When Marketing Feels More Like a Punch In the Gut…

Core Article: When Marketing Feels More Like a Punch In the Gut…

Paragraph I’m Pondering: “We have the opportunity to choose…”

Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “I honor my boundaries and …”

Book Review: Letting Go: The Path To Surrender by David R. Hawkins

Cool Stuff: Where Did Patent Leather Get Its Name?

AI Info & Resources: AI robots can now carve stone sculptures???

When Marketing Feels More Like a Punch In the Gut…

Last week, I sat with a doctor who had poured her heart into opening her own Wellness Center. Smart and purpose-driven. The kind of woman you know is here to change lives

When we started talking about marketing, she winced. Then gave this half-laugh, half-sigh.

“Marketing our Wellness Center? It felt like PTSD.”

She didn’t like using that word. Yet, her body told the honest truth. She’d been burned. Overwhelmed by advice that never fit her, exhausted from trying to follow systems built for someone else’s business. And the terrible follow-up, as well as not following through on all the promises made to her.

Her inbox was full of “proven” funnels and content plans from people who never once asked her what she wanted, who she was, or why she even started this work in the first place.

So she walked away from that agency. Marketing was a word that meant pain and struggle. It slid to the bottom of her list.

The sad part is, I see this A LOT. In fact, most of the clients I’ve worked with have had similar stories, which totally guts me, the number of sheisters out there.

If you’ve felt this too, you’re not alone.

There’s a quiet kind of trauma or pain that occurs when soulful entrepreneurs—people like us—are given strategies that pull us away from our values, our vision, and our voice. And the worst is when they break promises and don’t deliver, much less overdeliver, which is one of my ethos.

That kind of marketing doesn’t just fail. It totally drains you and may even leave a scar like the doctor I mentioned above.

Here’s the honest truth:
Marketing isn’t supposed to feel like betrayal. It’s not meant to be manipulative or pushy. You shouldn’t have to twist yourself into someone you’re not just to be seen.

When it’s done right, marketing ought to feel like sharing a story with your best friend. Or a new friend that you want to connect with and start to build trust, by being honest, and showing up as yourself. That’s how you will find your dream clients, the people you’re meant to help.

Yet, here’s where so many of us get stuck: we skip the foundation and go straight to tactics.

“Should I start a podcast? Do I need to post every day? Should I run ads? Is that AI course gonna be what will turn my business around?”

Any of those sound familiar?

What you need to understand is that all of those things above are tactics. They’re not the place to start.

I want to bring you back to your core by answering these questions:
Why do you do this work? What matters most to you? And who are you truly here to help?

That’s your foundation. Your filter for every decision you make in marketing your business.

Once you’re grounded in that, everything changes, not from pressure, but from possibility.

And sometimes, the shift isn’t big. It’s usually the small things—the ones that already feel natural—that create the most movement.

Start here: What’s already working? Where are people already paying attention? And try one small thing that feels right. See what happens.

That little momentum? It rebuilds trust, with yourself first. And then with the people you’re here for.

When you come back to your mission and values, marketing starts to feel different.

It will feel less about effort and more about connection. You then will realize its not about shouting or selling at all. It’s all about connecting to your truth, and sharing it with your dream clients out there who are waiting for you.

And honestly? When you do that, marketing becomes something you want to do. Because it finally feels like you.

Now It’s Your Turn. If you’ve been feeling stuck in your marketing or like you’re following someone else’s playbook, I see you.

Take a breath. Ask yourself: Why am I really doing this? What feels true for me right now? Who am I here to help, really?

That’s your compass. And if you want someone to walk beside you while you find your way back to that? I’m here. Always.

Happy 3rd week of July, summer is flying, or maybe it’s me, time is screaming by. I hope you’re enjoying the sun, beaches, oceans, ice cream, BBQs, hiking, and whatever else makes summer feel like summer to you.

Next week I’m gonna share with you an “unshakeable truth” that might surprise you. 🙂 Until then, my hands are always at your back.

Paragraph I’m Pondering

“We have the opportunity to choose whether we want to hang on or let go of emotional upsets. We can look at the cost of hanging on to them. Do we want to pay the price? Are we willing to accept the feelings? We can look at the benefits of letting go of them. The choice we make will determine our future. What kind of a future do we want? Will we choose to be healed, or will we become one of the walking wounded?”
~David R. Hawkins, Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender.

Powerful Affirmations to Inspire

“My business thrives effortlessly; every decision I make leads to abundant growth and limitless success.”
“I am a powerful magnet for infinite prosperity that flows to me freely and effortlessly.”
“I honor my boundaries and nurture my spirit, creating a powerful foundation for lasting happiness.”

Book Review

Letting Go: The Pathway to Surrender by David R. Hawkins

Cool Stuff

Do you know what patent leather is? And how in the world did it get its name?
There’s a place on the East Coast where you can actually see more than 250 species of birds…
Have I ever told you how I’m fascinated by why we buy?! I found this article, which was even more fascinating about “the future of consumer decision-making.” Hmmm.

AI Info and Resources

This is a little on the creepy side: “check-in robots” at hotels. Not as creepy as the new Jay Abraham bot, that’s a whole other story. 🙂
And, speaking of creepy, looks like AI video is getting a little too good. I’m not sure I want to know what happens next… If you’re interested, you know what to do…
This is a bit wild — AI robots can now carve stone statues. You’ve got to check this one out.

Weekly Photos

There’s the mascot, Emma, doing what she does best, posing for pics. Wondering why I put this small brick in front of her face all the time….
Here’s her favorite spot, hanging out with us in the morning while we have our coffee and watch the sunrise out the window.
It’s been pretty smokey for a few days this week. You can see from the pic. The good news is the first summer the smoke was so bad, we had to wear N95 masks, and that was even before the pandemic. So I can put up for one or two smokey days here are there.
Emma loves being a “lap dog.” There she is hanging with me while juggling a few projects and screens…
This little guy was hilarious. He was hiding behind the for sale sign, head peeking out.
So I had to get a close-up. In the summer, they start wandering in the neighborhood cuz there’s way more green stuff to eat.
This is my spouse’s creation. I need to brag on her for a minute. She’s an amazing stained glass artist. And she created this to go over the transom window over our front door. Next week, I’ll show you what it looks like after we’ve installed it. 🙂

NEW: P.S. This is me being bold and giving you an invitation. 🙂 I’m going to run the Soulful Marketing Accelerator Cohort again. If you’re longing for like-minded community and ready to move through your fears to grow a purpose-driven business rooted in authenticity and aligned with your dream clients… Welllll. Go here to be first in line when I reopen the doors again. Would love to have you.

P.S.S. Whenever You’re Ready: Here are 3 Ways I can make an impact on creating greater success in your business using marketing that’s aligned with your mission and values without feeling like you’re selling your soul.

1. Make Money Now Sheet – It’s one of the bonuses in my 7-Step Soulful Marketing System. I wanted to give it to you for free to help you create more success.

2. Love Books Like I Do? – I’m always reviewing the best nonfiction books – Where Buddha Meets Business.

3. Get my proven 7-Step Soulful Marketing System. It gives you the framework you need to implement authentic and connected marketing using online customer experiences and launching your products, services, or courses. It will help you create greater success.

It’s a simple system, especially if you love to read like me. There’s no video or audio. Plus, you get my proven templates, tools, and worksheets, all with tremendous value. And I’m pricing it incredibly low so it can be more accessible to more people. 🙂

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I appreciate your sharing. Thank you!

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