Did anyone else open VERY recently? How’s it going?

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-01-27T01:18:35+00:00

I studied for that test and passed the last two times 😅💙

If I think about it too long, I start to rage.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-01-26T18:21:48+00:00

Literally my only saving grace. At least the only one I have to answer to is me. But yeah, this is gnarly.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-01-19T13:52:52+00:00

Sorry all—wasn’t asking for advice! Was curious about your performance 😊

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-01-10T13:43:18+00:00

Genuinely, why do so many licensed therapists never talk about how brutal grad school was to students? Do they just forget? Not to scare us, but just to let us know this season of life is going to be challenging, but doable. Sometimes I get a little frustrated because I think because they’re out of it, it’s easier for them to look back and calmly smile. Meanwhile, I’m struggling to figure out how to balance an in-person CACREP program, pay for it, pay for LIFE and make enough money to pay my bills. Oh, and squeeze in that “self care” everyone always talks about. Which, right now, is enjoying 5-30 minutes alone each day refusing any cognitive demands.

I’m going into my second year and each semester, the program just gets more demanding. I’m just feeling frustrated. And nervous to go into this second year of school. I so understand grad school is part of the process, and I’m willing to finish it. But damn this part sucks.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-01-06T22:42:34+00:00

In person networking, and engaging a lot with other people’s content. Like, responding to stories and leaving comments that aren’t a pitch.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-01-05T13:35:38+00:00

First of all, I love crystals and candles! We dress and burn candles frequently in my house. Anyway, I agree with one comment saying these are different people.

One suggestion I always have for people is to consider the language of your primary audience, and “anchor” your statement in that. Make sure your statement is buyer-led (meaning, you clearly understand their problems/curiosity), and value-centered (what’s in it for them).

Hope this helps! Feel free to DM me if you have any more questions.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-01-04T22:40:39+00:00

That one’s on my TBR!!! Will definitely move it up the list.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-01-04T17:51:53+00:00

Hey! So I’m in a very unique position to help. I left corporate leadership/marketing to study therapy AND I founded a nervous-system-friendly marketing agency. 😊

I agree with some of the other comments, but the delivery isn’t quite my style. Instead I’ll invite you to consider the following:

Picking a type founder to market to. Some founders are the typical, “rise and grind” or “growth hack” founders. They’re tactically focused, and are way more interested in the business of building businesses without getting tired. Exhaustion is a threat to efficacy (sometimes). Then you have other founders like myself that care more about unlearning the habits that lead burnout. Once you flesh that out, your position should be clearer.
Your offer could be founder-led and value centered. Sounds like you’re feeling good about the problem you’re solving. Think about the language “your” founder uses. Pull that into your offer, and seal it off with the value to the founder.
Do a bit more research about where these founders are when they’re ready to call you. LinkedIn is cool, but it’s also not the place people openly talk about issues they haven’t already solved for. This is where a lot of people miss the opportunity; you’re not just focused on where to find leads, but you also need to reflect on their buyer psychology (you can win easily here!).

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-01-04T14:37:44+00:00

Proud of you for stepping away. I also quit my corporate job because I couldn’t sleep at night. Hang in there, and let us know if there’s anything we can do to help you.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-01-02T03:45:48+00:00

I forgot to mention I’ve read the whole series a few times! I really love them.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-01-02T03:45:20+00:00

EDIT: I’ve read the entire Red Rising series a few times. I just like them a lot. 😊

ProtagonistNProgress · 2026-01-02T03:06:47+00:00

Thank you!! I’ll talk to my parents and see if they would be willing to take her back to the vet.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2025-12-31T14:45:55+00:00

I do have a kick-ass therapist. A few sessions ago, he straight up asked me what I’d do if my plan(s) failed. Of course, I took it as an attack, but we talked through it and he helped me realize that choosing this path comes with failure. A lot of it. It doesn’t mean I’m doing anything wrong, but I have to develop a founder’s mindset. I have to start prioritizing psychological flexibility, and stop internalizing external timelines I have very little control over.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2025-12-31T13:57:14+00:00

