Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with David Lesser, CEO of Numina, located in San Anselmo, CA, USA.

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

I am an executive coach who empowers people to discover and express their unique gifts.

Tell us about yourself

I was CEO of a 100 million dollar real estate and construction group of companies. I had reached the limit of what I could offer through that role. I perceived that our collective future depends on how deeply people experience and express who they are. And I felt I could help people reach their full potential.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Being a trusted confidant to people of influence. The best way to change the world is to empower people to be more fully themselves. I am most proud of growing leaders to be confident, powerful, aware, and connected expressions of who they are.

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

I remember a moment in my late teens when I saw my future through my dad’s eyes. I saw the life that was expected of me, and I just could not see myself in it. I spent a few years searching for an alternative lifestyle until a mentor helped me see that I didn’t have to rebel by living off the grid. I didn’t have to look different to make a difference. For example, I could function in the business world and still bring my unique gifts. In fact, empowering people there to discover deeper self-awareness and clarity could be my most valuable contribution.

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

  1. A friend asked me: Would you rather be a king or a king-maker? And I realized that I could have the biggest impact by bringing out the best in others.
  2. Say “no” to ten things each day for a week.
  3. People often settle for being less than a full expression of themselves. As people grow, they gain the courage, commitment, and insight to stand up for what they need to bring their best stuff.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Help people to be more fully themselves through the power of unconditional positive regard. Pretty much everyone shows up believing there is something wrong with them. As I listen, I am looking for their greatness. And the challenges people report are simply some part of the person that wants to be more present.

For example, a leader may get feedback that they are too angry in a scary or demotivating way. People don’t feel safe contributing anything out of the box. I never say: “Don’t get angry.” Most of us have tried that, and the anger just leaks out anyway.

I encourage this person to become astutely aware of their impact on those around them. Boom… they make an immediate shift. It may help on occasion to disturb someone around you, and wake them up a bit, but it is not okay if you are blind to how your expression affects them. By paying attention to the impact we have, we can clean up unintended hurt and use our passion to inspire rather than shut down those around us.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://numina.team/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/numina.community/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhlesser/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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