From Agency Employee to Entrepreneur: My Journey to Finding My Purpose
I still remember sitting in that cold, impersonal conference room, surrounded by somber faces. The agency I worked for was downsizing. After dedicating my adult career to creating stories, meeting impossible deadlines, and pouring my soul into all things marketing and advertising, I was being handed a severance package.
Let me tell you. This news came just days after purchasing a new condo, moving in with my boyfriend (now husband), and adopting a rescue pup. I guess life decided that I needed another curve ball thrown my way.
But that day, as I sat at my desk in a state of shock, I kept thinking about all the things that were now up in the air. Let me tell you. This news came just days after purchasing a new condo, moving in with my boyfriend (now husband), and adopting a rescue pup. I guess life decided that I needed another curve ball thrown my way.
In that moment I had no idea it would become the best career crisis I'd ever experience.
The truth is that I needed the push.
While being a writer, a journalist, and an agency copywriter had been my identity for over a decade, the industry was changing faster than I was willing (or ready) to admit. More importantly, I had been ignoring a growing voice inside me that whispered: you’re meant to do so much more than this.
Maybe you've felt it—that nagging feeling that despite your current success, your expertise, or your qualifications, something isn't quite aligned with what your values are. You're doing great work, but not your work. And while that’s totally ok for some people, deep down I knew it wasn’t for me. Even if I didn’t want to admit it to myself.
The Messy Middle: Yeah… Everything Falls Apart Before It Comes Together
The first few weeks after leaving the agency life were... humbling, to say the least. I'd gone from having an established professional identity to answering the dreaded "so what do you do?" question with a rambling explanation of being "in transition."
Not to mention all the job apps that I put in all came back with the response of either, “Sorry, you’re overqualified,” or “Sorry, the job is no longer available.”
So. What’s a girl to do?
Buckle the f*ck down and figure her sh*t out.
I knew there was more in me, with the knowledge, skill, and experience I had, I could do this. I could do something. And that something was to start my business. I didn’t know what to offer, so I offered EVERYTHING—I’m talking web design, social media management, graphic design, blogging. Which, if you’ve been here, you know that it just doesn’t work. I was trying to be everything to everyone because I was terrified of narrowing down and missing potential clients.
My first website was terrible. And I'm not being modest. It was objectively bad—a DIY disaster with mismatched fonts, unclear branding, and absolutely no strategic direction. I had built super simple cookie cutter portfolio websites back in college, but creating my own or client sites? Yeah, I thought I was in over my head.
But I pushed on and took on clients and projects that made me miserable. I undercharged drastically. I stayed up until 3 AM trying to learn all the different website platforms like Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress through YouTube tutorials because I couldn't afford to hire help. I sat at my computer for hours on end trying to figure out how to make Canva templates actually look good and fit the brands of my clients.
Some real low points:
A client ghosted after I'd completed roughly 50% of their website (lesson learned: always get a deposit AND a contract)
My first "launch" where I sent an announcement email to my list of 17 people (mostly friends and family) and heard nothing but crickets
The networking event (that I attended with my mom) where someone asked what I did, and I fumbled through an explanation so confusing that they slowly backed away
Gone was the confident marketing professional I’d been for years, and in her place was a bumbling mess of nerves.
Sound familiar? If you're nodding along, I see you. This messy middle is where most entrepreneurs get stuck or give up.
It's also where the most important growth happens.
The Turning Point: Finding My Literal Superpower
Fast forward a year into my business journey, I landed a web design project for a boudoir photographer. She had been struggling to articulate her unique approach, and on a whim, I started to rewrite some of her website copy before designing the site.
When she read what I'd written, she called me in tears.
"This is exactly what I've been trying to say for years," she told me. "You took all these thoughts in my head and made them sound like... well, like me, but better."
That's when it clicked. My journalism and copywriting background wasn't baggage from a past career—it was my secret weapon. I could do more than just write blog posts. I could interview clients like sources, extract their unique stories, and translate their expertise into compelling narratives that connected with their target audience.
I wasn't just a web designer. I wasn't just a copywriter. I was a digital storyteller who could help women entrepreneurs translate their passion and expertise into websites and words that actually converted.
Huh. Who knew I had all that in me? And you probably have something just like that inside yourself, too!
Building a Business That Honors Logic and Intuition
As my business evolved, I noticed something interesting about my client work. The most successful projects weren't just technically sound—they resonated on a deeper level.
That's when I began incorporating what many in the corporate world might dismiss—the energetic and spiritual aspects of business.
Here's what I've discovered:
—> Your Online Presence Is More Than Just Pixels and Words
The most compelling websites and marketing materials aren't just strategically sound—they carry an energetic signature that attracts your dream clients. This isn't woo-woo nonsense; it's authenticity that resonates.
When your online presence is aligned with who you truly are, it creates a magnetic pull that no algorithm can replicate (but they do help).
From My Journey to Your Success: Actionable Takeaways
Document your progress - I now keep a "good vibes jar" where I record milestones, shifts, and lessons. I also write them all down in a digital journal, which has been invaluable for content creation, organization, and helping me to connect with my audience authentically.
Find the value of your skills - My unique value isn't in web design OR copywriting OR my background—it's in how these elements intersect. What's your unique value?
Honor both data and intuition - I use SEO tools, analytics, and do my own research, but when it comes to important client work or call, I trust my gut when something feels off, even if the data suggests otherwise.
What My Journey Reveals About Your Business
If you're reading this and have been nodding along t any point, chances are you're at one of three stages:
The Start - You're skilled and passionate about what you do and who you serve, but you’re struggling to translate that into a cohesive online presence. You know you need a website and content strategy, but the technical or design (or even writing) aspects feel overwhelming.
The Ledge - You've got the basics covered, but your online presence isn't generating the engagement or clients you'd hoped for. Something's missing, but you can't quite put your finger on what.
The Transformation - Your business is changing, and your current branding and messaging no longer reflect who you are or who you serve. You need alignment between your growth and how you present online.
Wherever you are in this journey, know this: the struggles you're facing aren't signs you're doing something wrong. They're indicators that you're growing into something more aligned with your true purpose. This is something I had to learn the hard way.
In Conclusion: Your Story Is Your Greatest Asset
Looking back on my journey from journalist to agency copywriter to creative entrepreneur, the most powerful lesson I've learned is this: your personal story isn't something to hide behind professional jargon or generic marketing—it's your greatest business asset.
My years in journalism and agencies, the painful layoff, the messy beginning of entrepreneurship—these aren't just personal anecdotes. They're the very experiences that shaped my unique approach to helping clients stand out online.
Your struggles, pivots, and breakthroughs are what make your business unique. They're what will help you connect with the clients who need exactly what only you can offer.
Where Do We Go From Here?
I'd love to hear where you are in your business journey. What part of my story resonated with you most? Are you struggling with your online presence, or have you found strategies that work well for connecting you with your dream clients?
Drop a comment below or reach out directly. Your story matters to me, and I'd be honored to hear it.
Ready to transform your online presence? Schedule a complimentary 30-minute strategy call where we can discuss your specific challenges and how I might help you overcome them.
