Healer, Women’s Leadership Coach & Creator of The Mavros Method of Manifestation
Q1: I consider my business the vehicle for which I am fulfilling my soul’s purpose; my business is my spiritual journey realized. Entrepreneurship has been the biggest catalyst for my own personal and spiritual transformation because the more attention I give to my own growth, the more powerfully I show up for those whom I serve. I’ve consciously chosen to work on myself; to HEAL my past wounds, FORGIVE those who I felt wronged by (including forgiving myself), RELEASE belief systems that no longer serve my dreams or my mission, EXPRESS my authentic truth, and SURRENDER into the arms of the loving Universe.
Additionally, if I hold space for my clients to show up and do the work so they can grow, I too must be held accountable to that. When I rise, my business flourishes. When we rise, the world heals.
Bio: Jen Mavros’ mission is to ‘Love’ humanity forward; she soulfully supports awakening women and awakened women through deep inner-personal transformation, spiritual deepening, intuitive awareness, and living from a conscious mindset, so that each person can witness their own true divine radiance while making a bigger conscious ripple in the world. Grow your business, by growing you. www.jenmavros.com.
Tay n Val Spiritual Consultants and Soul Mentors
Q1: Tay: It healed my ‘not good enough’ story. Val: Running a spiritual consulting agency has helped me come to peace with my family lineage of light-workers and spiritual counselors, something I was reluctant, and even afraid to own for a good first half of my life. Tay and Val: We work with visionary business owners, and the souls of their business to amplify their work into the world. We help them bring out their best selves to life and business. In order to do so, we ourselves have to peel away our expired stories, rise into our leadership energies, and walk our talk to serve a common greater vision to elevate consciousness.
Q2: We are firm believers of how you do one thing is how you do everything. Before we bring powerful medicine to the world:
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Have your cup runneth’ over, first. (i.e. Work on yourself.)
Bring more soul+purpose into your own personal life. Lead by example. Align your energies (intentions, thoughts, beliefs and actions) with your WHY. If you don’t know your why, get clear on that now. -
Nurture your tribe.
Connect with your tribe, listen to what they need, meet them at where they are, and invite them to rise with you. Cultivate the mindset of abundance – there’s truly enough for everyone – and when we support and uplift each other to grow the pie (vs. dividing the pie), a rising tide lifts all boats. -
Lead to serve.
Step into service leadership – be willing to release your own expired stories of not enough-ness, embody the energy of a leader and show up. That’s how you truly serve.
Bio: Tay & Val are the spiritual consultants and soul mentors that executive coaches of Fortune 500′s and founders of multi-million-dollar public companies go to, to answer their “What’s Next?” question. Tay and Val are 2 times TEDx speakers. Their work has been featured in The Huffington Post, Mind Body Green, Thrive Global and more. www.taynval.com.
Meghan Neeley Founder of Be Your Own Badass Boss
Q1: Embracing consciousness and spirituality in my teens, I thought being on a spiritual path meant staying small, earning less, and filling my days with yoga and meditation. I feared that being a business owner would take me away from my spiritual path. Instead, I discovered that being a business owner required more from me than I had ever given in the name of so-called spirituality. I risked everything in devotion to my vision. I chose visibility in the face of all my doubts and insecurities. I became willing to be incredibly vulnerable as I birthed the business I knew was meant to come through me. I learned not to take anything personally, especially the flat out “no’s” in the face of my dreams. I’ve come to face to face with every limiting belief and every story about money that was keeping me from truly being of service. Every day as a business owner is the most soul-stirring sacred path I could have ever dreamed up and it’s a privilege to walk this path and be a guide to other women on the journey.
Q2: One of the biggest ways we can bring powerful medicine to the world is through healing our relationship to money. Money amplifies who we already are, the values we have and the mission we stand for. When money is in the hands of conscious leaders we can have more impact and influence than going without would ever afford us. Our willingness to embrace the value of our gifts and ask for their worth as well as pay others for their gifts, is a starting place on this path of integration.
