Sacred Business Stories with Claudia Faith

It is live now, so welcome, everyone. We are here with Claudia. Gonna just wait a couple of minutes before we start, and welcome. Hello, Brian. Hello, Carol. Yes. The sacred business party. So our goal with this, honestly, like, it's just to connect with people that. Well, that they're doing something cool in the world, that they have a secret business, and Claudia is definitely one of them to inspire you. Maybe you're trying to create something. You're on your writing journey, and it's just in a space, honestly, for inspiration. And we also like to invite you, if you're here listening to us and you feel inspired and you're like, hey, I have a secret business. I have something fun that I'm building in my life, and you want to be featured here, just send us a message, and we would love to have you here. Yeah.

Hello.

Hello, Susan.

Do you sometimes do lives just the two of you alone, or do you always have people coming on?

We actually. We've never done it, but we were talking about that, I think, like, two days ago that, like, maybe we could just, like, join once, just Phil and I, and have a conversation, you know, about, like, something. It's interesting that you asked, because we had this conversation, like, literally, like, yesterday or the day before.

Nice.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're just getting started with all this, but it's. It's been a ton of fun so far, and we've been loving the connections, not only with the folks like yourself that are coming on, but just, like the people we're connecting with afterwards. So it's a. It's a very cool format. And, yeah, for those of you that are just joining us again, as Kaylina said, this is Sacred Business Stories, and this is really our weekly Substack Live series where we're having honest conversation with. With creators about what it looks like to create a business that aligns with your deepest truth. And so today, I'm excited. We have Claudia Faith. She's probably one of the. We haven't had this conversation with her, but we came on to Substack back in October, kind of at the advice of Landon Poberan. Do you know Landon, Claudia?

Yeah, later today.

Cool. Yeah. So we've known him, or I've known him for years in a different context, and it was content that he was producing over on Facebook that kind of caught my attention, and we started experimenting over here. And then you were probably one of the first people after Landon that I started seeing your content around Substack and found it really helpful and useful. So thank you for being part of our own story of starting to get some traction here on Substack. But. But yeah, Claudia, like, interesting story. Like, when did you. I know you shared with us that in six months you went from kind of having big zero audience to making a living here, having a newsletter, branding, coaching. Like, when was it that you actually joined. Joined Substack?

Yeah, I joined Substack in May last year. So yeah, so may I came on here. It's very, very much. Really just writing for myself kind of the first couple of three months. I think like everybody is if they don't have a, you know, a huge following somewhere else or if they're just new to this entire online writing or online creation journey. Yeah, but I've done that. And then roughly around three months in, I started to see some more, some more attraction. By the way, I have one question, guys, because I think now that I had to redo this link invite, I think it didn't get sent out by email to subscribers. I don't know if you think that's a problem or not, but just wanted to say that because it's on my mind.

That'S okay with us. Maybe, maybe sharing it afterwards is fine. And. But yeah, like really, I guess I wanted to share a little bit about with you and then get your thoughts on is like kind of what we see this idea of sacred business as. And it's actually, I'll let Carolina do it because I feel like she has the most eloquent explanation. Do you want to share kind of how you see that and then we can get her thoughts?

Yeah, I was just actually thinking while I was listening to you and you kind of share about writing for yourself. Oh, I just got here and then I was writing for myself and I feel that that's the beginning of every sacred business journey in a way. It's this thing that you do for yourself because you love it, because you have a spark of inspiration and until it becomes something bigger, until we start serving others. But it's really this like authentic expression that fulfills you more than anything. And I would love for you just to kind of like share more about like when was the thing that really changed that you start getting traction and then like, how was the beginning that like, maybe nobody was like liking your stuff and you know, and how you kept going in your journey?

