"I do multiple things for income... how to prioritize among them?"

Geneva, thank you for letting me record this. And you brought up a topic that a lot of us solopreneurs deal with, which is that there's a lot going on. There's different directions that we can go, you know, on a typical, you know, Wednesday, there's some— what do we spend time with? But tell me more about what's on your mind. And yeah, tell me more about your question and like what kinds of things you are having to decide between?

Well, I, yeah, I, I'm, I have kind of these two pathways that I've been developing over the years, and one of them is yoga. And at this point, I'm an advanced level teacher. I've been teaching in-person classes. I've also taught online. I've done small retreat offerings and would like to do larger scale and get into that, which, um, I've even, you know, I've worked for different studio owners and, and help them launch their larger retreats. So I feel like I have all the skills ready to get into that bigger space, but it's, it's big. And then I also have tarot, and so I regularly, um, am approached for readings, though I don't really advertise. Um, and I offer a monthly event for the community, for tarot readers in the community, and it, it does well in it. And like, for up here, because it's a small community of people in general, it's, it's a pretty popular event. Um, and I've been growing that at a particular location, but no, I can do a lot more with it. Um, and then, you know, there's classes, and then I've just rented this space where, um, I can be reading, reading tarot out of the space. So I have a space to like usually I was going to cafes. I have a space to do that. And then I also sell vintage. So I've got vintage clothing for sale and it's kind of like a little shop that I'm sharing with some other creators, creatives. So like 3 days a week I'm in that space and have started advertising and doing promo material on Instagram for that as well. As well. So it feels—

yeah, multi-passionate, multi-passionate, multi-talented. And, uh, it's definitely fun to have these, have these different things. And so, so your question is, how do you, how do you balance, or how do you prioritize? Or tell me more.

Yeah, how to prioritize. Um, you know, like, so I'm also, I'm, I'm an educator, so I've, I have, um my credential to teach public school, to teach high school English, but it's not something I've had to do for the last couple of years and it's not something I've wanted to do, but it is always the thing that I've like turned to when I need—

Of course. Oh yeah, oh yeah, sure.

And so, you know, I'm just in that same place again where it's like, you know, I've got these things that aren't really— they haven't grown to fruition. Enough to sustain me financially for the long term. Yeah. I want to get clear on, um, how to build my business up to the point where it's making me money so that I don't have to hop back into a profession that is so consuming that it doesn't leave a lot of space to continue moving these things forward.

Yeah. Oh my gosh, teaching. Yeah, because you're like, you're, you're having to work after work, you know. It's like grading papers and, you know, dealing with students and things like that. I have to say, by the way, that my most influential teachers in, you know, junior high and high school were, and the college were English teachers. So I really, really value English teachers. So, but yeah, it is hard to give energy to your business when you're teaching like that. And by the way, you're not the only one literally on this call who has had that situation. And also those who are watching, I'm sure also many of us have had to get, you know, had a so-called real job or whatever while we're building our business on the side. So great, this is all helpful. And here's what I'm gonna ask you is of the things that you listed that were your business, yoga retreats, tarot events or tarot reading, and the vintage clothing. Of those, I guess maybe 5, something like that, 4, what, like, okay, so what is your favorite? Like, if you, if you could, if you could only focus on one for the next however many years, not that you have to, but if you can only focus on one for the next 5 years, which one would you most enjoy focusing on? Number 1 question. Number 2 question is if you had to choose one that would probably make the most money or fastest money, um, that's more likely to create a, a stable income that replaces your, your teaching gig, um, which one would that be? So I guess they might be the same, they might be different, but I'm curious about the, the passion slash joy one and then the, the one that is probably the most, uh, money-making.

I would say yoga. I mean, yoga, yoga because of the, you know, if I could scale the retreats and have a studio space.

Yeah.

That would be, yeah, that would be it, you know, and I could, I could just learn and study about and be in the practice, you know, teaching and learning about it forever, forever.

Wow. Yeah, that's so cool. And, and it's so, and, and would that also be the money-making option if you, if you only chose one?

I think so, because, um, you know, tarot readings, like, they— I, I just think that, like, people understand and connect with a yoga practice as something they need in a really regular way.

Yeah, yeah, exactly. Regularity is super helpful for income. Yeah.

And tarot isn't something that people feel like— like, they need it when they need it, you know? They'll feel that intuitive pull, and, and it— yeah, but It's not like I have folks that I see every month because I'm not that kind of reader either. Right. Like, I'm not trying to like make people dependent on my wisdom. I want them to—

Ah, interesting.

—have it and then move on. Nice.

