As part of the Morning Lazziness series about empowering women who encourage and do incredible things with their ideas in society, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lisa Roche.
For nearly 15 years, Lisa has been guiding individuals toward deep healing through a powerful blend of holistic modalities. As a Feng Shui Expert, Reiki Master Teacher, Medical Intuitive, and Channeler for Transformative Meditations, she excels at harmonizing energy. She is proud to be the Founder of Nagare Life, where she inspires others to embrace INTENTIONAL LIVING.
body • mind • soul • space
She hosts the podcast, FIND YOUR FLOW, which features Reiki-infused channeled meditations to inspire growth, life stories to empower listeners on their own healing journeys, and conversations with guests to explore spiritual and self-care practices.
Lisa is also a contributing author of two books: The Energy Medicine Solution and Born to Rise
What inspired you to become an entrepreneur, and what sparked the idea for your current business venture?
To be honest, I never really considered myself an entrepreneur until just recently. I simply felt I was on a mission, and my mission somehow built a business which grew into a thriving private studio where I could help others heal.
My experience with a spinal injury, being told I would never fully recover, and my determination to find a way to heal fully led me to using The GYROTONIC® Method as a healing modality rather than for just exercise. In just a few months after creating a care plan for myself, I created a protocol for others with my same injury. I opened a private studio, which then introduced me to even more holistic healing modalities. And the rest, they say, is history, until one day, in complete faith, I followed my intuition to close my 6-figure business to take time to explore and discover my new calling – to help others on a larger scale. Nagare Life was born out of my love for helping others find their flow in life. My podcast, FIND YOUR FLOW, is a natural expression of how I can help others find and create a life that supports all aspects of themselves.
I have this idea that if everyone is free to be their best self, live as their highest expression, then we’ll have world peace. My mission is to create peace, and that begins with each of us honoring what works for us as individuals.
BODY • MIND • SOUL • SPACE
Care for the body, tend to the mind, honor the soul, and create a sanctuary space that supports it all.
What problem does your business solve, and how is it uniquely positioned in the market?
I look around and see a world of pain and fear. So much anger and judgment. But in all of this, I see people waking up to suddenly realize that they don’t quite fit in, that they don’t have a job that’s fulfilling, maybe they don’t enjoy their social circles, feel like the black sheep in their family, or dislike their surroundings. They feel lost, without direction, confused…but curious, willing to try new things, and filled with HOPE.
FIND YOUR FLOW is a space that provides grounded tips, expert holistic guidance, spiritual conversations, inspiring stories, and a beautiful meditative practice. Everything is curated to support someone wherever they are on their journey. Come explore, take what resonates, leave the rest. It is meant to be a pause of reflection to consider that maybe, just maybe, you’re meant for more.
What were the biggest challenges you faced when starting your business, and how did you overcome them?
Here’s what’s interesting. When you’re connected to your life’s calling, the challenges don’t feel so big. I woke up one day, and my business partner at the time just left. But in that one moment, while everything felt like it was falling apart, it was really just coming together. My husband said, “Remember Nagare Life? Maybe it’s time.” And so it was! That resonated so deeply. It scared me, made me excited, a little giddy even.
I sat in meditation and asked for guidance. I heard, “Start a podcast.” That’s great, but how?
As with everything that is divinely guided, it was as easy as typing how to start a podcast in Google and voilà, everything came together. In a week’s time, I had created the branding, recorded some meditations and short introductory episodes, and went live.
Of course, it wasn’t perfect. Beginnings are rarely perfect, but I didn’t let that stop me. As I used to tell my clients, “Something is better than nothing, and even a ¼ inch is farther than 0.” So, I lived my own words and just started sharing. Before I knew it, 3 months in, I had already crossed the 500 listeners mark and had published over 28 episodes, which put me over the goal line for the top 1% of podcasts worldwide.
I didn’t quit…and that was my goal. I just kept going. And with every recording, the quality and flow just keep getting better.
How do you stay motivated during tough times or uncertain periods in your business journey?
This is such a great question because there are days when I wake up wondering “what’s it all for” and “is anyone listening”. And that’s when I take a pause. I’ll stop everything…all the doing. I take a break from calendars, recording, editing, and writing. Instead, I go for a walk in nature, meditate, and take time to focus on myself. I go back to basics and hit pause on everything else.
