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Podcast Introduction (00:00:02) Host Shannon Jamaal introduces the podcast and welcomes guest Michelle Villalobos, a business strategist and experienced retreat leader.
A Special Gift (00:01:25) Michelle presents Shannon with a beautifully illustrated book she created, titled "But I Want to Fly," an adventure book for dreamers.
Who Are You at Your Core? (00:03:02) Michelle discusses her identity beyond professional roles, defining herself as a creator, contributor, teacher, and philosopher at her core.
Energy Precedes Outcome (00:04:14) Michelle explains her core concept: aligning what you do with who you are naturally elevates your energy and leads to better outcomes.
Becoming Energy Rich (00:04:44) The concept of being "energy rich" is explored, involving alignment with your purpose and cultivating the feelings you want to experience.
Authenticity in Leadership (00:08:26) Shannon shares a personal story about finding her authentic voice while teaching, emphasizing the importance of being genuine as a leader.
The Power of "Both, And" (00:10:45) The discussion shifts to embracing duality, recognizing that two opposing ideas, like holding healing space and making money, can coexist.
Reframing Your Past (00:12:09) Michelle shares a personal story of betrayal, illustrating how reframing a painful past can be an empowering catalyst for awakening and growth.
Can You Lead from an Open Wound? (00:15:52) The speakers discuss whether you can lead a successful retreat without having done the inner work, concluding you must embody your teachings.
The Danger of Masking (00:18:18) The conversation covers the problem of pretending to be healed, which energetically teaches others to mask their own pain instead of healing.
Congruency and Trust (00:19:24) Using horses as an example, Shannon explains that congruency—showing up as you are, even if not okay—is key to building trust.
The Power of Community (00:21:51) Michelle explains that while she works one-on-one with clients, the biggest transformations happen in community and being witnessed by others.
From Strategy to Energy (00:23:14) Michelle describes how her business retreats evolved from focusing on strategy to incorporating inner work, breathwork, and other healing modalities.
Belief Over Strategy (00:24:32) Shannon emphasizes that no marketing strategy can overcome a leader's lack of belief in their own retreat; energy comes first.
Detaching from the Outcome (00:25:42) The importance of surrendering the outcome while remaining fully committed to the process is discussed as a key to success.
Limiting Beliefs and Pricing (00:30:07) The conversation explores how limiting beliefs, especially for women, impact pricing, with most leaders tending to undercharge for their services.
The Retreat Business Model (00:30:43) Michelle shares her model of using a retreat as a breakthrough experience that opens the door to long-term, recurring revenue programs.
Standing in Your Price (00:33:23) The concept of "standing in your price" is explored, highlighting the need for congruence and genuine belief in the value offered.
The Promise of Your Retreat (00:38:14) A retreat's promise elevates it from a generic getaway, allowing for a higher price point and attracting the right participants.
Michelle's Upcoming Work (00:39:08) Michelle shares details about her Business Breakthrough Intensive, which helps thought leaders build community-based programs with recurring revenue.
A Gift for Listeners (00:40:13) Michelle offers a free retreat projections spreadsheet to help leaders plan their numbers, from pricing and attendance to conversion rates.
The Story Behind the Book (00:40:54) Michelle shares the inspiring story of how her book, "But I Want to Fly," came to her in a dream.