Bio: Meghan Neeley, Founder of Be Your Own Badass Boss, mentors women who are ready to leave the restraints of a J-O-B behind and become their own Badass Boss, growing their impact and their income on their own terms! If that sound like you… check out www.meghanneeley.com
Zara Apetri Huseynova Founder and CEO of WoWoman women’s empowerment platform & ALZA boutiques
Q1: Often people ask me what led me to starting my own business at the age of 18 with just $200 budget in a small developing country, Azerbaijan, where often women’s only role is to take care of her husband and children. Along with everything else, the main reason was Fear. Fear to be dependent on someone, fear of having to stay in an unhappy, unfaithful and violent marriage like so many women around me, because of not being able to sustain myself. I transformed this strong fear from childhood, this desire to be free, to have a choice and a say into a drive towards creating a chain of fashion boutiques without any outside investment.
Today I am 24 years old and financially responsible not only for my own family, but also for 15 families of my employees who are all primary bread winners, and even when in the last 2 years we had more than 100% devaluation of our currency over 2 nights, fear of failing them pushed me forward. Again I used it as a drive, a medicine towards not only surviving, while everyone around was closing down, but even growing.
Business showed me that I am capable of so much more than others, and even myself, I think. More about this in my TEDx talk in Germany HERE.
Q2: After getting a lot of “No’s” and “It’s Impossible” kind of feedback while building ALZA, I realized that I can create the space and tools for other women to go for the coolest, craziest and the most “impossible” dreams they have. And this is how WoWoman was born 2 years ago, which today has a team of 53 women, has organized over 100 events with a total of 17500+ applications and more than 6500 actual women participants, and is expanding internationally-already in 5 countries.
I believe if more of us will be daring to follow our dreams, living up to our full potential and most importantly, enjoying the journey itself, this can be one of the strongest medicines to push the world forward.
Bio: Zara is a 24 year old from Azerbaijan, has built two businesses with almost zero budgets, is an alumni and full scholarship recipient for educational programs from the Department of State and MIT. She is a TEDx speaker, and a 5 time National Champion in Sport Ballroom Dances. She has been a trainer , facilitator, and speaker for 5 years. www.wowoman.org.
Rebecca Campbell Best Selling Author and Spiritual Teacher
Q1: Ever since I was a young girl I knew I was a channel, healer and a soul worker. However without knowing anyone else like me I stepped into a spiritual closet and kept my studies to myself. When I began writing my first book Light Is The New Black I wrote it to my younger self, almost in encouragement for the younger version of me to claim her gifts and step into her soul work.
Q2: We have become disconnected to the wisdom of life. The ancients knew more about living than we do now. I believe that through connecting to this wisdom we can find solutions to problems that we have decided are too difficult to solve.
Bio: Rebecca is best selling author of Light Is The New Black, Rise Sister Rise and creator of the Rise Sister Rise Sisterhood. She is a spiritual teacher, grounded spiritual mentor and soulful guide.
Luna Love Women’s Leadership Mentor
Q1: The inconsistencies in the beginning of building a business were something I had been familiar with for some time. I had a pattern of having abundance and finding myself every 9-18 months in what I called “a hole”. In the first year of my business I caught this pattern with the awareness that I had been doing this in my adult life and going to my father to bail me out. I saw that I was proving his love for me to myself by subconsciously calling in his “showing up” through my lack. I made a commitment at that moment to acknowledge my lovability, let go of needing anyone outside of myself to prove that and never ask my father for a bail out – it’s been abundance and stability since then 3 years running.
Q2: I believe today’s visionaries are here to build a new model of business through collaboration, not competition, and circular structures that empower all people involved, those that are building, those that are being served and the communities involved. To be considered a visionary business in today’s day and age there must be an intention to bring healing and connection through humanity and/or the home that holds us, Earth – this is the most powerful medicine we can receive.
Bio: Luna is a Women’s Leadership Mentor, host of the Ladies Who Lead Podcast and social justice advocate devoted to the dissolution of separation amongst people and environments, as well as the restoration of Sacred Union within all relations. She assists those called to be change-makers in the world, in achieving clear vision by providing supportive, life-promoting experiences, practical tools and spiritual wisdom to align one’s divine essence, authentic expression and life-purpose. www.lunaloveleadership.com.
