We recently connected with Joanna Tarnava and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Joanna, thanks for joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?
If we are lucky enough in life and business, there are many, and not just in hindsight, but awareness in the moment that if we choose A or B or move left or right that our lives will dramatically change. Along with these positive impactful situations, I’ve also had detrimental ones based on lack of self worth – we are human beings out here doing our best. There are multiple times I turned down a client or didn’t apply for something I didn’t think I’d get or didn’t go to an event to meet someone where, wow! If I had just believed in the magic, who knows what could have happened.
Some notable moments or epiphanies or opportunities I’ve had definitely helped determine the trajectory of my career at the time which culminated into the life I currently live.
When I made the choice to leave the spa industry in the early 2000s, it was the strong grounded knowing that there was something more for me. That this income vs wear and tear on my body would never be worth it. I was told by so many mentors, bosses and colleagues that with my talents in the industry I simply couldn’t leave, and I trusted that bigger and better things would come my way. Moving away from my hometown and from my first career choice I decided upon as a teenager was profound in my ability to heal, expand, grow and explore myself and the world.
A simple message to a friend in the 2010s asking if they needed assistance on a catering event led me directly into being the head chef for a now multi million dollar food delivery company. This opportunity led to being in a fine dining restaurant one evening and asking them why they didn’t have a 5th course of dessert. They told me to bring them a sample, and next thing you know, I am making desserts along side highly sought after, Michelin status dinners.
Visiting LA with no plan, no business and no prospects and just putting myself out there. These entire first few years are a complete defining moment. Pitching myself to work in a medical office, landing celebrity clients, building up in a year what somewhere else would have likely taken 4 or 5, the first few years of my life in Los Angeles was almost unbelievable the people I met and the things I accomplished.
The invitation is to just continually say yes to things that excite and scare you. Embrace the change, embrace the opportunity, and embrace fully trusting, believing and loving yourself. When I am faced with a major choice, I ask myself “what is the worst case scenario of it not working out for A or B?” then I move in the more exciting direction.
Joanna, 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?
My self appointed title is “Worthiness Facilitator”. I have a professional history spanning back to entering a cosmetology apprenticeship in 2003 and still acquiring more certifications every year. Through all various modalities of beauty, healing, wellness, nutrition, fitness, coaching, facilitating, workshops and beyond, my goal is the same: To help you discover whatever it is within yourself to Love more, believe more, trust more and align to your empowered path.
I have been lucky enough to apprentice with many notable mentors around the world who have bestowed wisdom you cannot learn in schools. I have been in right place right time situations that propelled me forward and allowed me the stage to shine.
I offer in person and online life and soul coaching, full immersion transformational in person healing of body, soul, nervous system and mental mindset, I teach one on one as well as group fitness classes on postural integrity and goal setting with proper function and movement. I assist internally with nutrition, tincture, supplement and lifestyle advice and programs. I work with you on the full spectrum of your being inside, out and through. I fuse modalities and wisdom from 15+ years of study and application, and I curate every experience to your most attainable goals.
These above practices help my clients and community discover their true power, potential and worth. It can assist with removing stagnant trauma, correcting physical dysfunction, balancing the nervous system, goal setting, accountability, self love and worth, connecting you to your divine spirit and birthright, helping you tap into your powers and desires and undoing all the crap that family, school, and society has dumped on us that is poisoning, and much much more.
I am most proud of my persistence through the waves of success and hardships, my ability to implement seemingly obscure practices to get results, and to show up every time totally authentic for all my interactions. I am not in sales, I don’t have funnels, I’m not a coach to gain X clients or have X $$$ months. I take my time to ensure everyone I work with is ready to show up for themselves, for our sessions and our relationships together.
I want everyone to know that they deserve to have someone believe in them, and to help them remember how to believe in themselves. We don’t have to be driven by fear, ego or expectation anymore. We all deserve abundance, healthy relationships, ongoing sustained mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health and most importantly to be able to live every day with healthy boundaries and communication with ourselves and how we relate with others.
Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?
Yes I definitely would. The only thing I would do differently is take it more seriously from the beginning. I have a handful of certifications and courses, but I would put follow through back 10-15 years ago in my 20s to investing time and money into more impactful credentials, creating a consistent portfolio and building my savings and investments. I think it is SO important for us to explore in our 20s and unlearn the programming of school and family and learn who we truly are and how we wish to show up in the world, but I was a little too excited to be a barefoot hippy just winging it, and I didn’t start really focusing into consistent work and structure until my late 20s.
To sum up, the only thing I’d do differently is save 30% of all income, and have created a branding platform for my offerings sooner.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
Word of mouth referrals is the most important thing in success. Having clients, friends and community that say your name in important rooms. Working together with other people in your field for collaborations and integrating yourself into situations that grow your audience. This will be achieved by consistency and integrity. Always aligning your morals and life principles into your business and communicating in ways that uphold the efficacy of your success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ritualmetta.com
- Instagram: @ritualmetta
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ritualmetta
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritual-metta-a739a8229
- Youtube: @ritualmetta3314
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ritual-metta-san-marcos-3
- Other: linktr.ee/ritualmetta
Image Credits
Eli Jules Photography Kelsey Orcutt