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Today, I'm here with Malou, and I'm so excited to talk to you. Malu Malu is a graduate, almost, of the Elevate Mastermind, and her story is just phenomenal. So I'm super excited to hear it from you today. Maluuba, just a short introduction. So Malu came to me.
Relinde Moors:She was already living in Spain. She's Dutch like me, but living in Spain with her husband and 2 young kids. So already living that beautiful dream lifestyle, if I may say so. That's what, they had already chosen and really bravely done that. And she was teaching singing classes, vocal classes in the area.
Relinde Moors:And she came to me and just to flash forward because we're gonna do the whole story, what happened is that she really raised her prices, had beautiful high end 1 on 1, clients really soon. So I think it was about, like, 8 weeks, and we'll get into the details, but really soon in the program and hit months as high as 9 k. And then she also did other things, create a membership and courses and retreats. So it's just such an inspiring story. And the most, like, recent celebration that she had was that she managed to, with her business, allow her husband to quit a job he really didn't like so that he can spend more time with the kids and that he can also, come on, like, work with Malu in their business, in Malu Music so that they can really combine their efforts and their talents and work together.
Relinde Moors:So incredible story. I've given a lot of the highlights, but we're gonna go deeper into this, like, what the real story behind this is. So, Malu, welcome today.
Malou Swart:Thank you so much for having me and for this beautiful introduction. Thanks.
Relinde Moors:Yeah. So nice. So nice. When you hear that, are you like, oh, yeah. That's me.
Relinde Moors:Or, like, how does it feel when you hear me introduce you in that way?
Malou Swart:Yeah. When you say it like that, I just felt excited myself. Like, yeah, this is probably this is really nice. It's really nice to share this story because I would have loved to hear this story. I think myself before starting to work with you because it's, yeah, it is inspiring and it is possible.
Relinde Moors:Yeah. Mhmm. Those are so big. It is possible. So maybe let's right away go there a
Malou Swart:little bit. Before we started
Relinde Moors:working together, where did you find yourself? What what made us you know, what what made it that that you, in the end, decided to join, but also where were you before that?
Malou Swart:So before that, like you said, I had, like, a 1 year 1 year before I started working with you, I opened my my singing practice here in Neha, Spain. And it was nice. People came in from the beginning and for, you know, individual sessions, and I had little groups that I worked with. But it was all, people were really happy and satisfied. But for me, it was really I had a very unpredictable, income because people could just come or not come.
Malou Swart:And my prices, my hourly rates were, quite low. So for me, it was just basically hard to make a living from it. While at the same time, I really felt from very deep within, like, I really need this is what I'm supposed to do. But I was then having actually putting out like the question to the universe, like, okay, if this is what I'm supposed to do, then please let it also be like profitable for me because otherwise I'm going to have to stop it and find myself another job. So that prayer I sent out into the universe.
Malou Swart:And then I I I think I just saw an ad of you on Facebook. And I
Relinde Moors:I think so. You signed up for one of my, like, 5 day challenges.
Malou Swart:Yes. And
Relinde Moors:that's how we met. Yeah. Are you willing to share, what your prices were before that? Because I think it's interesting to see, like, where it went. So Yeah.
Relinde Moors:When you were doing the groups and and one on one sessions, what did you charge for them back then?
Malou Swart:So for a group, session, an hour was €10. And individual sessions, if you would buy, like, 10 sessions at once, it would have been €440. And this like, a separate lesson was 55. Yeah.
Relinde Moors:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I remember quite soon, we looked at that and that idea of like, hey, if I if this is really what I meant to do, let it be profitable. Let it, like, support a life that I really wanna live.
Relinde Moors:I think we figured out quite quickly, like, with those numbers and especially, you know, with the limited time that we all have and that you have, that just would never work out. So I think that was also the one of the first things what you did. Right? Like, create a different program other than, like, a package of 10 sessions. And we just talked about it a little bit.