Yeah, I mean, to. To answer that, maybe I have to tell a bit more about my background journey because I'm more of a classical entrepreneur where you have a startup and you have VCs coming in and investors and all of this. And last year, at the beginning of last year, my startup kind of had to pause a little bit and to slow down. And that was a time where I thought, okay, I. And it was a lot of pressure because you have so many people and influencers externally coming to you. It's a lot of, you know, things that you. I mean, obviously you have investors coming in with money, and then it's just a whole other story. You're no longer just building something, you know, but it's really. It's a. Yeah, it's a different. I don't know, it's a different setup and a different journey. And I always thought, you know, that that's something I really like and I wanted to do my own startup. I kind of come from the startup world, have built businesses, but never really on my. On my own as a CEO with, you know, being kind of like, main responsible for this. And I had to do it to find out that I hated. You know, I really don't like it. I don't like to. To pitch. I don't like to talk with investors. I don't like any of it. And then last year where it was like, okay, you know, I think this doesn't really work for me. I had to kind of look for things that I actually really want to do. And what I want to do is to, you know, to create things on my own terms and my own, you know, just with me, because I have that trust in myself that I can do it. And so we. I kind of started figuring things out. Last March, I started writing on Medium, but that was not for me. But I'm happy that I tried it out because it had been on my mind for kind of like seven years. And I always thought, like, I really want to. Want to give it a try. But then I left Medium pretty much two months in. I mean, I'm still there, but I'm not very active. And then I found Substack, and I always knew I liked writing. My favorite part of my startup investor journey was actually writing those investment email updates. You know, like every. You know, every second week you write your group of investors like, hey, this is what we've been doing. And I kind of. That was really the most fun for me because it allowed me to be more creative and I was able to use my emojis and kind of like.

Hey, this is more.

It's really was the most creative part of my job. And so I thought, okay, if this is the most fun I have doing, why not exploring that more? And so this is really how I kicked it off on Substack. That's how I got into newsletter writing. That's awesome. It's kind of like doing the things.

That you don't like, and then there's one thing that sparks something you like. There's something there. Right. And then you just follow.

Yeah. And, you know, I think the reason is really because that's because the role of a CEO is honestly, like, pretty uncreative. You know, like, you reach out to investors, you reach out to partners in whatever field you're doing it in, but it's pretty much routine, automated work. It's a lot of teamwork also, but a lot of. About creating structures, processes.

I don't know.

And it's. At least I felt it's not very creative. And at that phase we were in my startup, we, you know, like, we tried to be. I tried to live out my more creative side by, you know, like, creating company culture and values and all of this. But to be honest, like, we were not there in this phase of the startup that. That really became super relevant. So. Yeah. So that was really my. My. Yeah. My way to be. To be creative. And that's. Yeah, that's how I got here.

I love that. Yeah.

Yeah. Even the. Even the investor updates, I don't even. In my mind, I don't even think of those being particularly creative. But then when you talk about it and you talk about the emojis and things like that, it's cool that you're able to use that as an outlet and find ways to. To bring fun into your, you know, into your routine. That's very cool.

Yeah. I mean, in a way, it's also like writing to an audience because, you know, though, they get so many emails from so many companies all day long, and you kind of want to make it also fun and interactive for them, you know. So, yeah, that's. That has been my. My thinking on my way of doing those investment email updates.

Yeah.

Cool.

And then when you.

When you join Substack, then you start writing, like, about stuff that you were liking at the beginning or you had, like, a goal, for example, or you had something I don't know already, or it was like, was maturing, like it was evolving. Are you like, this is what I want to do and, you know, like, how was it?

Yeah. On Substack, you mean? Yes. Yeah, yeah. No, it was actually pretty much finding out what I like to write about. I tried a lot of things in the beginning. I, you know, at that time, I was Also traveling a lot with my. With my camper van through Europe. So I thought that's something nice to write about. And I started writing about it, but it felt. Didn't feel super. Right. I also felt like, okay, it's so tough to build up your audience just for people who are campervaning in Europe, so that, you know, I liked it and I might pick it up again in the future. But, yeah, I felt like at that point, it was just. It didn't. It felt more like a. Like a chore. And then I also started writing more about design thinking and kind of design your life concept and Because, I mean, I took a year in my university to really focus on design thinking and designing your life concept and all of this. And I'm really passionate about it. And so that's also. I started writing about. But also it didn't really stick. I feel like, okay, you kind of need to. I jumped also a lot from topic to topic, and it didn't really work. I jumped from really camper vanning through writing through design thinking, and that there was no path through it. So I also dropped that. And then I started really writing mostly about, you know, my process of writing online and how to do that and how I grew and what worked and what didn't, and that's what people resonated the most with. And so I kind of stick with that. Just started a new newsletter, though, last week, which is more about, you know, online business and online entrepreneurship. And I'm excited about that because that's a bit more where I can bring in more of my background knowledge and not so much only about my process, which is great, which is fun, but it's also cool to talk about things that I've done before. Yeah.

I'm curious, what is your opinion about the balance between writing about something that you really love and then writing about something that people want to list about it, for example, Simple. Like.

