00:00:08 Sana: Hey, everyone. Welcome back to Whisperin podcast. I'm your host, Sarah. And today we are doing something, something little different. Listeners, we are breaking down a framework element by element, not just theory or theoretically. We are talking about what it actually looks like to build a business using these principles. And my guest today, listeners has developed something called the Harmony method, which consists of six elements awareness, commitment, mastery, service, leadership, and freedom. We'll dive deep into all of these elements in the conversation. But let me tell you, listeners, here's what makes this conversation particularly interesting. She's not just teaching the this method. She has applied it to her own business, her own work in the nonprofit sector, and her own journey through more than forty years of personal struggle and recovery. And now, I'll be honest with you, listeners, I am always a little skeptical when someone presents a neat six step framework. Because business is messy, life is complicated, it's unpredictable. And frameworks can sometimes oversimplify the very real challenges that people face. So today I want to go deep on each of these elements. I want all of us to understand what these elements mean in practice, not just in theory. And I want to have a conversation which asks the hard or meaningful questions about whether this approach is realistic for people who are dealing with actual constraints financial pressure, competitive markets, difficult team dynamics. So whether you are building something from scratch, trying to scale, or honestly just trying to figure out if the business you are in is the right fit for you, I think. And I absolutely hope this conversation is going to give you a lot to think about. So let's break down the Harmony method with our incredible guest, Robin. Claire. Robin, welcome to blend. And it's really, really an honor to have you here.

00:02:36 Robin Clare: Thank you Sana. I'm very excited to be here to talk about the harmony method and business.

00:02:42 Sana: Absolutely, absolutely. And listeners, let me tell you that, you know, we have had so many podcasts with Robin on Healthy Man, exploring her journey, exploring what exactly went behind making the Harmony method. And now we are bringing this into the world of business, because we both believe that there is no clear boundary here between our business and the professional and the personal lives. These are all interconnected because after all, even the entrepreneurs, founders, business persons, they're all humans. We are all humans. So I think, uh, we are going to have a very, very interesting conversation. So stay stay with us. And, uh, let's deep dive, dive deep down onto all the elements here. So let's begin with the foundation here. Robin, um, you talk about the Harmony method, and, uh, I named all the elements in the intro. So we'll we'll start with the first one itself. Awareness. And. let me ask you, like, you know, because I think a lot of people, when they hear awareness, they think like it's being mindful or it's being present. It's it's being like, you know, I'm self aware, but then I believe there's more to it. So in your own business journey, what did awareness actually require of you? Like what did you have to become aware of that maybe, you know, you had been avoiding or maybe you didn't even realize was there?

00:04:16 Robin Clare: Yes. So the big leap by Gay Hendricks, and in that book, he talks about your zone of brilliance versus your zone of genius. And I was determined to work in my zone of genius. So what's the difference? So the zone of brilliance is what is what? You're just. It's what you're good at, right? And then in between your zone of brilliance and your zone of genius is your self-limiting beliefs that stop you from living your genius. So at the same time that you're thinking about an idea or want to do a business idea, you also have to simultaneously be working on your own inner world in order to be able to find the courage and the, um, and and the tenacity and, and and heal those messages that you might have received from your family and friends and previous bosses that maybe you're not good enough to have your own business. Right. So in between Zone of Brilliance and Zone of Genius is is all the stuff you need to to heal so that you can step into your zone of genius. And to me, your zone of genius is what your purpose is in the world that most aligns with your soul. So it's almost like what you actually came here to do in this lifetime. And so for me, it is to teach the Harmony method. Yes. I've had other zone of geniuses, uh, and they were they were all leading to this. I had other books that I wrote. I had other things that I've done, but I've never been as healed as I am now. And and so because I did all that healing in between, which was, for me, always a deep fear of being humiliated. And so and once I learned not to allow other people to judge me, that was the key for me. Like I didn't give them the title of judge. So whatever they say to me, they're not judging me because I don't allow that. They're just giving me their opinion, knowing that I could move into my zone of genius and do what my work is supposed to be. So embedded in that zone of genius is the awareness of what it is. What is your true purpose? What is your soul come here to accomplish? And so you have to be able to find your way into your zone of genius now. You could also just be an everyday person and know that you're really good at something, right? You're really wonderful or you're really excited about something. I would say the awareness that, wow, if I had to do one thing for my business for the rest of my life, what would it be like? That's awareness. Not not, uh, and it's a it's a personal decision as well, of course, as looking in the market and saying, hmm, I think there's a there's something missing. I'm going to do that, but make sure it lights you up, right? Like, make sure that you're excited about it because that's going to bring us into the next stages is the excitement.