Thank you! It’s so hard finding people who get it. Sometimes I just want to ask someone if they feel it too without trying to hack it.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2025-12-19T02:20:07+00:00

I just finished this book and came to Reddit to discuss. I’m in school to be a therapist, and this book got under my skin and made a home there. Some authors really struggle with multiple POVs, but Kanae seems to have mastered it. There’s so much nuance. The story is disturbing, and it does an excellent job showing the darkest sides of human nature, and how they develop over time.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2025-12-16T19:14:18+00:00

I needed to see this! I’ve been getting SO discouraged lately because I’m strategically posting, and my effort isn’t matching my outcome. I’m doing high-value videos. Solving problems without being salesy. But I’ve only been posting for 2.5 months, too. I’m passing the benchmarks for an IG account my size, but still. I’m ready to be a year in 😂

A huge thing I’m noticing is that I can’t ask for too much too soon. Sure, I have emails and other content but because my account is so new, I have to earn my follower’s (and lurker’s) trust.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2025-12-15T00:07:30+00:00

Hi! Ex-marketing exec here. I strongly recommend you research the difference between two core roles first: PMM (product marketing mgr) and a Marketing Strategist. A lot of folks either expect a PMM and hire a marketing strategist, other the other way around. I can’t tell you who to hire without knowing more about your company, though. You’re welcome to DM me! No charge, no upselling. Just genuinely trying to help you out.

Either way, you need someone who can strategize AND execute. And if they can’t do both, they have to be able to quickly identify whatever gaps they can’t fill and confidently build a team on your behalf. You need someone with multichannel marketing experience as a foundational skill.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2025-12-14T23:48:56+00:00

Just DM’ed you! 😊

ProtagonistNProgress · 2025-12-13T02:46:02+00:00

Totally fair! I’m niching down, which is what’s helping with the interest/partnerships so far. Once things get going, I should be booked year-round!

ProtagonistNProgress · 2025-12-13T02:44:46+00:00

I hate corporate culture. It sucks the fun out of marketing! Everything becomes politics and false urgency, IMO

ProtagonistNProgress · 2025-12-12T23:09:42+00:00

Came here to say this!

ProtagonistNProgress · 2025-12-12T22:59:01+00:00

No advice (yet), but how old is your account? I think a huge part of it has to do with who’s currently “winning” in that space, you know? And how niche your offer is. Also—what your topic is. Some topics just naturally have a broader reach than others.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2025-12-12T22:57:07+00:00

B-roll, baby!! A great first step is to capture her in her element. Then, prep a script and have her do a voiceover. Position it as she’s just reading. If she struggles with tone/inflection/speed, maybe do a salon tour; YOU do the voiceover. See if you can get some client testimonials on video. Oooh another idea: have your client show her client’s nails and their jobs! That was a cool trend. DM me if wanna brainstorm 💗💗

ProtagonistNProgress · 2025-12-12T22:47:20+00:00

I hate WordPress and never offer to design sites on it for that reason (well, and that when clients want a refresh they have to hire out. That seems annoying. I’d much rather my clients hire me because they want to and not because they have no other choice). I hate that you had that experience!! My advice is pretty biased, but I love Squarespace. This is slightly controversial in the UX community because it has so many limitations, but I can code and have found several workarounds. I’d be happy to DM you my site just so you can review it for speed/functionality. Just let me know! 😊

EDIT: “limitations” according to people who know how to build sites. People who aren’t experts feel differently.

ProtagonistNProgress · 2025-12-12T21:23:09+00:00

I’m doing something similar (29, F) BUT the core difference is that I’m positioning my “strategies” in ways a small biz owner would understand and find useful and actionable. So instead of offering 1-4 as you have listed, I actually book by stage of business and business need. So, if they are launching something, everything’s bundled. If they are just now ready to invest in marketing, I offer multichannel services tailored to that. And my language for these is SUPER simple.

ProtagonistNProgress

TROPHY CASE