In this candid video, Mel recounts her entrepreneurial journey that began in February 2020, just before the COVID‑19 pandemic. She launched a solo wellness business while still holding a 1099 job, later bringing on a business partner who eventually left, creating a pivotal crisis that nearly drove her to quit. Coaching from Kelly and participation in a supportive community provided marketing automation, creative lead‑generation strategies, and bi‑weekly group meetings that helped her stay organized and accountable. After the partner’s departure, Mel saw her highest‑revenue month, reinforcing her resolve. To manage growing demands and her responsibilities as a mother of six, she hired a part‑time trainer (PT) and an administrative assistant, granting her daily flexibility and reducing client‑care hours. Throughout, she emphasizes the interplay of business growth, community support, and motherhood, illustrating how structured systems and accountability enabled her to sustain and scale her venture while maintaining sanity.
Chapters
Well, I guess I'll start. We— I first, you know, had you as a coach a little over a year ago, maybe like 18 months-ish. And things have been wild from then. So we started the business. I started it alone in 2020, February 2020. It was like a month before COVID And, you know, we didn't know COVID was going to be a thing yet. And I had like a 1099 job working for my friend at his Ash-based clinic. And, and, you know, 2020 happened. I had just barely started doing my own thing. 2020 happened and it was kind of a blessing and a curse just because of how difficult, you know, the year was and everything and all the unknowns. But, um, you know, it kind of catapulted me into doing my own thing. Um, and so I really ramped up, you know, the business during that time. Got a business partner, um, who was a good friend of mine for a while, but it was hard because we were both kind of working and like doing hours at like other jobs and then kind of putting half effort in to the, the business. Um, and then, you know, kind of moving forward through until we hired you, we were kind of— I think at that point I was full in on the business and I had been for a while. Um, and then my partner, um, who's no longer with me, but, um, she was like— I think she was still working hours at her other job, and it was like committing to you was kind of also like kind of forcing us to say, hey, do you want to really commit to this business or not? Right. So she, you know, quit that and then went into the business and everything. Maverick, I'm on the call. No, I know. I told you while I'm talking is like the one time I can. And see, this is mom life. She's handling mom life and business. I literally can't hear you. What? What? No, look, I'm literally talking right now. If you're 100% quiet, you can, but don't bug him because he's sick. Okay? Sorry. I'm sorry. So anyways, we're starting with you. It was like, okay, let's really focus in on, like, really moving this business forward. We had kind of like tried to do things by ourselves and it was just moving a little bit slow, I would say. And then you really helped us, like, one, get organized, really maintain focus. I think one of the biggest things you helped us do was to kind of get creative with our marketing strategies. And let's see. Yeah, getting really creative with our marketing strategies and really reaching out to like our community so that we can kind of network better and increase our leads. And stuff. And then I think a big part of kind of working with you was you already had all set up, like, all the automations and for marketing, like, with email automations and stuff like that, so that we didn't have to put as much effort in to getting all the leads that we needed. Um, so that was like a big— that was probably the biggest thing early on in coaching with you. Um, and then just I think the meetings like one-on-one with you and then also like the biweekly, just like meetings with the whole group was really inspiring, I think. And just kind of hearing what other people have been through, what they, what they've struggled with, what's worked for them, that type of stuff. I'll join as a panelist. I'm going to try to put your face on, Mel. Sorry, I think the team— we messed up the Zoom. Sorry, guys. Okay, go ahead. I think now we can see. Okay, it like cut me off and then I meant back in, but here we go. Okay, now I was wondering because I could only see you and not anyone else. Sorry, guys. Was everyone able to hear all that though, or do I need to— okay, good, because I don't know if I could start over. Um, okay, so, um, Let's see. Okay. That was the beginning stages of working with you. Then I think it just, we started growing pretty quickly, which was great. Um, but the business went through so many struggles, I think after a while. So, uh, me and my business partner ended up, um, splitting up and not working out and she left the business and it was kind of like, that was a pivotal moment for me because Um, it just felt really impossible and it felt like, oh shit, I'm alone. Can I do this alone? Um, should I just quit everything and like go get a regular W-2 job? 'Cause it's so much work, you know, to like run a business and sometimes it just feels like you're super lost. Um, but luckily like there was a few key people in my life, like Kelly was a big one that that just, um, you guys were like, no, you can't quit. Like, why would you quit? It's just going to get better from here. I think I was just nervous to kind of do it alone, and, um, I just knew that that accountability would, like, kind of lie solely on me and not another person as well. Um, and so Kelly— through Kelly's help, and I think the community too, like, you guys really— you got me through a really tough tough spot where I almost quit. And, um, I was looking at my numbers and stuff, and I think the month after she left was like our— literally our biggest, highest revenue month I've ever had in the business. Give it up! So yeah, so that was a huge relief because I was worried that I couldn't, I don't know, figure it out. And it's kind of been— it's obviously like up and down throughout the year and everything, But overall, like, it's trending— I'm looking at it right now, um, it trends upward. And like, it's really helped me to kind of grow, become accountable, get things organized, I think, which I'm still working on getting organized because things have become more complicated with each like new stage. Yeah. Um, so I think that's the biggest thing. And, and I'm actually working less hours on client care because I hired a PT. Yay. And so that's made a big difference. Like today I had no clients and so when he woke up sick and with a fever and I didn't hesitate, I was like, well, you could just stay home because I have no clients. I don't have to reschedule anything. And I only did, I had 2 commitments like professionally that I wanted to fulfill, but I brought him with me cuz he was fine. And, um, because it was just like kind of marketing stuff that was pretty low-key. Like I had a, I had a little, uh, like workshop at a CrossFit gym. He just came with me. Um, and I had, I took him to the clinic for an hour and a half to meet with like another wellness partner in the community. And I could have canceled those and rescheduled if I wanted to, but he was kind of like, he's already at home at the clinic anyways, so. I didn't have to reschedule anything. He came with me. It was no stress. So I think that's probably the biggest thing is like having the PT, having the admin. Um, it's just a lot of flexibility, I think, in the day, which is really nice to be momming it with all the 6 kids, you know. So
