Meet Alisha Wielfaert | Coach, Writer, Speaker, Podcaster

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alisha Wielfaert and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alisha, how do you think about risk?
I’ve always dreamed big, but when I was younger, I let other people’s fears dictate my choices and override my dreams. That was a mistake that kept me from following my heart. Early in my career, when I was operating from those fears, I wanted to play it safe, I was terrified of going after what I truly wanted because I was scared of the risk. I thought I was supposed to get a steady job that had benefits like a 401k and health insurance. Turns out, living from fear and ignoring my intuition was a recipe for starving my soul. After doing that for over a decade and not enjoying any of it, I wondered, “what if I bet on me?” It was a huge risk to start Yoke and Abundance, but I knew in my bones I was on the right path. Like most entrepreneurs, I’ve had tremendous ups and downs, but taking the risk to bet on me was the best choice I’ve ever made. Staying the course even when things have been challenging has brought me to a life I’m excited to wake up to. Now I view risk as a signal that I have something to learn or overcome.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Like so many creatives these days, I feel like my work doesn’t fit neatly into just one box. When I started Yoke and Abundance back in 2017, it was really about coaching. I’d offer 1:1 coaching and group coaching, but it’s evolved. Y&A has become a community for creatives, spiritual seekers, and entrepreneurs. My mission is to amplify emerging voices through my group coaching, daily community RAW, the podcast, and Yoke and Abundance Press which just launched this year.

Getting to this point has not been an easy journey. Out of college, I was really lost, I thought I needed to go out and change the world. That was before I learned the only person I can change is me and learning my personal changes have ripple effects. I spent a little over a decade in corporate America in sales at a Fortune 500 insurance company. I did well there, but it was really soul-sucking for me, I’m just not cut out to spend 9 hours a day in a cubicle five days a week on the phone. It took an enormous amount of deliberation to finally make the decision to leave the perceived stability of that job and strike out on my own.

The last five and half years running Yoke and Abundance hasn’t been all roses. There have been major peaks and valleys, in fact, I overestimated the gross profit I could bring in during the early years. That lead to having to file for bankruptcy in 2019, but I knew I was on the path I was supposed to be on, and I kept at it. Now I run a profitable, sustainable business, but I’ve had to work through so much shame, fear, and doubt to get to where I am today. The valleys and the dark times have truly made me a better business person and coach. I wouldn’t choose the path I had to take to get here if there could have been a different way, but I know I’m stronger because of my journey. I know how challenging things can be, and I know what’s possible when we believe in ourselves, do the work, put in the time to learn strategies, and have faith in ourselves.

As I look to the next five years of projects at Yoke and Abundance, I know coaching will always be an aspect of what I do. But I’m most excited about the community we’ve built with our daily writing group, and I see that growing exponentially. It’s also a perfect place for aspiring writers because we now have a path to publication through Yoke and Abundance Press and our collaboration with The Creator Institute.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Greensboro, NC, and my favorite place to hang out here is Lake Brandt. I’d take you on a hike around the lake or for a stand-up paddleboard float. We’d have lunch at Chez Genese Downtown because their savory crepes are to die for! Latter, we’d have a happy hour at the Borough Market and Bar because they take so much care with their mixed drinks and they can make everything into a mocktail if you’d rather skip the alcohol. Then we’d cap off the day with a witchy moon ritual around my backyard fire pits.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It’s true no person is an island, my current success has taken a village. The list of people I could mention is miles long. Yet, I have to say without Julia Cameron’s Book The Artist’s Way, I would not be the person I am today. Julia Cameron, through her book gave me the permission slip and the road map to make my creativity and my creative life a priority, and that has made all the difference.

Website: www.yokeandabundance.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yokeandabundance/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisha-wielfaert-a3b43610/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yokeandabundance

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK9_AZdvCpn6GkkwQz3j49g

Image Credits
All photos by Lindley Battle Photography