Chris-Anne Donnelly Brand Catcher and Dream Builder
Q1: I’ve been gifted a dream life, guiding other amazing soulpreneurs to brand themselves intuitively and authentically. Along the way I have been pushed to heal my own stories around self-worth, money, and what it means to be a leader who can have really wonderful, collaborative relationships with other strong women. The biggest healing I have experienced has allowed me to drop the masks, and to just ‘do me.’ I know this may seem like an easy task for some, but when your skill set is “spinning truths so they appear more attractive”… being completely real used to make me worry that I wasn’t special enough to be successful. I am forever grateful that constant digging into what branding really means has taught me that we all really shine when we are unapologetically ourselves.
Q2: From salvation of the soul to salvation of the planet – visionary businesses have the collective power to change every corner of our world. We are already seeing this amazing shift reflected in consumer buying habits…. people are supporting 1-for-1 business models, and purchasing from companies that support causes that are close to the customer’s heart. By changing buying habits there is the opportunity to affect massive change – I’m so glad I’m alive at this time to see this shift. It’s both infectious and exciting.
Bio: Tell me your dreams, sweet soul, so that we may breathe them to life. ☾ Chris-Anne has been a creative director, a graphic designer, a professor, a brand strategist and an oracle deck creator… and she uses the blend of these experiences to help soulpreneurs build their sacred dreams, their beautiful magnetic brands and websites and businesses that they love. www.chris-anne.com.
Andrea Scher Artist, Coach, Podcaster 
Q1: You’ve probably heard that saying: We teach what we most need to learn. I completely agree! What is also true is that when our work is in alignment with our spirit, we are offering the world the medicine we most need.
I used to say things like, I want people to feel less alone. I want them to feel empowered and use their voice. I want to cheerlead them into trusting themselves and being brave. And guess what? That’s exactly what I need. This is precisely the medicine that would nourish me most. These are the edges that are most alive for me.
This is not a coincidence. This is how it works.
This may sound self-serving and it is. In the best possible way.
Q2: The beauty of the world is that we are not all the same. The medicine that I need is different from what you need. We are all called to serve in different ways. Thank goodness!
This means that there is room for everyone. Room for all of us to get in alignment with our hearts and our unique call to service. The good news is that we don’t have to do it all – feed the hungry, save endangered animals, nurse the dying… we all get to serve in the way that feeds our own hearts too. This is the only sustainable way. It is also the most joyful way.
Bio: Andrea Scher is an artist, online workshop teacher and a big believer in the transformative power of creativity. Listen in to her podcast – The Creative Superheroes Podcast to get inspired!
Anfernee Chansamooth Founder of Simple Creative Marketing, Host of Authentic Influence Podcast 
Q1: Most of my life I’ve struggled with my identity – wrapped up in that is self worth, my relationship to money, and following other people’s (and society’s) expectations of what I should do and be. After a traumatic brain surgery experience in 2006, I left the corporate world to pursue and create a life of meaningful contribution. After some failed attempts, my business journey has allowed me to work on healing my relationship with money and self-worth, patterns and beliefs that were not serving me and to live and act from a place of authenticity and love.
Q2: I think the word “visionary” can make us assume that we need to be the next Branson, Oprah or Elon Musk (and feel guilty if we don’t fit the mold) but that’s not the case. To me, to be visionary is to simply see the challenges our communities are currently facing, visualize a future where those challenges no longer exist, and then commit to bridging that gap. So any conscious business adds value (powerful medicine) to our world simply through the solutions it provides to existing problems, and in some cases problems that arise due to changes in our environment.
Bio: Anfernee Chansamooth helps emerging leaders to clarify and build their authentic brand, income and influence online. His purpose is to empower creativity, freedom and connection so that together we can make a positive difference in the world. http://www.
