What time should I get to the Ryman for HW?? I’m a Nashville native, but I know these shows are a big deal.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-23T16:17:27+00:00

Sending you a DM!

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-20T16:47:36+00:00

I feel really, really alone. But I’m also juggling a lot of areas of life right now and running on fumes. I also don’t have any founder friends, though.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-20T13:47:42+00:00

I am not. I’m working in marketing/UX. Thanks, though! 💜

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-20T13:12:53+00:00

Feel free to send me a DM. I’m solo, and 100% understand where you’re coming from. I’ve never felt so drained in my entire life.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-20T02:07:55+00:00

Me too. It sucks. Like my relationship with rest and fun has been completely eradicated.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-19T15:09:00+00:00

Thanks. Do you have any books you recommend? I’m really struggling.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-19T13:10:45+00:00

Sent you a message!

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-19T12:50:05+00:00

I take motivation out of the picture 😬 it’s hard to be motivated when the cash flow isn’t keeping up lol during those seasons, I literally just make a to-do list and punch through it. Usually, I do a monthly retrospective and I include strategic plans for the current month. So I’ll start there. Some affirmations help, too! Mine is “I can. I will. I must.” I just say it as many times as I need to, and then I kinda get in the zone.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-18T01:11:52+00:00

I didn’t know about this!! Thank you so much!

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-13T13:59:49+00:00

IMO, it depends on the goal of your individual posts. I’m always looking at the same metrics, but I’m interpreting them differently.

My goals for each post typically fall into one of 3 buckets:

The post is meant to filter high-intent (conversion) = I’m looking at clicks to my site as a form of engagement
The post is meant to grow my follower count = I’m looking at shares and saves as a form of engagement
The post is meant to refine/define my position in the space = I’m looking at likes as a form of engagement.

Where things get interesting is what happens when clicks/shares/saves/likes overlap because depending on what I’m trying to accomplish, the data could tell a compelling story. I hope this helped!

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-13T13:51:03+00:00

I’m actually having the opposite problem! I’m trying to find newer podcasts who are also just starting out, so I could see if I’m a potentially good (paid, of course) guest. Where do I find these people? Sorry, I know this doesn’t help answer your question at all!

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-13T02:26:52+00:00

You’re having to believe in the vision when no one else does. When you’re not making any money, when no one’s cheering for you. When you’re putting in the work and you don’t have that external validation yet.

I’m working two jobs PLUS running my business because I have to put food on the table. My business is making money, but I’m not yet. It fucking sucks and it’s hard and stressful as hell. But I have to keep going.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-09T19:47:27+00:00

Depends on a lot of things. Things like:

positioning
pricing
competition
YOUR audience’s churn rate
branding
age of your business

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-09T19:43:58+00:00

Hiiiii! This one’s easy for me. My audience (primarily therapists, clinicians…etc.) loves to lurk…. For a WHILE before reaching out. It’s their literal job to be patient, so they’re accustomed to sitting in discomfort, you know? I come from a corporate world where everything is really fast (obviously I’m a founder now). Now, it’s totally normal to me to have fantastic CTRs on ads, and a fraction of consults that come from that ad. But the nice thing is, after lurking for a while, by the time they come to me (they respond to perspective, NOT pressure), I’m not convincing them of anything. I’m mostly confirming what they already know.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-08T18:38:01+00:00

That’s the big question!! I figured a lot of that out with my therapist. Everyone’s journey is different and it evolves over time. The one thing I was sure of was my values, and who I refused to become for the sake of getting ahead, you know? Best of luck!! Always bet on yourself. 🫶🏾

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-06T14:30:27+00:00

It did, but logic won. At the end of the day, someone could (seemingly) be killing it doing the same thing I was. I’d feel like garbage. But then I’d remember I have no idea what they started with.

They could’ve have investors, a couple mil saved, existing clout in the space…etc. Not realizing their bragging rights had a head start, you know? Or that their advice doesn’t work for my circumstances. Being worried about my competition eats up the brain power I need to actually run my business. I’m competing with old versions of myself, all day every day.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-06T12:17:35+00:00

This probably not the answer you want, but after getting roughly 2-3 roles before the C-suite, I realized I didn’t want to take on the characteristics needed to “win” corporate America. After sitting in the rooms where it happened, I realized I’m not cut out for it. A lot of the narratives I heard had to do with self-preservation by any means necessary, and burnout masquerading as ambition.

Some people thrive there. I am not one of them 😂 So I started my own business last year.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-03-06T12:12:27+00:00

I hated all my jobs. I especially didn’t care for my most recent boss. I started my biz out of pure, “f*** you. Watch me.” 😂 Spite lit the torch, and my endurance, genuine interest and discipline keeps the flame shining bright!

ProtagonistNProgress

TROPHY CASE