CINDY HARRIS, 44, lives in the tiny town of Hercules, California, thirty minutes drive from San Francisco. After hitting upon the germ of an idea two years ago, she has now found her passion, creating a home-based business with customers from all over the country. I met Cindy when she came for a coaching session, given to her as a birthday present from her husband, Kevin. The unfolding of her story is an inspirational example of how to listen to your heart, take one small step, and keep following the synchronicities.

The precipitating event for her new life began when her eight-year-old son, whom she was home schooling, was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. Cindy says, "While I was home schooling him I was already restless to find something more I could do at home. After I started caring for him with his illness, I found that I was getting too caught up in monitoring every development of his medical condition. I knew I needed to channel my energy in a different way."

Look For What You Love To Do

Cindy and her artist husband sat down together and talked about what kind of venture she might do. Kevin reminded her that one of the things she loved to do most was have friends over for tea-something she had done for years.

They started playing with the idea of what she could do around tea. In trying to come up with a name, Kevin asked her what she usually said to people she had over for tea, and she answered, "I ask people if they would like to come for tea." They came up with the name Come For Tea. Sure that the name was already taken, the couple searched the fictitious business name file, but found no record for the name. Next they checked domain names. When they saw no one had claimed it, Cindy went ahead and bought the name-still having no idea what she would do as a business.

In the next couple of days, ideas began to flood in for what kind of teas she would sell, and what her labels would look like. Her next step was to take out a business license. That made her official! Cindy says, "From the beginning I decided to sell only things I loved. One of my favorite teas is called Parisian Pear Pomegranate, but after searching the Internet, I couldn't find who sold it. I called the cafe where I had tasted it, and the owner wasn't in. The girl who answered the phone said, 'Well, I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but here's how to reach them.' It was my first break. I never would have found them, because this blender only sells by word of mouth."

Synchronicity Paves the Way

Cindy credits the power of synchronicity in every step of the development of her business. "If I get an idea, sure enough, something will come across my path, and I'll get just what I need-a link, a contact, or a vendor. I know that synchronicity is helping me because I am on my path."

Intention Creates Flow

The business has taken on a life of its own. For example, a year ago Cindy had been thinking that it would be great if she could reach people across the United States. "One day out of the blue," she says, "I got a call from the publisher of a magazine called Tea Time. He said he had heard about me, and that they would like for me to advertise in their magazine. But he said he knew that we are a small company so he offered me a drastically reduced price. From that moment on, Come For Tea became national, even though I never went looking for how to do that."

Follow Positive Energy One Step at a Time

Next, Cindy decided to write a small book on how to do teas, called Afternoon Teas with Ease. She printed it herself and sold it on her web site. Soon after, she received a phone call from a woman who had purchased a copy of the book, inviting her to speak at a conference for 120 women. "I was surprised because I had never done any public speaking, but I just said, 'Okay.' Every time something comes my way, I just say, okay. From that time on, people have been contacting me to speak. That's the way I've run my whole business-just going with the flow. I've never had a business plan, nor do I focus on things like how much money I will make in a year. All I've done is to be open and look for signs as I go. It just keeps unfolding.

See the Gift in Obstacles

We sense in Cindy's story the power of what Zen teachers call beginner's mind. The virtue of inexperience is that it so often allows for a fresh approach unhampered by past disappointments or future dire predictions. Cindy's business, based on a truly motivating natural passion, is inherently meaningful to her and worth doing. She invites people to come for tea whether or not she gets paid for it-a true sign of an authentic talent or passion. If one door does not open she finds another. For example, she says, "I only work with small, family-owned companies. That's because, in the beginning, the big companies wouldn't talk to me. That turned out to be a blessing because I've discovered really great people making unique quality products, like my biscuits and scones. Interestingly, it turns out that a lot of the companies I work with are starting to expand, too. One, for example, is now being sold at Barnes & Noble and the Dean and DeLuca stores."

Spirituality in a Cuppa

Recently, Cindy has been able to see a deeper purpose to her business, which has spurred her creativity. She says, " I wanted to add a new element to the idea of drinking tea. I wanted to use the tea experience to encourage other people to follow their path like I've followed mine. I've had so much creativity in the past few weeks! For example, I started printing sets of tea-related 'insight cards' and packaging them in a pretty bag. I've also designed and printed a tea journal to help people be more observant and capture insights while drinking tea. I believe that drinking tea together with family and friends helps us connect at a real level. Drinking tea on your own can also be a ritual that helps you connect with your inner self. Tea is almost like a portal, a pathway that helps you get to a different place."

Feed Your Passion

The message in Cindy's story is--if you have a business idea rooted in something you care about--go for it. Cindy advises, " If you are drawn to something and you enjoy it, there is probably an opportunity there. Don't go into a business if you are thinking only about how much money you are going to make. You have to do it because you love it."

Pay Attention

Support comes when you need it. If you are looking to make a change in your life, start a business, or expand the one you have, stay alert and be observant. "You never know when something may spark an idea for you," says Cindy. "For example, when my husband, Kevin and I went to New Orleans, I had been getting strong intuitions that I needed to go there. As it turns out, that's where I found a whole new aspect of my business by going into a little lace shop. I picked up this little antique metal cone thing and asked the shop keeper what it was. He told me it was called a tussie-mussie. It holds a little bit of water, and women used to put fresh nosegays in them and hold them in their hands at social events. That started my interest in fresh flowers, and I started learning the meaning behind different flowers. I didn't know what I was going to do with flowers. But at my next tea, I took rose vials and wrapped them in lace and made up little bouquets for each woman, expressing something about their personalities. Each thing leads to the next. It's so much fun!"

Cindy's interest in tea is her vehicle to touch and inspire people. "People tell me when they come for tea-- whether it's a workshop or just to have a cup of tea--that the tea experience is healing for their soul. It refreshes and relaxes them. It helps them get in touch with that part of themselves they tend to be unconscious of. For myself, life is so much more fun and interesting since I've started my business. Things that used to bother me, just don't bother me anymore. I am so creative right now I truly feel that I am living an inspired life."

Happy September,
Carol Adrienne