The Beauty of a Small Business
Small Enough to Love the Work
This is a slightly different blog post from me, as it’s not very often that I write about the behind-the-scenes of my work, but it’s something I’ve been gently reflecting on recently. This year, I’ve given myself the space to truly devote myself to my work, and with that has come more time to quietly reflect on what it is that I’m building here on Soul Shala.
I think we often forget that as we move through different chapters of our lives and begin to understand ourselves more deeply, the way we approach our careers can shift too. For many of us, there are long seasons of striving for more, where our sense of worth can become closely tied to how successful we feel in our work.
But for those of us who choose to look a little deeper within ourselves, somewhere along the way we can begin to lose the desire to constantly prove ourselves through our careers. And with that comes this softly unfolding question: what comes next? I’ve spoken at length about this experience of “the more I heal, the less ambitious I become” on the Rooted Feminine podcast, which resonated with so many people. But I don’t think it ends there. In many ways, the ambitions simply begin to evolve into ones that feel more nourishing and deeply fulfilling, even if they are less outwardly impressive.
I think it’s at this threshold that I find myself now. I’m within a wellness industry that so often encourages us towards more - more wealth, more followers, more growth, more ways to continually scale our businesses. But sometimes I wonder if, within all of that, we risk losing some of the intimacy and potency of the work itself.
When I return to this question, I often find myself coming back to the reason I do this work: to help others, to facilitate healing through connection and community, and to nourish myself in the process too. I think many of us quietly let that final point drift away along the journey. It’s such a gift to have work that nourishes our own soul just as much as it supports others. And so I find myself wondering if there is something truly beautiful about remaining small enough to still love the work, to embody it fully, and to share it in a deeply integrated and heartfelt way.
Growing Carefully, Not Endlessly
While much of the industry leans toward constant growth and expansion, I find that my intention has become a little different. I’ve felt called to create something sustainable, something quietly rooted. I’m choosing for this space to bloom differently, more slowly and deeply feminine in its essence. It’s almost as if I’ve remembered that all of this has never been about how big it becomes, but it was always about how deeply embodied I can be within the work.
Lately I’ve realised that:
I truly love being a small business.
I love being a one-woman band (for the most part).
I love getting to know my members in a personal, meaningful way.
And I love the process of creating, editing, and writing to you from the heart.
I’m so grateful that my little corner of the internet continues to grow steadily and sustainability. and I find myself asking the question of what it might look like as it continues to grow. But the truth is that my vision has never been to grow into something vast, but rather to nurture a space that gently weaves its way into women’s lives when they need it most. A place to return to when they feel disconnected from themselves.
A small business is all I want to be
I’ve made no secret of the fact that throughout my Saturn return, I’ve moved through what can only really be described as a series of ego deaths — one of the most significant being around my work. But within that, there has also been a quiet realisation of just how beautiful and meaningful it can be to be a small business. If I move through life holding space for women within my little community when they need it most, in whatever way I can, then that truly feels like enough.
I have no desire to take over my industry or become a household name. I simply want to be here, to be present, and to have the privilege of supporting my little virtual village throughout their own journeys. I know what a gift it is to have arrived at a place where this gets to be my work and my livelihood, and I truly don’t want to lose sight of that.
So for now, I’m here, softly opting out of the hustle culture we are so often surrounded by, and simply showing up as I am with my small business. Building deeply personal relationships and nurturing trust in a way that I know I likely wouldn’t be able to if I were running a large team or operating like a machine. Instead, I’m here in a gentle, holistic way, simply holding space so you feel supported whenever you arrive. No bells or whistles, just a steady intention to keep sharing work that feels deeply important in the world we’re living in today. And that feels like more than enough.
Im so grateful you’re here
What’s deeply true is that every small business would be nothing without its customers. I feel so grateful to say that I can call so many of my clients, my friends too. The intimacy of working on a small scale creates space for deeply personal relationships with clients, which can be so healing.
I think, in a way, that’s the real beauty of a small business. It has the ability to fill your own cup, as well as those you work with. There is an authenticity that I feel (and hope!) weaves its way throughout the work, which can be quite refreshing in the modern world. Nothing has to squeeze into a box, but can exist in its whole and completeness- much like each of us as individuals.
So may this be your reminder that the concept of success is a deeply personal one. A business doesn’t need to be big to have a huge impact on peoples lives.
Sometimes smaller is exactly right.
Are you a small business too?
I really love connecting with small businesses of all kind. I think it can be quite comforting to share our experiences when often otherwise it can be quite a solitary career. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
If you are in the holistic wellness industry too and feeling a little lost, I offer 1:1 Holistic Business Consultancy sessions. These are for anyone feeling deeply connected to their work and want support in building something sustainable and aligned, without the pressure to do it all at once.
Building a business in the holistic wellness industry can feel overwhelming. There is a lot of noise, and it can feel easy to get swept away with what you think you ‘should’ be doing. It’s very easy to get lost in it all along the way.
I truly believe there is a way to build a business with a more feminine heart and structure that truly fills your cup. You can learn more about Holistic Business Consultancy here