Lucky number 7…
But if I’m being honest, I didn’t get here by luck. I got here through heaps of lessons learned, hard work and patience…lots and lots of patience. With myself, with others and ultimately with the process that is business as a whole.
Seven years ago, I took the leap and went all in on Oh Snap! Social as a full-time business. No side hustle energy, no “we’ll see how it goes.” Just me, my laptop, and a whole lot of passion for helping people show up online with strategy and soul.
And here we are—seven years later, still standing, still snapping, and honestly? Working harder (and smarter) than ever.
This past year has been about refining, realigning, and recommitting.
Let’s dig in.
Back to My Creative Roots (and LOVING It)
One of the biggest shifts this year? I leaned out of heavy team management and leaned into doing more of what I love: strategy, client comms, and content creativity.
We kept things streamlined and intentional, and in doing so, started attracting bigger clients with higher retainers—including a few local gems that I absolutely adore. There’s just something magical about being able to gather content in person, brainstorm across a coffee table, and feel like part of a client’s extended team.
Smaller team. Bigger impact. Deeper connections.
Turn The Page To Something New
This was also the year I stepped out with something brand new: Expert Excellence Engine. It’s a group consulting program for published non-fiction authors and credentialed experts who want to turn their thought leadership into content that works even when they’re offline.
Creating and talking about this offer stretched me more than I expected. Truthfully? It still does.
Selling agency services feels like second nature at this point. But selling a new offer to a new audience? Hello, vulnerability.
I got the idea for EEE last year, but didn’t really decide to go for it until November during my annual business planning retreat. My plan was simple: half my revenue from agency services, half from this new program. Halfway through the year and… let’s just say I’ve felt like a baby deer trying to find its footing—awkward, wobbly, and unsure at times. But the desire to serve authors in this way is stronger than the discomfort. And I know this offer is just getting started. It’s just executing that vision is tougher than it looks. But I’m going to proceed to party!
Selling Smarter (and Stronger)
Another quiet-but-powerful shift this year: I got coached on how to sell in a way that aligns with my values and supports my team.
I learned to speak up more confidently in negotiations, to hold boundaries, and to advocate for the value we bring to the table. This work has been transformative, and it’s shaping the way I approach pricing, packaging, and client relationships moving forward.
Lean, Local, and Aligned Teamwork
Team Oh Snap has taken a new shape. Right now, it’s me and Darlene working closely with clients. She’s my ride-or-die for deliverables, quality, and communication.
Because she’s local to Northern Virginia, we get to co-work, host content days, and yes, enjoy the occasional team outing. Her presence makes everything run smoother, and I’m so grateful.
On the admin side, I’m back in the trenches a bit doing more biz dev and being intentional about who gets on my calendar. I even block out the last week of each month to go OOO, reset, and dive into creative, client-forward work.
Speaking, Visibility & Being Forever Changed
One of my biggest teaching contracts (training government employees on social, SEO copywriting, and GA4) got put on hold due to staffing and budget cuts. It threw a wrench in my revenue projections, for sure.
But you know what? It also gave me breathing room.
That unexpected space helped me get ahead on client work, fine-tune internal systems, and…landed me my highest-paid speaking gig of my career thus far.(!!!)
I also continued teaching with the American Marketing Association and I’m currently prepping for my How to Train Your ChatGPT course coming up in July. I’m nervous. I’m grateful. I’m totally up for the challenge.
I’m manifesting a speaking spot at Social Media Marketing World, just to prove I can do it. (Look at my just popping this little sentence in the middle of all the things hoping no one will notice…)
I also had the privilege of attending the HEROIC Public Speaking CORE 2-day experience—and it. was. transformative.
What I learned? The goal of public speaking isn’t just to inform. It’s to connect. To make your audience feel something. It’s about movement, presence, energy—not just words.
And while I went to HEROIC to connect with my ideal clients (authors, speakers, big-hearted badasses), I walked away with so much more: refined skills, real relationships, and a deepened desire to show up bigger.
Small Shifts, Big Wins
Something that’s been keeping me grounded? A simple system: every Friday, I plan my week. I log my tasks on a digital sticky note on my desktop and track my to-dos.
When I finish a task? Confetti emoji. 🎉
By the end of the month, I scroll back and see dozens of small wins, micro-moves, and meaningful connections. It’s a celebration of momentum—not just the big milestones.
This way I also can see patterns of what I’m prioritizing, avoiding and accomplishing so when I get to the end of the month, I can never say, “i didn’t get anything done.”
*gestures* to my digital sticky note!
The “Best Day Life” (Still in Progress)
I’m writing this blog at 10pm the night before my newsletter goes out, so clearly, still figuring it all out. But there is more ease in my day-to-day.
My clients light me up. They respect my boundaries. They want to co-create. That’s a gift.
At home, it’s quieter. My husband returned to the office this year after four years of working from home. It’s been a big adjustment, one we’re still navigating, but it’s a reminder of how much we’ve grown through change.
Deep Gratitude, Big Vision
To Darlene, my co-pilot, content colleague, and creative sounding board. You are the heartbeat behind the scenes and I could not do this without you.
To my OBM, Alexis, who helped us keep the engine running in times of transition (and oof there’s been a lot of them over the years), you’re the real MVP.
To my clients—past, present, and future—thank you for your trust.
To my family, friends, and one particularly opinionated toddler—thank you for the huggies, morning tutu twirls, and never ending dance breaks, you’re my why, the reason i do what I do.
To my community, if you’re reading this, thank you. Thank you for
What’s Next?
In Year 8, I want to:
- Make EEE the go-to offer for authors post-publishing
- Speak on bigger stages
- Continue growing our family (👶🏻 maybe!)
If you’re reading this, I hope you feel inspired. Seen. Like you’ve been invited behind the curtain.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Let’s keep going.
Let’s keep building.
Let’s keep showing up—on purpose.
Year 8? Gonna be great!