Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Marie-Josee Borduas, Founder of Awakken, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I give women permission to be their true selves by reclaiming their innate, yet EXTRAORDINARY, superpowers so they can expand their perception of the possibilities available to them to live a life they love to wake up to every day, without stress, overwhelm, or anger.

Tell us about yourself

I spent the first half of my career in front of a computer screen, saving companies time and money. Then, in 2016 my mother passed away prematurely of pancreatic cancer. They say that death spurs you into action. It is when you realize that your life is finite that you throw away all the reasons why not and pursue all the reasons why. I decided that life was meant to be lived and began to pursue a path that was truer to me and more conducive to growth.

Career-wise, I had pursued mathematics and computer science out of the desire to appear "smart." And though I did enjoy finding solutions to real problems, what captivated my attention in secret was expanding my awareness of why people behave as they do. I wanted to know the secret to life. I have been on a self-help and discovery path for most of my life, starting with a little booklet on forgiveness that deeply impacted me when I was 18 years old. And a few years ago, I decided it was time to begin to share my knowledge as my next phase of growth. I also wanted to create safe, non-judgmental spaces for people to feel seen, heard, and supported. Something I felt was deeply lacking in the world. And that's what I did. I now create online spaces where people can connect and practice spontaneity and authenticity through play to live an authentic life. You only get one chance at this life. That's why I want to encourage you to live boldly, live passionately, and live with purpose. Live. Love. Laugh. It matters because YOU matter.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Increasing self-trust and leaning into my unique voice and understanding of the world we live in. Most people do not trust themselves. They seek solutions outside of themselves. But the key is really leaning in and trusting oneself to have the answers we need. It takes practice, and it is not something we can do on our own. That's why having safe support groups to practice being our true selves - the self we have kept hidden for too long - is so important.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Focusing on one thing at a time. Owning a business means wearing many hats. I am multi-passionate by nature, which to me means I love to do just about everything, and whatever I do, I put my whole heart and soul into it. I get a lot of ideas. And this makes it difficult to really hone in on the one thing that is most needed at any given moment and see it through to completion. The best strategy for any multi-passionate business owner is to really focus on one thing at a time until it is completed because it will give you the experience of moving forward rather than feeling pulled in too many directions.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Start. Give yourself permission to be imperfect and messy.
  2. Experiment. Keep trying new things.
  3. Be Consistent. Keep taking imperfect action every day.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.awakken.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Awakken2
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/borduas.mariejosee/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Awakken2
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-josee-borduas/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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