Yeah, I mean, it's. In a way, you know, I mean, it's fun. I think it was fun for me either way to write, you know, and to connect with people and not. It didn't really matter so much for me in the beginning what it was they connected with. You know, if I had people, like connecting with. With campervaning or traveling or whatever. So I think it's. In the end, it's really mostly about how it's. At least for me, it's a good way to connect with people. And then the motivation comes with that. You see what also works online and what works to build a community and to build those connections. So I think in a way, for me, it was not a linear path. It was definitely also about what works for me, what works to get to people. And I knew if I wanted to write about something else, I can also do that again at any point, I feel like. So, yeah, I think it comes a lot with connections and the motivation that comes with just talking to people.

Yeah, yeah, I love that. I believe it's. Yeah, it's about the connection that you make, like with others and then how you feel connected to whatever the platform and the people, like, they're like reading you.

So right now, you know, I know you shared your work. You know, you've just launched this new newsletter. You're focused on branding, coaching, helping and this helping writers get paid, which I love the simplicity of that. I did. I didn't really identify as a writer before coming out of Substack, but I've loved how being on Substack has brought that out even more. Like, I've written a newsletter for a few years, but just like being here on Substack, I feel like that really has drawn out just more desire to express and. Yeah, so I'm just curious, like, what is your main focus right now in terms of what you're creating on the business side, but kind of on top of this journey that you've shared with us today?

Yeah, I mean, I keep on, you know, writing a lot about Substack because what I feel is that they are, you know, substack is growing so much and there's so many people coming onto Substack all the time. And it can be so, so overwhelming. You know, you can be a writer on, you know, you can have your blog, you can have your website, you can have whatever is your writing journey or even like books and so on. But you come to Substack and it can be so overwhelming. Like, I know for me, it took me two tries. Like, I've sign up of Substack and then I left for a week because I was like, okay, I have no idea what this is, you know, like, what the hell am I doing? So, yeah, I think a lot of people are overwhelmed when they come on first. And so my. One of my goals is, you know, with wonder, wealth, helping people to. To navigate through Substack. There's so many features and so many things that I still discover after almost one year, really every day on it. And that's. I keep on sharing that. So it's very heavily subsec focused, helping people, setting up substack writing and then getting paid through Substack with their newsletter. But then the news thing is really more about, okay, now you have your newsletter, but how can you turn this actually into a business? You know, like, there's so much more to just writing your newsletter. I mean, you guys know it, but, you know, it's like. So it's a lot about marketing promotion, which a lot of writers are not good at. It's a lot about, you know, then also creating other offers for your. For your audience, you know, and, you know, through digital products, through. Also with helping with the help of AI. Now there's so many tools that you can use as a writer that has a newsletter to get to really kick off your entrepreneurial or solopreneurial journey. So kind of helping writers to take that next step and focus on really creating a business around it. That's what I will do next.

I love what you shared about. That's so interesting because I never really thought of it, but we don't really teach substack. That's not our thing. We help people grow online businesses. But we have been recommending a lot of people to come on to Substack and then we do tell them, oh, check out people like yourself or Write Build scale or Landon's work. But it's what I realize it's very much my experience too is I've seen many of our clients come on and kind of there's this lag where they get excited and then they start their account and then a few weeks go by and nothing's happened. And then some of them are finding their way back. And so, yeah, it's just very interesting. So I'm really glad that resources like, like you exist to help those people kind of find their footing. That's very great.

Yeah, thank you. I mean, especially, I think, if you. Like I said before, but if you come from a blogging website or medium even, it's so straightforward. And I, to be honest, I think Substack user journey is not great. Like, you know, like the. The smartest people get lost all the time because it just, it is a lot. And I think it doesn't help that there are so many bugs still and there's things changing all the time. So, yeah, I think a little help is. Is needed in the beginning and then. Yeah, yeah, you get going.

Cool. Well, I want to shift gears a little bit. One of the things that we talk a lot about with our audience is this idea of fear and how it's completely normal to experience Fear, especially as you're stepping into kind of your more meaningful work and things like this. So I'd love to ask you how you relate with fear and if there's, as you've been kind of going through this journey of putting yourself out there more and more publicly, is there one area specifically you could think of where fear resistance shows up for you and kind of how are you working with that on a day to day basis?

