Episode Transcript
Alara Sage (00:02.311)
Hello, hello, and welcome to another episode of Wealth Embodied, where we activate and inspire you in wealth consciousness, creative genius, and visionary impact. I'm your host, Alara Sage. And today we're here to talk about how you can move from purpose to profit, how you can bring the things that really are aligned to you that feel good that you want to create in this world and turn that into a profit. And we're here with our wonderful guest,
Elona Lopari (00:16.272)
Thank you.
Alara Sage (00:31.677)
Alona Lepore, who is the CEO of the Life School, where they help visionary leaders, CEOs grow legacy purpose driven businesses through inter alignment, branding, marketing, sales and team so that they can maximize their impact and income to do more good in the work. And Alona, I also know that you've written several books and you've had a lot of really beautiful speaking engagements. So I'm really honored to have you here.
Elona Lopari (00:54.608)
you.
Elona Lopari (01:00.024)
I'm honored to be here. Thanks so much for inviting me and the beautiful space you have created.
Alara Sage (01:06.065)
So I want to bring your story forward because I found it very interesting in what I read about you at the age of 15. You came to the US from Albania. And one of the things that you wrote really struck me. says that you realize this definition of success was not as fulfilling as promised. So can you speak a little bit to this journey that you had at 15?
Elona Lopari (01:06.724)
So.
Elona Lopari (01:22.128)
kill them.
Alara Sage (01:34.626)
and how this redefined what success was for you.
Elona Lopari (01:40.08)
Yeah, absolutely. Looking back, obviously, you know, everything that happened always happens for a purposeful reason. This is what I've realized throughout my experience and now in maturity through the years. But yeah, I moved to the U.S. when I was only 15, my parents from Albania, looking for the American dream, right? We come from a small European country, so we're looking for my dad specifically. He's still very early in me as I was the oldest child.
the American dream, the fact that there's opportunities here and you've got to work hard and be able to get the career, the right relationships, the home and the car and the security that America was able to provide. without questioning that, I started working very early at the early age of 15 because of what I saw in my family was needed. My parents didn't speak the language, no connection. So I grew up very fast, pretty much had to be the third income in the family.
also helped my younger siblings. And then I graduated with my bachelor in business management and finance, which happened to be a very, you know, something that I didn't do with a lot of awareness choosing my major because obviously I didn't know who I was. And I know that's a, you know, big conflict for a lot of people that go to school at that early age, but I just leaned on my intuitive insight that I enjoyed marketing and sales classes and business overall. So.
That worked out over the years and then I climbed the corporate ladder without questioning it anything I thought that was gonna be the thing the highlight to my success Meanwhile, I had met my husband and we had our kids and bought our home and all of that only to climb all the way to the C-suite in my corporate career and realize the success that I had built Was no longer really fulfilling me because I started questioning, you know
lots of, I guess, inner questions at that point, I started hearing an inner voice around like, well, is there all there is? This is not, you know, this is not what I thought it would be. So I still felt like a big gap and lack inside of me, which at that time, I did not understand what it was. But that was my moment of kind of going within and figuring out some of the personal stuff that was holding me back. And where were some of the gaps?
Elona Lopari (03:55.056)
as to what was I had achieved on the outside, but also how I was feeling on the inside, which was definitely misalignment.
Alara Sage (04:04.421)
And so what were some of those gaps? mean, not necessarily in detail, but in general idea, what was that gap? Why was, you know, the C suite and everything that you had created, why was it not filling you anymore?
Elona Lopari (04:17.72)
Yeah, well definitely the the fact that I had pretty much chased all my life and for the longest time I had achieved as a way to cope with some of the inner feelings or old traumas and things that I had to overcome that I was doing just because of lack and fear. So I had to go within with lots of that and do lots of inner work to kind of heal some of those parts of me where my whole definition of
kind of how I needed to feel loved from the people that I cared about was to achieve. That was my purpose. That was what I do. It wasn't because of who I was or kind of the world of my own in it self-worth. So I had to, you know, realign lots of those priorities for sure. And meanwhile, while I was doing a lot of this inner work, my company was acquired by another company. So the positions that I was holding,
was no longer really in good alignment with what I was doing. They were cutting a lot of positions. So the company was pretty much restructuring and the culture turned very profit driven. So that was my second clue to kind of just look for something else. It's almost like when you're doing some of this transformative work, outside circumstances also line up to kind of push you to the next thing. And that's where entrepreneurship showed up for me. I never thought I'd be an entrepreneur.
