Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lou Allen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Lou , appreciate you joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
It started with tacos.
In the fall of 2022, I was moonlighting as a psychic medium while maintaining a day job as a biomedical engineer. My best friend, Kaelin, was working as a hairstylist in a salon she was quickly outgrowing. We were sitting together at a picnic table on a crisp fall day and having the, “Wouldn’t it be cool if – ” conversation. We fantasized about opening up a space together where we could integrate beauty and wellness: her focusing on hair while I offered readings and energy work.
By the end of that conversation, we agreed this was a beautiful fantasy that was at least 2-3 years down the road. I couldn’t leave the safety of my day job – even though the stress-to-satisfaction ratio was getting way out of balance – and she didn’t feel ready to invest in opening a new space.
And then an opportunity arose.
Another friend of ours, Lara, was in the process of buying a building and wanted us both to move our offerings into her space. The vision was that of a wellness center with a variety of services for the mind, body, and soul. Lara herself was in the spiritual space too, operating a thriving business as a reiki master and coach. It seemed like a wonderful fit for all of us, so Kaelin and I were in. Kaelin gave her 30 day notice at her salon, and while I decided to keep my day job in engineering, I began making arrangements to move my business to the new location.
Weeks before we were set to get keys, however, the deal on the building fell through, leaving Kaelin without a salon and me without a reading room. We were both extremely disappointed after setting our hearts on a life where we were calling the shots in our own space. It was here that we had to choose which direction to go: back to the familiarity of working for someone else, or forward into the unknown of working for ourselves – together.
The defining moment for Violet Moon was the choice to move forward into the unknown.
My personal mantra (for better or worse) is, “How hard could it be?” My best friend needed a salon, and people rent spaces and open businesses all the time – how hard could it be? In all fairness, the answer to that rhetorical question is usually, “Much harder than you think.” And still, I have just enough audacity to learn what I need to learn and forge ahead anyway.
We found a building within a few days of the original plan falling apart, and a couple weeks later we signed a lease and picked up keys. We opened our doors on a shoestring budget. The space had previously been a salon, so the bones were good. Aesthetically, though, it needed a lot of work. We didn’t have the budget to hire contractors, so armed with a Lowe’s credit card and my personal mantra, Kaelin and I facelifted the space ourselves. For months Kaelin did hair in a construction zone. We painted every wall, I laid new floors, we hung drywall, changed light fixtures, installed furniture.
Six months after signing the lease, we held our official Grand Opening. That same month, I officially retired from my day job. I was no longer defined as a cog in the vast corporate wheel; instead, I was writing a new definition for a more authentic future alongside my best friend.
It’s been a year since that defining moment, and the business has seen unimaginable growth and evolution since then. Violet Moon is thriving as a salon, metaphysical shop, and center for psychic readings and reiki. Even better, Kaelin and I are the happiest we’ve ever been in our career. Challenges abound, and there’s still a lot left to accomplish to bring our vision to completion. It’s true what they say, though – it’s not work when you love what you do.
Lou , 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?
You can call me Lou – I’m a psychic medium. What I do falls under the umbrella of spirituality, and I like to say my spirituality has been cobbled together over the course of my life:
• When I was young, I loved the ritual of church and the wisdom my Bible had to offer.
• As I got older, I got curious about world religions and the Law of Attraction.
• After my daughter was born, I leaned on a yoga practice rooted in Eastern traditions to get acquainted with my post-baby body (and mind and soul).
Each stepping stone led to the next in my journey to identify, understand, and harness the energy of the Universe – eventually leading me to the energy I connect with as a psychic medium. My belief system doesn’t adhere to a singular religion, and that’s why it works for me.
I got a reading from a local psychic in 2021. She introduced me to the power of the energy that moves through me, and with her guidance, I explored my intuition. I read tarot for my friends and family, then started reading for strangers and was shocked how clearly I knew them after only hearing their name.
Fast forward three years: My offering has grown to include tarot card readings, mediumship sessions (connecting with loved ones who have passed), reiki energy healing, and workshops to connect folks to their own intuition.
In all fairness, getting a psychic reading can be scary. We don’t want to be confronted with bad news or receive confirmation that our greatest fears will come to fruition. Fortunately, that’s not the nature of my readings. I’m not a bearer of bad news – I am a witness to your humanness. I’m blessed with the ability to see a person’s Authentic Self through all the armor and scarring of the human experience. And spoiler alert: everyone’s Authentic Self is a thing of beauty. I can see who you are and what you’ve been through, and I can read the trajectory that puts you on for your future. I can help you identify ways to change your course, or ways to feel better in your body, or ways to clear the mental fog. My work does not end when the cards hit the table – I believe in cultivating healing and supporting folks on their journey to find themselves.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
In this industry, the impact of word of mouth referrals cannot be overstated. A psychic reading is a vulnerable experience, and no one is going to put their future in the hands of someone they don’t trust. I’ve built trust with the folks who’ve come to see me by offering warm, friendly service in an environment that feels safe.
Early on, I established my business on Google – well before I even had a website. I offered free readings to friends and friends-of-friends, and I asked them to leave a review of their experience. I never “bought” or coerced positive reviews, I simply provided my service and asked for payment in the form of honest feedback. That allowed me to get the ball rolling on word of mouth. When I was ready to start taking payment for my readings, I had a baseline of folks who vouched for my quality. This strategy has caused my business to more than double every year.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
Maintaining high morale is my most important job as a business owner. My business partner and I have both worked in toxic environments in the past (as have most of us, I’m sure). We both agree that no amount of money or business success can compensate for a space that you don’t enjoy showing up to every day.
As a manager, setting clear expectations and establishing good boundaries is key. Communication among the management team is important to ensure responsibilities are well understood; when an issue or conflict arises, it’s best to get it addressed immediately so it doesn’t fester.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://violetmoonlou.com
- Instagram: @violetmoonlou
