Would you love the freedom to be your own boss? Would you like to boost your confidence and self-esteem? Perhaps you’d like to learn more about your strengths, skills and natural knacks and talents. Or would you like to know more about my story and how I became a Naturopath, Mind-body Medicine specialist and Life Coach.

Recently I was interviewed by Cassandra Gaisford (amazon.com/author/cassandragaisford), author of four Amazon #1 bestselling books, including her popular Mid-Life Career Rescue trilogy and How to Find Your Passion and Purpose. Below is the excerpt from our interview which appears in Mid-Life Career Rescue: Employ Yourself:

Vesna’s Story: Staying in her own lane

“What I do is help women fire up their energy, calm their mind and enjoy a passion-fueled life – by doing less!” says Vesna Hrsto a Melbourne-based Naturopath, Mind-body Medicine specialist and Life Coach.

“My approach is uncomplicated. I’m all about taking the overwhelm OUT of life, and that extends to creating a vibrant body. I want women to have the energy to do what they want and need, with buzz, passion, inspiration, and enthusiasm.

I choose to specialise in this area of women’s health, hormones and happiness because of my personal journey and discovery, and my mission is to empower and educate women to listen to their body and take charge of their health. 

I experienced burnout myself and my journey back to recovery has become my passion and purpose. My burnout symptoms included extreme fatigue. My nervous system couldn’t handle day-to-day stressors so I was always stressed, anxious and overwhelmed. 

My hormones were all over the place. I gained weight, had digestive problems and felt like my spark was gone. I wasn’t me anymore.

The experience took a toll on my work, I wasn’t enjoying it as much, and it cost me my marriage. But looking back I can acknowledge my burnout as a gift. 

I had been unhappy in my marriage. Burning out forced me to remove everything from my life that wasn’t for me anymore, and that wasn’t meant for my future. It made me review my life and take a different direction.

My life after was dramatically different! I travelled, had adventures in the jungles of South America, lived overseas, moved cities, made new connections and friendships, and had fun every day. 

I realised having more freedom in my life and doing the work I loved was my perfect bliss…and that it was possible to have both.

I got back to me when I embraced my dreams, passions and desires and made them part of my everyday life, giving myself time to be me.

I first met Vesna on Skype after she contacted me to be part of an event she is organising, The Woman Reinvention Project: Fire Up Your Energy, Work With Passion & Enjoy More Freedom Now, By Doing Less.

Vesna’s passion is her métier and vocation; helping women cut out stress, find more time to do what makes their heart sing and enjoy more freedom. 

When passions collide expect to connect

“I would love to feature your work, I think your message on finding your passion and purpose, and living a life you love is a perfect fit!” she wrote to me.

The fact that Vesna contacted me after reading my book Find Your Passion and Purpose, is further evidence of the power of passion, attracting like-minded and helpful people to you. 

And now I in turn have the joy of sharing her inspiring story and well-being strategies with you. 

The joy of working for yourself

“I’ve always liked working for myself, being creative in running my business and having flexibility to work the hours I want, take time off and choose projects that inspire me. I wanted to work my way, not follow someone's rules and procedures,” Vesna told me.

Deciding what business she wanted was easy she says. “I studied Naturopathy right out of high school. This has always been my calling ever since I was a kid.” Vesna says initially she didn’t find the right product and service for the right market. But she did notice a pattern in the sort of things people came to her for help with.

“It wasn’t until a few years in that I started to notice women coming to me for the same kinds of problems—fatigue, burnout, anxiety, depression, feeling disconnected from their body and life—that I ended up specialising in it. Also, I went through my own journey with burnout and had lots to share about why women go through it, what it means and the road out.

Making the leap

I started my first business and I had a part-time job on the side to support me. There was time for both, finding time for my business was easy because I was so excited about it, and it was energising. 

It wasn't until I took the leap to go full-time in my business did it really take-off (it tripled and so quickly). I noticed that when all my energy was in my business, that's when it expanded into a full-time business, but I had to leap first.

I sold my car in order to set it up my first business, it wasn't much but it was enough to build my first clinic. I used my own savings too. 