00:07:53 Sana: I really love that answer. I really love that answer, Robin. And, uh, I'm going to I'm going to take this, you know, the the zone of genius, the zone of brilliance here because it makes a lot of sense. Like if I look back at, um, not only others lives as examples of what they have achieved and what they actually, uh, like, they, they got out of their comfort zone. They actually tried to explore their full potential, something in my life also. So I think that's what it makes it so relevant. I mean, you know, if if someone is hearing this for the first time, they may think, oh, what exactly is that? But I think it it holds so much of relevance in our day to day life. and. Yeah, I mean that's that's a really, really brilliant take on on it. Robert.

00:08:46 Sana: Yeah. And, um.

00:08:48 Robin Clare: That book was extraordinarily helpful to me. Um, and I. Highly recommend it to many people.

00:08:56 Sana: Superb.

00:08:57 Sana: Superb. Could could you repeat that for all of our listeners? You know, all of us get noted down.

00:09:02 Robin Clare: Yeah, it's called the Big Leap.

00:09:05 Sana: L.e.a.p.

00:09:07 Robin Clare: And it's the name of the author is his first name is gay. And his second, and his last name is Hendricks. Got it, got it.

00:09:17 Sana: Hmm. I've noted it down, listeners, so you can do it as well. Hendricks. And. Yeah, thank you for that, Robin. And you're welcome. Moving on. Let's let's, um, go to, um, the next let's let's stick to awareness first, because I think this is such an important, Important, um, element here. Um. You know, uh, let's say we have identified something through awareness, maybe a self-limiting belief, a pattern, a misalignment, or maybe a truth about how we are operating. Um, what what do you do with that awareness when it's uncomfortable? Like, you know, for example, um, I was discussing this example yesterday only in another one of my podcasts that self awareness. It is good. But then it doesn't mean that you, uh, do not have that accountability or responsibility. I mean, let's say if I'm self aware and I know that I have a bad temper, um, I, I tend to lose patience. I tend to become frustrated and angry when, you know, maybe somebody is criticizing me or something is not happening in my favor or maybe my, my, um, senior or my team member. My colleague is not agreeing with me. Uh, but then it doesn't mean that, you know, there is no room for improvement here. So when becoming aware means realizing that you have been doing something wrong, or that you have built your business on a foundation that actually doesn't serve you. How do you move forward from that without it become, uh, becoming paralyzing?

00:11:01 Robin Clare: Yeah. So I would say awareness is, um, is I think all of what you said is awareness, right. You're aware that maybe the way that you're approaching your business or the way that you thought it was going to be, but it's not that that's all wonderful awareness. So where you might think that it's a negative awareness, it's a positive awareness, because then you're giving yourself the opportunity to shift gears and say, I don't think that's what I really thought this business was going to be. And is that do I want to do I want to, you know, switch gears and get back to what it was I originally decided, or do I want to accept that this is what's really needed in the world, and how do I adjust my attitude and my leadership style to to do this now? Right. So all those those it's still awareness, right? Whether it's you're aware of an idea or you're inspired to start a new business or you've started one and you're like, this isn't quite working, what's wrong? And you could also then say, wow, I think I still have work to do, because maybe, maybe I don't really value myself as much as I should. Maybe I don't have, um, quite the right idea. And if you were okay with it, I think it would be good to move to commitment because, um, commitment is an interesting one. Um, because because commitment. Commitment says to me, um, that you're devoted to do whatever it takes to make that business successful, whatever it takes. And but then when I was preparing to, to chat with you, there were two other words, c words that came into my mind. One was creation and the other was capacity. And so creation to me is is, you know, the be um, honoring the, the feminine aspects of your personality and allowing the idea to really brew and understand what what was that awareness that I received, like, am I committed to trying things, doing different things, but keeping in mind that the idea is evolving through your own. feminine, creative nature. Right? And and when I say feminine, I'm not saying this is for women. What I'm saying is both men and women have both a feminine nature and a masculine nature. The feminine nature is more creative creation, uh, teamwork. Um, uh, humanity, you know, helping others. And then the the masculine is like, let's get it done, let's go, let's do this. But you have to also honor that. You're you're creating in commitment, right? You're you're creating the idea and you're and it's brewing and it's going to take time to, to uh, cook. That's another C word. But the other word, the other word is capacity. Like do you have the capacity in your life to see this business through? Are you truly committed? Are you willing to let other things go so that you can create more commitment to honor. Excuse me? Create more capacity to honor the commitment that you're making to this idea that you want to birth in the world. And so important. Right? Because I remember when I was doing this harmony, I also have a nonprofit. And I actually literally said out loud, I don't think I have the capacity to do both. And I'm like, well, you're never going to do both, right? If you're telling the universe that you don't have the capacity. Right. And I just laughed. And so what I did is I said, I'm going to do my job, my nonprofit job, Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays. I do not even think about harmony on those days when I'm working. And then on Mondays and Fridays, I do harmony, right? I go on podcasts, I talk with clients, I do different things. So I'm still working full time. But I am very clear that I can have the capacity for both because for many, many, many people, probably the majority of everybody, you can't leave your job in order to start a business. So you have to do both. So you have to build capacity in order to honor the commitment to your idea. Whatever it takes, right? You're going to do whatever it takes. That's that's commitment. Yes, yes.

