Let's be real—when most executives hear "spiritual business coaching" or "intuition development," they either roll their eyes or quietly close the browser tab. I get it. The spiritual world is flooded with manifestation coaches promising you'll manifest a Tesla if you just visualize hard enough. But what if I told you that developing your inner authority and learning to trust your gut could actually be the competitive advantage you've been missing?

That's exactly what my guest Christina Trifero proved when she went from Silicon Valley tech executive to certified spiritual life coach—and built a thriving business helping other high-achievers do the same. Her approach to spirituality and entrepreneurship after 40 isn't about crystals and vision boards (though no judgment if that's your thing). It's about developing a practical spiritual strategy that complements your analytical skills, not replaces them.

The Real Cost of Ignoring Your Intuition

Here's what most successful people won't admit: you've been using intuition in business your entire career. Every time you had a "gut feeling" about a hire, sensed something was off in a negotiation, or knew a project was doomed despite perfect data—that was your inner authority trying to guide you.

The problem? We've been taught to dismiss these hits as "soft skills" or lucky guesses. Meanwhile, we're burning out from overthinking every decision, second-guessing ourselves into paralysis, and wondering why our perfectly logical choices sometimes lead to spectacular failures.

Christina's story is the perfect example. She had all the external markers of success in Silicon Valley—great salary, oceanfront apartment, prestigious role—but something felt off. Instead of ignoring that whisper (like most of us do), she listened. The result? Her company literally paid her to leave, she found her dream home by "challenging the universe," and she's now building a business that serves her soul and her bank account.

How to Tell Real Intuition from Wishful Thinking

The biggest question I get about intuition development is: "How do I know if it's real guidance or just what I want to hear?" Christina's answer changed how I think about this entirely.

Real intuition feels calm and matter-of-fact. It doesn't scream at you or create urgency. It's that quiet knowing that whispers, "This is the way," even when it doesn't make logical sense yet. If you're obsessing over a decision, spinning in anxiety, or feeling desperate about an outcome, that's your ego talking—not your inner wisdom.

Authentic spiritual strategy involves non-attachment. True intuitive guidance isn't obsessed with getting its way in a very specific manner. It's open to how things unfold. When Christina wanted to leave California, she didn't demand a particular job in a specific city. She set her intention and stayed open to how the universe would deliver.

Your body holds the answers. Intuition lives in your chest, your gut, your skin—not your spinning brain. When Christina talks about "challenging the universe," she's describing how she tests her intuitive hits by asking for confirmation and then pays attention to how opportunities unfold in her physical reality.

The Executive's Guide to Releasing Control

For high-achievers, the concept of "releasing control" sounds about as appealing as a root canal. But here's what Christina taught me: releasing control doesn't mean becoming passive or abandoning strategy. It means holding your goals lightly enough that you can pivot when better opportunities arise.

This is where spiritual business coaching gets practical. Instead of white-knuckling your way to predetermined outcomes, you learn to:

• Set clear intentions without attachment to exactly how they manifest

• Trust the timing of opportunities instead of forcing everything to happen now

• Use both analytical thinking AND intuitive guidance in decision-making

• Recognize when you're trying to control outcomes versus influencing them

Christina's clients aren't hippies living in ashrams (though that's cool too). They're CEOs, finance executives, and entrepreneurs who've learned that their intuition is actually their secret weapon in business.

Why Your Nervous System Matters More Than Your Vision Board

Here's something most spiritual influencers won't tell you: if your nervous system is fried and dysregulated, you can't access clear intuitive guidance. When you're constantly in fight-or-flight mode, everything feels urgent and dramatic—the opposite of how real inner authority operates.

This is why Christina's approach to spirituality and entrepreneurship after 40 starts with nervous system regulation, not goal-setting. You can't hear whispers when you're living in a state of constant noise.

Practical steps for calming your system:

• Notice when you're spinning versus when you feel centered

• Practice feeling your emotions without immediately trying to fix them

• Distinguish between productive problem-solving and anxious rumination

• Create space between intuitive hits and immediate action

The Truth About Spiritual Business Coaching

Not all spiritual coaches are created equal, and Christina doesn't mince words about this. The spiritual space is filled with people who are more interested in your wallet than your wellbeing. Real spiritual business coaching should empower you to trust yourself more, not create dependency on the coach.

Red flags to watch for:

• Promises of specific financial outcomes

• Pressure to make quick decisions

• Claims that they alone can "fix" you

• Focus on their lifestyle rather than your transformation

Authentic spiritual strategy feels like coming home to yourself. It strengthens your ability to make decisions from a place of clarity rather than fear, desperation, or external pressure.

Your Inner Authority Is Your Competitive Advantage

The executives and entrepreneurs who thrive long-term aren't just the smartest or most strategic—they're the ones who can navigate uncertainty with grace, make decisions quickly without all the data, and pivot when their gut tells them something's shifted.

That's what developing your intuition in business really gives you: the ability to move with confidence even when you can't see the whole path. It's not about abandoning logic—it's about integrating your analytical skills with your inner knowing to make decisions that serve both your bottom line and your soul.

Your intuition has been trying to guide you all along. The question isn't whether you have it—it's whether you're finally ready to listen.

Ready to explore how spiritual strategy could transform your business and life? Connect with Christina Trifero at @christinatrifeooro or visit spiritual-curiosity.com to learn more about her approach to intuition development for executives.

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If you’ve got a podcast or an idea that won’t leave you alone, here's your sign to take it seriously. Not just because it's fun (it is), but because it can change how people see you, connect with you, and trust you. That's the magic.

And if you're wondering how to make it actually work? Book a free clarity call with me at allisonhare.com/freecall. I'll help you turn that idea into a tight, bingeable, client-attracting machine.