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My senses were assaulted the moment I stepped into the lobby of my over-priced hotel.

My vision of “lobby” as a quiet, soothing pathway connecting the cocoon of my room to the great outdoors instantly shattered. Apparently, the Las Vegas translation of “lobby” is “casino”. 

Exiting the building felt like a top secret reconnaissance mission. My body moved through the dense fog of cigarette smoke, searching desperately for the tell-tale ray of sunshine beaconing me to safety. 

My path was thwarted by a spray-tanned cocktail waitress delivering a fresh round of watered down whiskeys to the huddled mass of inebriated middle-aged white dudes at the roulette table. 

I channeled my inner-Frogger skills to dodge waitresses, hazy-eyed slot machine enthusiasts, and a drunk man named Kevin who really wanted someone to remind him of his room number.

And it’s not just people you have to avoid! 

If you want to make it out alive, you must navigate through an obstacle course of neon flashing lights, sirens, whistles, and a booming recording of Pat Sajak yelling, “WE HAVE A WINNER!” 

My highly sensitive nervous system was seriously over-stimulated. 

I considered joining Kevin in the corner of the casino, crying and praying a grown-up would show up to help us find our parents.

But then I stepped in a puddle of something mysteriously sticky and doubled-down on my resolve to get the hell outta there. 

(Godspeed, Kevin! You’ll have to figure this one out on your own.) 

Honestly, I never thought I’d hear myself utter the words, “I’m going to Las Vegas.” 

But alas, my best friend, Kristine, really wanted to see Lady Gaga’s Jazz & Piano show for her birthday. I love jazz, Lady Gaga is the shit, and Kristine is the best! I decided to step out of my comfort zone to embark on this grand adventure. 

Vegas was disgusting and overwhelming. But I’d do it again to see Lady Gaga on stage! She was downright inspiring. Her presence, her talent, her stamina. She’s a living legend.

While I’m sure this wasn’t her #1 intention when she rolled out of bed that morning, her performance delivered 4 powerful business lessons I think we all need to hear. 

Without further ado, let’s call places! Cue the lights! Raise the curtain! 

Here are 4 lessons from Lady Gaga that’ll help you reveal the inner-superstar in your therapy business.

1. Own Your Stage 

The way Gaga sauntered onto the stage at the beginning of the show took my breath away. She communicated immediately that she was powerful and confident. 

Imagine what your business would be like if you approached each day with that power and confidence. If you owned the stage during every networking meeting, client session, blog post, workshop, etc. 

That superstar confidence makes you magnetic, and you need to be magnetic if you want the world to listen to what you have to say.

Say goodbye to the era of blank slate therapists fading quietly in the background. The world needs you to embrace your inner Lady Gaga and own your stage. 

2. Share Your Real Self

Throughout the show, Gaga wove in stories and anecdotes about her life and family. It made her feel more human, which made me feel more connected to her, which made me care more about her performance (i.e. her business). 

Stories connect people, and being human makes you more likable. We need more of this in our businesses. Our clients need us to be more human so they feel less alone, less defective, less less-than. 

I’ll probably never hang out with Lady Gaga IRL, but the way she shared those stories made me feel like we were old friends. It made me feel more connected to her music! The more you share your real self in your business, the better (especially if you want to create a next-level business).

Please note: I’m not suggesting you talk about yourself in client sessions. That’d be weird. The session is for the client, obvi. I’m suggesting you share more of your real self in your marketing! 

3. Be BOLD

No one is debating Gaga’s boldness. She’s just about as bold as they come. From her costumes and makeup, to the way she moves her body, to the moment she made it rain money in the theater (for realz), this woman is BOLD. 

She’s also super opinionated. She takes a stand for what she believes in and isn’t afraid to piss people off. This is terrifying for therapists who’ve been taught to be neutral and silent. We’re not allowed to be bold and opinionated, right? WRONG. 

Be who you are and say what you believe. It’ll attract the right clients to your business and make YOU feel more self-expressed. Both are key components to being deeply rested and wildly successful.

4. Don’t Do It Alone 

Gaga had a 30 piece band accompanying her on that stage, and who knows how many artists and techies behind the scenes. It’s a great reminder that while you are the star of your business, you cannot do it alone. 

You need emotional support from colleagues, friends, family, and you need strategic support inside of your business to bring YOUR magic to the stage. Maybe it’s a virtual assistant, associate, financial advisor, or business coach. 

Don’t try to do it all yourself. If Gaga can’t do it alone, neither can you. 

The era of neutral, boring, cardigan-wearing therapists has come to a close. 

(Unless you really like your Banana Republic caramel-colored cardigan, in which case, keep it! But if you’d prefer to swap it out for a leather jacket, now’s the time.) 

It’s time for you to embrace your personality and step into your spotlight. 

Let your business be your stage! 

Don’t be afraid to show people who you really are. I promise, it’ll make you 100x happier.

Does this resonate with you? If so, hit reply and let me know 1 part of your personality you want to express more of in your business this year! 🤩