We were lucky to catch up with Andrea Marcum recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Andrea thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I’ve been leading yoga retreats all over the world for over twenty years. Bucket List locations are tempting, but when I’ve taken a risk and gone somewhere not-so-noteworthy, there is a special kind of magic.

Slovenia, for example, is not necessarily at the top of the list for everyone, but those who came there with me a few years back will tell you that it should be.

Guatemala was another that didn’t sell out overnight, but had us all sold the moment we reached the enchanted Villa Sumaya at Lake Atitlan and enjoyed the rich culture of the Maya people there.

And most recently, when I announced a retreat in Iowa… yes, Iowa, I wasn’t sure who might join me. It was a full house (or I should say barn, as we did our yoga in a restored barn from the 1800’s) at Lone Oaks Farm in the middle of a Madison County prairie that lives up to its name as the “Tuscany of the MidWest.”

Stretching ourselves into the world and out of our Stuckat List (something from my book), means reaching beyond the same recipe and adding new ingredients to the lives we are cooking up. To me, that risk is the treat in retreat and ensures that it isn’t just a repeat.

Andrea , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve worn a few different hats in my more than two decades of doing what I do. I’ve been a studio owner, a retreat leader, and an author, I’ve prepared people for the Oscars and to step behind the plate, onto the field, or into the courtroom. I’ve witnessed hundreds of inspiring stories by way of those who practice with me from across the globe. I don’t know how to express my gratitude without sounding waaaaaay too sappy… but it’s true.

The ongoing narrative of our lives intertwined via livestream, in person retreats, classes, hearing from readers etc. is us inhabiting the union that defines yoga together (see, I told you I’d sound sappy). Poses are part of it, but the purpose it brings to all of our lives is the mission we share and grow every day.

We’d appreciate any insights you can share with us about selling a business.

Well, I didn’t exactly sell my business- I went 30k in debt trying to get out of my lease.

I loved being a business owner, don’t get me wrong… I still do- but now I am online and leading retreats- brick and mortar is a whole other beast. As people know from the pandemic- your lease is due every month whether people are coming or not. My story was that I was getting called out into the world to teach, and when I left, people didn’t really attend my subs. I couldn’t compete with the big box yoga studios. Also, my lease amount went up a steady percentage every year… so much so that it became higher than market value.

Oh, and I didn’t read my lease carefully enough, thought I was done… and discovered I had two years left on it –my landlord said I owed them 100k. #goodtimes We were able to negotiate it down to 30.

Creating a nest for others to enjoy is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do. Affording the nest is a different story. Make sure you know what you are taking on- have a business plan that is solid. Even then you will be asked to leap and hope that the net appears. It’s a leap I still don’t regret.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I regularly have conversations with yoga teachers (new and established) about how to build their client base. It’s tempting to think that social media is the answer. But in truth, my experience is that a lot of followers doesn’t necessarily mean a lot of people converting into subscribers or paying clients.

When I paid someone lots of money each month to do my IG and grow my little following there, my ego was stroked by an influx of “likes” but my business analytics saw no uptick.

My experience is that consistently offering honest, heartfelt content that you are passionate about is most important. That’s not the sexy answer you might be looking for, but word-of-mouth is the strategy that sticks.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.andreamarcum.com
• Instagram: @andreamarcum

Image Credits
Cari Lutz, David Hauser, Andrea Marcum, & P.I.C. Photo