Hillary Rubin Spiritual Life + Business Coach, creator of The Art of Becoming a Coach Training Program 
Q1: I’ve learned how to be less of a control freak, delegate and let go of being perfect. As a coach and coach trainer it can be challenging because there are so many people looking up to you. When I could take myself off of having to have it all figured out, it became more fun. When I could allow myself to be myself, including all of my flaws, I began to see how this was my way to lead others to do the same. AND when I became curious and truly interested in what others were seeking from me, I began to see what it is I can bring into the world.
Q2: First know yourself. Remember you are human. Don’t create in a vacuum. Be curious and speak to those who are attracted to your work and see what it is they are looking for. Your business is a place to collaborate as you serve others. Be open to the full experience and know there will be ups and downs and this is part of it – welcome this as part of you’re bringing powerful medicine to the world and you’re good to go.
Bio: Hillary Rubin is a spiritual life and business coach, mentor for coaches, the creator of The Art of Becoming a Coach training program and the podcast, The Art of Business for Coaches. She helps women around the world create lasting change and live more deliberately. Hillary is on a mission to spread the message that coaching is one of the most rewarding, transformational, and profitable careers to have. Hillary has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, Yoga Journal, TheDailyWorth.com and was the February 2014 Cover Girl + Feature for Inspired Coach Magazine. www.hillaryrubin.com | For Women Who Want to Live A Soul-Fulfilling Life
Becca Berggren Mindful Marketing Strategist and Brand Therapist 
Q1: I believe that this entrepreneurial adventure we‘re on together is actually a wild soul-development journey in disguise.
Little did I know that by embarking on this quest 5 years ago, I was actually signing up to explore my soul, trust my inner wisdom and learn how to become more vulnerable, real, brave, confident and intentional.
To find sustainable success and fulfillment as a soulpreneur, I’ve had to grow, stretch, push my edges and get cozy with fear and the unknown. I’ve done some serious personal inquiry to define my unique blend of magic AND uncover the sneaky habits and mindset quirks that keep me from becoming the best version of me.
So YES – my business serves as the medicine necessary for my own evolution and expansion. It’s the elixir that has ignited my own rising.
Q2: We are in need of more conscious businesses leaders who are dedicated to helping each other grow in the spirit of collaboration so that together we can accelerate our world’s healing and evolution.
Bio: As a Mindful Marketing Strategist and Brand Therapist at www.simpleeonline.com, I help soulpreneurs tune into their honest-to-goodness brand essence and use their own unique powers of connection to attract kindred clients. Designing soul-aligned strategies that feel bright, authentic and true – now THAT’S where my heart sings.
Angela Artemis Sales & Intuitive Client Acquisition Strategist 
Q1: Powered by Intuition was founded 7+ years ago as an experiment to document how listening to my intuition to make decisions exclusively might help me to become a more confident decision-maker. When you start a business (even by accident) it very quickly becomes a mirror of your inner state and I couldn’t have imagined how my life would change because of this. If you lack confidence or belief in your worth you will have trouble attracting enough clients and making enough money to sustain yourself–and this is exactly what happened to me. This is the first “sign” that says,”Face your inner hang-ups before they sink your business.” I went through the “dark night of the soul” but was able to pull myself out of it using EFT and bolster my confidence so that I could create the successful business I have today where I help others do the same.
Q2: Visionary business owners are by nature “dreamers.” When the world is led by visionaries who are being pulled by their big dreams, all people on the planet WIN. We win because the “bigness” in their dreams is where solutions to big problems facing the world arise from. We need to encourage and support more visionary leaders with big dreams, big ideas and big hearts who truly want to serve humanity at this time to help solve the greatest problems we face.
Bio: Angela Artemis is an intuition expert, speaker, best-selling author of the “Intuition Principle,” and founder of the award winning website Powered by Intuition. She works with sensitive, spiritual-minded solopreneurs who love what they do but are uncomfortable with sales and signing-up more clients to empower them, so that they easily bring on more clients, grow their income, feel natural and self-assured in the process and have fun in their business again! www.poweredbyintuition.com.
