Hey there, creative soul! đź‘‹ Erica here with your Sunday night dose of "what if we tried the scary thing anyway?" Ready to get uncomfortable this week? Let's go!
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This week I learned something crazy: sometimes when you think you're failing spectacularly, you're actually setting yourself up for something way better. I'm about to tell you how getting told "no" three different times led to three yes's I never saw coming.
If You Can't Get In, Create Your Own Door
(Or at Least Hope Someone Is Watching)
I heard about a local yoga festival that felt perfect for my work. But I missed the teaching application deadline by weeks. Most people would've said "next year" and moved on.
Not me. I became what I lovingly call a "strategic festival stalker."
I showed up to their sold-out pop-up event with my book tucked under my arm and my elevator pitch rehearsed. My mission was to corner the festival director and somehow talk my way into a teaching slot.
Here's where it gets good. I finally spotted my chance, stepped directly into her path, book ready, confidence dialed up to 11...
And she politely said, "Sure, email me..."
But here's the plot twist I never saw coming... Someone else had been watching this entire bold display unfold. A fitness center owner who was impressed enough by my "festival stalking" approach to offer me something even better: a teaching opportunity at her studio.
The lesson? Sometimes your target audience isn't who you think it is. And sometimes what looks like rejection is actually redirection.
MORAL OF THE STORY: I almost convinced myself to stay home and "be productive" that day. Thank God I didn't.
The Audition
Surviving 200 Yogis and My Own Self-Doubt
Fast forward to the studio audition where 200 eager yogis packed into one room, all vying for 40 coveted teaching spots. The energy was electric. Intense doesn't even cover it.
You had to lead the entire group through a 4-minute sequence while being evaluated on everything from your cuing to your presence.
At 47, surrounded by a sea of young, charismatic, RIDICULOUSLY talented instructors, I had a moment of "What the hell am I doing here?"
My strategy became: lean into what I have that they don't—15 years of teaching experience and the ability to read a room.
I volunteered to go first. Not because I was confident, but because waiting would've killed me.
Was it the most entertaining sequence in the room? Definitely not. The most energetic? Not even close.
But I had a judge on the panel who'd already witnessed my willingness to show up and take risks. My "festival stalking" had created credibility before I ever walked into that audition room.
I'm now optimistic about landing one of those 40 spots, not because I was the best, but because I was willing to be seen trying.
The $1000 Gamble
That "Failed" Beautifully
Remember that festival I was too late to teach at? Well, I decided to double down and invest in my first vendor spot.
Nearly $1,000 in materials later—tent, table, display books, business cards, those healing cards I spent months creating—I was ready to make it rain. (Side note: setting up a vendor booth is like furnishing a tiny apartment. Who knew you needed so much STUFF?)
My break-even number? Sell 22 book sales. The reality? I sold 9.
On paper, this looks like a spectacular failure. In reality, those 9 books came with something more valuable: 179 new email subscribers.
I'd offered my "Art of Attention Healing Cards" as a newsletter signup incentive, essentially turning every conversation into a potential long-term relationship.
What initially felt like a financial flop became a masterclass in playing the long game. Sometimes the real treasure isn't immediate cash—it's access to people who genuinely want to hear from you.
Know Thy Audience
When Your Perfect Offer Meets the Wrong Room
The festival experience taught me an invaluable lesson about knowing your audience—a lesson I'm literally teaching inside Tabernacle this week.
I showed up prepared to dazzle everyone with my advanced business-building offerings. I was ready to talk about scaling six-figure teaching practices and creating digital empires.
But after dozens of conversations, I realized something crucial: this wasn't that audience.
These were yoga teachers trying to get back INTO teaching, not scale out of it. They needed confidence before they needed business strategy. They were asking "How do I even start teaching again?" not "How do I build a six-figure yoga business?"
This insight is now reshaping my entire post-festival email strategy. Instead of pushing my advanced programs, I'm meeting them where they actually are—offering beginner teacher confidence building and gentle re-entry guidance.
It's not about changing your destination; it's about honoring the starting point.
The Beautiful
Ripple Effect
Here's the beautiful surprise in all of this hustle: when you show up with unwavering belief in your work, people notice. And they want to help.
During that festival, three women went completely out of their way for me. Angela bought extra books to give as gifts. Candace introduced me to her network. Malerie came to support my book and take sales.
I'm getting teary thinking about these angels and how their support reminded me of something I used to say during my retreat days: "I see you and your power to change the world."
Recent subconscious work has shown me that my faith in this work IS the prosperity I've been seeking. Not just the money or recognition—but the deep knowing that my weird mix of business strategy and spirituality actually helps people build sustainable creative lives.
Your persistence is permission for others to believe in their own bold moves. Your persistence is a lighthouse for people still finding their way.
My 90-Day Commitment
I created these formulas this week with the Tabernacle Residents:
Morning Ritual
During the next 90 days, I will attend 4 yoga classes per week (9:45am or 2:30pm at Highland Yoga) to stay connected to my body and the community I serve.
Creative Work Routine
During the next 90 days, I will dedicate 2 focused hours every Wednesday at noon to newsletter writing and design—because consistent communication builds lasting relationships.
Evening Habit
During the next 90 days, I will listen to at least 20 minutes of subconscious success programming as I fall asleep—because our subconscious does the heavy lifting while we sleep.
Ask me anything about these formulas! Just hit reply—I love talking about sustainable creative practices.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is a habit.
What I'm Celebrating:
Tabernacle 9.0 sold out! (And yes, our final resident signed up the day AFTER our official launch date. Proof that persistence pays off for everyone involved!)
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When the world says "no," your perseverance whispers, "Watch me." Listen to that whisper. Keep creating, keep showing up, keep trusting the process even when you can't see the destination.
Until next Sunday,
Erica
Here's a wild idea: instead of staying safely behind your computer doing "important work," what if you actually went out and shared what you've created with real humans? Your next opportunity might be disguising itself as an uncomfortable conversation. But you'll never know unless you show up.
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