My 3 greatest business moves.

1. I started small and grew by incremental steps. I listened to advice, no matter how crazy it sounded (I was in the woo world, after all.)

It was me, a deck of cards and a $20 buck read on a saggy couch in the back of a cafe. A curiosity piece for most of the people who came and went with their espresso. A few left with the history of Tarot and a short reading. I did my best at the time and I’m sure they were all angels. Bless them.

I bumbled through that very first session with a paying client, armpits soaked. She looked me in the eye and said, My dear, you have a gift.

It’s not just the money. Those few words — the sincerity — keep you going.

Then clients came to my house and sat on a rock hard futon in the living room as we did a session. I travelled to various homes and businesses all over the region. Street fairs, parties and a psychic phone line (a VERY short gig!) An early podcast. My first book, self-published in the early days of Kindle.

Each step strengthened my abilities and created lots of opportunity and contrast to see what my business could become — if I had the courage to stick with it.

Other part-time work supported me — tutoring, barista, helping a friend at her thrift store. I’d done that since college — flexible gigs to make a buck. Hustle, hustle while fear gnawed at my brain and debt grew. There was no trust fund, no extra flow of money from a partner, so I learned very quickly to grab what I could and be flexible, learning as I went. It’s not like they teach a course on How To Grow A Tarot Biz at Christian college.

These are the hardest years. This is where people crumble. If you can get through them — even if you have little faith and constant doubt — you will more than likely make it 20 or more.

Eventually, I joined a wellness center and spent years honing my craft and met my crew. Psychics, readers and healers of every kind. Some frauds and kooky people. Comes with the job. I was still broke — but not as much. After 7 years of hustle, I threw myself into Shivaya Wellness, determined to make it work.

Any money after bills was re-invested. Ads, flyers, computers, a working website and blog. More time was spent at my home office, testing out phone sessions with clients but the majority of reads were at the center.

At the time, my mentor said, You really need to start moving away from the compound and develop a virtual business.

I thought she was crazy. A virtual business in 2012? I had it made at center — Queen Bee — and computers were not up to snuff. What could possibly happen in the world that I’d need to go completely virtual? Plus, wouldn’t I be lonely?

Except all of the psychics spoke not only of 2012 but the “Great Shift” that would happen in the next decade. A time of strife, difficulty and isolation when humanity would have to choose what type of future they wanted.

What I wanted was a vacation and a business that paid the bills!

But I listened, observed — and changed.

2. Adaptability is one of my greatest strengths. I went completely virtual in 2016, even though I didn’t want to. It prepared me for the Covid years.

All things must end — and the wellness center sold in 2016. It was a messy breakup with the crew splintering in different directions. I attempted to work as a reader in the new space but it was time to move on.

Thankfully, I listened to my mentor back in 2012 and gradually switched the balance of sessions to virtual, rather than in person. Those moves were slow and with great trepidation. Things were going well, so I hated to switch it up. Yet that’s why I had a mentor. To be pushed!

After a slight modicum of success, this is where pride and arrogance could have taken me out. But I listened — and changed again.

I missed my social time but all of my friends were gone and I had to build anew. I was reclusive enough and concerned that I’d never leave my house, yet I was exhausted by in-person reads and could tune in faster when I didn’t worry about their physical comfort, having to hold eye contact or driving back and forth. I grew to love my time alone — and working with clients online.

If I hadn’t made that switch to virtual from in-person, it would have been very difficult — if not impossible — for me to survive the Covid years. Yet when it all started to emerge in 2020, I had a strong list of clients and referrals that carried me seamlessly through that time and began the best financial years of Shivaya Wellness.

When the world goes dark, that’s when people like me are needed. I was ready.

3. Flexibility is another great strength. I take advantage of human impatience with open hours every day. Clients LOVE that they can book same-day sessions and it sets me apart from most readers.

I call myself the fast-food of Tarot readers, though I prefer an organic food truck. No client with a burning question or sudden situation wants to wait a week for a session when it’s on their mind RIGHT NOW. Some readers pad their calendars to look busy but I have no problem that my calendar is open 9-2:30 every day. Time is available, whether clients arrive or not — and my pride isn’t hurt.

Today I woke with no clients on the books, so I whipped up some homemade chili, did a little yoga and sat quietly for a few minutes. Two clients — one after the other — quickly booked for later morning.

Some clients will book a 10:45am session at 10:15am, then email and apologize for the short notice. I always laugh and write back, I’m available — no worries!

If I need time off, I close the calendar early as I did at 1pm today for a walk. I’ve learned the hard way not to extend my hours in the hopes to make money during a slow period. My mental energy and health are way more important than dough.

When my calendar is open, I’m all yours. When it’s not — I’m a ghost.

I can handle the unknown of a day because clients always arrive. I have the years to prove it.