Amateo Ra Top Business Coach and Consultant for Conscious Entrepreneurs 
Q1: After going through a powerful spiritual awakening in my early 20s, I knew I had a big vision and mission that had to be fulfilled in the World, but I didn’t know how that would come about or how I would build and create all the visions I saw. After years of trial and error, and walls full of spaghetti, I have been able to find my perfect combination of Business as the Medicine and Antidote to my biggest illness, “How do I take all of these brilliant and unique gifts and combine them together?” Building a business that combines leadership coaching, high-ticket business consulting and spiritual/metaphysical education has been the most liberating things I’ve ever experienced, and have given me total financial and lifestyle freedom. And now I get to do my favorite thing, curate the most brilliant up and coming rising star coaches and healers, and help them produce their gifts on the biggest and highest level, that make the greatest impact and income…and in this we are watching the world wake up and change in real time.
Q2: We believe the World as a whole is both waking up and going through an exponential healing process to restore the planet and humanity to a more natural order. That there is a way to work with nature, and not against it, as a species. Yet, we are still living in the wake of healing the toxic environment both in our outside world and within ourselves. Visionary business gives us the opportunity to focus on a more holistic model of sacred commerce. An omni-positive economy where we all benefit together. And we can put the focus on the healing of the individual, spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally, to really help each person find who they really are, and in that exploration find a purpose in making more positive change. The future of business is visionary, where we have to look into the future and find a better way, and pull that future into this moment. The progress we usher in as a result of this is a medicine for us and the planet.”
Bio: Amateo Ra has over 10-years of Metaphysical Science, Spirituality, Coaching and Business Training. Beginning at the age of 22, he undertook several apprenticeships with internationally renowned channels and energy practitioners, to learn and develop mastery in these arts. He actively combines Modern Physics, Astrology and Neuroscience to his philosophies, practices and teachings. Amateo is currently a top business coach for Conscious Entrepreneurs, supporting them in scaling their profits, by authentically living their purpose, while making a massive impact. At this time he is supporting World Leaders and rising star coaches and healers, use their higher-consciousness to build high-touch and highly-profitable World-Class Transformational Experiences. www.amateora.com.
Vanessa Codorniu, Cht Intuitive Strategist & Urban Priestess
Q1: I started doing psychic readings for adults at 16, professionally at 22 and explored, learned and served wherever I was in life. I ran from this as a business because at the time, it wasn’t a respected career path. After over 15 years of running healing circles for free, doing reiki readings and hypnosis, my life was upturned during the end of the Mayan calendar on 12/21/12. Laid off the day before a major surgery, a break-up, a car accident & MRSA all guided my Soul to never return to corporate. My biz has been a journey of “faith over fear” and it’s led me to places of courage, creativity and awareness that no other spiritual practice has. And along the way I’ve supported thousands of folks to awaken their intuition, break through fears, and shine the Light they already carry within. I have literally followed my Soul’s guidance to create successful launches and to continue to thrive as I support other intuitive entrepreneurs.
Q2: In order to lead others, you must lead yourself first. Walking your talk is key as well as high adaptability, creativity, relentlessness and resourcefulness.Visionary businesses can support deeper understanding, community, and connection, especially during a time of incredible technological shifts that will be replacing many of our jobs.
Bio: Vanessa is the founder of Intuitive Leverage™~ an 8 week intuition boot camp that trains you to leverage your sensitivity in life & business! She has just launched a 7 month journey; Awakened Soul Biz-create soul-aligned success for empaths, intuitives & healers desiring to create an online business. With more than 10,000 psychic intuitive sessions and hundreds of students, Vanessa is an acclaimed psychic intuitive, clinical hypnotherapist and international intuition trainer. http://www.intuitiveleverage.com/and http://www.awakenedsoulbiz.com/ .
Joanna Turner Leading Intuitive Business Mentor, Advanced EFT & Master NLP Practitioner
Q1: When I started my business, I actually thought I had it all together, I was an emotionally stable, strong, smart independent woman. Read; ‘Emotionally repressed, masculine, controlling, workaholic perfectionist!’ Haha! My business has literally cracked me open and sent me on a journey of self discovery, healing and a profound spiritual awakening, and for that I am truly grateful. I didn’t realise how unhappy I actually was, or that my self worth was actually pretty low, and that my comparison-itis was ruining my life. I love that entrepreneurship literally forces this healing on you, as your net worth will never outgrow your self worth! To grow my business I had to grow myself!