Relinde Moors:So tell me more about that. Like, what was that first thing that you did once you once we started working together?
Malou Swart:What I did, what we did together was okay, stop focusing on just saying what you do, but start to talk about the transformation that people go through when they work with you. Because I, in Holland, I used to work as a spiritual caregiver. So for me, working with the voice and singing is never just a plain singing lesson, but I wasn't, I, I wasn't capable of communicating what it actually was that I was doing. So you really helped me to start to become more clear about the transformation that I saw my clients already also in that low price go through. So from feeling insecure and held back to really feeling confident and coming out into the open.
Malou Swart:And it doesn't have something to do just with learning the right techniques. Like there was deeper coaching going on. So, and then to package that, like, not just say like, oh, you can come whenever you want. Or if you want to do 2 lessons. No, I felt like what really like, inspires me and nourishes me is people go through, like, committing for a longer time.
Malou Swart:So I can see them go through that whole journey and come out transformed and different. So we said, okay, let's do or I felt or together. I don't know. Okay. Let's package into 3 month journeys and make a price that is, like, symbolizing the value that is happening there, like, transformation wise.
Malou Swart:Yeah.
Relinde Moors:Yeah. Wow. That is so key to start to not only understand that you need to communicate the transformation rather than what you do, but then also what you said is not you can know that, but it can be really hard to figure that out and find those words. So I do have, like, it's hard to see the message when you're in the bottle. And you did that, and then it was really quick.
Relinde Moors:Was it within the first 8 weeks? I don't remember that you sold your first, yeah, higher end, programs to 1 on 1 to individual students. Tell me a bit about more about that because that jump was literally from I think it was 5 times the price or something. It was a more 2,000 plus investment for them. And I think some people listening are going to be like, I just don't see myself doing that.
Relinde Moors:Can you speak to that? Like, how how did that go for you?
Malou Swart:Yeah. Well, what was very helpful, of course, is to hear from you and hear from other students in in your mastermind that it is possible. And then, of course, like the first, I remember I think I sold 2 in the first 2 of these packages in the 1st 8 weeks. And I remember having these calls with these people and I was just really nervous and scared to just the first times to get that number out of your mouth. Yeah.
Malou Swart:I was like, really? And then people just saying, yes. Yeah. That's alright. When shall we start?
Malou Swart:And then inside, it's really like, nah, celebration and oh my goodness. This really works. Oh my goodness. Thank you. Thank you.
Malou Swart:Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah. No.
Malou Swart:It's not like at once then you're really cool and easy about that. No. Of course, it's a journey. Yeah.
Relinde Moors:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But you did it.
Relinde Moors:You did it fast. So what is your what do you feel make the biggest difference for you that you could do that also maybe in the personal? Like
Malou Swart:well, for me, just it felt like showing up just showing up on another level. So showing up for me, for myself. Okay. This is what I have to offer, and it's great. And this is also if I wanna offer this, then I also need something else in return that I had before because otherwise, I'm gonna stop doing this because, we, we need to live and we need to eat and we need to, you know, just like normal people.
Malou Swart:So showing up for me, but also showing up on another level for my clients. Like, okay. Yes. I do wanna I already know that I have great gifts and talents, but I also, I don't want I wanna stop running around serving too many people for too little money so they don't get the best of me. Okay.
Malou Swart:Yes. If you say yes to working with me, I am all in. Like, I I for me, I don't like doing things just on 75% and then just no. If I'm there with you, I'm there with you. And then so it was creating space in my calendar.
Malou Swart:So really full feeling more and more that yes to that. And then, of course, combined with what you do, what I really, really love is shifting these limiting beliefs that we have about ourselves or about our offers or about how the world works or not works. And to shift that subconscious programming that we have, slowly slowly. Yeah. Bit by bit.
Malou Swart:Yeah.
