One of the first small + brave steps Melissa Franks took when she left corporate to start her own business was calling a friend to ask if they needed HER help in their business. THEY DID and that's how she landed her first client.
The truth behind the journey? She was barely making enough at the onset to keep food on the table, as a newly separated woman with three boys. She's now standing loud and proud as a spokeswoman and leader in operations and wholistic business development. A mere 18 months later ha! Amazing right! Her first 7-8 months were tough though, until she gave herself her own "big girl talk" and treated herself like she would a client. Then BAM, momentum!
Now, don't judge yourself against this, it's different for everyone. The point here is to show you what IS possible, obstacles and all.
So tune in, turn it up and get ready for these key takeaways when you are starting out:
- Prioritize the customer journey over vanity metrics to understand and repeat what drives actual purchases. (its not likes comments, but how clients find you and what they search for that leads them to you. then give them a 5 star experience with simple systems - that I can help you set up!)
- Professionalize your business presentation to build trust and attract the right clients. Think of your coaching portfolio, not your B-Roll! You are building a business, not a friends list.
- Balance entrepreneurship and personal life by setting expectations and including your family in the journey. Building a business is WORK. Sometimes you have to choose life over biz and vice versa. Communicate this to your family members, they are your home team!
- Persevere through challenges, seeing them as stepping stones and preparation for what’s next. You are in TRAINING for a marathon, not a sprint!
- Understand that discomfort is part of the process—embrace it. What you build on social media etc is your resume. Do it with intention and attention!
✅ Next Steps
- Grab Melissa’s freebie on key business metrics to track: https://oncallcoo.myflodesk.com/5metrics
- Keep refining your strategy—consistency, not perfection, leads to growth.
- Look for ways to scale smartly (build a business with systems that can grow with your level of service / client load!) and increase credibility in your niche (who are your people and what do they need to hear from you!)
Where you can find Melissa:
https://www.melissafranks.com/
https://www.instagram.com/melissa_franks
https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissafranks/
https://www.youtube.com/@oncallcoo
PS I recommend watching this video of hers - getting organized NOW saves you later - you know this is a HUGE part of my message, so hear it from someone else too! https://youtu.be/2jcX6MtKsx4
