Well-known locally for her popular tea leaf readings, Shelley Royendyk has so much more to offer. Born and raised in Port Alberni, Shelley is a successful business woman whose work spans internationally. Starting out developing and facilitating personal development workshops only seven years ago, she has experienced an explosive growth over the past year. 

Shelley initially began her business, You and Me for Tea, over 20 years ago when her children were young to generate income through the tea leaf readings. Her intuitive nature, people skills and knowledge helped her expand the company to provide personal support and development workshops. 

Several years ago she left her job as an educational assistant, launched herself into developmental training and was soon asked to deliver workshops that focused on social issues within the Nuu-chah-nulth territory, which includes 14 First Nation communities. From there, she had an opportunity to work with inmates in the Correctional Service of Canada, as well as organizations in the private sector. 

Currently working with four teams, ranging from 12 to 30 employees, Shelley delivers the programs not only locally, but in remote communities all over British Columbia.

Reaching a wide variety of people from all professional and social sectors, her client base includes doctors, nurses, support workers, teens and everyday people. Shelley personalizes her programming to each group  and offers training in personal empowerment, self-awareness, team building and life skills. 

She says her work enables people to build inner strength, develop skills both personally and professionally and challenge themselves to live authentically. She says, however, her main role is only to provide the tools and empower participants to incorporate them into daily life. 

"I have a big box of tools to draw from and I look at each situation to see what is needed," Shelley said. "The demand has spoken to how well it works. It is based on the dynamics of the group and how they connect. When I see the change within a team, that is the organization picking up the tools and working with them." 

Word spread quickly about the success and effectiveness of individuals and groups working with Shelley. It was clear that clients were connecting. They started to talk and make referrals. Soon she required a marketing team and took the business online.

"This is the first year I have had a website and Facebook page and it has exploded ten-fold," she said.

Shelley's success via the internet allows her to reach even more clients with Skype.

She says that to experience first-hand and to learn from the workshops is the only way to reap the benefits in a safe environment.

"One participant commented that even though he was in a large group of 40, he felt like he had direct and personal attention," she said. "It is creating that feeling of safety that allows everyone to do their work." 

Initially Shelley did not expect things to take off as rapidly as they have, but says she feels blessed each day to work with people willing to better themselves from within.

"I am inspired by people who see their gifts and skills and are able to tap into that," she says. "To be a part of that journey with clients is not something I take lightly. Finding our journey and walking it authentically is the the most difficult work but it is the most important."

Although busy with her workshops and the travelling it requires, Shelley still fits in her clients for tea leaf readings and has more on her plate for the upcoming year. She is currently writing a book and is in the process of developing daily inspiration and gratitude cards and journals.

They say those who are the busiest know how to get things done, and Shelley is an example. She lives her own work and demonstrates for others how they too can live to their fullest potential. 

Shelley's Facebook page, You and Me for Tea, can be found at https://www.facebook.com/YouandMeForTea.