We were lucky to catch up with Claire Gay recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Claire thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

It was March 2022.

Two years prior I experienced my largest ever sales month–outside of the holidays–then lockdowns hit.

I was going all-in on my brick and mortar store, because that’s what I was here for, to be successful doing what I loved, selling things that help people live a more inspired life. That’s what I was here for, right? Sometimes circumstances outside our control come along to put us on a deeper path and mission.

The events of 2020 and following changed my course. Zoom back to March 2022. Over the past two years I had stepped into new leadership. I invested in coaching and trainings which expanded my knowledge in ways that supported a level of expertise that took devotion, and discernment to realize. All the experience I acquired over the years of service started to morph into what I was beginning to understand as a deeper mission.

Suddenly I was at a crossroads. I could continue owning and operating the Spiritual Bookstore which I had done for nearly 7 years at that point, or I could go in the direction of my dreams, calling, and the next evolution of my work in this world.

I decided to go all-in with my coaching and teaching business, and to leave behind the security of behind the counter service. The work which I was called to do is the work I’m doing now–coaching individuals who are here to fully maximize their own expression, to heal and rise in their lives and businesses, to impact the most revolutionary change.

But in order for me to go All-In with this business, I had to let go of the responsibility of owning and operating a spiritual store. So I took the leap and put my business up for sale.

I decided, whether it sold or not, I was moving on and I was going full in the direction of coaching clients who need the support in building their dreams and teaching on subjects I have mastered, love, and which have changed my life for the better.

The best decisions are never the easiest to make. But they’re the most worth it. We never know how our own brave, bold moves change other people’s lives along the way. Humanity tends to inspire each other, like that.

Claire, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Every up level has come with new terms, new words for describing my work. Each and every up level has come with a deep letting go of the old-self. The past versions of ourselves can be gluttons for the ways they once saw the world. In becoming comfortable with change, we get to meet new versions of ourselves.

When you’re on a spiritual path in Soul-Business, embodied personal evolution is the only option. I think that’s what I like about this line of work, most. We are who we say we are, and this raises standards for society as a whole. In leadership roles, we get to inspire each other. In doing so we change what is possible in the world, because more people rise to meet their potential. The potential is always there. Visionary Entrepreneurship has a funny way of getting you to surrender to becoming the best version of yourself.

I started as a Reiki Healer. Before that I was a poet. I won an award when I was a student at the University of Buffalo. I never knew what my degree was for. I feel as though many highly capable, intuitive, spirit-led individuals experience this phenomenon. Our lives are these beautiful pictures, but cinematic; in constant motion. Our desires propel the action as we marvel at life. What we imagine to be possible are the only things which can be.

I never had a picture of myself working in an office. There was no way. So, I waitressed though college. A couple years after graduating an opportunity sprang up. I saw my name on it, and I committed fully. I managed to buy my favorite store. I loved running this business! It was a dream. But then, I outgrew the shell. I was ready to stand on my own. Not as a spokesperson for the store and the vision I guided the community and clientele with for years… I was ready to stand on my own, and step fully into being the visionary leader I truly am. Now I get to help heart-centered entrepreneurs succeed with their missions and live their dreams. I also get to help women create their desired realities by healing and honoring the muse, to live connected to the power of their power.

Teaching Reiki, Workshops on Meditation, Mindfulness and Metaphysics, I was learning all the while. Running the store put me in the unique position to collaborate with other practitioners to market and sell their programs and services. I connected with artists and sold their work. I learned from all the ways I got to serve.

In 2021, after working with my first coach, the floodgates opened. I understood how all of the work I had done up to that point, gave life to this brand and service. I understood what I stood for and that the world needed more grounded, rooted, heart-centered and strategic space to be held!

My brand is revolutionary in that it values authenticity above all else. It’s alchemical because we decide on goals and using the universal laws, set them into motion. The number one value that infuses my work is freedom. We are always free to become better versions of ourselves. We are always free to believe the best is yet to come. We are free to raise the standards for how we show up in this world, and to reframe our understanding to support the vision we are here to achieve.

My work as a healer helped me understand the energetic blocks which keep people from doing what they want with their lives.

We are at such an exciting time in history! Heart-centered leaders are here to cut-through the illusions of lack of options which stem from limited thinking, to create amazing businesses which raise consciousness and liberate humanity as a whole.

It’s a thrill to be at this point in my journey, and to support the amazing clients who are boldly stepping onto the path of their highest timelines and visions for the world.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Over the years, John Randolph Price’s “The Abundance Book” saved my relationship, helped me sell my business, and supported me in virtually every program I’ve launched, to date.

This little green book transforms your consciousness to be of the mindset of understanding the true Source of abundance. When I think of abundance I think of overflow, the generosity of giving.

The paradigm we were raised in did a great job setting up the thinking around resources to be one of lack. This mentality cuts people off from the flow!

In entrepreneurship, it’s all about brave, bold action, and clear intuition. We’ve got to trust what we’re doing is working, and when it’s not, we need to feel open to change. The only way for this to be sustainable is for us to maintain the direct connection to the flow of inspiration which is the Source of the most brilliant, beautiful, supportive and life changing ideas, which we can directly implement in our work.

If anyone has ever struggled with the feeling of “not enough” time, money, energy, the root of this problem is dissolved and replaced with a deep and clear knowing that truly sets you free to create the most abundant and fruitful life!

I always come back to this book if I ever think “I wonder where my next client is going to come from,” “has the well-dried up?” — these negative thoughts impact our frequency! If we aren’t feeling good, people aren’t going to feel good about coming to work with us! Humanity is more connected than we realize!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social media is a tool. The strategies we use it for will evolve with our businesses! I first started sharing my message on social media strongly back in 2020, when I witnessed the effect of lockdowns on community as a whole. The reactionary response produced a loss of power for so many industries, while increasing the power and hold of a few.

Many people disagreed with my point of view, while in reality the perspective proved to be valid. My advice for anyone getting started in voice leadership and cultivating a personal brand online, is to stay true to who you really are. There is no need to share everything with the world, privacy is a must, but authenticity is the most magnetic feature of Success. When you deeply know what you are talking about, and share this resonant frequency with your community, they will feel it, and they will respond.

Always value the way you make people feel. Hold yourself to the highest vibrational standards, meaning, that your work should evoke the values you hold most dear. So if beauty is a Value, lead with beauty. If Truth is a Value, lead with Truth.

Let yourself be free to create in ways that are unique. Don’t be afraid to jump on a trend, but also, don’t lose yourself or your brand essence in the process.

Focus more on quality of impact than on quantity of views. If you love what you are putting out into the world, chances are it’s going to inspire someone. Always raise the bar. Become more masterful. Rather than recycle content that you have shared, up-cycle it. Make it better. Make a list of 25 ways that you can improve on your Social media, and then act on the ideas that really resonate with you.

Make a “business plan” for your social media. Write down the clear objectives for how it functions, including all of the ways it brings in money for you. Do some energetic accounting, as well. Consider the resource of your time in this equation. Reflect of the value of the attention of all of the people in your following, present and soon to join. Feel a deep sense of appreciation for their presence and go to town in sharing content that helps them to feel the way that your brand and business is designed to make them feel.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @clairemariegay

Image Credits
Emily Gagola