What I find is, when I do that, when I take time to nurture myself, I come back refreshed and ready to share more. When I lose motivation, it’s my reminder that I haven’t been caring for myself enough. That’s all it is for anyone. If you find you have nothing more to give, it’s because you’re on empty.
PAUSE and care for yourself. Quiet the noise, and your direction comes right back.
What daily habits or routines contribute most to your productivity and success as a founder?
Oh, that would definitely be my morning routine. Every day, I wake up with a Sound Healing. It’s vital. Each day, I choose the frequency, vibration, binaural beats, or solfeggio frequency that resonates with how I’m feeling. I listen to this while checking email and reviewing the calendar for the day. This is then followed by listening to water (waterfalls, waves, babbling brook etc) for at least 5 minutes to cleanse my energetic field from anything that was released with the sound healing. While listening to water, I read a love letter to myself and do my manifestation exercise.
My love letter to myself is exactly how it sounds. I’ve written a love letter to myself as a reminder of all the things I love about myself. My qualities, my strengths, and everything that celebrates ME. The manifestation exercise is a vision of my most perfect life in detail. I meditate and speak to my higher self to align with my best life so as to focus all of my energy on the creation of my highest existence. This puts me in the mindset of making decisions and taking actions to create this vision all day long.
These daily practices are incredible for channeling all of my energy and direction into creating a life I truly love. And boy, do I love my life. Living in such an intentional way has allowed me to create a life that is even more incredible than what I can dream of. And that is my last piece of advice…”This and more.”
It is a simple statement that, when put at the end of all of my routines, allows for even more to manifest in my life.
Beginning my day like this cares for all of me – Body, Mind, Soul, and Space. I am an extremely intentional person, and literally every choice I make is in celebration of who I am right now and who I wish to be. Who wouldn’t want to live their life like this??
What’s been the most effective way for you to acquire new listeners and grow your audience?
For me, it’s word of mouth. Authenticity and connection – it’s my entire identity. If I don’t have those aspects, I come across as hollow in my communication. I speak from my soul. I listen to hear. I communicate to care.
It’s that simple. There are no marketing strategies, no algorithms, or SEO. It’s honesty and sincerity. That’s it.
How do you measure success—personally and professionally—in your business?
Of course, I track downloads and listeners for the podcast, and watching those numbers increase is exciting and pacifies my analytical brain. But really, it’s the messages I receive from people. It’s the notes of gratitude and the personal stories. That’s why I’m here doing what I do – to help foster peace and ease for ALL. So, the more that happens, the more successful I am.
Another measure I have on my heart will be aligning with the right sponsors for the show. I know I will have reached a new level of success when soul-aligned businesses ask me to collaborate with them. I have my dream list and welcome other high-vibrational companies who want to help everyone become their best selves.
What marketing or branding strategy has had the most impact on your business growth?
I honestly don’t have a strategy of any kind other than authenticity. It’s what I see lacking in the world and what people are starving for the most. So, I am honest and true in every way.
If I had to add anything to that, it would be Human Design, a holistic modality of studying an individual’s personal birth data, much like astrology, to create a roadmap of sorts. It is used to validate and garner understanding about who you are and why you function the way you do. My Human Design states that I experience business growth through building trust – that’s word of mouth for me. The biggest factor for growing my brand and presence is to be honest, share authentically, connect with my audience, and then encourage them to speak their truth and share the podcast with others. So far, so good!
Can you share a mistake that taught you an important lesson in entrepreneurship?
I don’t believe in mistakes. I believe in learning opportunities, and I’ve had plenty of those. None of which do I regret. I have partnered with controlling and manipulative people – lesson learned…never do that again! But through that, I learned to stand in my power and to own my creations.
I partnered with someone who sheltered me from visibility, and I lost a bit of myself in the process. Lesson learned! I learned to shine and find confidence in my brilliance.
The biggest lesson anyone can learn through building their own business is that their business is a reflection of them at any moment. If it’s not quite feeling right, it’s because you’re not confident in some aspect of how you are showing up in your role.
Step back. Pause and really look at how you are contributing to what’s not flowing easily. There’s a tendency to hyper focus on the things that are “wrong”, but if you approach everything as if nothing is ever wrong, but merely a reflection of YOU, then every challenge is an opportunity for self-reflection and GROWTH!