Relinde Moors:Yeah. Yeah. Do you remember? I always I'm curious. Do you remember a belief that felt pretty key for you to shift, to be aware of it to shift?
Malou Swart:Well, just the fact that there's people out there that wanna that can and want to pay this amount of money because I didn't grow up being used to spending 1,000 of euros on my own development. Yeah. Of course. Like, just the usual stuff, like go to university and, you know, the earthly what we all see as usual usual path for development. But, yes, that, of course, of course, there's people out there and you can level up in that sense, the people you work with.
Malou Swart:Yeah. If you can get behind that, like energetically, then that can happen. Yeah.
Relinde Moors:Yeah. I love that. It's such a big one because so many people think here, but I my audience would never pay that or I don't have these people around. Oh, then I just need to find only rich people, and they're, like, sort of, like, faraway creatures that are, like, alien to me. But it's actually really about that communicating, that transformation, and finding the person that is just really, happy to pay you for that because they want the transformation so badly.
Relinde Moors:Mhmm. And you said so this is working. So the 1 on 1, you're doing this beautiful it's 1 on 1 in person. Right? And people have, like, VIP hours, days.
Relinde Moors:Yeah.
Malou Swart:But also, I I I do also, because sometimes I give, like, workshops in different countries, and then there's people that say, like, hey. I really wanna work with you, and then we do it online, and it works actually, equally well. Yeah. So Beautiful.
Relinde Moors:Yeah. Yeah. On both online and in person and you help people, maybe let's talk a little bit about that. What is it? Because, so it's voice liberation.
Relinde Moors:We actually have a whole podcast with you talking about what you do because I find it fascinating, plus very helpful for, entrepreneurs and us putting ourselves out there, but just a little bit more, like, what do you help your clients to? Like, what is it? What's the magic that you create with them?
Malou Swart:Well, it's like zooming into the to the different levels of what it means to use your voice. So whether it is through singing or speaking, many people think like, oh, if I just train for years years years, then I can sing. Or if I just focus really hard or use the right this tone or that kind of way I speak, then I can speak or sing. Well, for me, it is about finding your way of accessing your voice, of embodying your voice, of, really connecting to what is actually the message? What do you have to say, or what do you have to sing, and how does that resonate with you and with your life story?
Malou Swart:And can you really not just feel that on the inside, but use your unique, voice because we all sound different as a as an instrument or as a vehicle to to connect to others. And then what is actually blocking you now? So it's a lot of has a lot to do with empowerment with, also with just now I had a session was all about positive self talk. Like, if you have a gig, if you're singing in front of an audience, what do you do? If you if there's like one little note that doesn't go well, we are many people are used to saying like, oh, gosh.
Malou Swart:Oh, I should have done better. And then you go in this downward spiral. But what if you if these are the moments for you to grow and to say, hey, Doesn't matter. Come on. You can do this.
Malou Swart:And so how do you deal with yourself while you use your voice? So it well, the voice in all its layers, we we've got another podcast.
Relinde Moors:Well No. But this is beautiful. I may have another podcast about that, but I am happy that you share it because this is also that, like, it's not just it's not just the voice. It's not just the singing. Yes.
Relinde Moors:It's that. And it's using that tool, but it's also being able to speak up what you want. Like, to stop people pleasing, to really say no when you mean it, and say yes when you mean it. To express your true message in the world. So it's incredibly powerful what you do.
Relinde Moors:And I think that's also what we see in the client's stories that I see from you. Mhmm. When you share them is that people really discover a layer of themselves or discover an ex way to express themselves, not only in those sessions with you, but in their life. Yeah. That is life changing.
Relinde Moors:And that I think you've really managed, you really managed to communicate that. It it happened before in your sessions, but now people can see the value. Yeah. And that's why you can sell it more. Hey.
Relinde Moors:When we, talked about this before we started recording your setup, there's another thing, Melinda, that I really started doing, this year is that you started to experiment more with things. I think you created a membership. You've done a retreat. You've been teaching overseas. You've been doing all these beautiful things.
