Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mio Santana, Founder of Divine Journey, located in Miami, FL, USA.

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

Through uniquely designed transformational coaching programs such as group programs, destination retreats, and private coaching, I use my compassion, intuition, and grace to guide each person on their unique Divine Journey to self-transformation and actualization so more people can access self-love, joy, and freedom in their daily lives. Divine Journey empowers those who want more out of life and are ready for a change. It's not for the "comfortable," it's for the risk taker who is truly ready for a transformation.

Tell us about yourself

I had the "right" job, the "right" title, the "right" boyfriend, and the "perfect" apartment. From the outside, it would seem that I had it all. I thought I had finally made it after so many years of climbing up the ladder and after so many failed relationships. I thought I had finally made it to the place I needed to be. In my mind, I had arrived, but boy, was I wrong. Over a span of 2 weeks, the job that I thought I loved but honestly loathed fired me, and the boyfriend I thought I loved but was really seeking validation from, dumped me. As I was standing in the loft apartment I thought I needed, focusing on trying not to have a nervous breakdown, I couldn't help but question, had it all been worth it?

All the late nights at the office and all the sacrifices I made just to be let go so easily? I reflected on how much of my heart I had given my ex for him just to decide he no longer wanted me. I realized I had given so much of myself and was now on the verge of physical illness, becoming starkly aware that I had given too much. I had given too much of myself because I didn't believe I had value. I didn't think I mattered. "Coincidently," at the same time, I had been pursuing certification to become a Transformational Trainer and, in the process, was learning things about myself that I had never been aware of before. I was learning that I was worthy, I was learning that I did matter, and most importantly, that I was the one who had the power to transform my life, and most importantly, that I had been the one to create everything that I thought was happening to me.

This was a huge paradigm shift. As I stood there in my apartment, I decided that none of this had been worth my time or energy and decided it was time to truly choose me for the first time in my life. I had been chasing societal values like the bigger salary and credible title, which is what I thought other people valued. I realized that none of this mattered to me anymore. What did matter to me was my mental health and physical well-being above all else. As I stood there, realizing that I could very easily have a nervous breakdown at any moment, I drew the line. I chose me, and that was the beginning of the next chapter of my life. A chapter where I would get to the core of who I was and what I wanted, and what I thought was the end of my life had quickly become the first day of the rest of my life.

Once I completed my certification and transformed my life from within, I knew that there were people out there suffering just like I had been and that I had to share what I had learned. That's when I set out to create Divine Journey and started designing workshops and circles that focused on healing and transforming limiting beliefs. I gradually expanded my focus to four key areas of work which are self-love, harmonizing feminine and masculine energy, inner child healing, and raising vibration.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Celebrating four years in business! Successfully launching and running 6 groups so far of my 8-week group coaching program called Resilience, successfully designing and executing the Rebirth Retreat, which took place in Sedona, Arizona, in 2021 with 12 participants, and successfully launching the Divine Mastery program for graduates of my other programs who seek deeper mastery in self-actualization.

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

Designing, coaching, and holding space for your clients while also managing the administrative side of the business and marketing your services. You wear a lot of different hats as a business owner, and you have to be willing to be flexible, tenacious, and resilient. You also have to be willing to be compassionate when you don't make self-imposed deadlines, understanding that it will all get done in divine timing. Trusting that you are on the right path and are fully supported will be your saving grace in dark moments.

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

  1. If you try to bite off more than you can chew in the beginning, you will run into problems thinking you are missing something when in reality, you are exactly where you need to be. As you start out, focus on helping one person at a time, and before you know it, you will be holding space for groups of people.
  2. When working with clients, the most important thing to succeed as a coach is to value each human being and to be present with them in such a way that they feel heard, seen, and safe.
  3. Create an environment of trust and care and always be professional.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.miosantana.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DivineJourneybyMio
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mio_santana/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miosantana/

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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