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Why I Ditched Free Consultations (And Why Your Business Might Need to Do the Same)

7/27/2025

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Free consultations used to feel like the “right thing” to do. Everyone says, “Give your best stuff away for free, and they’ll see your value.”  But let me tell you, after years of doing business, I realized those free consults were draining me. I was spending hours with looky-loos, tire kickers, and people who weren’t ready to take action. My time is too precious for that, professionally and personally. And I’m willing to bet yours is too.

The Harsh Truth About Free Consultations.  Free consultations attract two types of people:
  1. Those who want to “pick your brain” with no intention of paying for your expertise.
  2. Those who might work with you one day, but they’re just not ready yet.
Sound familiar? I’ve been there. More times than I care to admit. I’d walk away from those calls frustrated, feeling like I gave my heart, my brainpower, and my energy to someone who just wanted to “think about it” or “check with their spouse.” Meanwhile, I was sacrificing time that could’ve gone to my paying clients, or heck, even myself or my family!

My Time is Valuable (And So Is Yours) Let’s get real for a minute. I’ve been in this business for a long time. I know what I’m doing, I know my strategies work, and I know the results I bring are worth it.  So why was I giving away my expertise for free?  Answer: Because that’s what everyone tells you to do. But here’s the thing… expertise should have a dollar value attached to it. And as business owners, we need to start owning that. When you’ve spent years mastering your craft, why give away the best of what you do just to see if someone maybe wants to work with you?

The Better Way I Discovered.  Instead of free consultations, I now offer something far more valuable, and efficient for both me and the client. It’s called the Marketing Clarity Solution Strategy®, and it’s a total game-changer.
For just $50, you get:
  • A customized 10-15 minute strategy video tailored to your business.
  • A review of your social media, website, and overall marketing with actionable insights.
  • 3-5 quick-win strategies to move your business forward, fast.
  • All delivered within 48 hours.
No phone calls. No endless back-and-forth emails. No awkward coffee shop meetings. Just pure, actionable strategy, delivered directly to you.
Why I Love This Model (And You Will Too)  This approach does two powerful things:
  1. It respects my time – I’m not burning out on “freebies” that don’t convert.
  2. It respects your time – You get a quick, powerful strategy without waiting for an appointment or jumping through hoops.
And let me tell you, my clients are loving it. They’re getting real results without any fluff, and I feel more energized to give them my best.

A Shoutout & A Truth Bomb  A huge shoutout to Lindsey Maloney of Lindsay Maloney Coaching for teaching me this genius strategy. My business, and my clients’ businesses, are thriving because of this shift.  And Here’s my truth bomb for you:
Stop giving away your genius for free. Your time is just as valuable as your skills. There’s a better way to introduce people to what you do, and it doesn’t involve draining yourself for “maybes.”
​Ready to Experience This for Yourself?  If you’re tired of chasing clients, or if you just need clarity on your next best move, grab my Marketing Clarity Solution Strategy® for only $50. You’ll get the best of me, and a plan that will give you instant clarity and momentum.
Click here to get started: Marketing Clarity Solution Strategy®

Your Turn:
What do you think about ditching free consultations? Have you tried charging for your time? Drop your thoughts in the comments, I’d love to hear your take!
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5 Fun & Practical Ways to Use a Vision Board

10/17/2024

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We all know vision boards are great for keeping our dreams in focus, but did you know there are tons of creative ways to use them? Whether it's for business, personal goals, or even family vacations, a vision board helps you stay on track. You might even need more than one, depending on where you're headed in life!
(The Best Vision Board Kit)

1. Business Planning
Your business started with a vision—your “why.” But let’s be honest, it’s easy to lose sight of that when juggling a million things. A vision board for your business can keep your purpose clear and remind you why you hustle daily. Whether speaking on a big stage, working from a beach, or writing your bestseller, this board will bring your dream biz to life!
2. Life Goals

Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, or 20 years? (Yes, the question from that awkward job interview, but it’s crucial!) A vision board can help keep those big life dreams front and center. And guess what? It evolves as you do. Maybe today it’s a house in Paris, and tomorrow it’s a cozy cabin in the mountains. Whatever it is, keep your board fresh and use it as your personal GPS for life decisions.


3. Vacation Planning
Planning an epic family vacay? Don’t leave it all to chance! Create a vision board with your must-see spots and let the whole fam get involved. It’s fun for everyone, and no one will miss out on their dream activities. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure an unforgettable adventure.

4. Home Buying
Home décor addicts, this one’s for you! If you’re in the market for a new home or just remodeling, a vision board is the perfect way to gather all your ideas in one place. Think of it as your personal Pinterest—without the endless scrolling! Keep your style, colors, and landscaping goals handy to streamline your search.

5. Client Attraction
Want to attract your ideal clients? A vision board can help you define who they are. Visualize their traits—who they are, their lifestyle, what they care about—and make sure to check it every time you’re tempted to say yes to the wrong client. Stay aligned with your business vision!  (The Best Vision Board Kit)
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And speaking of vision boards, why not take it to the next level? If you haven’t already, check out my YouTube video on creating a Mobile Vision Board to carry your dreams with you everywhere! 📱 Watch it here!

Thanks for reading
Coach Valygrl

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The Silent Saboteur: Married to your glass ceiling

8/19/2024

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"Don't let love become the limit to your dreams—shatter the glass ceiling together."

~Valarie L. Harris

I recently stumbled across a phrase that struck a chord with me: Married To Your Glass Ceiling.  The concept intrigued me so much that I dug deeper to uncover its meaning. In essence, this phrase refers to the unfortunate reality for some that marrying someone—especially a man—who doesn't value or support his wife's career or entrepreneurial journey can significantly hold her back from achieving her passion and purpose in life.