What advice would you give to someone just starting out as a first-time entrepreneur?
You will be humbled to your knees. And you should be. Don’t fear that. You will fear failure, but unless you give up on yourself and your dream, you can never fail. ALWAYS BET ON YOURSELF. That doesn’t mean to always do everything alone…find mentors, people who can point out your blind spots, and remind you when it’s time to let something go and move on.
Don’t be afraid of the pivot! It only means the details of your creation need tweaking…not the creation itself.
I wanted to help people heal. I did that. I’m still called to help people heal, and I’m doing that, just in a different way now.
The bigger picture…when people are healed and whole, they feel happy and at peace. Those feelings create tranquility in the world around them, which then inspires others to seek out the very same.
What is YOUR big picture dream?
Now, what do you WANT to do, what feels fun to you, what brings you joy?
Put the 2 answers together…there’s your business.
And your ideal client? The version of you from 7-10 years ago. Speak to that person. You, right here, right now, are the expert in your life. You got to where you are right now BECAUSE of who you were 7-10 years ago. What did you do? How did you get to where you are now? That’s your road map to success…because YOU are your first client and YOU are a success!
How do you balance innovation and risk while making business decisions?
Nothing’s a risk if I feel it has to be done. If I don’t believe in making mistakes, then there are no missteps. There are only (and always) opportunities to learn.
Did I like a decision? Did it give me the results I had hoped for? No? Okay then, what can I learn from it, and how can I make adjustments going forward?
What are the top 5 things you believe every entrepreneur needs to overcome self-doubt and build confidence? (Feel free to share an example or story for each.)
1/ Know yourself really well
What is it that you HAVE to BE? What is your life mission? What makes you thrilled to be up in the morning? I don’t care how small you think something is; if it makes you joyous, that’s your calling.
Take my husband, he dreams of opening a donut shop. Why? He’s not even a baker. He loves donuts, but that’s not why. He wants to do this because donuts make people happy. They’re a low-cost way of making someone smile, and he wants to make people smile. He knows that about himself – it’s a core value!
2/ Understand that everything is a reflection of you
Your business and everything that will ever happen is because of who you are in that very moment. If something isn’t going right, it’s not the other person – it’s you. Every. Single. Time. A difficult person comes into your life to teach you about difficulty, so how are they being difficult? Whatever that is, that’s your blind spot. They’re there to challenge you to overcome a shortcoming in your life – HEAL THAT!
I once had a business partner who changed the entire business model. I lost my voice and cowered. I had to make a choice: back down and let her dominate every last aspect of the business, fight, or leave.
I had to pause and consider what it was about me that allowed me to invite this person into my life. Why did I need to be challenged to stand up for myself?
I’ll tell you why…because I was a) too used to working completely alone, and b) I had learned to silence my voice and cower to domineering people. I lived in fear of them. I had to learn to rise and fight for what I wanted in my life.
And so I fought until I woke up one day and, in meditation, heard the fight was over. I could back away. I had found my voice.
I walked away. I chose my freedom over everything else. I chose my SELF. And most of the time, that’s a really hard choice to make. I had to leave everything I had created behind. EVERYTHING. But now, I look back with pride at how, regardless of everything, I had not actually lost anything. No, I learned how to be strong, to find my voice, and that I had worth. And THAT is EVERYTHING.
3/ 10 seconds of courage
That’s it. That’s all it takes. I reach out to people all the time to be guests on my podcast, to consider me to be a guest on theirs. I have no idea if I’ll be accepted, but I do know this – I bet on myself.
A “no” is only guaranteed if you say it yourself. But 10 seconds of courage to ask for what you want, to take a chance…those odds just went to 50/50. I’ll take that over 0 any day.
Many years ago, I sat propped up with pillows on a couch. Unable to hold my head up. Unable to see, hear, or have a conversation. I couldn’t hold a fork, pick up a glass. I was a shell. I was a burden…or so I thought.
10 seconds of courage to ask for help, 10 seconds more to accept that help, and another 10 to see just one more specialist…everything changed.
I am literally here, not just 100% of who I was, but better than I have ever been because I took a deep breath and took action. It took everything I had. I went from begging for death to asking for help with just 10 seconds of courage.