Relinde Moors:So, overseas, I mean, in other countries. I meant, like, internationally teaching and then that what you just said, like, maybe getting a client from there. Tell me more about the things. What were you talking about when you said I now dare to experiment and put things out there and as a business owner, really see, like, hey. Yeah.
Relinde Moors:What kind of offers can I create and and put out there in the world?
Malou Swart:Yeah. I think working with you has opened like a whole new horizon, which was possible also because I created, like, more space, obviously, in my calendar. And then, like, okay. There's a whole, for example, online world out there, And there's, like, of course, like, 1,000,000,000 of people on the planet. That and there must be quite some people interested in what I do.
Malou Swart:Okay? How can I reach these people? How what can I offer? And what I said, like, I'm still also in the process of of that of that experimenting. But just the main thing that for me has changed is that I start to feel and think more and more as a business owner instead of someone that is just really passionate about what she does.
Malou Swart:And, yeah, I could always feel from the inside, yes, this is what I what I love doing and what I'm supposed to be doing, but at the same time, to create, like, a little bit of distance between yourself and the fact that there is a business that needs to be healthy, and there are several ways to to run it, and to get the confidence to start to think as a business owner and to experiment and then even look at numbers, which is something that I try to avoid as much as possible. But then, okay, and taking conclusion. Yeah. This works great. This, not yet.
Malou Swart:Okay. So we need to adjust and to, to learn consistency, not give up. Yeah. And then having that support of the calls that we have with you, and seeing other people go through the same process and cheering each other on is is heaven because I think many people, many entrepreneurs, we are, you you know, we're stubborn, I guess. And we're used to doing it alone.
Malou Swart:Right? Yeah. And we have our own business because we we don't want to be bossed around by someone else. And because what we have to offer is unique. And so so on some level, we're aware of that.
Malou Swart:But there's also something like many of us, I think, especially like the people that you work with, the people that, you know, have done are working more in the spiritual field or, like, correct me if I'm Yeah.
Relinde Moors:Yeah. No. Absolutely. Yeah.
Malou Swart:We have, like, developed that soft side and that, like content work with people tremendously. And we're really good at that. I trust that, that most people that listen to you, like, they really have something to offer to the world. But then to develop that other side, which is that business, business side, which I always thought, like, yeah. Sure.
Malou Swart:That will show up automatically. Well, yeah, it can work for a little bit, but I couldn't really make a living from it in a way that I could sustain, like, a complete family. So to start to learn, to first admit, okay, I need to learn something there. And then to see that, that that can be done authentically is just really nice authentically, but no small playing, no, yeah, just really just stepping out there and saying, this is what I do. And if you wanna work with me, then, yeah, I'm all in.
Malou Swart:I want you all in. Yeah. And that you can say that smiling and and softly. Yeah. Still feeling it yourself.
Malou Swart:And otherwise, you know, that's why I created the membership, for example. Like, okay. Some people are maybe not, not there yet, or they first wanna sniff around a bit or, you know, and that's totally fine. You can do other things with me, but then you don't have that 1 on 1 access yet. And then so there is, like so it's starting to think, like, also more from their customer's perspective.
Malou Swart:Like, okay. If you're not ready yet to invest fully, which I totally understand if you don't know me yet, but then you can also start a bit further away and, you know, it's it's fun. It's becoming fun. Yeah. I'm more.
Malou Swart:Yeah.
Relinde Moors:Yeah. It's beautiful. So beautiful. And I think that is true like that. Like developing, Hey, I'm a business owner.
Relinde Moors:I'm not just a coach that is creating a busy job for myself or I'm slightly on the pay, you know, and that's, and and honestly, you say that's what, you know, most people that I work with are recognize themselves in that. I think it's because it was me, you know, 10 years ago, I really had to learn that. So I'm really happy that you brought that up. And that being said, when you decided to join. So, of course, Elevate Mastermind is one of, you know, is my highest end program, group program at the moment.
