Everything is Connected: Leo Babauta on Building Something Sacred
On trust, vulnerability, and the courage to begin
I had a conversation with Leo Babauta of Zen Habits recently that left me thinking about what it means to create from a place of authenticity and trust.
One story he shared particularly struck me. In 2007, when he first started Zen Habits, he had just two readers: his mom and his wife. Instead of letting that discourage him, he made a powerful choice - he decided to write anyway, even if those were the only two people who would ever read his work.
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There's something sacred in that choice.
It wasn't about the metrics. It wasn't about the outcome. It was about showing up fully for the practice of creation itself.
This resonates deeply with what we teach in Sacred Business Flow: Everything is connected. Your business isn't separate from your spiritual journey. Your fears aren't separate from your potential for growth. Your "small" beginning isn't separate from your ultimate impact.
Leo went on to share something that I believe holds a key insight for heart-centered entrepreneurs:
"I discovered who I was through writing and expressing it and listening to others. A lot of people think it's here as a kind of final product of who you have become. But I didn't experience it that way."
This is related to what we call taking the Love-Led Leap - choosing to create from a place of trust rather than certainty. Of presence rather than perfection.
Consider these profound shifts that happen when we approach creation as a sacred practice:
From Isolation to Co-Creation. Instead of hiding away until something is "perfect," we can invite others into our creative process. Leo shared how he once wrote an entire ebook in a public Google Doc, with readers commenting and contributing in real-time. The energy of that collective creation helped him complete the book in just two days.
From Fear to Practice. Rather than letting fear of judgment stop us, we can view sharing our work as a practice in vulnerability. Each time we share, we build the muscle of trust - trust in ourselves, trust in our audience, trust in the process.
From Product to Process. When we shift from seeing our business as a finished product to viewing it as an ongoing evolution, everything changes. Your newsletter, your offers, your entire business can be a reflection of your current growth edge.
Here's what I've learned: Your business isn't meant to be perfect. It's meant to be authentic. It's meant to grow with you. It's meant to be sacred.
This doesn't mean it's always easy. Leo shared honestly about his own struggles with receiving feedback and recognition. But that's exactly where the growth happens - in those moments when we choose to stay open despite our discomfort.
What would become possible if you approached your business as a sacred practice of creation? If instead of waiting until everything was perfect, you started sharing from exactly where you are?
This is what we explore in Sacred Growth Club - how to build a business that's not just profitable, but deeply aligned with who you are becoming. We help you navigate those vulnerable moments of sharing your gifts, of putting yourself out there, of taking the Love-Led Leap.
Because here's the truth: Your business isn't separate from your evolution. They're meant to grow together.
With deep appreciation,
Phil
P.S. If you're feeling called to explore what it means to build a Sacred Business, I invite you to take our Harmony Map Assessment. It's a powerful tool to help you visualize how you relate to yourself, your business, and something greater than both.