Have you ever had a painful break up?
I have. Twice. And is sucks.
Everything reminds you of your beloved and all the wonderful memories you shared.
You either don’t feel like eating… or you can’t stop.
You can’t imagine ever being with anyone else.
The depression can last weeks or months…
And for some, moving on can take years.
It turns out there’s a reason why it feel like your heart truly is breaking.
A few years ago I shared a video called 12-Step Program to Getting Over a Breakup: The Science of Love.
The video was created by the digital media company SoulPancake (the company co-founder is actor Rainn Wilson of the American version of the hit TV show, The Office).
It explains how there are actual physiological reasons why we have a hard time getting over an ex.
Including the fact that the same regions of the brain are activated during a breakup as when an addict is going through withdrawal.
So it stands to reason that a 12 step-based model like Alcoholics Anonymous could facilitate recovery from heart-break as well.
The video is both informative and moving and features several newly heartbroken people trying out five steps to recovery.
Opportunity Knocks
It also made me curious as to how self-bossers are serving the needs of the brokenhearted.
A quick search turned up a three-day retreat called Renew Break Up.
The 3-day retreat is held in a beautiful rural location an hour outside of New York City and is the brainchild of Vancouver-based Amy Chan.
Reading about the retreat was interesting — but so was all the press it’s gotten.
It was actually from one of the many camp-related articles and television appearances that I learned about other enterprises aimed at the brokenhearted.
Like the break up coach in Toronto who makes up to $2,500 per client working primarily via email.
The articles also pointed to other opportunities for aspiring self-bossers.
For instance, two articles were by reporters who attended the camp in order to write an article.
Neither were recently heartbroken (which to me skews their experience).
More importantly, both writers were turned off by the same things: The New Age spiritual tone of the camp and the price.
Do you hear what I hear?
It’s the sound of opportunity knocking.
Clearly there are others who don’t care for this particular form of positive thinking. Which presents an opportunity to create either a non-spiritual or a different spiritual option for this audience.
Price is a relative thing.
For $1,500 for a single room ($1,000 for shared) you get a full weekend of yoga, acupuncture, delicious food prepared by a personal chef, group and individual counseling from three different experts all in a tranquil farm-like setting.
If you make good money, then it’s a small price to get what you need to move on.
For most people though, the price is out of reach.
Which means there’s an opportunity to create a lower priced event – or even some sort of online option.
By the way, you don’t need to be a coach, psychologist or other mental health provider to start your own heartbreak event, product, or service.
If you’re good at making things happen, you can partner with others who are better equipped to do the emotional heavy-lifting and you handle the marketing and logistics.
I noticed one final way you serve the brokenhearted.
At the end of The Science of Love video is a singer who belts out a customized rap song to comfort each of the people featured in the video.
If you have a knack for songwriting, then this could be the perfect profit center for you!
And if not, you could always hire songwriters on Fiverr!
Final Lesson
Do you need to launch your business on a budget?
If so, then take note of the national and even international press Chan was able to get for her retreats — including an appearance on The Doctors.
PR continues to be THE most underused yet immensely powerful way to promote a business.
And – it’s F-R-E-E!
Media can attract customers, clients, speaking gigs, book publishers, and potential partners or collaborators.
It can also position you as an expert in your field.
Even solo-entrepreneurs like you can get the attention of the press.
Look at me… these are just a few of the media where my career-related advice has appeared.
And if I can do it — trust me, so you can you.
So What About Your Dreams?
My mom died five months before her much-awaited retirement.
So what really breaks my heart is seeing people turn their back on their dreams.
What about you…
Are you still trying to figure out what you want to be when you “grow up”?
Or, maybe you know what you love to do… but have no clue how to make money doing it?
If you’re ready to start living the life you really want, I can help.
Click here to learn more about my Life First-Work Second approach to “outside the job box” career planning.
I’m booked for September but still have a few openings next month.
As George Elliott wrote, “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”
