We were lucky to catch up with Robin Finney recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Robin, thanks for joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
I feel like my life is full of risks, taking chances, and leaping into the unknown. I’ve taken many leaps over the years and one of the most notable is when I left my corporate career to travel the world.
When I started my career in the multifamily industry in 2007, I developed a “work to travel” mentality. I would work, save up money and vacation time, and then take a big trip each year with a couple of friends from college. We traveled to countries across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, and several countries in Africa. While these trips were thrilling, I would come home with a sense of longing and wanting more.
In 2017, I attended a meditation retreat in Guatemala and got a clear message that I was playing it safe in life. Yes, I was traveling to exotic places, but in my regular, everyday life I was keeping it pretty safe (not really growing much or trying on new things, dating, etc). I stayed in my comfort zone. Deep down, my heart wanted to travel, and I was afraid to admit that because it would make the longing more real. On the meditation retreat, I got clear and did admit that all I wanted to do was travel. I had no idea what a life like this looked like. This was prior to the pandemic, so companies weren’t as open to their employees working remotely outside the U.S.
In the Spring of 2018, I finally took the leap. I let go of my apartment, sold my furniture, quit my career and company of 11 years, and set off with a one-way ticket to Australia. I had little savings and no plan other than to travel. I had no idea where this would lead or what I would discover along the way. I learned early on while in Thailand that I was living my dream and wanted to continue, so I sold my car and cashed in my 401k, and kept traveling. I spent the first year of my travels buying one-way tickets. I wanted life to show me where to go. Within two years, I had solo traveled to 20 countries across six continents until 2020 when the pandemic struck and grounded me back in Dallas, TX. It was invigorating and the ultimate dream.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
During my travels, I discovered and learned more about my intuition. Only buying one-way tickets and trusting life to guide me opened me up to a whole new world of trust and surrender. I never really set out to start my own business, it organically unfolded and I kept receiving more nudges throughout my journey.
It started with an Oracle deck. I was gifted an Oracle card deck on a retreat in 2018. I wasn’t sure what to do with it, but found myself more and more intrigued as every card I pulled was eerily spot-on. I carried my decks with me in my travels and would meet other travelers and pull cards for them. And just like it was for me, the messages were spot on for each person I pulled a card for. This led me to finally claim myself as an Intuitive and Authenticity Guide.
In 2019, I enrolled in a year-long transformational coaching program to become a certified Sourced Retreat Leader and Transformational Coach. This program changed my life and opened up a whole new world of possibilities for what type of business I could create. So many were drawn to my nomadic journeys and traveling the world solo. I would get the same questions again and again – “Aren’t you afraid to travel by yourself?”, “How can you afford this?”, “Don’t you get lonely?”
These questions allowed me to recognize how many have a desire to travel and fear going on their own. Through this, Soulo Experiences was born. Soulo Experiences inspires others to explore the unknown with curiosity so that we can all show up as our most authentic selves. I wanted to create a platform for those who want to know themselves on a deeper level, and there’s no better way to dive in than through travel (in my opinion). Oracle cards serve as a tool to support you in receiving answers that are deep within. Oracle cards are the mirror reflecting back to you what you know inside. It is through these experiences and offerings that my clients learn to own their authentic selves and show up more confidently embracing who they are at their core.
Soulo Experiences was birthed under my company Wandering Aunt. I offer an array of services to support others in stepping into their authentic selves and getting comfortable with the uncomfortable by embracing the unknown.
Services I offer include:
– Deep Clarity Sessions: 90-minute intuitive session to support others in gaining clarity on an area of life important to them through an in-depth multi-card Oracle reading.
– Exploration of Oracle Cards Online Course: This 4-week course supports those who are new to Oracle cards in learning about the basics and how to use Oracle cards as a tool to support in their everyday life as well as those who use Oracle cards and want to enhance their practice with more depth.
– Soulo Travel Coaching: I support those who are ready to take a solo trip through coaching (releasing blocks, addressing fears around traveling solo) and travel design where I support in planning their trip.
– Soulo Experience Retreats: Do you want to travel and not ready to do it on your own? Soulo Experiences are intimate group experiences in adventurous and slightly intimidating places. While it’s a group experience, these retreats encourage participants to go out on their own. Think Amazing Race style. You’ll walk away from these experiences more confident in traveling in another country ready to step out on your own.
– VIP Photoshoot Experiences: Ready to capture your authentic self? Together or separate, this VIP experience curates a photoshoot experience to support you in embodying who you are as your most beautiful, authentic self. The VIP Experience includes me going with you on an intimate journey and handling all of the details along the way. Or I will virtually plan everything and support you on your own journey.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2020, when the pandemic began I learned to pivot and go with the flow. I had several Soulo Travel clients who had to cancel their trips as travel across the world was coming to a halt. I also had planned to lead my first Soulo Experience in Spain. I had no idea what I was going to do. While I had some contract work, there wasn’t much to support me in this transition. I ended my own travels (I had just traveled to Tunisia and Morocco) and ended up back in Dallas, TX.
During this time, I pivoted to Oracle cards and began offering Deep Clarity Sessions and hosting Girls’ Night Inward Oracle parties where groups of friends would come together virtually and I would pull cards for each person.
This pivot allowed me to deepen my own intuitive practice and gain confidence and become the person I needed to be in order to step fully into Soulo Experiences.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
We hear the phrases ‘Walk the talk’ and ‘Practice what you preach’ and there is much truth to them. If you want to build a reputation with your audience, authenticity and consistency are key. Showing up authentically inside your journey and allowing others inside your world shows them that you’re real. You’re not just a machine, you’re a human being who cares deeply about your mission, your clients, yourself, and creating positive change in the world.
I am vulnerable, transparent, and open with my audience. As someone who supports others in owning their authentic selves and learning to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, I am not exempt from that. I live a very uncomfortable life. :) Lots of transitions, unknowns, and embracing of where I am. This allows others to see that I care deeply about being a role model and showing that I’m walking alongside them in their own journeys.
I also believe consistency is key. Be consistent in living your brand values and showing up authentically inside of your commitments. Since 2020, I have shown up consistently each week to deliver weekly Oracle messages live for Wisdom Wednesdays. My audience looks forward to tuning in to hear what message is for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wanderingaunt.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wanderingaunt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wanderingaunt
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-finney/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/wanderingaunt
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RobinFinney19
Image Credits
Ashlie Woods Nadhour Karim Aymen Bellakoud Rachael Lorraine Grosz Jones Eric Ouaknine Luis Barreto Gabo & Mafe