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A reader asked: 

“How can we maintain an authentic approach, yet integrate business practices such as target goals? I have a personal challenge to top my best efforts from the previous quarter, e.g. doing twice as many videos, selling more products, etc. Is it possible to have ambition, while being authentic?”

I love this question. I feel that it aims to integrate spirituality and worldliness, right and left brain, heaven and earth.

Here is my approach to synergize these polarities:

(Originally written in January 2018; updated July 2019.)
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An authentic business is financially viable and deeply meaningful to you. You make enough money. Yet, the activity itself feels worthwhile, regardless of the money.

I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to help many people in their authentic businesses, and also operating my own successfully for over a decade.

There seems to be 4 important layers of activity for every successful authentic business.

I used to think: “If I could only just solve my money problem, then I could finally live the life I want.”

This made me get into all kinds of get-rich-quick schemes, which actually made me even poorer, and alienated my friends.

Those painful experiences eventually taught me that the real life I wanted wasn't about money. It was about being of real contribution to other people. In other words, I wanted a right livelihood.

Instead of seeing money as a problem to be solved, let’s see money as an…

Over the past 12 months, I’ve been working 1-2 hours per week on a side project.

I’ll reveal it in this blog post, finally!

First of all, here are my biggest lessons learned… 

Clarity comes from Content Creation

When I started the project, I had no idea what my framework would be. I didn’t know how clients would work with me, or even what issues I would work with them on! 

There was no training or certification that I’ve gone through. Nor have I intensively learned from any one coach/expe…

Written in Nov 2015, updated for 2019. (Thanks to Lauchlan MacKinnon for the reminder to bring this idea back.)

There is an interesting dichotomy on the journey of entrepreneurship: the Artist versus the Engineer. I have some measure of both within me. You do as well.

The Artist is concerned with staying true to her inner experience. Singing the song she feels like singing, even if nobody listens. Expressing her truth, no matter if others agree. The Artist brings the emotion, the humanity, the…