Episode #297: Abundance & Detachment with Tiomi Gao

May 30, 2024

Setting goals is an important part of growing your business. Having clear, strategic, and realistic goals provides direction and motivation — but often we can struggle with being overly attached to our goals.

When we’re TOO attached to our goals and plans, we can cling tightly to them even when it would be better for us to pivot or shift. And if we fail to meet them, no matter the reason, this can leave us feeling miserable and discouraged. We need to learn how to emotionally detach in order to remain flexible, create better outcomes, and feel more successful!

In this episode of The Business of Thinking Big, I chat with Tiomi Gao, an award-winning Canadian photographer who specializes in contemporary beauty, family, and personal branding portrait experiences. Tiomi knows about shifting goals — before launching Blair Ann Studios, she was a respiratory therapist in the neo-natal ICU!

During this conversation, we explore Tiomi’s journey from healthcare to photography, the importance of being open to change and unexpected possibilities, and what it really means to scale a service-based business.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

How Tiomi narrowed in on wasn’t working in her business, so she could begin to scale further without burning out
How to recognize when you’re being driven by forcing energy (and how to shift into exploring energy)
How to stop feeding your frustration about failed goals — and cultivate gratitude and patience on your journey

Guest bio: Tiomi Gao is an award-winning Canadian photographer and the owner and creative mind behind Blair Ann Studios, which is located in Mississauga, Ontario. She believes in the power of the legacy of your photographs.

Timestamps:‌ ‌

00:34 Meet Tiomi Gao

02:31 Tiomi’s journey

07:03 Finding A-Players & MamaCon

09:32 What wasn’t working

12:13 Being open and strategic when shifting

15:34 Cookie example & the inner child

19:20 Becoming more mindful & honest

24:39 Forcing v. exploring energy

31:13 Ego, detachment & abundance

34:45 Using emotion as a guide

40:43 Cultivating & recognizing joy