I didn’t know I had a subconscious or that my beliefs were keeping me single, struggling with my weight and trapped in a job I hated. My transformation is still unfolding, I don’t know if it ever really ends- but I know without having taken this step I was told I’d probably have been dead by 40, and/or single my entire life! I joke that I feel like the ‘crash test dummy’ of personal development and healing work, as I feel it’s my duty to go first, grow and heal, as you ‘can’t take your clients deeper than you’ve been able to go yourself’ (Rich Litvin). And now I think I’ve tried most modalities and have even trained in many of them including NLP, EFT, Reiki, reading the Akashic Records, and I’ve just started my Shamanic studies. As a former chartered accountant I still wonder how the heck this all happened but I haven’t looked back!
Q2: I believe that to heal the world we have to heal ourselves first. We have a huge potential to have a massive impact, share our message and that creates a ripple effect of light and love.
Bio: Originally from Scotland, now a digital nomad, Joanna is a leading Intuitive Business Mentor, Advanced EFT & Master NLP Practitioner, (and former Chartered Accountant!) She is a mentor to female entrepreneurs, and specialises in busting money & visibility blocks. She acts as a bridge between the spiritual and business worlds combining; her strong business acumen, gained from spending 17 years in Finance and in Boardrooms with the CEOs of Multi-Billion dollar companies and setting up offshore start up companies, with her years of personal development and spiritual practice, including being a certified Akashic Records and Shamanic Reiki practitioner. She was recently nominated for the Telstra Business Woman of the Year Award 2016 in the Entrepreneurship category. www.missionforbalance.com.
Jordana Jaffe Facebook Group Strategist 
Q1: I’ve been transparent and open about my struggles with anxiety, and I’ve carried the tools I use to support myself into how I run my business as well. When I would think about my core desired feelings, safety came up a lot and I used to carry so much shame about that – I wouldn’t even taken ownership over the fact that it was something I desired. I told myself that entrepreneurship is not about playing it safe or craving safety or even valuing safety. It’s about risks and breaking boundaries and saying buh bye to comfort zones. But I’ve had to let that go—and though it’s meant unconventional business choices at times—it hasn’t been an obstacle. It’s actually helped me GROW my business and help other women who felt the same.
Q2: One of the lessons I’ve learned the past few years is that we can do business on our own terms and using methods that meet our desires. You can be successful AND feel safe. You don’t need to leave your couch to make an impact. You can make sales from under the covers of your cozy bed. Whatever you want to feel, let yourself feel it. Whatever you desire, let yourself experience it. Don’t fight your longings and cravings and yearnings.
Bio: Jordana Jaffe is a Facebook group strategist for introverted lady bosses who want to grow their online community + gets clients while staying at home in their cozy pjs. www.jordanajaffe.com.
Gregory Berg Multi-Media Storyteller at Enso Creative Services 
Q1: To be honest, running my own business has been the greatest challenge of my adult life and yet I still wouldn’t trade it for the alternative. Over time, it’s forced me to examine and learn how to deal with every stressor and pressure you can imagine, some of which have been incredibly challenging to my own health, well-being, and relationships. From the paradox of “freedom” from a time and schedule standpoint (I essentially built a new cage to replace the old one I claimed to be escaping) to the near crippling financial pressures to dealing with impostor syndrome and “why aren’t they choosing me”, all my old wounds come up again and again.
Two things have helped me re-frame my situation/stay afloat: 1) a growing awareness around those issues, knowing they can’t be healed until they are brought into the light; and 2) the satisfaction I get from the actual work that I do. Helping others more effectively tell their stories so they can have a greater impact in the world. Teaching others to be purposeful in every area of life. Reflecting the light that connects everything around us though my photography and art. In the end, doing more of that work is medicine for me and others benefit as well.