However, I didn't want to go through another nine to five another company. It just felt like I've been there done that So I ventured out to kind of see What I could do with pairing and using my experience that I had gained to in the company I worked for but also some some of my personal experiences and somehow I was gonna be able to Package all of that and then go out on my own So that that was the journey from corporate to entrepreneurship
Alara Sage (06:06.907)
Yeah, and it feels like a journey to your purpose, right? Of really moving from achieving kind of for your family where you were 15 and that carried forth throughout your early adulthood to really perhaps, you can tell me if I'm correct on this, creating something more for yourself, right? More of your own purpose. Is that how it felt?
Elona Lopari (06:29.422)
Yeah, I started to feel the need. mean, throughout my experience, had learned because I also did many, I worked in HR for many years and I realized, wait, what makes people happy? What makes people really fulfilled at the work they do? It was really around them believing in what they were doing and how that was creating impact and also growth and contribution. So I had already clarified.
of those pieces. when I went out on my own, besides obviously the flexibility that was the more ceiling, I could make the decisions. I could choose the work I wanted to do in the world. I could choose to learn and grow every day. Things that have become more very important to me throughout my journey, that was going to keep me fulfilled. So I just paired a lot of that. And that's why even today I chose purpose, right? And then obviously throughout the journey, had to figure out the profit piece because I think a lot of the challenge with
You know, our experience is sometimes packaging that or even building a successful company out of that that makes profit as well, because that's really how we can sustain our efforts and do this full time and more than full time sometimes for lots of entrepreneurs. So through realizing through my experience and patching some of my strengths throughout the journey, which we're always in business acumen and leadership, I said, okay, I think this is kind of the dots that I want to connect in the world and the way that I want to create impact.
for other people, which are people that are now choosing to lead with their heart and purpose and intuition, but have the big gap of how to now ensure that that's being built into a successful company that can be self-led, can be exited from, or can be used as philanthropy and devir. So it just became very clear to me that that was the work I wanted to do in the world. And yeah, and that wakes me up every day through my mission and purpose.
Alara Sage (08:20.827)
I think for a lot of people, it wasn't even that long ago, that many generations, our parents, our parents' parents, that the idea of turning your purpose to profit wasn't even on the table. You just did what was available to you and to survive. So I think a lot of people are still battling with this idea that you can turn your purpose
Elona Lopari (08:23.856)
Thank
Alara Sage (08:50.979)
into profit, you can turn what you feel drawn to the impact you want to make in the world into profit. What would you say to the people that are still doubting that this is possible?
Elona Lopari (09:00.715)
Thank
Elona Lopari (09:05.584)
Well, to connect themselves with people that are doing what is it that they really feel compelled to do? I think what I've learned throughout my journey is that some of the things that I felt were impossible. I was able to have faith on what I was feeling and the dots that keep connecting in our journeys and our personal lives. They were the right dots for me because I think we all have a unique path, obviously a unique journey. The things that attracted me.
were really the things that lit me up and excited me. And over the years, I've become even more aware to pay attention to that. Whether before I was gonna, I would be just like somebody that you mentioned in the question would be meaning, well, group for them, they get to follow that. I got kids, I got my job, I got my bills, I got my, cause you know, that's what you do every year, right? You always raise your standard of living and then that keeps you in the rat race. That keeps you doing the things that.
you know, you don't want to do. So my prior version of me would have done the same thing, meaning like, well, I don't think I believe in things like that. That's maybe something to do when I'm done with all the stuff, the responsibilities of life, like with the day to day things that we have to do. But what I've learned is again, to do it the smart way. If you have the option, I at least did it based on my circumstances. Sometimes those are not available for people, but follow your intuition.
If you need to obviously have some security with another source of income, keep that going while you start to transform and build yourself through this other journey and follow your curiosity because eventually, you you'll start to piece all those pieces together so that maybe that will become your full-time thing eventually. I say the thing that helped me the most is learn, learn, learn, grow every day, become a life student.