Yeah, I mean, of course I think there are a lot of fears for everyone. I think any, you know, we all have them. I think for me personally it's a lot about is it enough what I'm doing? Is it enough what, you know, that I, with my background also being less of an online entrepreneur and more of actually an offline entrepreneur. Entrepreneur. Do I have the right to come here and tell people how to do it online while I share my journey? You know, so I think those fears, they, they exist. I know a lot of writers have imposter syndrome. I think it's similar to that, but then again a bit different. But you know, I, how I deal with it is very public. Like usually I write a lot of notes about motivating or inspiring others. I write a lot about my, in a way, my own fears because it's a lot about like, you know, don't let other people disencourage you. Trust yourself, trust your journey. You do you. And I say those things because I have to tell them to myself too, you know, like all the time. So how I deal with it is just being really, I think, open about it and saying, you know, this is my journey and if you don't like it, then, you know, ignore me and that's totally fine. But yeah, writing notes that help me, writing those little quotes from all those great people out there, that's a way to help me and my mindset.

Yeah, it's like I love that because, yeah, we say things to others, but it's always a reminder for ourselves. Right?

Yeah.

It's a way to ground us on like. Yes, just keep going, keep showing up and.

Yeah, yeah, exactly. And I, you know, this, that's one very famous line. And then like coming a bit from design thinking, but it's, it says trust the process and that's really my, my motto. It's so much, you know, whatever. I do trust the process. I do a lot of things. I do a lot of like building in public. So I ask people for feedback. And I'm not so much of a perfectionist. I don't wait until you know, things are perfect. To post them, I. Or do them, I just do it. I get it out. I get people's feedback. And you can change things all the time, you know, and then it's a learning curve, and as long as you trust the process, you'll. You'll end up somewhere.

Yeah, this is. I feel like this is one of the hardest things for many people. Like, we're always saying, I like to say this phrase, let it be messy. And like, I like, for example, when we were creating our manifesto, it took about a year to get it where it is today, but we just kept putting it out there, like, in its rawest form. And then we're like, you know what? We can publish this. It's not perfect, but I can go in next week and, like, adjust the piece and do whatever I want. And so that's. I really resonate with that idea of, like, you know, not letting this perfectionism block you from putting things out there. And from my experience, like, it's from going through that process of letting it be messy that you get, you know, the best guidance and feedback for where you're trying to go. So. Yeah, I love that you shared that.

Yeah. And I think it's especially important for people on. On subsec because you have a lot of writers, and I think writers more tend to be like, introverts or shy or a bit more of the comma people on social media or online. And I think those especially need this kind of confirmation to just, you know, let them know, like, hey, this is so fine. To be honest, like, your first 10 posts will probably not be seen by a lot of people. So let it be messy and let it be, you know, your own process of learning and growing and. Yeah, and I think, you know, while I'm telling this myself, I'm telling it to all the new people and writers on subsec as well. And. Yeah.

And it's such, like, a rich way to receive feedback. Right. Because I think of, like, if you're so stuck in your head and let's say if you write a piece of and then you look at that piece again, you're just getting your own feedback in a way. Like, you're seeing that through your own lenses. That was the same lenses in a way a little different from the lenses that wrote it.

That.

And then now all of a sudden, like, if you just put out there, then you get, like, people liking and not liking. And it doesn't mean that you need to change.

Right.

It doesn't mean that the people Telling you that they don't like means that you need to take action. But it could like work so well as well. One, you feeling rejection, you know, and just dealing with that and still showing up. And then maybe there is something that they tell you that it is valuable and you're like, yeah, yes. You know, like, maybe for next time or maybe on this one I can change and I can improve. Like, it's so, so rich. And I love seeing people like asking for opinions on substack. You know, hey, I just did this. What do you think about it? Hey, I'm building this. And then you get like a bunch of comments because people like that too, right? So, yeah, it's an important reminder.

Yeah, yeah, no, 100%.

Cool. Well, the next question I have for you is around connection. And so this is, you know, as you said, and a lot of our clients, I feel, slant more on the introverted side as well. But like, I feel that one of the biggest challenges a lot of our clients face is this idea of like, how to create meaningful, authentic connections online. And so I'm just curious for you, how do you approach connection? And for someone who's kind of, you know, since you're the substack person, like, as they're finding their way onto substack, any specific tips or guidance you have for people trying to feel more connected and, and find their people here on substack?

