How to create a soulful business

When Jenny told me it would be awesome if I could write a post about my new course “Become a Warrior” I was excited and clueless.

It’s not because I don’t know what I’ll talk about. I really wanted to share everything about it’s creation with you, and take you for a ride through my own experiences. Now that’s a challenge any warrior would like to overcome.

Most people think I made the course to get a bigger email list. And yes, giving away stuff for free is a wonderful way to do that, but that didn’t motivate me to create a whole course.

Some others think I’m making a lot of cash with all the affiliates inside the course. And no, there isn’t one single affiliate link on the course.

Some believe I’m a marketing genius and this is “secret” formula used by the very best. Nop, I like to read about marketing and I apply it to my business, but I’m far from being a “genius”.

I’m just a regular guy who got tired of being pushed around. I don’t like to be the victim, and because I have this wonderful opportunity, I will share why I created a free online course.

It all started with one question:

How do you make cash when you are a designer but you love to write about personal development?

This is the same question I asked myself November 2011. I left my job and the only thing I knew about the future was this: I had now idea what I was going to do.

But the future always have surprises for us, right?

A warrior dies

Let’s get personal, because I know Jenny will allow me to do this on her blog (she’s cool like that).

Twenty days after I left my job, my dearest friend and the one I loved died. Yes, just like that. Lupus won the battle and the girl I trusted the most was gone.

I sat on the floor (yes, I’m a bit weird), I didn’t cry. Yes, I was sad. I was broken. I was almost completely destroyed. But I didn’t cry.

It wasn’t because I’m this super cold guy who doesn’t feel a thing. Nop. I knew where those tears would lead me, I knew my personal door towards depression was right there in front of me.

The only thing I could think at that moment was a quote from the Matrix:

“Because you have been down there Neo, you know that road, you know exactly where it ends. And I know that’s not where you want to be.” ~Trinity

It wasn’t the time to fall into depression again. It was the time to rise and create what I really wanted to share with the world. I have already talked with the one I loved about the warrior dojo and writing a book.

Was I going to just throw away everything I told her? I would die before doing that, I always keep my promises.

A warrior is born

So I got up and wrote a post. I decided I didn’t want to fight that battle alone. I made my sadness public because I knew I wasn’t ready to do this on my own.

This was the turning point, the moment I understood what a real warrior is made of.

It’s not grabbing a sword and fighting dragons, it’s not rescuing the princess at the end of a great quest. No, all those things are wonderful stories, the ones that people love to listen.

Real warriors are born when they fight and win their inner battles.

Once they win the battles inside their hearts and minds they’re ready to create those stories about success.

Entrepreneurs, freelancers or small business owners work in the same way, they have overcome the battles inside themselves before going out and kicking some ass.

I fought my inner demon. I studied his movements as if I was trying to hunt him down. It was a battle not over money or land, it was a battle for myself.

I would love to say this battle is over, and I emerged champion, but that’s not the truth. The battle is still going on. Day in. Day out. It takes time and patience, and each time I fall I learn something new.

Honoring my fellow warriors

As I learned more and more, I found a single thread that links every warrior in the world. They share their experiences. They help the new generation to understand what’s going.

Jenny has done it before, talking about her own healing process.

The story is different for each warrior. My story is different from yours. In any case you can always learn from the stories of your fellow warriors.

With this thought in mind I decided to share my experiences and the exact exercises that helped me become better everyday. I wanted to destroy the victim mentality inside everyone, I wanted to see how they took their own fate in their hands and created something awesome.

I wrote like crazy for several days, moving pieces and bits here and there. I wanted to make something that could be really used by everyone. I wanted to help you win your inner battles.

Then the time came, and most of my friends said I should charge for it. But no, I don’t believe the “get rich quick” shit. I believe in helping those warriors in need, I believe everyone has a warrior inside them just waiting to be released.

A fellow warrior asked me: Are you crazy? This is a wonderful opportunity, you have a great resource in your hands, you can’t give it for free.

I’m taking this opportunity to answer that question. Yes, I’m crazy. I’m not even doing it for the emails I get for the praise. I don’t do it because I it will grow my list (that is a nice bonus).

I do it for a smile.

When I get a mail saying:

“This was an awesome exercise! Very empowering – and very fun.

Just wanted to let you know – and to say thank you. ”

I see the smile of the brave warrior lady who passed away. It’s food for the soul.

How does the warrior world fit in yours?

This is the “secret” I wanted to share with you. It’s not about making money. Great businesses are more than money making machines, they’re all about being helpful to others. Being there to change their lives.

I’m not saying you should go and give away all your knowledge for free. What I’m saying is that your work should nurture yourself, not only in a “get money and food on the table” way, but in soulful way

That’s the whole secret about having a successful time about your work, be it as an entrepreneur, freelancer, business owner or even in a regular job. It’s all about nourishing people with your skills, and being nourished in return by the work you do.

Money comes and goes, but the way you can change lives with your work will stay with you forever.

You would need to pay a close look to see it, my site has given me enough coding and design work to make ends meet and bit beyond that. How? By being honest in the way I write and connecting with like minded people who can use my skills.

I nourish the world with the knowledge I have and in return I have great friends who pay me for my design and coding skills, so I can keep writing. It all comes back.

Now it’s your turn. How are you going to be nourished by your work from now on? What small change can you do right now to feed your soul with the work you do? Let your warrior spirit awake in the comments.

Alex Reyes (@EnsoJourney) is the co-founder of Enso Journey. He is a geek seeking to turn himself into a modern warrior. You can train with him by joining the Enso Journey Warrior Dojo for FREE. 

Feature Photo by  Alejandro Groenewold