How I Started a Business by Listening to My Intuition
Special Guest Post by Gina Williams
When it comes to making business decisions, the head and the heart have been my guides. While guides are necessary, the final say in any decision always comes from my gut.
When I opened my massage and skincare studio in Seattle in 2010, I did so out of pure necessity. I had been working at another spa and got fired. I got fired for calling out some shady business practices to my boss. The *way* I did it was explosive and unprofessional, but why I did it came entirely from a place of wanting the best for her business. After my boss and I both cooled off, she graciously retracted her statement of my “services no longer being needed” and decided on a two-week suspension. After two weeks we would get together and see how we felt. I really thought I needed this job. At the time, I was just a week away from starting esthetician school at night, while massaging during the day. I had my schedule all worked out so I could get to classes on time and still make enough money to support myself while in school. I PLEADED for my job, my boss took mercy on me and now I had two weeks on my hands to sit in my feelings and take stock.
The funny thing was that only two days into suspension, I got clarity. I got clarity that I could feel in the pit of my stomach and in my heart. The voice in my head said “you can do this on your own.”
I had been resistant to opening up my own business. I didn’t want to deal with the taxes. I didn’t know how to find a space. I wasn’t sure I could afford equipment, etc. I had brushed off the numerous casual suggestions to open up my own spot from friends and family. But sometimes the universe compresses a situation, so the only option left is to face your fears and take a leap. Had I not had the gift of suspension/being fired, I wouldn’t have stepped into becoming an independent business owner.
When you feel that lightning bolt of “this is what I have to do,” pay attention to where you feel it. Breaking it down might make tapping into your intuition easier: do you feel it in your head, heart, or stomach?
Why do the head, heart, and stomach work as the holy trinity of decision making? Turning to a psychological explanation sheds light on this. According to Psychology Today: “Your head brain reasons, analyzes, synthesizes, and makes meaning of what is perceived. Your heart brain activates based on how the presenting situation relates to your dreams and desires, including your hopes, disappointments and feelings of betrayal if you feel promises were broken. Your gut brain reacts when your fear is triggered, whether the threat is real or you are just afraid of letting go of what you now have. This is also where you will feel the courage to act in spite of your fears.”
Had I not had a background in body and breath work, I might have missed the intuitive signals to move forward with opening a business. Utilizing breathwork, tarot, crystals, meditation, chanting, and bodywork (just to name a few options/tools) to elevate your ability to tap into your intuition, are all available to you. You just have to find the right tool that you’ll use consistently.
I look at opening a business as an opportunity to put my passions out into the world. It’s a creative process that intuition needs to play a role in. When listening to the three “brains” mentioned above, you can gain valuable information on what your next steps could be. Perhaps you’re thinking of adding a new product to your menu but you’re unsure if the cost to bring it on will be worth it. Sitting quietly, taking some gentle breaths, and noticing where you feel sensation in your body, is a very simple way to deepen your connection to your intuitive self. Do you feel an ache in your side? Or a tingling in your neck? Take stock, without judgment, to even the most minor sensations. It’s all information, and yours to use how you see fit.
A friend of mine likes to chant to get clarity. She explained chanting to me as a way to tap into her own compassion, wisdom, and courage. I have another friend who finds clarity by meditating while holding different crystals. Creating your own “toolkit” of intuitive practices will bring clarity to tough business decisions.
The first few months of business ownership were slow, but I showed up every day. I took advantage of networking and marketing opportunities as they presented themselves (and as my intuition gave me the green light). Within 18 months I was fully booked and not accepting new clients. Working for myself has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Had I ignored my intuition, I never would have been able to share my passion for bodywork and skincare the way I wanted to. I eventually closed the business after 6 years of serving the best clients ever. But my intuition was leading me down another path, with a move from Seattle to California. And my intuition has never steered me wrong.