4/ Welcome change
Change is ALWAYS GOOD. Truly. Even what you THINK is bad – it’s always, always, always in your best interest. When things fall apart, they make way for something better. When things derail, you’re heading in a new direction.
When you accept that ALL CHANGE IS GOOD, your life suddenly opens up with endless possibilities.
So what do you want? You can’t get there from here without change!
Remember that 10 seconds of courage??? Take a deep breath and welcome the change!
When I heard my intuition tell me it was time to close my studio. A thriving, amazing studio with the most beautiful clients. But I knew I had to do it. My intuition is never wrong (and neither is yours!) and I always follow it.
I was anxious, scared, and heartbroken. I loved helping people heal. I loved playing a part in their success. I loved seeing them happy and healthy. But I knew I had to welcome change.
So I closed the doors. And after 1 month, I woke up one day realizing I felt rested. That highlighted just how tired I had been for all those years of helping others. I woke up that day realizing it was time to take care of ME.
Change is always good!
In the 2 years after closing my studio, I started and left 1 business and then started another to have the partner leave. In that time, I found myself and the confidence to SHINE as me. Completely and entirely authentically, ME.
5/ The person you were at 9 or 10 years old – that’s who you need to become again in order to be successful
She/he didn’t know enough to be caught up in what other people thought of them. She/he had big dreams, plans to rule the world, run with the buffalo, or travel to Mars. She/he didn’t notice anything other than themselves and what made them happy. They were messy, ran around, screamed with glee, sang at the top of their lungs, explored the woods, jumped in mud puddles, swam in the deep end, and laughed…OMG, did they laugh.
That’s YOU. That’s your essence! What did you dream about? Remember when you played pretend? What world did you create?
Tap into that version of yourself and don’t give a damn about what anyone else has to say. THAT VERSION OF YOU IS YOUR SUPER POWER!
When I was 9/10 years old, I remember setting up a chalkboard in the basement and “teaching” my little sister. I remember practicing magic and looking for 4 leaf clovers. I remember swimming, singing, and laughing. I remember feeling free while riding my bike, the wind whipping through my hair. I was dirty all the time. My sneakers were filthy and my clothes had holes. I lived with gusto and didn’t care about anyone else’s opinions.
I was loud. My laugh filled a room. I sang with my friends at the top of my lungs. I had opinions and I loved fiercely. And most of all, I truly believed I could do anything as long as I concentrated enough.
And here I am today. Literally living the essence of that little girl. I meet the most fabulous people. I laugh all the time. I sing at the top of my lungs, and right here, right now, I’m sweaty from having taken a walk through the woods. I’ll shower, sure. I’ll clean up. But I am living a life I love and THAT is success!
If you could lead or inspire a global movement to make an impact, what would it be and why?
OMG, I’m literally doing that RIGHT NOW. I want peace. I want ease. I want to luxuriate in peace and ease all the time. I want EVERYONE to experience tranquility. WE all deserve it. It is our RIGHT as souls.
Imagine how different the world would be if everyone were living in their own version of peace. I don’t need anything from anyone else to live in my peace. I don’t need to take anything, covet anything, I am just simply at peace. I’m not in competition, I’m not threatened…because I am whole.
That level of self-connection – that is the beginning of world peace. That connection BACK TO SELF is everything.
BODY • MIND • SOUL • SPACE
FIND YOUR FLOW is dedicated to helping people
- heal their body to be as vibrant as possible
- heal their mind to seek and create healing in every moment
- live from their soul and dedicate every moment to peace and ease
- surround themselves with a sanctuary space that supports the life they want and deserve to live
And Nagare Life aims to inspire people everywhere to live an INTENTIONAL LIFE.
What’s a quote, motto, or philosophy that you live by as a business leader?
The one I have to remind myself of all the time is to allow people to heal at their own pace. They are not mine to carry. It robs them of the opportunity to become empowered. I make suggestions. I lead with integrity and authenticity in the hope of inspiring others to make changes in their lives.
And something I always come back to is The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz:
- Be impeccable with your word
- Don’t take anything personally
- Don’t make assumptions
- Always do your best
How can our readers or listeners connect with you and follow your journey online?
I welcome everyone to follow FIND YOUR FLOW! I just started a new YouTube channel where inspiring conversations, expert holistic guidance, and meditations are coming soon!
For weekly inspiration for an intentional life, join the Nagare Life mailing list!
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