When I first started my coaching business over a decade ago, marketing looked completely different. It was all about pounding the pavement—literally. Think door-to-door visits, face-to-face meetings, joining every networking group under the sun (hello, Chamber of Commerce and BNI). Back then, the internet wasn’t the bustling marketplace it is today, and online marketing?

Practically unheard of. I know, it makes me sound ancient. 😂

For those who don’t know, BNI stands for Business Networking International. It’s a global organization with local chapters where business owners meet weekly to exchange referrals and promote each other’s services. It’s great for certain businesses—like hairstylists, attorneys, or insurance agents—where the need is constant and obvious.

But as a Life Coach? I quickly realized this model wasn’t a good fit. Spending countless hours at meetings, giving free sample sessions, and traveling to connect with potential clients left me drained—both financially and energetically. For all the time, effort, and membership dues I poured in, the return on investment just wasn’t there.

After a year of spinning my wheels, I knew there had to be a better way. So I committed to finding it. I signed up for every marketing workshop, business training, and entrepreneurial event I could find. I learned from some of the best in the industry, dissected strategies, and experimented relentlessly.

Over the next few years, slowly but surely, I discovered what actually works to build a sustainable, thriving business. I found the strategies that allowed me to stop chasing clients and start attracting warm, qualified leads—the kind of people who are excited and ready to work with me.

This shift gave me the freedom I’d been craving: no more trading hours for dollars, no more hustling for leads. Instead, I created multiple streams of income and a business that supports the lifestyle of my dreams.

But here’s the thing—I saw so many other brilliant entrepreneurs and creatives struggling with the same challenges I faced. They were pouring their energy into the wrong places and throwing money at marketing strategies that just didn’t work for them. And it broke my heart.

That’s when I realized my journey wasn’t just about figuring it out for myself. Early in my coaching career, I expanded into business consulting and marketing strategy, using my decade-long background in sales and marketing to help others create the results they deserve.

Here’s what I’ve learned: marketing isn’t one-size-fits-all. My biggest pet peeve is when agencies or coaches sell a “magic formula” as if it’s a universal solution. The truth? What works for one business might flop for another. 

Your marketing strategy needs to reflect your business’s unique personality, values, and strengths. But before you dive into tactics, there’s foundational work to do—work that most business owners skip. You have to uncover what makes your business stand out, craft a message that resonates deeply with your ideal audience, and get crystal clear on the value you bring to the table. Know your unique offerings first and foremost.

Also, a business owner must adapt to the changes happening. What worked 5 years ago (or even yesterday) may not necessarily work today to bring in new business. With AI here and the amount of technological advances that are quickly changing and the way people consume products and information these days, your marketing efforts need constant analyzing, tweaking and fine tuning. Which most solopreneurs do not have the time to manage.

Without these steps, even the most brilliant marketing strategies will fall flat. But when you take the time to get this right? That’s when the magic happens—and that’s where I come in.

As a Marketing Strategist with over decades of experience, I help business owners reach their target audience authentically, in a way that yields the best results. My approach is about aligning strategies with who you are and how your business operates, so you’re not just growing—you’re thriving. 

Because when your marketing feels true to you, it stops being a hustle and starts being an extension of your passion. That’s how you create a business that’s thriving—and a life you’re excited to wake up to every day.