00:16:01 Sana: I loved that transition. Uh, because that's what the second element is listeners and, uh, very, very interesting take on commitment here, Robin. And um, great that you brought the feminine and the masculine energy because it's not just about the men nor the women, but we all have those energy maybe. Yeah, we are nurturing. We are caring. We are empathetic. And sometimes situations demand us to take actions. Take some some hard decisions. Just get down to, you know, whatever we can. And, um, that's why.

00:16:46 Robin Clare: And even and even as a female entrepreneur, you really want to honor your masculine energies because the masculine energy is really good at negotiation, right? And and and and pricing. Right. And and valuing your worth. Men. Uh, it was really very interesting. Um, I was talking to an expert in negotiation once, and he said, in a simulation, like a test, women always beat men in negotiations. But in the real life, men tend to beat women in negotiation. And he said the reason why that is, is because women don't always know what what number they're willing to walk away from the table with. So if they're trying to sell something or, or or something, they don't know what their bottom line is. And so that, that knowing comes from your masculine energy. If you're a woman and if you're a man, your feminine energies will help you be more, um, look at the negotiation as what's best for everybody. What's what would what what would make this work between the seller and the buyer? Like, you know, that that idea that everybody can win is a very feminine energy.

00:18:15 Sana: That's true. That is absolutely true. Um, Robin, next move to, uh, let's let's move to, um. Master. Yeah.

00:18:25 Robin Clare: Mastery. So when I think about mastery in the business world. It's about believing in your product or service, embodying what it does really like say, oh God, my my product or service is going to change the world. You you're so believe it. You know it, right? It becomes part of who you are. It is because what I do know is all what I believe all sales is, is a successful salespeople really believe in their product or service, and then they're talking to you and you're like, oh my God, they're so excited. I should do that, right? And so that's what mastery, I think, in the business is, is to really know how your product or service works, how it can help people and and then to just be able to just embody it like it's the only word I can think of. Like you, you could talk about this for days, but you don't want to bore people. But if someone asks you a question, you can just open your mouth and truth comes out about the product now. Uh, yes. What it can and what it can't do. You're not going to in the next one, which is service, you'll know whether you're overselling or not. So we'll talk about service in a minute. But yes, to me that's what mastery is, is that you truly, truly believe in what your business is and you embody what everything that it does so that you could talk about it without hesitation. So you like what they're hearing with me here with Harmony, right? I'm not hesitating because I spent months learning the harmony method myself. Even though I created it. I just kept trying it on myself and meditating on it and looking for all the nuances. I write about it on Substack, like. Like I just take any situation I can and apply the Harmony method to it to see if it holds water. And that's why I was so excited to come here and talk about business and harmony, because I think, I think it does hold water here.

00:20:50 Sana: Exactly. No, you're absolutely right. Especially the example that you gave that, you know, um, and that is something fundamentally I, I one hundred percent believe that when you are personally, um, invested into it. Yeah. Um, financial, uh, you know, aspect. But soulfully, spiritually, you're invested into it. You know, you believe in that product or service you have. Put your mind, heart, energy, time, Blood, sweat, tears and everything in there. If somebody asks you, how is it good for me? It isn't even a sales pitch. It just like, goes organically.

00:21:37 Robin Clare: And it's a conversation, right. And but it's a it's an exciting conversation. And then they're so happy for you. Right. Like they're if if they're truly someone you know and care about, they're like oh good. Great. Keep going. Right. Your own enthusiasm creates enthusiasm for what you're trying to sell.

00:22:00 Sana: And, uh, going back to the zone of genius and zone of brilliance because that's that's something that's going to be on my mind. Um, does this mastery fall into the zone of genius?

00:22:12 Robin Clare: Oh, for sure. Yes. Yes. If you, uh. Yeah. Because. Because this is your idea, right? This is your idea. And it's. And if it is in alignment with your purpose. Right. It's it's it's you're even more excited. But even if it's, you're like, well, no, I want to have a cleaning service. How could that be in alignment with my purpose? Right. It's still if you're if you know that this is something that you could really grow and get and be excited about, then it's in your zone of genius. Hmm.

