As part of the Morning Lazziness series highlighting empowering women who are making a remarkable impact with their ideas, I had the pleasure of interviewing Simone Milasas.
Simone Milasas is a speaker, entrepreneur, and best-selling author of Joy of Business, Getting Out of Debt Joyfully, and Relationship: Are You Sure You Want One? Once $187,000 in debt, Simone used the tools of Access Consciousness to completely transform her finances and her life—proof that joy, not judgment, is the key to creating greater wealth, relationships, and possibility.
For more than two decades, Simone has empowered thousands of people worldwide to break free from limitations and create business and life on their own terms. With her candid, playful approach, she invites people to trust themselves, embrace curiosity, and choose what truly works for them.
Her latest creation, the Intimate Play Cards for Lovers card deck, brings that same philosophy into relationships, showing that real intimacy begins with play, laughter, and the freedom to be you.
In this interview, she reflects on the pivotal moments, hard-earned lessons, and defining wins from her journey in building thriving online ventures.
What inspired your leap into entrepreneurship, and what personal experiences sparked the idea behind your current venture?
I didn’t exactly start out on top—I was $187K in debt and pretty much ignoring my finances. What changed everything was discovering Access Consciousness®. I realized that life, money, and business didn’t have to be heavy or hard—they could actually be joyful.
Meeting Gary Douglas, the founder of Access Consciousness, was the turning point. He never told me what to do; he invited me to trust myself. That one choice changed the entire trajectory of my life.
Since then, every venture I’ve created has come from that space of joy and trusting myself! I travel the world and facilitate seminars globally on a range of topics from business to bodies, money, and relationships. I have also written 3 books, Joy of Business, Getting Out of Debt Joyfully, and Relationship: Are You Sure You Want One?
I love business and I’m always expanding. I have also invested in a gymnasium in Tasmania Australia, an eco-retreat in Costa Rica, I’m currently starting up a t-shirt business in Peru, and just released my new Intimate Play Cards for Lovers card deck!
What core problem does your business solve, particularly for women or underserved communities – and how does your approach stand out in today’s competitive space?
For me, it’s not about whether you are a woman or a man, but it’s about what you want to create in the world and what you want to generate by your choices. Every choice you make creates a different future. What if it’s not about separation but being a leader and knowing what you want to create in the world, and then heading for that! My approach is to always ask, “What do you know and what are you aware of?” Every person in the world has a different capacity, and if you tap into that and be aware of what you know—and the big thing is to choose it and take action—the world will be a better place.
What were some of the toughest obstacles you faced early in your journey as a woman entrepreneur, and how did you navigate through them?
My biggest obstacle was trying to fit everyone else’s definition of success. It was exhausting and not satisfying. Also, not trusting myself and looking outside of myself for an answer rather than knowing I am the source.
When the going gets tough, what keeps you grounded and motivated to keep pushing forward?
For me, it’s two things: 1) Getting my Bars run—it releases stress, anxiety, moves you out of a place of reaction, and gives you more of you, and 2) Ask questions. The moment you go into conclusion or judgment, it’s like hitting a dead end. But a question? That opens doors. It creates possibilities you might not have even imagined. When things get tough, I’ll ask myself: “What choices do I have here that I haven’t considered yet?” That one question shifts the energy and keeps me moving forward, no matter what shows up.
What daily habits or non-negotiable routines help you stay focused, creatively energized, and balanced as a founder?
1. For every dollar I earn, I put away 10 cents in a “10% account” as a way of honoring me first. But here’s the key: I don’t touch it! Learning how to ‘have’ money—not just spend it—is critical to reshaping your financial life. It sends out an invitation for more money to show up.
2. I also keep asking questions daily— “What else is possible I have never considered?” and “How does it get any better than this?” are two of my favorites.
3. Movement is huge for me. Before I go on stage, I do some form of movement like Pilates so that my body is okay on stage for hours on end, or go for a long walk… and getting into nature! That is a non-negotiable for me.
What’s been the most effective growth lever for acquiring new clients or expanding your customer base?
Testimonials are huge! When others talk about your business or classes, that is an engagement you can’t pay for. So, I’d say the most effective is word of mouth. When you’re genuinely excited about what you’re creating, people feel it—and they tell others.
What branding or marketing decision had the biggest impact in elevating your business and building trust with your audience?
Showing up authentically. I’ve always shared the real, raw, unsugar-coated story—my debt, my choices, my relationships. Vulnerability has been the most powerful branding tool I’ve ever used.