Loving being self-employed

I feel more alive and passionate because I’m immersed in what I love all day! I can choose who I work with, what I talk about, and what I do. I'm more in the flow and consciously create my life when I'm in my business. I did some time in the corporate world and felt I was unconscious and just going through the motions.

The steps to self-employment? Is there a “right” order?

If there is a right order, I don't know it. Everything I do comes from inspiration and I often miss the practical steps.

Finding customers – be so good they can’t ignore you

The marketing activities that have been most effective for me have been through word of mouth advertising. I built my three clinics on very little advertising this way. It's been the best way for me to grow my business. 

Networking, word of mouth, advertising, collaborating with others have all been effective. With the online business – webinars, blogging, events, free mini sessions – heaps of different ways to help. My word of mouth referrals are not just referrals from direct clients, but other practitioners, friends, old colleagues – anyone. 

Give people an experience of what you offer, really give value and service, and they become your best advertising. There's a saying, be so good they can't ignore you.

Maintaining balance and keeping energy levels high

My work is my passion. It's part of who I am. It's me being me; but in a “business.” When I started my online business it was turning into a 24/7 thing and was draining. Now, I have flex time throughout the day – sometimes I even have a nap!

I take weekends off. And I've just started having one week off a month as part of my flex time and to just be with friends, family, nature, learning and resting. Each morning I do the things that nourish me: Exercise, meditation and spiritual practice (A course in Miracles) before I get into my work.

It feels natural for me to have high energy levels; it didn't for many years though. Essentials for me: eat whole-foods, get to sleep before 10pm, exercise, limit technology at night, boundaries for work, people, places & things—keeping me-time sacred. Flex time—taking more time off throughout the year.

The secret to success, managing cash flow, and generating regular income

Constantly reinvent yourself and your business. Keep it creative and fresh. Listen to what people really want. 

I always track my incomings and outgoings each week so I know where I'm at. Generating regular income comes down being good at what you do and finding ways to get in front of the right people for your service.

Riding the learning curve—you can learn even if it feels over your head

There was and still is a massive learning curve for my online business: from building websites, blogging, advertising, all the different systems and technology, learning the social media platforms etc. 

This is now on-going, things are changing so quickly online and keeping up is essential. The learning curve was a good thing; it reminded me that I can learn this even if it feels over my head.

The best move for me was stepping out of my clinic and moving my business online and virtual. It gave me the freedom to move and travel, which I craved. I don't know if I have a “worst” move. Everything that seemed wrong at the time ended up being a gift. The not-so smart move I did, was leap onto the online space too early before knowing more about it.

If it's a burning desire of yours then I believe it's meant to be

Vesna’s advice to other budding entrepreneurs is, “Know what your product or service is before you go in, who is your target market and where do they hang out. Get a business coach—someone who’s done what you want to do, let them be your mentor. You will learn much faster with less trial and error. Mostly, have faith in yourself. If it’s a burning desire of yours then I believe it’s meant to be.”

She also recommends building strong foundations before you leap. “For my current business, I pretty much leaped before I had the proper foundations in place. I wouldn't recommend that, but I've had mentors and coaches along the way, and a community of friends in business, so lots of support and guidance along the way. Above all, start now, don't put it off for when you're ready—you'll never feel ready.

Stay in your own lane

Knowing what I know now I'd have more patience with myself, and the business building process. I wouldn't take on all the “expert” advice of what you need to do. And I would not compare myself to other businesses out there. Stay in your own lane. Never lose the bigger picture of why you started, always remember your vision.

Vesna’s story is a powerful, compelling and positive reminder how life crises like burnout and loss can guide you to new emergence. That’s if you’re prepared to heed the lessons and look for the gifts.

Find your point of brilliance, thrive like a pro and read other inspirational stories of success in Midlife Career Rescue: Employ Yourself available in print and eBook on Amazon here:

Amazon.com http://amzn.to/1SwgzAV

Or Amazon.com.au  http://bit.ly/1OmXh9g

Cassandra has a free gift for you too – click here to get your free copy of her Find  Your Passion Workbook 

author, creativity coach, public speaker, entrepreneur