00:22:50 Sana: Wow. Brilliant. This is brilliant. And, uh, let's. You mentioned about service, so I'm curious. Um, focus on it in our next, uh, part of the conversation. So, um, you have worked extensively in the nonprofit world? Um, yes. Where service is literally the mission. And this I can equate or I can draw a parallel here in terms of, you know, um, as, as a leader, let's say, if I'm passionate about the work that I'm doing then? Yeah. Excuse me. So I think the people who are working with me, my team members, my colleagues, they'll they'll get that inspiration that, you know, this person showing up and understanding and and having that intention. I mean, you you leave a legacy in whatever capacity you are. It doesn't mean that you have, you know, one hundred people or infinite number of people following you or, um, trying to, uh, you know, like the, the fans and everything, but at least you're leaving a legacy in here. Like, people are talking about you. They are. They are getting inspired, uh, in whatever capacity it is. And I think that is something every, um, founder or a good person in the business world would actually, you know, we talk about the Maslow's hierarchy like some kind of self-actualization. they would try to attain achieve that. You know, other people are also driven inspired by them. Um.

00:24:29 Robin Clare: Yeah. So, so I, I would agree with you on that. So when we when we talk about service, we're, we're talking about who will you serve. Serve. Right. That's the key word right. Service. Who will you serve. Who is your ideal client. Who is the one that really needs this? How do you define your ideal client? Well, in all my studies of marketing, your ideal client, if you're really jazzed about something, is typically yourself. So what attributes do you have that you know that you could help? Because if you're really jazzed about something and it's really goal driven, it's probably helped you right yourself. And so I would say, who do you serve? How do you serve them? When will you serve them? Where will you serve them? Why are you serving them that service? Right. If you can define all of those, then you have you have a defined service in the harmony method. And then you will always attract in your ideal client.

00:25:40 Sana: Oh, I love that I love that. And so it's a it's a and exactly that means that, you know, harmony method is so much, so much relevant and applicable in the world of entrepreneurship because people may have misconception, uh, you know, words like harmony or these are very soft words, right? And people. Yeah.

00:26:03 Robin Clare: I'm so sorry. I was going to say. And people have a misconception about the word serve. They think they think, uh, that they're not that it's it's a negative word. Right? Like they're a servant. But you know what? You are a servant. You're a servant to your idea. You're a servant to your customer in a good way, right? You are going to do whatever it takes to make sure that they get what they need. And so we have to get the oh, the negativity out of the word servant.

00:26:39 Sana: That's true, that's true. Great. Um, moving on to the Fifth Element. Yeah.

00:26:45 Robin Clare: Leadership. Mhm. Yeah. So what I wrote on my little notes here is it's real. It's always about self leadership. First you have to believe in your product or service so intensely that others will buy it. Right. You need to be you need to walk the walk of of of your product or service. What you're doing. You need to like when people read your email or they see your social media post, they're like, wow, I need to know what that is. Because, um, because even for me, it's silly. Like, I put out a new picture because I've been living this and talking about it, and people are like, are you are you aging backwards? And I'm like, I hope so, right? Like, because I'm so excited about this, right? I'm living it. I'm talking about it. I am writing about it. I am working with clients. Right? I, I am, I am living, uh, I am doing everything I can to live harmoniously in my life between my work and I told you how I came up with a schedule for both and, you know, and keeping very organized and taking my supplements. And so I have enough energy eating well, walking right. All the things to make sure that Robin, the vessel of the Harmony method and of her nonprofit, is walking the walk of what we're trying to accomplish for other people. Otherwise. Otherwise, I don't. Look, I have to become the poster child for what I'm doing, and the same for others when they have a mission that they're trying to embody.

00:28:37 Sana: Totally. Totally.

00:28:39 Robin Clare: And then there's freedom, right? Yeah. Um, freedom is hard to hard to define. But this is what I wrote down. Your business, your money, your schedule, whatever it means to you. Freedom. Free to live. Now you're doing your business. And it's successful because you've learned how to price it. You've learned how to negotiate. You've you've embodied it, right? You've become the idea. then you're free to live your other passions, right? Because we're not all work. We may love to, uh, swim or or, uh, travel. Right? But when you when you embody the harmony method in business, it gives you the freedom. It gives you the freedom to define what freedom means to you.