Q2: Visionary businesses understand that they are not isolated entities. They see their connection to the holistic systems around them and know that the health of one affects that health of all. They view their work in synergistic terms vs. the old paradigm that put a greater emphasis on profit margins over people. More businesses adopting that ethos will mean a healthier planet.
Bio: Gregory Berg is a photographer, videographer, and Light Scientist with a passion for exploring the beauty that’s everywhere. He has a keen interest in frontier science and wisdom, the confluence of which he explores via weekly in-depth conversations on his podcast Life on Purpose. This June, he’ll be leading a group photo exploration of the light in Paris.
Amanda Collins Spiritual Leader, Women’s Empowerment Coach, Motivational Speaker and Feng Shui Master
Q1: Absolutely my work is a form of medicine for me as in order for me to teach and share what I do. It is vital that I walk my talk. My purpose is to support women to live their joy, allow their light to shine brightly, be connected to their heart, higher self and the earth. To step from fear into faith, from being a victim to being empowered. To ultimately be the best version of themselves.
In order for me to teach this I must be an example of this so daily I am reminded to step into that in each moment. As I write, teach and coach I am reminded and as I hear myself share words it is as though I am also inviting myself to do these things, to be these things.
I am so present when I work, a deep sense of presence like no other. As I channel for my clients I am channeling for myself. As I work with my clients we mediate, we connect with source and the earth and as much as I give I also receive I get to be in this space present and connected throughout my day.
My work brings me alive in a unique way different then when with my family or in other things I do in my life it brings me a deep sense of purpose, fulfillment and joy which is so healing. I know its my dharma, one of my life’s purposes and if I was not able to share in the way I do I would not get to expand and grow as I do and for this I am beyond grateful.
The latest class I taught was being honest with yourself and it was profoundly powerful for me as preparing for it and as I was teaching it allowed me to get even more connected with my own truth of who I am and gave me a deeper understanding of my journey.
Bio: Amanda’s work includes multiple facets: she is a Feng Shui expert, a yoga teacher, and a singer-songwriter. In combining her talents, she acts as a spiritual guide, leading her clients on unique uplifting journeys—be it around the world, within their own home, or most essentially, through their own internal landscape. www.AmandaCollins.com
Theresa Reed The Tarot Lady
Q1: I’m extremely shy. Introverted. This comes from a long background of being told “not to shine” because I might make my siblings feel bad. Learning to step out and share my work with the public has been an incredible journey – and immensely healing. Although I’m still an introvert by nature, I’m no longer hanging back, afraid to stand in my power with pride in my hard work. Running a business can be scary for those of us who feel awkward in the spotlight – or undeserving of it. Shutting down the old stories and negative conditioning has been a big boost for my self-esteem and confidence. And that has made my life so much better!
Q2: By inspiring others to speak up and lead with their heart + truth. If more of us set that compassionate example of integrity, imagine how the world could change for the better? We need people with vision and compassion, putting themselves out there in a bigger way. Be an example and encourage others to do the same!
Bio: Theresa Reed (aka “The Tarot Lady”) has been a full-time Tarot card reader for close to 30 years. She is the author of The Tarot Coloring Book, an illustrated tour through the world of Tarot with coloring sheets for every card in the deck. www.thetarotlady.com.
Pace Smith The Pathfinding Coach
Q1: In helping others find their paths in life, I was forced to find my own. I thought that quitting my day job meant that I had given up on chasing success so I could follow my heart, but in truth, I had just started chasing a different kind of success. It crippled my business; I was afraid of growing because I wanted everyone to love me and was terrified of letting people down. The only way to find my true path was to find my true self; to know that I am loved for who I am, not for what I do. Once I grokked that in my bones, everything fell into place; in my business, in my marriage, in my finances, and in my life.
Q2: What do you think of when you hear someone described as “businesslike”? If you’re like most people, you think of someone who is cold, focused, not emotional, not friendly. Is it any wonder that the world of business is dysfunctional when we’ve taken the heart out of it? What would the world be like if “businesslike” meant warm and friendly? We wouldn’t have big companies screwing over little companies. We wouldn’t have corporations forced to make money even at the expense of people. We wouldn’t have factories spewing out pollution or using sweat shops.