Okay, very good. And by the way, those of you who are watching this, those, the few who are here live and also those watching this later, please feel free to comment below if you have any thoughts that you'd like to share that might be helpful for Geneva or just, you know, kind of your own reflections about your own path based on what we're talking about. Okay, so that's really, I mean, that's, that's super clear. I mean, it's, it's great that it's like both questions are answered with, with one option, which is the yoga scaled up retreats. So then my question is, um, it's great first of all that not only is it a dream, but you already have the skills to do it. Okay. So, um, so I guess my main question is, uh, what's, what's still needed for you to make that happen? Okay, one. But secondly is, have you tried partnering with other yoga teachers who have a bit of an audience to like co-run a scaled-up retreat? Does that, does that work? Does that make sense? What do you think?

It does. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I never like to do anything alone the first few times. And I prefer to collaborate. I really do prefer it. Yeah. Um, and so yeah, someone does come to mind that might be willing to like co-retreat with me. She's, she's very busy and I, I'm not as busy, but yeah, you know, but I, but I'm very familiar with her students and she's got a good— okay. And humble. So that could be really fun. She'd go for it.

That's really cool. Yeah. And, and that's great. That's amazing that, you know, you don't, you don't live in like a big, big metro area. You live in a more rural area and you can already think of somebody. So that's, that's a good thing. I'm also wondering if you were able, does it make sense to even partner to do scaled up retreats with people that are outside your area that you could travel, but if the, if the retreat you know, fees make, make it, make, make it worthwhile for you to travel? Is that something you'd be willing to do?

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I know of someone I could talk to. I know of at least one person I could talk to.

That's cool.

It's a great start. Expressed interest in the past and, um, we're good friends and might be ready to do that.

Wow. Okay. That's, uh, okay. Because you know, you bring— not only can you co-teach the yoga or do your own sessions there in at the retreats, but, but the logistic, the logistic side of things that, that is so valuable, right? For, for people who say, hey, listen, I just want to focus on the yoga. I just want to focus on the teaching. I wish, like so many yoga teachers wish, that they had a partner who could, who knew about the stuff, that could handle it, either handle it or help to outsource it. But at least new enough to help with that.

Yeah. Yeah. No, that's exciting. It's exciting to think that I have answers to these questions. Yeah, for sure. Kind of push directions a little bit.

Yeah. And like I said, I think if you were willing to travel, and it sounds like you are, you have a lot more opportunity about this than people who can't travel.

Well, and I, I'm also connected with my school that's located in— they have ashrams in, in Colombia and in Peru, and it's a really close relationship. I just went to India with them, and then I was in Peru with them in July, um, and they've offered the space up to me. Um, wow. And so it's something I've wanted to cultivate. It's just like, it's the getting started piece, and like, it feels like a big Jump. Yeah, the Bhakti Yoga School. Nice. Cusco.

Wow, that's great. Okay. And okay, so let's speak a bit more before we complete this. Like, what's the jump? Tell me more about that. Like, what's the next step or next two steps to get there?

Well, I think before I do a big international yoga retreat, I want to do like a smaller one. And so I love that you had asked about like within my community, like this idea of doing one first with another teacher who's been teaching for a long time, um, who has a student base that's pretty, you know, established. Like we could do that here, you know, in Seoul, and I could kind of get the feel and try it out. Um, and that, That's really exciting, as you know, just wanting the baby steps towards the larger thing rather than just throwing myself into something that would be like thousands of dollars, right? Just to even see if it would work, you know. There you go. Yeah, exactly.

No, that's really good. Yeah, if it was something like thousands of dollars, I would want to have a partner already who can bring some people, some students, who are, who would, you know, likely to, to at least pay for hopefully all of the, you know, all at least to break even. Yeah. And then to kind of scale up from there. But that's really great. And I'll tell you, I mean, I think in-person events are having a comeback now and in the next, well, foreseeable future as more and more people kind of get tired of just being at the computers doing, doing AI stuff or whatever. People are— yeah, so, so there's never been a better time to have in-person stuff, um, retreats, workshops, conferences, um, you know, get-togethers of all kinds that are in person. So this is— I think it's a really good path.

Yeah, yeah, thank you, thank you very much.

Yeah, and, and, and, you know, we only talked about one of them. I feel like, I feel like with the others you probably have steps that you could take toward, toward them too. But, but it is a good idea to, to like Whenever you can, you know, focus on one thing for at least 50% of your working hours. It's that, it's that one thing. Maybe even 80%. And then you can dabble in the 20, the other 20%, up to 50%, you can dabble in the other areas. I think that's fine, but it's like having your mind's heart space and your time space just filled with this yoga project. I think it's really, I think it's, it makes sense. And I think it'll, it'll be more effective. So, thank you. Yeah. Well, I wish you well as you take these steps. Looking forward to hearing how it goes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Thanks, Geneva.