Relinde Moors:And, so that was quite an investment. Maybe the investment, kind of an investment you hadn't made before in your business, I think. So share with us a little bit. Where did you get the courage to do that?
Malou Swart:Well, I just I remember so I did your 5 day challenge, and then I remember being here, because I live in Spain, at the beach alone, like journaling a bit. And I just felt so deeply like, I, I really, I really want this. I really want to make this change. I just really want it. And I was literally crying and just saying like, oh God, show me a way that I can, that I can join this programme because I I have no clue.
Malou Swart:Like, I didn't have the can I name your pray price? The €11,000 in my bank account at all. Yeah. So I was like, I don't see how I can join, but I feel deep inside me, into my bones that I need to join this programme. And then I we had this we had a call together, and then you shared, like, that there is also a way to pay monthly, and then I was still like, yep.
Malou Swart:Pay monthly €1,000. I'm like, what the like, got really nervous because I was making maybe 1700 or 1800 a month Yeah. When I joined you. So I was like, okay. Great.
Malou Swart:But that's kind of like a leap of faith. But then just I think, for me, I always make these big decisions really based on intuition. And I knew that I felt so deeply that I needed to do that. So I could just find somehow, even though I was scared to death, trust together with you, like, of course, with you and your experience, like, okay, you can make especially because I already worked here for a year and had some people okay. You can make you can make this job and you can and you can make it work quickly.
Malou Swart:And even though I couldn't see yet how I could feel you could hold that vision for me. Yeah. And then I jumped. Yeah. And I've been able to pay you.
Malou Swart:So
Relinde Moors:You were. Absolutely. And you did it like beautifully, gracefully and, what you said in us in integrity, but you did, this is something I think, which is a great one for anybody joining any kind of program listening to this is you make the decision that you are gonna do it. You know? It's like it's in the end, it is not the coach or the program.
Relinde Moors:Of course, that that is what you know, the method that gets you there, but it is also you deciding, like, I'm gonna get these results. And I think that that is what you did, And that was really beautiful to see, to see that. Hey. And, how we already heard it. I already told, the story a bit about how your husband quit his job and went, you know, into the business with you, has more time to spend with the kids.
Relinde Moors:How would you say your life changed besides the business? What are the things that you were celebrating that has changed from a year ago?
Malou Swart:Well, like I said already, spacious, spacious schedule, immense, confidence growth. I get since I started working with you, there are so many people just sending me messages or walking to me on the streets saying so inspired. Even people that don't work with me, they'd say, oh, it's so inspiring. You're doing really well. Right.
Malou Swart:And just the, the w because I learned to, okay, what do you post instead of just posting your events on social media? You know, like, okay, what, what, what is your business really about? So that is very nourishing. Well, for example, now I am next week, I'm gonna go and get my reiki master, which had been a dream for a long time. Next week, I'm in Austria, Vienna, and, one more week also in in the summer.
Malou Swart:So I I become I've become less afraid of investing also in myself. Like just really seeing like, yeah, everything that I put in me just brings another level of that I can give to the world. So you think like, oh, if I'm gonna charge higher prices, as if that is a bad thing, well, actually, it it amplifies my power because I can invest and get in me and I can invest in ads, for example, now so I can reach more people. And Yeah. There's this whole thing about money that that still isn't completely cleared out, I can see in my mind.
Malou Swart:But as if it's bad that you wanna charge more, bad that you wanna attract more, you should be able as if it's spiritual to be able to live with very little money. And, well, it's just basically really stressful to need to to live with very little money. And how beautiful if you can really nourish yourself in time, in education, in so there's just more and more and more to give in a in a more empowered way. So it's just the other way around. But gosh, it's yeah.