00:29:34 Sana: Mm. Yeah. Yeah. And, uh, there is definitely a misconception, uh, around around, you know, um, freedom in the world of entrepreneurship and business that, you know, once. And I think that's, that's one of the biggest reason why people would preferably, uh, go for entrepreneurship instead of a nine to five job that, you know, I do not get to work for someone else. I'll work for myself. I'll get my time. I'll get to rest. I'll get to travel. I'll get to have vacations, money. But then. But then if you look at the reality also, uh, I will finish this and then you can, you can, you know, uh, follow on. But I think that's where the hard reality of, of, uh, um, entrepreneurship is it is a lonely it is a lonely journey, like you have to figure out initially everything on your own because it all starts from you, like you are the point of origin, and then it's like a river that you know, has to make its way, and then maybe its own branches or tributaries and then something like that. But, um, I thought, you know, maybe I can add on, add this on to the, the element of freedom, because somewhere down the line, there's a big misconception here.

00:31:03 Robin Clare: And, and if you could define the misconception is that everything is going to work out. Do you think?

00:31:10 Speaker 4: Yes. Kind of. Yes. Yes.

00:31:13 Robin Clare: Yeah. And and it it will. As long as you're. As long as you truly embody all the other elements. Right. And and follow them in a sequence and adjust them as necessary. Because. So I'm not I'm not I'm not declaring that everyone will be successful. But you have a greater chance of being successful. And one of the things that I when you said, you know, it's lonely. And so if you're in your own business, you must find other entrepreneurs. Right. Network with other people because or other people that are working from home, you know, make arrangements to go walk with people. But because loneliness is tough, it's tough for everybody. But one of the things about having your own business is that you're deeply inspired. And what is inspired mean? It means in spirit, right? And so I would invite everybody to get quiet every day, sit down. If they don't know or care to meditate, just sit down with a journal every day so that you can hear your own intuition, and you and your intuition and your spirit becomes one of your workmates, right? You can, because it's always with you, right? And, um, I know that since I've been in my own business, I do a lot more talking out loud than I ever did that to myself. But I also feel like I'm talking to my my intuition. I'm going to do. I think I'm doing this. And and and I don't care how it sounds because. Because sometimes Do you have to say things out loud? Right. In order to to hear them yourself. So, you know, don't allow yourself to feel isolated. Find other people that are doing their own business or visit family member. Right. Fit in. Fit in journaling. Fit in meditation. Fit in. Exercise. Like you have to go to the gym. Maybe where you see other people. Um, you have to. You can't isolate yourself. Or then I don't know. You can't test out whether you're embodying it and talking about it. Right? If you isolate yourself. So I, I think I'm sharing that it can you are by yourself, but you can find ways to be with others while you're doing your own business.

00:33:58 Sana: Absolutely, absolutely. Beautiful, beautiful. Uh, Robin. So I'm very sure our listeners will be so much now curious and eager to explore more about these methods. So if they would like to reach out to you, what is the best way?

00:34:14 Robin Clare: Yeah. So the best way to reach out to me is on my is Harmony with Robin r o b I n and I invite folks I have an offering on my home page where they can just ask me a question. Uh, you'll they'll see it. It says, do you have a question? And I invite them to do that. And then there's also lots of, uh, writing on there, lots of, uh, other podcasts I've been on, on your network that they can listen to and, um, just to, you know, take it all in and, and absorb it and then, uh, and then, of course, if I can be of service to them at any point to reach out to me.

00:35:02 Sana: Brilliant listeners. As you all know, I'm going to have all the links, all the details mentioned in the show notes. So connect with Robin, find them attached, find the details attached along with this episode on whichever platform you're listening your podcast to. And, um, I think this is wow. I mean, you know, we we all went through we through through all six elements of the Harmony method, not just as abstract concepts, but as actual lived experiences that shape how we build and run a business. So if you are listening and something in this conversation connected with you resonated with you, I'd encourage you to think about which element you might be missing or neglecting in your own work. That exactly is the first step to begin with. That exactly is the first element to begin with awareness. And maybe you are committed but not aware. Maybe you're serving, but not free. Maybe you are pursuing external mastery while ignoring the internal work. There is no judgment in that. Just an opportunity to notice. So, Robin, thank you so much. This was such a such a brilliant conversation. Brilliant episode on this. Thank you so much.

00:36:23 Robin Clare: Thank you. So nice to speak with you again.

00:36:26 Sana: Yeah, exactly. And, uh, for everyone listening, if you want to dive deeper into the Harmony method, check out Robin's book as well. Harmony. The frequency of true success. And as always, if this conversation sparked something for you, share it. Review it. Tell someone about it. These conversations matter, and they matter more when they spread. Until next time. This is Sana and this is Biz Blend. Keep building something that actually feels like yours. And I'll catch you in the next episode. Thank you.