Stay persistent to the thing I was feeling. And also align with the people that were already doing what I'm doing. Because there's always somebody in the world that is doing what you're doing. Even though obviously we're very creative and innovative beings, you can always craft your own path. But I think at the beginning you do need to lean on other people's experience for sure. Because you don't even know what you stand for or what are those things that you want to do. So just keep following your curiosity.
Elona Lopari (11:27.034)
You don't have to make major life events, changes, unless obviously those are made involuntarily. I know a lot of people have lost their incomes. So, which in a way that becomes a little bit easier because now you're just focused on that and you're committed. But when you have a few options as humans, we always choose the easiest way out. So depending on how you look at it, make with what you have, but begin, start, because unless you start, everything is a process.
Unless you start, you never know what would be the next step that will follow because you haven't even taken any action. with years and wisdom and experience, you learn to time things and take inspired action. But I think at the beginning, you just take any action because you just always learn something on the other side.
Alara Sage (12:12.957)
I think that's such a super important point is to start because when we have these ideas, these visions, the intuitive hits, sometimes they can seem, well, they're far away and perhaps even daunting. hear a lot of people say it's overwhelming to think of how would I even start to create that? But like you said, you don't know how it's going to happen until you start. And it's kind of like that put one foot in front of the other. Right. And then oftentimes more of the path is revealed and or
Elona Lopari (12:35.728)
Thank
Alara Sage (12:41.841)
Like you said, you're just taking action, whether it's aligned action or intuitively driven action, but you're still taking action. And I think that is the point where people often get kind of caught as they don't start. They don't just simply follow those intuitive hits, take the action, let yourself make the mistakes, right? Let yourself not be perfect.
Elona Lopari (12:46.349)
Thank you.
Alara Sage (13:06.877)
What would you say is really one of the things that you see show up a lot with your clients as one of the biggest challenges to turn purpose into profit?
Elona Lopari (13:18.906)
Yeah, love that question because it's really the missing of the know-how of how to turn whatever passion they have or whatever hobby or whatever experience because obviously in order for you to support others, you you at least would have to overcome something so that now you have a process that you can take other people through so they can get their results or help them solve their problems. So that'd be the first one, having clarity on the big roadmap of growing the prophet piece.
of understanding how to do, usually work under the timeless pillars of branding, marketing, sales, systems, and team, because this is still the language of business. However, we also align the inner work piece and the authenticity. And with the world that we're living in, it's become even more important to be an authentic brand, to be an authentic person, right? For you to be in service and to be able to do this in the human way.
because now we obviously have the technology advancing every day. So I think it's important for people to understand how to connect those dots. And that's the big gap I saw in the market with my experience is that, you know, they just people had different information. Like there's many ways to grow business. So they were doing the marketing on one end and then the branding on another end and then book writing and then speaking and then sales, like all the different functions when all of them at the end of the day can all should work together in harmony.
so that you can get to the profit piece as well and be able to solve the first problem, which is consistent cashflow in your company. And then the second one, which is scaling, meaning moving beyond yourself because you're at capacity, which is the second good problem to have. And now you're bringing in systems and processes to systematize some of the things that you're doing, but also bringing in your teams. So just looking at that big picture, I've always been somebody that had the ability to just connect all the right dots in order of priority.
so that you're focusing on the right activities in your business to be able to solve the right problem. Because another big gap I see with my clients and also in the marketplace is that in business, it's like a chess game. If you're doing the wrong thing at the right time of the stage of the growth that you're in, you're not gonna get the same results. So that frustrates lots of people that gets them discouraged, that gets them to hustle, that gets them to work extra hard, all these things to try to compensate.
Elona Lopari (15:39.898)
for maybe some of the ego stuff, meaning, well, I'm working on this, I'm gonna make sure it works at the cost of their health, relationships, all those things that usually happen with that. So I've realized that having a clear map where you're very intentional and you're implementing the right things at the right time can be the game changer in buying you back time, making you money, but also vice versa, saving you money and saving you time. Because over my years, I've realized time is the most important.
thing that we have because we don't get that back is the most limited resource. Money is not. So just connecting all those dots for people has been really, really helpful for the results I've been able to create with my companies. I call them my companies, like the people that are supporting and creating impact. And if I can have a little touch in that, that's my mission. That's why I do what I do, especially people in the service space.