How do you personally define success – not just as a business owner, but as a woman living a purpose-driven life?
Years ago, I had a business called Good Vibes for You, where I created merchandise with empowering messages. One of the magnets simply said: “Imagine what you could do if you knew you couldn’t fail.”
One day, a woman rang me. She had been married for 10 years, with eight kids, and she told me her husband was beating her. She said, “Every day I was upset and crying, but someone gave me your magnet. For six months, I read it. And then I left. I’m happy now and so are my kids.”
That was a $5 magnet—but the impact it had on her and her children was priceless. That, to me, is true success.
Can you share a mistake or misstep that taught you a lesson you still carry with you today?
For me, there really isn’t such a thing as a mistake or a failure. Everything you choose creates awareness. The greatest question you can ask of every “mistake” is: “What did I gain from this?” Always go back to questions. For example, if I lost money, I’d ask: “What awareness did I gain?”
When I was $187,000 in debt, most people would’ve called that a massive failure. For me, it was one of the greatest gifts. It showed me where I wasn’t being present with money and gave me the awareness to choose something completely different. Without that, I wouldn’t have written Getting Out of Debt Joyfully or created the tools that have helped so many others change their financial reality.
What’s your best advice for women just starting out – especially first-time entrepreneurs feeling overwhelmed or unsure of their next steps?
Don’t try to get it “right.” So many women starting out in business think they have to have the perfect plan or the perfect answer before they begin. You don’t. Business isn’t linear—it’s created, choice by choice.
My best advice? Trust yourself. Ask questions, don’t look for conclusions. “What else is possible here?” and “What choices do I have I haven’t considered yet?” are two of my favorites. And follow the energy of what feels light and joyful—not what other people say you should do.
And please—have fun with it. If you’re not enjoying what you’re creating, change it. You don’t have to prove yourself. You get to create a business your way.
How do you approach risk and innovation, especially when breaking new ground in a male-dominated or fast-changing industry?
I don’t approach risk the way most people do. For me, it’s simply about choice—and every choice gives you more awareness. In fast-changing industries, or even in male-dominated spaces, the real danger isn’t taking a risk, it’s standing still. Too many leaders avoid pivoting because they’re worried about making the wrong move, so they make no move at all. That’s when businesses get left behind—just like Blockbuster or Kodak. Innovation is about being aware of the future and willing to choose beyond what others can see. I’ll always ask: “What else is possible here that no one else has considered?” If the energy feels light and expansive, I choose it. That’s how you create what’s next instead of clinging to what was.
If you lead a team, how do you foster a culture of trust, inclusivity, collaboration, and growth?
I invite people to bring their unique energy and awareness, not just their job titles. Collaboration works when everyone feels they’re contributing to creation, not just completing tasks.
What are the top 5 mindset shifts or personal practices that helped you overcome self-doubt and grow your confidence as a woman entrepreneur?
- Asking questions. Rather than deciding I’m wrong, I ask: What else is possible here? What choices haven’t I considered? Questions open doors; judgment slams them shut.
- Acknowledging my brilliance. Instead of judging myself, I started acknowledging where I’m actually brilliant—even with money.
- Seeing Debt differently. Debt wasn’t a failure; it was just a choice I had made. And if I could choose it, I could also choose my way out of it.
- Living by “money follows joy.” And interestingly, when you choose joy, the money shows up.
- Trusting what you know. Every day, I build the muscle of trusting myself. With every project and every business choice, my awareness grows. Two great questions to ask: What do I know here? and What am I aware of?
If you could spark a global movement through your work, what would it be – and why is that mission meaningful to you?
If I could spark a global movement, it would be one where people truly trust themselves and know they can create their lives in a way that works for them—not based on what the world says is right or wrong. Imagine if everyone woke up each day asking, “What do I know? What would be fun for me to create today?” That kind of movement would change everything—business, money, relationships, the planet.
What’s a quote, philosophy, or guiding belief that shapes how you lead, create, and live every day?
Imagine what you would do if you knew you could not fail. That’s how I choose. Failure isn’t the end—it’s just the beginning of something greater.
Where can our audience connect with you, explore your work, or follow your entrepreneurial journey online?
Through Simonemilasas, my Choice, Change & Action podcast, and the global Access Consciousness classes I facilitate. You can also read my books, including Joy of Business, Getting Out of Debt Joyfully and Relationship: Are you Sure you Want One?
