Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in freelancing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Keri Mangis, owner of Curiosa Publishing, located in Minneapolis, MN, USA.

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

Curiosa Publishing, LLC. My current audience is people who live at the intersection of society, culture, and spirituality. They want content that is deep and insightful and encourages them to introspect. They have a strong desire to create wholeness for themselves, as well as in the world.

Tell us about yourself

My journey to where I am today as an author, speaker, and serial entrepreneur can best be traced back to 2002. This was the first time I took a yoga class, just three months after giving birth to my second child. At the time, I was overwhelmed with a sense of failure (I wasn't using my business degree). I was disillusioned by authority figures after years of experiencing chronic physical ailments that doctors were not only unable to diagnose but dismissed as "in my head." And I had just been diagnosed with depression. I now had two young children to care for (along with my husband). I needed to take matters—my health, my life, my journey—into my own hands.

I was lucky to be led to a couple of local Minneapolis yoga teachers who went much further than just teaching me Downward Facing Dog. These amazing women gave me the tools and the empowerment I needed to begin to excavate my true self—the part of me that had been buried under heavy societal expectations and personal limits and barriers. It only took a small taste of my own personal power and sovereignty for me to go all in on the path that I would call a "seeker."

I opened my first business, Trinity Yoga, LLC, in 2003 and became both an entrepreneur and teacher in one swoop. Through this venture, I resuscitated my creativity, curiosity, and joy. I created a community and grew it into a successful business that included creating all kinds of unique classes, workshops, pieces of training, and retreats. This work fed my soul and my heart for over ten years.

While teaching others, I never stopped deepening my own studies. I traveled around the country and even the world, exploring and studying spirituality, yoga, and the healing arts with many different teachers. In 2012, I became enamored with the science of Ayurveda, the "sister science" of yoga. This healing art helped me better understand and care for my body in its uniqueness. I wanted to share this wisdom with others, so I studied deeper, taking over 1,000 hours of study, before opening my second business, Elements Ayurveda, LLC. But, the more I settled into this role of alternative healer, the antsier I felt to learn something new again. I couldn't let myself get stagnant, no matter how much time or money I'd invested in that business. I left my practice without any sense of what was on the horizon next. It was a truly scary time, a time of "nothingness." In this space, I felt drawn to write. And then, I started taking writing workshops. Soon, I realized that what I felt called to do next was write a book—a memoir— about my spiritual and personal journeys. I had come so far from that young mother who was so overwhelmed and intimidated by the world. I felt I could help so many more people by sharing my story through a book than I ever could by offering one-on-one sessions.

So, in 2015, I created my third business, Curiosa Publishing, LLC, and learned the process of self-publishing as I went. I published "Embodying Soul: A Return to Wholeness—A Memoir of New Beginnings" in February 2020 and was excited to add the label of "author" to my biography.
Since then, I've continued to share my writing and my voice through articles, podcasts, speaking events, and teaching opportunities.

Currently, I'm working on my second book, which will be an exploration of the cyclical process that I know best: falling apart & reinvention. I realize now that while I sometimes feared my regular shapeshifting over the years was a weakness or a failure, it is instead my greatest strength. So, while I never exactly know what I might shapeshift into next, I can promise that it will be led by my curiosity, imagination, and willingness to keep on learning.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

It might not sound like traditional success, but I've been proud to be able to leave a business behind to go where my heart and soul call me next. I identify with the term "multipotentiality," as coined by Emilie Wapnick. And each time I move on, I incorporate pieces of my previous self into my new incarnation, allowing both me and my audience to continue to learn, grow, and deepen our consciousness.

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

I think the hardest thing about being a business owner is deciding when to do something myself and when to outsource. Sometimes, just because I CAN do something doesn't mean I should. For instance, I can do my own books, but a couple of years ago, I outsourced this, and it has been one of the best possible decisions and has saved so much time. There is always a balance between saving the money to do something yourself and hiring it out.

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

  1. Spend the money to build up your brand, messaging, colors, and core ideas. I found it helpful to work with a professional on this step.
  2. Just because you can work 24/7 doesn't mean you should. Give yourself time off and time away, just like you would for any employees who work for you.
  3. Continue to follow what you love. Don't be afraid to leave the business behind if it is no longer satisfying. A new idea will most certainly come along and give you an even greater opportunity to express yourself and your gifts.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.kerimangis.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerimangiswriter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerimangis/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/KeriMangis
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keri-mangis-958b0b12/

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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