Next August it’s going to be two years that I graduated as a life coach, and so two years of The Awareness Effect Coaching, my baby business.

I have been reflecting on how I navigate between talking about what I do in person and social media. Meeting in person happens rarely but I do my best to use the little opportunities to connect and share what I help people with. And social media is taking a lot of my time, hanging out with other souls that are navigating the joy and challenges of having a small business.

The amount of devotion to start a business has to be equal to how much you love and believe in what you do, and therefore, the desire to succeed.

A belief that’s the reality of a lot of us today. Our ‘why’ is rooted in our heart.

While for some, obviously, ‘it’s all about the Benjamin baby’!

Interacting online with people that also started their own business, they become your coworkers, your friends, your challenges, depending on the perspective.

With some, we vogue in the honesty of how challenging it is to find clients.

And with others we are playing the “fake it until you make it” practice where you act as if you had it all. Sometimes you let your boundaries down and you say your truth right away aka you are yourself. And other times you wonder if your ‘coffee call’ will end with a cold pitch.

Most of my friends do not know that I have a business. I closed all my Meta accounts a year and a half ago where most of my friends are. All the social medias that I’m on today, maybe five to ten are on it.

It’s a strange thing, building something without your people.

Except that my parents are actually on every one of them. :)

I left my community in New York City, my network that I built over five years living there. I live on an island where I probably know ten people. Things are going slower for my business and in general here. The slow rhythm is really enjoyable for my mental health but challenges it at the same time when it regards my business.

When you start over in a new place the social life can get fast and be flourishing for a season and freeze for another.

And while we are getting older we enjoy differently how we spend our time. We treat our energy like a bank account. Sometimes it’s full and feels unlimited and sometimes we feel we are in the red.

So, when a season of our life is less social, busy with plans, we can take the opportunity, if the FOMO isn’t too loud, to enjoy that time we can go slower without feeling guilty about it.

We can focus on other things that aren’t always productive.

Starting a new life in Hawai’i and starting a business at the same time is an interesting choice I must admit.

I want to have a business that I’m proud of. And sometimes that means showing up in rooms where you’re not sure you belong.

Last Monday I went to a women’s empowerment event at the local library.

While I was parking my bike a group of ten women in their 70s were waiting to get in. For a split second I thought that maybe that wasn’t for me, and that I should leave. But then I thought that I had taken my introvert courage to attend this event there was no way my mind would trigger me to go home. A few minutes later a few women close to my age joined. We listened to the life story of a Hawaiian aunty who has spent, and still, her life devoting her time and love in helping her community, people struggling, and the ‘āina (land). Incredible lady.

After hearing all of it we were invited to get together and network. I tried to socialize and not to listen to the voice that was saying that I’m socially awkward.

I talked to Alawe, the librarian, and introduced myself. I think she’s really cool, covered in tattoos, long nails, piercings, a beautiful smile, she could definitely be my friend. I told her that I was an empowerment coach and that I would love to add a free session to the giveaway if it was not too late. She was happy I did.

And when we went back inside for more stories she told the group that I was adding a free session and invited me to talk.

Yeeeey! I looove to talk in front of strangers!

It went very well, I just did it, it’s really time for me to get that imposter voice a letter of resignation…

Having a small business challenges you to get out of your comfort zone. Do things you wouldn’t do otherwise. Like every dream that you make true.

Because it’s coming from your heart, and also because you know how painful it is to live next to your life. But that you are willing to do uncomfortable things, to have less money, fewer vacations, less comfort than you usually do.

And to be honest, it’s maybe what you think when you start something outside the comfortable life you have: you will have less and it will be hard, right? But when you start to leave the unaligned, off life behind, the feelings you get from it, even if it’s scary, let you know deep down it’s worth it.

And less becomes more… More is less...

You slowly realize that what mattered, your big “no”s do not matter anymore, not in the same way. And you also know deep down that you will get to a spot where everything you have and chase is amazing because it’s yours. Things that mattered feel obsolete.

I miss some comfort for sure but I know I have to be patient. That is a part of the journey. It’s a challenge that is on the program, that I have to face. And know when you do that you will be rewarded.
It might not be perfect but perfection doesn’t exist, it makes it special too.

It’s time to invest in presence, to stop escaping.

To prioritize what is there, things, people, animals, nature that you can touch physically.

To listen how you talk to yourself and fire the voices that are bullying you. You are not them, they aren’t part of your identity no matter what they say to you…

If you are thinking about starting a business, start to invest in what you really want to do, or even close a business, leave a part of a life that doesn’t feel right anymore, do it.

You are the only one who knows if it’s worth it, you are the only one who knows that is the correct path. You. Not your brain. Not your friend, your mom, your therapist, your coach. YOU.

You have everything we need to take care of ourselves and build a life that feels right. You are unique. And have some fun with it!
Get your inner child out.
Don’t be so serious!

Where is a room you’ve been avoiding, the one where you’re not sure you belong?

What would it take to show up there this week?

And don’t forget to bring your inner child along!

Reply and tell me. I read every response.

With gratitude,
Nina

♡ I've been meaning to use those paintings for a while. For my 30th birthday, I commissioned my friend and artist Juliette Villard to do her "Adjudé" on me. I wanted to have a memory of myself at that age. I added the link to Juliette's website. Please check it out! We met each other in the Geneva nights in Switzerland. I was probably 23.

Merci TheJudge aka Juliette ♡

If you are interested in learning more about my work as an empowerment coach, I invite you to visit my website for detailed information. There, you will find insights into my coaching:

I would love to hear from you!

If you enjoy stories about navigating life, embracing vulnerability, and finding your own path, come along.