Maybe I've never heard this term before because I got lucky—if that's what you want to call it, I feel that I was blessed. I married a man who lets me be Unapologetically Me , even when "me" can be a little wild. Throughout my husband's military career, I was the primary caregiver for our kids. But whenever his duties allowed, I went to work, and he stepped up at home, no questions asked, no attitude, just pure support. And trust me, balancing my corporate retail management job with long, random hours wasn’t easy. But I never heard a complaint, never got guilt-tripped—just love and encouragement.

He was right there with support when I was figuring out what I wanted to be when I grew up (yes, even adults go through that phase). And in 2012, when I decided to start my own company, his support didn’t waiver. Even when I decided to quit corporate retail for good and go 100% into my business in 2016, he stood by me. And now that I work my business from home, and two of our kids out on their own, and one teen is still at home with autism, my husband's love and support for my crazy ideas are still going strong, just as mine are for him.  I guess after 31 years of marriage, it better be 😁

This is how I believe it should be—mutual support in every endeavor. So, it saddens me to think that some spouses don't provide this level of love, support, and encouragement. Listen, if you’re a mompreneur or corporate-bound mom with kids chasing your dreams, and you find yourself married to your glass ceiling, it’s time to BREAK FREE, and soar. You're not alone. There's a community here for you. Don’t let anyone, not even your spouse, deter you from reaching your dreams.  You Got This Girl!  🩷

If you want to dig deeper, check out this eye-opening article in Marie Claire, by Jo Piazza 👉Warning Working Moms: Your Partner Is Your Glass Ceiling about Caitlin Moran's book ~ More Than A Woman

Thanks for reading.  
Coach Valygrl
​Valarie L. Harris​

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What A Marketing Coach Can Do For You

10/4/2022

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First, let's define what a Marketing Coach is. A Marketing Coach supports their clients with tools, techniques, and skills, in the marketing realm to help them in achieving their business marketing goals. 
 
Why Your Business Needs a Marketing Coach
  • Efficient. Working with a marketing coach will save your business time and money, which will save your sanity overall. A Marketing Coach can collaborate with you and your team, to keep your marketing in-house versus hiring a marketing agency. Most marketing coaches like me, offer a flat rate fee for a certain amount of coaching sessions, versus paying a monthly fee to an agency. I’m here to help guide your marketing team with the necessary tools, which will help them, help you, grow your business 
  • Specialized Assistance. A Marketing Coach will guide you with a variety of strategies to help grow your business, especially if you are a solopreneur, and don’t yet have a marketing team. I have a wide range of coaching packages available for any business on any budget, with a focus on creating an individualized, actionable, marketing gameplan.
  • Experience. A Marketing Coach is all about Marketing, it’s what they do, day in and day out. A good marketing coach pays close attention to current market trends and keeps their clients updated with news, info and changes that may impact their client’s business marketing agenda.
  • Accessibility. When you hire a marketing coach, you have the ability to schedule one on one time to get questions answered, receive additional training, and brainstorm ideas.
  • Personalization. Having a dedicated, experienced, marketing coach in your back pocket is something that your business will want and need. I take the time to get to know my clients, their business, their products and/or services, and their passion for their purpose, so that I can better be of service to them. You don’t get that with a big agency.

​Bottom line, if you lack engagement, leads and sales on social media, or you’re not sure how funnels, email marketing and social media work together, you may need a marketing coach. If your business has stalled and needs a boost, or you can’t seem to scale the way you would like, you may want a marketing coach. If any of this sound like you, then connect with me, Coach Valygrl, your Marketing Coach Extraordinaire.
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If you would like to learn more about how a marketing coach can help your business or are ready to see what options are available to you, schedule your Complimentary, No Obligation 30 min Coffee Connect Today!!   BOOK HERE


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Coach Valygrl
Valarie L. Harris
Founder & President

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Using Storytelling to Engage and Grow Your Audience

2/10/2022

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Facts are fabulous and stats are super, but they can be boring if they aren’t shared in a fun way. As a business owner, one of the easiest ways to capture your audience’s attention is through storytelling. From the platform to the in-box, you can use stories to 
  • Engage
  • Inform
  • Motivate AND 
  • Sell
Storytelling helps your audience relate to the material you share. Storytelling engages their imagination and brings concepts to life with each twist and turn of the story. A great storyteller can take the audience on a journey and help them better understand the message and information you want them to digest. Storytelling isn’t just about speaking. There are lots of ways to share a great story that don’t include standing in front of a group. Let’s take a look at ways you can use storytelling to engage and grow your audience. 

Public Speaking- Storytelling from the stage is the most obvious way to use stories to engage and grow your audience. Whether it’s a keynote speech or an elevator pitch, you can use stories to break the ice, deliver a message, or engage an audience with emotion. 

Written Correspondence- Writing posts, emails, and reports can be an excellent way to convey information, but they need to be interesting to hold your audience’s attention. Storytelling is an awesome way to spice up your written correspondence with your audience. 

Social Media- Nowadays, social media uses “stories” to encourage live engagement with your audience. From sharing what you’re doing at the moment to teaching a concept or idea, you can engage your audience and use a story to express yourself.  

Podcasts- Podcasts are a great way to use storytelling to grow and influence your audience. Audible learning is one of the top ways people consume information and stories can help solidify concepts and make them easier to understand. 

YouTube- Similarly to speaking in front of an audience or hosting a podcast, video can be a hybrid of all the ways to share a great story. The average person engaging a video has a very small attention span. Telling a great story can help them stay tuned-in and turned-on to what you have to say.  

The more you engage your audience and use stories to convey information, the more likely they are to know, like, and trust you. This helps them feel connected and increases your authority with them, making sales easier than ever. Use storytelling to boost your authority and entertain your audience while delivering important information.

Thanks for reading
Coach Val
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