Service is hard to scale and product and I love service because it's in service to ours others So yeah, those are the things that I would say are really what's holding most entrepreneurs back
Alara Sage (16:47.633)
That was well said and beautifully laid out. mean, I could see it, you know, I had the visuals of it. And there's a couple of words that you said that I just adore. And I really feel like you're speaking my language as far as authenticity and intuition, because as you mentioned, I feel very strongly that now the more than ever and moving forward, we're going to be required to be truly authentic and the brands that are more authentic, the corporations that are most authentic.
These are the ones that are going to succeed because that's really where we are in humanity. That's what we desire. It's what we want. And we really, the more we connect to that authenticity, the more we connect to that intuition and being intuitively driven. These are words that are still pretty new in the realm of business, corporation. Do you find a lot of pushback at all?
with regards to the word intuition when you're speaking to your clients.
Elona Lopari (17:48.42)
Yeah, I think we're heading towards positive change because companies, again, you could do anything proactively or passively while you wait for factors to come towards you. And then the marketplace conditions change. most companies are having enough education nowadays that they're proactively taking these steps to be able to implement them in their companies and businesses and kind of change the status quo from how we were used to doing business in the past because
dishes have changed, your teams are not looking for the same things. You're now serving to a different generation. Your markets are more mature. The way that people buy has changed, right? From just hybrid environments, right? From live to virtual. So there's lots of changes that are waking up the leaders, meaning to go more towards the consciousness of the individuals and the unity of the business. Because at the end of the day, a business is just a
independent process, know, entity of processes and people that should operate, you know, well together. So I would say that because I work with corporations as well. from startup all the way to 10 million in revenue, I've seen a positive change in the marketplace because the information content is everywhere and companies obviously want to stay competitive, want to stay in business. So leaders are being more proactive around hiring people.
to be able to help them implement some of these things within their teams and cultures and clients. we're definitely heading in the right direction, just like any change, it takes time. We're also seeing the political atmosphere and all these other things. So the changes and the shifts are bigger than us. So either you stay in the same spot and hopefully you're gonna survive, I don't know about that, or you pivot and you transform.
And then you have a chance to be able to innovate. Cause I mean, we all know or seen stories of companies that have been able to really be successful in times of winters or pivoted pivots or challenging times. So it's, it's just up to the decision maker at the end of the day to stay where they are or get left behind. say, so, you know, it's a lot of what's happening is making the decision for the business owners or the CEOs. So.
Elona Lopari (20:10.928)
We're heading in the right direction for sure.
Alara Sage (20:14.397)
I find that our intuition is the one that lets us be either in alignment with those changes and oftentimes a couple of steps ahead of those changes. So similar to what you were saying, instead of responding or reacting to the market, we're actually in flow with where everything is moving and changing. Is there anything you want to tell people who
Elona Lopari (20:36.688)
Thank
Alara Sage (20:38.981)
understand that they have intuition and are connected to that in their business and they're really wanting to bring that more in, but sometimes have that inner distrust.
Elona Lopari (20:49.828)
Yeah, I think it's back to self care, right? Taking care of yourself so you can take care of everything else. Find channels, find ways that work for you to be in stillness and in calm. That's actually where my most brilliant ideas have come from. Not from just following along and copycatting everything around me, but closing the doors and just going within and sitting with some of that. So for some people it could be walking in nature, it could be meditation, could be journaling, it could be drawing.
Leaning into some of those things that help us kind of focus and stop thinking and tap into our heart, which is such a challenge for me and a lot of people for sure to kind of just quiet the noise of our mind to be able to listen to that intuition. But through my, I've recently had a spiritual awakening and I could see firsthand how all our five senses can just fire up. And we all have this ability within us. However, we were never trained how to use it.
You know, we just don't trust it and we don't think that it's inside of us. But now I believe this has become the biggest tool or resource that we have as humans when compared to some of the mechanical processes and systems that ChattGBT can do. And this will be now our new purpose, right, to be able to create it in human way as we're heading forward. So.
