My biggest lessons from the last 12 years

Back in 2013, a naive young Yogi opened the doors to the studio, and the first class was with her Mum and one other.

My business plan was simple.

Do my best or get a job.

Over the years, I’ve learned a great deal about myself, people and business. Most of that learning was through trial and error, but that’s my style.

I’m the type of person who jumps into things and figures them out as I go. This infuriates my partner as I try to assemble the IKEA flatpacks without reading the instructions.

Here are some of my biggest lessons from the last twelve years that may be relevant to you, too:

1. Consistency is everything.

It’s the little things done consistently that have the biggest impact. Like showing up to teach a class even when there were no customers. Like sending weekly emails even if no one reads them.

All too often in life, we try things a few times and give up when we don’t get instant results. But life doesn’t work that way. It’s our daily work and personal habits that create success in our lives.

Being consistent also creates a safe environment for our team and clients. Clients know what to expect from us because we’re consistent in our delivery. We’ve had the same core team of teachers for years, and it’s a source of comfort for clients to return to the studio after long absences, knowing that their favourite teachers are still here delivering the same amazing classes.

2. Trust my intuition.

Some of the biggest mistakes I’ve made, both personally and in business, have been when I didn’t trust my gut.

Deep down, I knew something wasn’t right, but I ignored it because I either didn’t want to deal with it or didn’t want to face the truth.

In hindsight, I would have avoided painful mistakes if I’d listened to my intuition rather than sticking my head in the sand.

I don’t know about you, but I have a wise voice in my head that speaks to me in random moments, getting me to pay attention. It’s my higher self, and she guides me in moments of doubt and uncertainty.

But I can only hear this voice when my mind is quiet and relaxed.

3. Don’t take things personally.

In the studio’s early days, I would take it personally when we got negative feedback or criticism.

But I’ve since realised that when people are mean or rude, they’re usually dealing with something stressful or feeling terrible inside.

One of the benefits of meditation is that other people’s drama no longer bothers me.

4. Success follows purpose

A business that exists only to make money is a poor business. Money matters, of course, but it is not enough to sustain you when things get hard.

Having a clear purpose is like having a North Star. It keeps you moving in the right direction even when everything feels uncertain. It also gives meaning to the tough days when things are not going your way.

My purpose was always simple: to help people calm their minds. When I focused on that, the money, growth and opportunities followed naturally.

Success has never been something I could force. It has been the outcome of consistency, being of service and staying true to why I started in the first place. Purpose creates longevity. Without it, success feels shallow and short-lived.

5. Emotions make you reactive; get back to neutral before making decisions.

One of the biggest challenges for me has been learning how to separate my emotions from my business. There have been times when the weight of fraud, betrayal, false accusations and my own personal struggles felt almost unbearable. In those moments, it was so tempting to react out of fear or anger.

I’ve learned the hard way that decisions made in a state of survival rarely lead to anything good. When fear or anger is in the driver’s seat, clarity and wisdom disappear.

What has saved me time and again is the practice of finding my way back to neutral before acting.

Taking the time to regulate my nervous system, breathe and process the storm of emotion first. Only then can I respond rather than react.

Learning this has saved my business on multiple occasions and has allowed me to hold my head high with a clear conscience.

I won’t lie, there have been plenty of times I wanted to quit, and I’ve even contemplated selling.

Each time I had cancer, I came very close to saying “fark it” – refer to point 5 above .

But the truth is that I can’t imagine doing anything else.

And 12 years of being my own boss has made me unemployable.

What do I see for the next 12 years?

That’s what I’m most excited about.

The rise in AI and the resultant post-labour economy will herald a new era in consciousness and spirituality.

People will have a lot more time, will be seeking purpose and meaning, and the interest in consciousness will explode.

I’ve tried and failed many times to build our meditation classes (that’s where my heart truly lies). The interest just hasn’t been there, but that’s going to change in the next decade, and I’m excited to be at the frontline for this shift in consciousness.

We’ve achieved a lot over the last twelve years.

The things I’m most proud of are:

1. Our incredible team of caring and professional teachers, some of whom have been with us for a decade. These amazing people are the true reason behind our success.

2. Our amazing clients. We have an incredible retention rate, with many of the same clients from 12 years ago and even a small handful of clients from the days I taught in the hall at Norman Park. I’m incredibly grateful for your loyalty and support over this time.

3. The impact we’ve created. We’ve offered over 60 yoga scholarships and donated more than $50,000 in prizes to support local charities and community groups.

Whether you’ve only just joined our studio or you’ve been attending for years, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support.