Bio: Pace Smith helps sensitive spiritual nonconformists live wild crazy meaningful lives. She’s also an Enneagram podcaster, a Sufi dervish, a bi poly trans gamer geek, and a tournament-level Dance Dance Revolution player. http://pacesmith.com.
Lauren Dobey Business Consultant and Lifestyle Mentor 
Q1: I started first business as a textile design and product development consultant after having climbed the corporate ladder to the head of my division where I had the feeling “is THIS all there is at the top?” I felt totally depleted emotionally, spiritually and physically, even though I had a high salary and a lovely office with a view of Madison Avenue in NYC. After leaving that corporate role, I set off to create my own consulting business where I got my first taste of what it meant to be an entrepreneur. During my first few years in business I was faced with so many of the paralyzing fears, joyous highs, the tearful lows and the in-betweens but, gratefully, all of it shaped the courageous woman I am today- who knows what I want and knows my worth and who is not willing to compromise for anything less than amazing.
Q2: I believe that as more and more women step up to honor their own unique brilliance, that visionary businesses will bring the kind of feminine healing that the world so desperately needs now. Gone will be the days where so many women sit on the sidelines and settle for mediocre- or less than they desire or deserve. Visionary businesses will lead the charge with innovation, will change the way we think and dramatically shift our worldview. They will propel our world to levels of greatness that we KNOW is there just waiting to be unearthed.
Bio: Lauren is the master key to unleashing your true brilliance in the form of your own living, breathing and profit-making business so that you don’t have to spend your days slaving away at a job (or business) that pays well but is soul-sucking. She’s a mentor, trainer & personal strategist and she’s your unfair advantage. www.laurendobey.com.
Michelle Ward Creative Career Coach
Q1: I’ve been The When I Grow Up Coach since 2008 (and full-time since 2010), but when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November of 2011 and again in September of 2015 (!), my business was my relief and my release. It allowed me to do the work that makes me feel I’m most helping the world, and that lowered my stress and anxiety about my health day-to-day. When I stepped into my coaching shoes, everything else faded away. It’s one of the reasons I’m so committed to helping creative women everywhere not wait until retirement to live the life they dream of. Instead, let’s get out of our toxic work situations and find and follow our dream businesses STAT!
Q2: It’s a beautiful cycle, I think. By staying true to the work you love most and doing what’s most important to you, you offer the medicine to others to do the same for themselves. And over and over and over again…
Bio: As The When I Grow Up Coach, Michelle Ward, PCC, has been offering career guidance for creative women since 2008. You may have seen or heard her in New York Magazine, The Huffington Post, Etsy, Newsweek, Freelanc
Leah Hynes & Nazrin Murphie Co-founders at The Connection Effect
Q1: We never imagined when starting our business how open and vulnerable we would become with our community. But as we opened up in a very real, raw and genuine way we noticed not only were we healing but so too were the members of our community.
Q2: Stop being so stingy with sharing yourself with others. People want to get to know the real you, warts and all. By doing this you promote deep connection and in a deeply disconnected world, this is exactly the medicine visionary businesses need to hand out.
Bios: Leah is Co-Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer at The Connection Effect. A powerful communicator, experienced community engagement consultant, group and teams facilitator, event magician, licensed NLP Meta Coach, speaker and writer. Nazrin (Naz) is Co-Founder and Chief Disruptor at The Connection Effect. A hard-hitting, certified NLP Master Practitioner and Associate Certified Meta Coach, experienced community engagement and leadership consultant, powerful group and teams facilitator and speaker.
WOW!
Reading these vulnerable stories and insights gave me a beautiful example of our collective human-ness, and how business truly can be (and IS ) powerful medicine. I feel inspired, hopeful for the future, and extremely motivated to KEEP doing my own inner work, and CONTINUE to support others who are on a visionary and world-changing path.
How about you?
Did any of these stories strike a chord?
The post 27 Visionaries Reveal How They Use Business As Their Medicine appeared first on Elixify Your Life - Business Coach + Life Coach + Hypnotherapist In San Diego.
