Articles & Insights

When you have to say "NO" ...

The highlight of my work - without a doubt - is when I can ignite the spark, rekindle the fire, and show my clients the many paths to success… often faster than they expected.

No one enjoys giving bad news, especially when you’re in a “creative support” role where you genuinely believe anything is possible - and you do everything you can to make your client’s dream come true. But sometimes, it’s necessary to point out the pitfalls, the potential mistakes, and the risk of failure. Because, if we want to stay true to ourselves and take our “mission” - supporting others - seriously, then HONESTY is essential.

The Value of “NO”
There are times - backed by clear reasoning, naturally - when I have to tell my client: “This just isn’t going to work (as is).” And often, this “bad news” saves them thousands of dollars in research, marketing, and development - and frees up valuable time that they can invest in something truly unique and viable. Something that could actually lead them to success.

I work with solopreneurs and aspiring individuals with great ideas, with one goal: to help transform those ideas into real, thriving businesses. One of the very first steps I always recommend - and apply myself when preparing for my consultation sessions - is THOROUGH MARKET RESEARCH:

• Know your competitors!
• Look into current trends in the field of interest!
• Analyze your target audience (by geography, interests, and challenges)!
• Identify how your idea - whether it’s a product or a service - connects to their needs and solves real problems!
• Aaaand even if it does - do they have the time… the interest… the willingness to actually use it?

Of course, I always want to help! That’s why, during my prep for today’s consultation—despite personally questioning the viability of the idea - I challenged myself to a “creative duel” and examined the concept from every possible angle. So, while I highlighted all the counterpoints, I also built out a "Plan B". I pulled together my ideas as if I had no other choice but to make this project a success. 😅 Marketing suggestions, investor angles, brand strategy - you name it- to make sure my client has the full picture yet wouldn’t walk away empty-handed and would feel equipped if she decides to move forward.

At the end of the day, I’m “just” the advisor in this partnership - but I’m committed to delivering value. Even if that sometimes means saying NO, hence saving my clients from wasted costs and time so they can focus on something more viable. Their success is my success, but the final decision is always theirs.

You know the saying: Time is money!

If you’re self-employed - a solopreneur, freelancer, or small business owner - you really know this.
Wearing multiple hats and juggling everything at once can get overwhelming. Every single minute counts. Especially when you’re deciding how to spend your limited time between revenue-generating work, admin tasks, and self-improvement.
I would like to highlight: CONTINUOUS LEARNING AND GROWTH ARE ESSENTIAL, no doubt. But filtering WHAT and HOW you spend your time on learning is critical!

The Webinar Mirage: Where Marketing Masks as Mentorship…
I’ve been researching the market for a while, and I am already overwhelmed with the sea of “free business webinars”, and the ‘How to build a 6-figure business in 2 months with 8 easy steps’ methods promised…
Interestingly, the very first question when registering for these events is: your email address. And yes, here’s the truth most won’t say out loud: While some free webinars/seminars genuienly aim to educate, many are primrily designed as lead generation tools with the true goal being to enter you into a sales funnel, where you keep getting sales pitches, not tailored advice or customized guidance. That’s not learning. That’s marketing.

Here is another reality about most of these free webinars:

• Based on informal surveys, client feedback and broader industry observation only 20–30% of participants say the content was truly new and useful for their specific business situation.
• In my experience - and echoed by many fellow business owners - even fewer - about 10–15% - actually apply what they learned effectively after the session.
• Many feel these webinars are too generic, too sales-focused, trying to sell them something else or simply don’t speak to their niche or target customers.

So, while many entrepreneurs and small business owners spend hours or days on these sessions weekly/monthly, only about 1 in 5 find real value, and only about 1 in 10 applies some knowledge towards their business. For the rest, it’s lost time, that could have been spent on revenue generating activities and direct business growth instead.

The “Youtube Allure” - Hours of Watching... zero ROI. Welcome to Edu-tainment
If you want to learn more, there are tons of great webinars and tutorials and excellent content on YouTube for free, with no email required. But HERE IS THE CATCH: You could spend hundreds of hours searching, selecting and watching free content… feeling you are “doing something” for yourself and for your business, yet you can still stay stuck — because you don’t apply or you don’t know HOW TO APPLY it to your unique business and challenges.
Information isn’t the problem anymore — the internet is full of it.
The real gap is:

• Finding the truly relevant and valuable material for your unique situation
• Turning that information into a clear, actionable path forward
• Knowing what and how the information actually applies to your business - and what’s just noise.
• Lack of “human touch” and real-time insights = someone who helps you think sharper, act faster, and move with confidence answering Your questions right on the spot

Again… time (well?) spent?!

Here is a little analogy for you:
I bet you wouldn’t walk into a random salon, sit in the chair for a free “one-style-fits-all-bowl-cut,” and walk out convinced this is exactly the change you needed. After all, hair grows back in a few months, so if you’re not happy, it’s not the end of the world. Yet you’d still prefer to go to a real stylist, someone who listens, understands what works for you, and helps you walk out with something you’re actually proud of.
The same goes for your business! But in that case, it is about YOUR TIME INVESTED, YOUR REPUTATION, YOUR INCOME! … Those don’t “grow back” so easily. If you wouldn’t take that chance with your hair — something that does grow back — why would you settle for generic advice that doesn’t fit you?
Whether it’s a slick webinar or a deep-dive YouTube "rabbit hole" - free learning without clear application is the same trap in a different outfit.

For time well-spent BE STRATEGIC!
That’s where a well-chosen business advisor makes all the difference. It’s not about watching. IT’S ABOUT DOING — TOGETHER! Either you are just about to start, collecting ideas and direction to launch, or if you are already “in action” but looking for a “booster”, custom-tailored, thoughtful but affordable guidance helps you grow - sustainably, confidently, and on your terms.
Your time is your most valuable currency - and unlike money, you can’t earn it back once it’s spent. Spend it where it moves your business forward, not where it just fills your inbox.

Curious what it means to stop passively collecting ideas and start building real momentum?
Book a free 30-minute clarity call with me to see what's POSSIBLE.