Yeah, I think it has a lot to do with, with which kind of mindset you're coming onto. Substack. Right. Because I think if your mindset is, you know, you want to just grow very quickly and make money and, you know, and those things, then it's going to be hard for you to, you know, to find reconnections and community because people can tell. So it's, it's not a big revelation. But my biggest advice would really just be to, to be, to be yourself, you know, to be very authentic, to let people into your ups and downs, to share those, you know, like I, for example, on notes, you know, people sometimes get confused because they think notes are stuck to the publication, but notes are really stuck to your own profile, to you as a person. You know, so you can have multiple publications, but notes will always stick to you. So it's kind of a way for you to create this trust and credibility with people. And in the beginning, your notes will not be read by a lot of people if you just come on newly. So what I recommend there is, you know, go to other people's notes and posts and see what you like what resonates with you, interact with people there, because then you kind of know already, okay, those are people you want to connect with if you like what the author writes and what kind of community they have on here. So kind of find your people that you like, that you like to interact with as a first step, write notes as a kind of. As a tool to really connect. To connect with people in terms of, you know, they. They see you, they can create this relationship with you, write direct messages. I do that a lot. I do think it helps, you know, like, every subscriber just gets a little DM from me. You know, it helps to connect, connect this, or create this extra connection. Then finally, I really think let people see you. So I think video, those live sessions help a lot to just, you know, let people know that you're not AI. You're not a robot, You're. You're you. So, yeah, I. And I. And I know it's so scary for. For a lot of people, they don't, you know, they. Because writers on substack, they don't come from TikTok or Instagram where they, you know, like, sharing themselves all the time. So it can be scary, but it's really worth it. And if you don't want to be on camera, then do a podcast. I mean, sub second also is that it just allows people to connect with you in such a different way. Yeah.

Yeah, I think this. This video format is. Well, I always tell people one of the things that we teach is, like, when you. When there's something that you feel the resistance around, that's almost like the thing you need to do. And so for myself, I actually very much do not like being on video. Like, I still get very uncomfortable every time I do it. In complete. Honestly, it's the reasons we chose this, like, interview format because, like, for myself personally, it's a way to force myself regularly to show up multiple times a week and be in this format, but not have the attention be 100% on me. And so, yeah, I love looking for ways, you know, for people to do that, that take them right to their. Right to their edge of comfort. But, yeah, I found this. You know, this. This has been one of them. This format, even though this is like only the fourth one we've done, has been, like, one of the most rewarding ways of connecting with people. And even as we've been, like, setting up our schedule, like, we have. I think we have two schedule per week now going out into middle of May. And just like the side Conversations like you were talking about with the DMs and things like that. Just very, very cool getting to know people in that way. So.

Yeah.

Yeah, I love that.

Yeah, Yeah, I totally agree. I mean, it's. Yeah, I think for most people it's this kind of extra push of just doing it. But yeah, I think it's really worth it so for everybody who. Yeah. To feel uncomfortable. Like, I think we all get it, but it's. It's nice. And then you see that people interact with you and like, you know, you can chat literally with. With a person sometimes. I also do. I. Well, I've done it once, but I want to do it again, you know, that I just go live and then I just ask randomly people on the spot if they want to come, you know, and. And just have a chat. And it has been so fun doing this because people are, you know, you get to know like, literally whoever that is in a randomly on the Internet to come on a live session chat with you. And it's. And it's fun. And I think that's also what, you know, substack is good at in creating connections.

Yeah, that's such a great advice for connection because not like, you know, for me, like, I struggle. Like, I don't struggle a lot on video, but like, the, the thing of, like, talking to people that I don't know that, you know, like, how do you start a conversation? And I'm an introvert, too, so if I'm like walking here, like, I'm not the one that, like, hey, hey, you know, like, that's not me. And then just like calling someone randomly, like, hey, let's.

Let's connect.

And just the fact that you're, like, seeing each other in this online world makes like such a nice. Yeah, probably like a big difference. I think we should do that too, Phil.

Yeah, that's a great idea. Yeah. Thanks for the tip. Well, cool. We're a little over on time, but I want to ask you, Claudia, I know that. Well, anyone that's watching us here or on the replay can find you here on Substack. But if anyone wants to find out more about your work or how to get involved with what you're creating, what would you like to share with them that might make most sense for them to check out?

Yeah, I mean, you can check out my. My publication, Wonderwell, or, you know, just subscribe and send me a DM or just, you know, like, I'm really active all the time, so if people just send me a message, I. 100%, you know, reply. So, yeah, that's the easiest way.

Cool. And you shared a very nice article with us ahead of this call with some of your your best, best substack tips. So I will be sure to include that when we share this replay as well. So thank you for that and thank you again for being here. Thank you for joining us. We really appreciate your time. And again, like, it was so nice as we were coming onto this platform to see people who were kind of leading the way in terms of how to how to find your footing here. So I really appreciate thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, thank you so much. Have a great rest of your day. Appreciate you. Bye, Claudia.

Bye.