Bringing Together the Magic and the Mundane: Shaneh Woods’ Story

Shaneh Woods is the founder of Prosperity First, which empowers business owners to reach their dreams through a mix of magical and mundane tools such as Human Design and  Profit First. She brings together the data-driven world of accounting and the passionate world of mindset work to set her clients on the path to prosperity. Originally from North Pole, Alaska, Shaneh is a Certified Profit First Professional and a speaker, trainer, and coach.

What does your company do?

I help spiritual and creative entrepreneurs build innovative, purpose-aligned, financially strong, scalable businesses. As a coach, my mission is to help clients take their business to the next level to become as profitable as possible, all while moving towards their life goals. My company also offers bookkeeping and uses the Profit First system, which in the simplest terms means you set aside your profit first then pay your expenses out of what’s left. It’s the opposite of what a lot of businesses do, but the growth potential is incredible.

What was a major challenge you had to overcome to get to where you are today?

My business was bringing in $700K a year. But to get there, I was working 80 or 90 hours a week. I worked myself into the ground. I wasn’t eating or sleeping well. I didn’t take care of myself. Eventually I lost feeling in my hands and feet. What really scared me was when my husband saw me run my finger through a pot of boiling water on accident and I didn’t react. I couldn’t feel anything.  The doctors in Alaska put me through test after test trying to figure it out. At first they told me it was all in my head. Then it was ALS. Parkinson’s. Every diagnosis under the sun. I was worried it’d take too long to figure out and eventually I’d lose feeling permanently, so I packed up and moved to Ohio where I could get better medical care. My husband had to stay in Alaska so we could keep our health insurance, meaning I was completely alone in a new state. Finally, I was diagnosed with MS, which I still don’t think is right. But it was the most helpful diagnosis I was ever given. It turns out I’m allergic to all the drugs for MS, so the only way the doctors said I could manage it was with lifestyle changes. The biggest trigger was stress. I read a book called The Upside of Stress and started implementing the exercises to change my mindset around stress. Within a week, I could feel my feet again. And in two weeks, I could walk pain-free. Trying to “hustle” almost killed me. Now I’m running a prosperous business without working myself to death, so I know it’s possible. And I know that carrying that much stress doesn’t make your business — or your life — any better.

What makes you stand out from others in your field?

The combination of mundane and magic. You are not going to find another accounting firm that leads with magic.

What exciting projects are on the horizon for you?

I’m looking at what I love about my business and what I want to change. With that, I completed my breathwork certification and my Human Design certification. Human Design is another modality like Enneagram or Myers-Briggs that offers insights into who a person is. What makes it unique is that it also shows your highest version of yourself that you’re designed to be. I’ve been working with Human Design with clients privately, and now I’m releasing a public workshop to have an even greater impact. It’s really powerful work. I can’t wait to share it!

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