Alara Sage (21:58.897)
Yes.
Elona Lopari (22:16.708)
Yeah, that's why there's so much more awareness around that. But it's powerful to know that all of these are within us and we have that access. It gives you definitely a lot of empowerment in the days and times where you feel disconnected to your purpose and you have your ups and downs, which is normal. We all going through a human experience and we all will have those things. knowing that they're there.
Definitely keeps us curious to learn how to tap into them and lean into the ones that are more natural to us, just like anything, right? all, know, some things come more naturally than others and being smart about figuring out yourself and where you are the best at is definitely a competitive advantage. So why wouldn't you use it? But that's what I have to say about that. Yeah.
Alara Sage (23:04.805)
I love that you point to, we all have these abilities and it's so important to see it that way because it's not just that somebody else can do it, that we all have it. We just haven't been taught how to cultivate it. But the more time that we spend connecting with ourselves in that stillness, the more we bring these gifts to light. And I totally agree with you. This is really the tool that really sets us apart. And
Elona Lopari (23:17.284)
one minute.
Alara Sage (23:29.703)
especially since it's apart from chat, GVT, and AI currently anyways, but also gives us that edge that helps us become more successful, particularly in the years coming forward. There's going to be a lot of change and things are going to move really fast. And so as professionals, I feel very strongly that if we want to be successful, we really need to tap into that intuition so we can stay in the flow of the game.
Elona Lopari (23:36.944)
So thank
Elona Lopari (24:00.664)
Absolutely, it's definitely the future and with more chaos and more options and uncertainty we have to learn how to tap into the faith and some of the other factors or forces that are bigger than us to be able to help us navigate our paths.
Alara Sage (24:20.977)
Yeah, yeah, so wonderful. So how can people find you? It sounds like you work with entrepreneurs and businesses and corporations, right? All of the above. How can people find you and reach out to you?
Elona Lopari (24:37.54)
Yeah, I work with entrepreneurs in the startup phase all the way to 10 million revenue looking to solve those two problems, creating assisted cashflow and then scaling their companies beyond themselves. And they can find me on my website at lonalpareicoaching.com and I put together a free resource for your audience, which is a pre-master class, which talks about those pillars and how to connect those dots. And, you know, it'll be helpful for anyone to listen to it because then you can figure out where your gaps are.
Because that's my the thing that I do well and is connecting it so that you know like okay Here's the thing that I might be missing or the next puzzle piece that I might be missing Which is probably holding me back from the results that I'm able to create with my Profit piece because I really find the most people have discovered their purpose or at least have that intuition intuitive insight They're just missing the second piece. So that will probably be the best spot to At least continue this conversation on my website
Alara Sage (25:33.575)
Wonderful. Thank you so much for being here and sharing your story as well as your wisdom.
Elona Lopari (25:42.0)
Thank you so much for having me. It was a pleasure and I hope that I was able to add some value to your audience today. And yeah, good luck with everything in your mission and bring in amazing conversations like this to people where you just never know who is where in their journey and who needs to get a repeat or just dismiss in the next stop. And as long as we inspire each other, we're always gonna learn from each other, right? Humans always have learned from humans. So this is just another channel to be able to.
Alara Sage (26:05.511)
Yes.
Elona Lopari (26:10.177)
impact in the world. So thank you for doing the work you do and for having me today.
Alara Sage (26:14.449)
Hmm, wonderful. Yes. The connections are always so wonderful. How we learn from each other. It's just delicious. So wonderful. And to the audience, I recommend reaching out specifically if, you know, either you're in this phase where you're saying, wow, passionate profit. That sounds amazing. How do I do that? Right. Or you're in that startup of your business and it kind of feels like you are just taking action, throwing spaghetti at the wall. I mean, the roadmap.
that Elona mentioned sounds delicious, right? So if you need that roadmap, if you need to be able to see how do you bring your gifts, your skills into the physical reality and really create this profit from it, definitely reach out to her and as well as share this episode. I think there's a lot of people out there right now who are really desiring to turn their purpose into profit. So thank you all so very much. I appreciate you as the audience, as the listeners until next time. Much love.
Elona Lopari (27:03.022)
Bye.
Alara Sage (27:12.454)
Yay!
