We recently connected with Frances Naudé and have shared our conversation below.

Frances, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

When I first started my own practice, I had no idea that I would actually be able to turn my “side gig” into my full time career. That had always been the dream, but having zero experience running a business, I never thought I could actually do it. I started small, taking on any clients that were interested in working with me. I priced my offerings well and explained to my clients that I was just starting out and was simply gaining experience. This really helped me to get out of my own way and just dive in. Over the first two years of building my business, I increased the investment for my offerings from $40 to $80 and finally to $120 per session. This felt scary, but I also knew that my value increased as my experience increased. So in order to be able to show up in the best way for my clients, I had to charge appropriately for my services. That is probably one of the most important lessons I learned in the early days, and it’s what I like to share with those who are just starting out: You HAVE to charge your value. If you overcharge, your clients will feel empty when they leave. If you undercharge, you will feel drained after offering your service. Finding that sweet spot is an important step, and it can evolve alongside your business growth. Looking back, I’m so proud that I didn’t listen to anyone else’s opinions of my work or of my choice to go all in with building my business. If I were to do anything differently, it would have been to start sooner!

Frances, 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?

Hi new friends! I’m Frances, and I help people come into energetic alignment and connection with their best selves. I do this through Reiki energy healing and Tarot Card readings, where I specialize in channeling messages for my clients directly from their Spiritual Teams. I am so proud to have served over 1,500 clients (and counting…) all over the world! I started this work through following my curiosity, which I always encourage everyone I work with to do as well. The little whispers that light up your heart are your soul’s way of guiding you towards your greatest alignment. For me, my whispers told me to get my health coach certification which led to me completing my yoga teacher certification which led to me enrolling in a a crystals class which led to me completing my Reiki Master certification and learning to read Tarot Cards, and eventually writing and self-publishing my own Tarot Card Deck & Guidebook. At the time when these nudges started, I was working in marketing at a clothing company. I liked it enough, but I knew it wasn’t what I was meant to be doing. I’m so grateful I listened to that very quiet, yet very powerful voice that encouraged me to follow the breadcrumbs of what would become a successful and fulfilling career in service. I hope to continue connecting with new people and holding space for them to find their own purpose, live in connection, create a joyful life, and heal themselves in a holistic way.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele is not a strategy at all. It is word of mouth, which requires me to to show up in 100% authenticity, dedication, and service for every single client during every single session. They want to be able to trust that they are getting the results they are promised and that they invest in. It is my responsibility to put everything else aside in my own life so that I can provide that to them. I think my clients can feel that I care about each one of them really deeply — this isn’t just a job to me where I give a service in exchange for money. This is a two way relationship that is very intimate, vulnerable, and transformative! As such, I feel honored that my clients receive the results they come to me for and they choose to share that with their loved ones (who I’m then so privileged to connect with when they book!).

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Walking the walk. There are a lot of people in the spiritual/self help space who are not doing their own work. Of course, we are all human and have very busy lives. But if we are holding space for others to heal and we are not doing our own healing work. it’s simply going to be sustainable long term. This includes personal practices as well as receiving necessary support from outside specialists. I always say, “the best healers in the world need healers. The best therapists in the world need therapists.” This introspection allows me to stay in a good head/energy space so I can hold that of the other. It also provides valuable, first hand experience as to what my clients may be going through so I can support them on a more personal level. Finally, practicing what I preach ensures that I am taking care of myself so that I can continue to show up AND enjoy my own life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.francesnaude.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/francesnaude/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@francesnaude

Image Credits

Madeline Javier, Jon Robers