Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Brian Berneman, Co-Founder of Conscious Action, located in Auckland, NZ.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I co-founded two businesses: Conscious Action & You Being You.
Conscious Action:
Raising awareness and inspiring action to make meaningful changes in your life and have an impact on the world. We do this with events, coaching, content, and courses about well-being, sustainability, and everything related to conscious living.
We are all about:
- Connecting with like-minded people.
- Collaborating to come up with inspiring ways to live more consciously.
- Celebrating the impact of individuals and their contributions to the collective and doing all of this while being.
- Grounded in Compassion.
We are a positive community bringing awareness to the way we are leading our lives as individuals, as a collective, and as a planet.
We are celebrating the current choices being taken to shape a more conscious way of living and working. Through interaction, we aim to come up with achievable actions we could take, and through connection, we share and celebrate the ones already being taken – big or small. Conscious Action was born from a desire to do more.
You Being You:
Alongside other experienced teachers and holistic medical practitioners, we offer courses and coaching that include lifelong well-being pathways for Heart-connected conscious living. Teachings introduce world views on how we co-create our lives through our daily thoughts and actions. Teachings include Chinese Medical principles, Tibetan Buddhism, Yoga, Qigong, Mindfulness, and Meditation practices. We introduce how to see ourselves as dynamic parts of an interactive universe.
Tell us about yourself
As a teenager, I started a journey that would completely change my life. I started my spiritual development as well as going out of my comfort zone by having new and different experiences. After living in big cities in Buenos Aires, New York, Miami, and Berlin, I felt it was time to make a change and delve deep into the practices that were opening my eyes to the promise of a different way of living. The decision to leave everything I knew and go to Ratna Ling, a Tibetan Buddhist Retreat Center in California, came from a resolve to learn, change, grow and help with the endeavor of the organization and to continue in-depth learning of Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga.
Being at the Ratna Ling work/study program for two years gave me a lot of tools and skills I deeply cherish. Being immersed in the teachings of Tibetan Lama Tarthang Tulku every day, leading classes, and helping to make Tibetan Sacred books to be given for free at the World Peace Ceremony to thousands of people gave me a different outlook on the world and its people. I was introduced to another way of living and being and wanted to share it - and how better than creating something? That way, I knew I could share my understanding in a way that worked for me. With these values and visions, I could work on an ongoing basis. I know how privileged I am, and I aim to use it to support and guide others to lead more balanced and meaningful lives. There's so much disconnection and imbalances in the world, and I know I can show pathways to reconnect and be well.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
To create a life that works for me and see how many people have taken positive and meaningful actions based on their interaction with me and my work. Just one person creating a change in their lives by learning something at an event is beautiful to see.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Having to be across so many different aspects and wearing many hats. I didn't have the understanding when I started off many of those and had to either learn or find others that could provide that support. Ultimately I'm responsible for all of it.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Have the courage to follow your path.
- Allow the business' values to guide the decision-making.
- Don't compare your (and your business's) journey with anyone else's - you are unique.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.consciousaction.co.nz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consciousactionnz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianberneman/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianberneman/
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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