Well, this was NOT on my 2026 bingo card.

I went to Washington, DC this weekend to speak at the Women Getting Visible conference.

I came home with a SASH.

Yes. An actual sash that said "Visibility Queen" on it.

If you know me, you know I lean more toward the tomboy/practical magic side of life. You're more likely to find me digging up tubers in the garden or learning Ani DiFranco songs on guitar than practicing my beauty queen wave.

But this wasn't a beauty pageant.

It was a people's choice award.

At the end of the weekend, the women in the room voted for their favorite speaker... and they chose me to return next year.

I was completely surprised, especially given the talent and experience in that room.

And I was delighted. And proud.

As I made my plane, train, subway, and bus commute back to upstate NY, I had time to let it all sink in and reflect on what actually happened.

Here's the part of this story I really want to share with you.

Getting handed a sash didn't happen overnight.

Back in 2023, I made some pretty big decisions about how I wanted to run my business.

My mom had suffered a stroke two years earlier, and it was becoming increasingly clear that our family was entering a new chapter.

One that would require a lot more of my time, energy, and attention.

I knew something had to change if my business was going to work.

I couldn't be constantly ON. (Especially on social media.)

Posting daily, chasing leads, and scrambling to make the next sale. 🙅🏼‍♀️

I needed a business that could keep working even when I couldn't.

Having already been through business development twice and helped many others do it successfully, I knew what I needed to do.

But I also knew I didn't want to do it alone.

So I hired a coach for emotional support and eventually invested in a high-level sales coach.

I committed to my podcast. I doubled down on long-term marketing strategies. I got clearer about what I was selling and who I was selling it to.

I started building systems that could attract new people, nurture relationships, and create opportunities for sales even when I was away from my desk.

And I built them slowly.

In the pockets of time I had available.

Some weeks I had lots of time. Other weeks, none at all.

In 2024, I set another goal: I wanted to speak on more stages.

Not because I wanted a sash. (Although I AM going to hang this one somewhere prominent to remind me what I've accomplished.)

I set that goal because I knew that getting in front of more people, sharing what I'd learned, and building real relationships was part of my long-term growth strategy.

And now, nearly two years later, I've spoken at three conferences and already have two more on the books for 2027.

The thing is, I didn't build any of this alone.

I've had mentors, coaches, colleagues, and communities supporting me along the way.

People who helped me see what I couldn't see, challenged me when I was playing small, and reminded me to keep going when life got complicated.

And that's something I believe more strongly than ever:

Having the right support can change the trajectory of your business. And your life.

This is the reason I created Foundations.

Because I know how much easier it is to build something sustainable when you have a clear plan, practical systems, and people in your corner who genuinely want to see you succeed.

I LOVE watching what happens when the women inside this program start putting those pieces together.

The clarity. The confidence. The clients. The sales.

And yes, the celebrations. We literally ring a gong when someone makes a sale. 🔔

The next Foundations cohort starts Monday, October 19, and enrollment is open right now.

If you're already great at what you do, but you're tired of trying to figure out the business side of things all by yourself, I'd love to talk with you.

We're going to spend six months building the messaging, marketing, and sales systems that support the business you actually want to run.

You'll have a place to bring your ideas, your questions, your messy drafts, your big goals, and the things that aren't working yet.

And you'll have a coach and a room full of women helping you figure out your next move.

We're building real businesses in here. And we're having a pretty good time doing it.

We have a small cohort already formed, and I'm meeting with prospective members THIS WEEK.

If you've been curious about working together, now is a great time to grab a spot on my calendar.

​Let's talk about getting you into Foundations →​

You don't have to figure everything out before you join us.

That's kind of the point. 😉

With love and a slightly ridiculous new accessory,

Deborah

P.S. Deep gratitude to Amy Nubsum and Christina Vidovich for inviting me to participate in their conference, and to all the women who came to my workshop and voted for me. I'm going to wear my sash around the house in my sweats today and give myself permission to truly receive the full gift of this moment.

P.P.S. This week's Mindset to Market podcast episode is all about the 10 foundations that make sustainable business growth possible. It's called Stop Winging It: 10 Foundations for Growing a Sustainable Business, and you can listen here.