Malou Swart:It takes some reprogramming. And, yeah, I'm just doing, keep doing that work. And for me, it felt felt like an immense not just a business speed up, but a personal growth program, you know, and that's just that's why I love the way you do what you do. It's combining the 2. It's not it's not just business, and it's not just you trying to hustle your way around.
Malou Swart:It's, you know, bringing this inner growth together with okay. And how do you put that in the business? And then, boom. Yeah. Okay.
Malou Swart:So it feels at the same time, like it, this is just the beginning. That's how I feel. Yeah.
Relinde Moors:Yeah. Yeah. And it is anyway, it's just the beginning You have now you have your message out there. You're having all these beautiful offers. You have opportunities.
Relinde Moors:Yeah. We didn't even talk about the ads, but you did get ads in. Like, you tow into, like, ads and, like and I actually made that work from the get go. Of course, that is a journey. But
Malou Swart:Thanks to my husband. Yeah.
Relinde Moors:Thanks to your husband, who could also join you in the business. So really beautiful to see that. Amazing. I'm so grateful you wanted to share your story, Malu. Is there anything that we haven't touched upon that you wanted to say before we end this conversation today?
Malou Swart:Well, I think and just as a disclaimer, you didn't ask me to say this. No. I just feel that the way that you show how how you show with integrity from the first moment that I did something with you that has it has been like that, like, throughout the whole program. So that I mean, I know it's because I also met you online even though, like, we're both Dutch. But Yeah.
Malou Swart:That that you are just you're very reliable, very personally, you know, involved, encouraging, and have that beautiful combination of, yeah, sometimes just calling you out. Like, okay. Come on. It's time to take these steps now. I think you're ready.
Malou Swart:Just go out there and stop doing inner work. You know? Just go do it. And sometimes just, you know, being that bright balance and sometimes, no. Okay.
Malou Swart:If there's deep stuff coming up, then also holding a space for that. So, yeah, I just wanna thank you. And and if there's people listening and that they're, like, still maybe considering that just from my heart, I can say, like, yeah, you you really made a a huge change. And and to just if people feel some resonance with what you do that, yeah, I can say it's definitely worth it. Yeah.
Malou Swart:Aw.
Relinde Moors:Thank you so much. That really touches me. That's definitely my values as well to, like, have that you know, there's a whole indeed. Yeah. You have that hands on marketing and we are, like, so bombarded with so many people, but to make that real and authentic.
Relinde Moors:And I love also that you said that you and your business felt like, hey. I can sell and and market and show up online in authenticity and actually call in the right people. So, Malu, you are definitely one of those that I'm like, you see it's magical Facebook ads because we can meet the exact right, meant to be clients through that. So I'm really grateful. It's been such a joy to work with you, but luckily not done yet.
Relinde Moors:So that's awesome. Again, thank you so much for this conversation. And, if anybody is interested after hearing this. So if you hear this story, you're like, oh, that sounds tempting. I want to know more.
Relinde Moors:Just send me a DM on Instagram. Write me elevate. You can tell me that you listened to the episode with Malu, and I can ask you some questions to see if you are in the right spot to go here as well. So please do that. If you wanna find Malou, Malou, where do we find you?
Malou Swart:Innermusicmethod.com.
Relinde Moors:Innermusicmethod.com. We'll make sure to, add add the link and, I can highly recommend. And then, also, we have another episode with Malus, so look for it in the podcast, and it's very, much worth to listen to as well. So thank you, Malu. Thank you for joining us today on the Choosing Ease podcast.
Relinde Moors:Remember to subscribe so you never miss an opportunity to connect. And I'd be so grateful if you could share your thoughts in a review. Join me next time as I continue to explore the powerful skills and strategies that will help you to let go of everything that keeps you from fully sharing your genius. You are destined for greatness. And through the Choosing Ease podcast, I'm here to help you own your unique wisdom and share it with the world.
Relinde Moors:Until next time, keep choosing ease.