We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Greta Ertl a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Greta, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

In 2023 I took the risk of hosting my first out of state retreat in Sedona, Arizona. My friend Rosie and I had been attending yoga retreats around the world for years and decided we wanted to create our own. Though I had experience hosting workshops and local retreats in Minneapolis, this was a much bigger financial risk. Putting money down on a big house, private chef, transportation and activities without any sign ups felt very scary. Leading up to the retreat, sign ups started happening bit by bit. Every step of the way, I experienced major fear and doubt about how it would all come together. There were points where I thought we may have to cancel or that we would lose money. I had to use all my mindset tools and meditation practices to stay positive and believe in myself all the way through. We ended up completely selling out, making a nice profit and hosting a retreat that exceeded all of our expectations. It was one of the best weekends of my life. I am so grateful we took the risk. I learned that you have to put yourself out there and often it turns out even better than you could’ve imagined.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a spiritual life coaching who guides ambitious, high achieving, spiritually curious women in breaking free from toxic habits, healing their relationships and creating fulfillment and alignment with a daily spiritual practice and mindset shifts. I’ve been into personal development and spirituality for over 15 years. In my 20’s I struggled with addiction to drugs and alcohol. Though I didn’t have a full blown addiction problem, it was enough to cause problems in my personal and professional life. I used substances in an attempt to feel a spiritual connection with myself and the world. When I found kundalini yoga, meditation, human design and EFT tapping, I was able to heal my relationship with myself. I realized that my mission in this world is to help other women do the same. I LOVE guiding women in breaking through blockages, getting out of fight of flight and feeling more freedom in their minds and spirits.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Growing up, my parents were workaholics. Work was the most important thing to them. My brother and I were taught the value of showing up, putting in the work and making life happen. We were rarely allowed to stay home from school, even when we were sick. Though I’m extremely grateful for my Midwest upbringing, this lesson caused me to equate my value with my professional success. I’ve been in the process of reclaiming my worth as a human being just because I exist. My career has always been the most important things to me, but I’m realizing this obsession takes away from my ability to fully enjoy the process of living life instead of just achieving success. I’m learning to slow down, appreciate the moment and value myself outside of work.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

To succeed as a coach, I believe the most important thing is to work on your own self-development and then start actually coaching people. Trainings only get you so far. It’s crucial to actually get your hands dirty with clients and get better as you go. I’m one who has always learned best through experimenting and experiencing. No amount of reading or certifications can prepare you for real human interaction.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gretaertl.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gretaertl/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gretannertl
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretaertl/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLqbUblvkLurgGybOuJ7gbA