This is one part of a ten-part Q&A series featuring women who have found success on their own terms in the mindful age. For more stories like this, click here.
Imagine you’re a rock star entrepreneur, fully thriving in your chosen career—yet you still walk away from work feeling refreshed, creative, and ready to connect with friends and family. It might sound like something out of a 1980s TV sit-com, but holistic nutritionist, author, and speaker Christa Orecchio may have discovered the magic formula. Through self-exploration, study, and life experience, Christa is applying the tools of her trade to merge career success with extreme self care.
How do you define success?
It’s a balance, just like holistic health is a balance: doing what you love, doing it well, and making a living at it, where you can enjoy your life, but not be stressed from it.
How did you come to that definition?
I was in the corporate world before I started this journey. But I was really unhappy; I felt like my potential was laughing at me. If you are lucky enough to have a passion, you have to go for it full throttle. Doing what you love is a huge part of success.
But if there’s no separation between who you are and what you do, you can burn out. You need to have time for self care to feed creativity.
How did you define success five years ago? How is it still evolving?
I was in full private practice working one-on-one with clients and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. But because I’ve shifted my business model, my definition of success has evolved.
You always listen to your internal voice. Mine said, “Wow, the world is in trouble and people are really suffering. I don’t know if it’s as efficient as it can be to share this information with just a small number of people.”
What does a “fulfilled” life look like to you?
Fully in your own power and fully contributing. You’ve taken strides. [Life] is efficient in terms of the way you share the work that you’re doing. It’s being healthy, being happy, having close relationships and being able to walk your talk.
Do you feel successful? Does this vary day-to-day?
Because I feel good about the lives I’ve affected, I feel successful in that right. If I were to get hit by a bus tomorrow, I feel like I’ve contributed my work in this world.
You get to that point as you grow, as you build, you become an expert, you have a foundation, and you have things under your belt. You have people you’ve helped, so you reach that plateau of success—but beyond that, everything else is a variable from day to day. There are always going to be better days.
What are you most proud of?
Blazing my own path! I’m not a follower. People told me I couldn’t make a living doing this. I always felt I had something to give and create. That voice that’s louder than all the other voices.
We all have that inside of us. You just have to get the courage and strength to manifest it.
What do you consider your #ActuallySheCan moment?
The time when you get your first client, your first check. I can’t believe I’m getting paid for this! Because I love it so much I’d do it anyway! But actually you can do what you love and make money at it. We have actually we can moments all throughout our lives and throughout our careers.
What was the most difficult moment for you?
Expanding too quickly when I wasn’t set up for growth. I failed some people because I couldn’t serve everybody. It’s the dream to have a big windfall, but if you expand too fast before everything is in place, emotionally, it can be just as tragic as failure.
I don’t think people talk a lot about this. Our social media is so focused on the positive, but with expansion comes growing pains.
What are words of inspiration for someone else also facing a challenging moment in their life?
Go within. Create a rock solid foundation from inside out. Find your strength and know who you are and what you can do. Have a daily practice that anchors you. The more we grow as a person, the bigger that inner channel is, and the stronger we are to be able to handle anything!
Written for ActuallySheCan by Julie Balter
In partnership with ActuallySheCan.com
ActuallySheCan is for women who are strong, smart and driven. A movement for those who aren’t afraid to toss out what they don’t want to make room for what they do. Because we believe focusing on the positive things in your life means less drama, more karma.
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