A comfortable paycheck, a long commute, and a life that no longer fit, Vanessa Bucceri walked away from a 12-year corporate run and into the unknown. Two days later, her department announced buyouts worth up to $90,000. That missed windfall could have become the regret that kept her stuck. Instead, it became fuel. With no cushion, she leaned into visibility, consistent outreach, and the kind of messy action that builds real momentum.
We dig into how Vanessa found her lane by following curiosity: a coding and visual design boot camp that bridged her love of aesthetics and strategy. Early projects for friends turned into paid work through local networking, and soon she spotted a gap in a crowded space, real estate branding and websites that felt templated and hollow. Her solution starts with strategy: define the niche, clarify values, and build a visual identity that signals trust. Then design websites that connect and convert, clear CTAs, smart email capture, and content that proves expertise. MLS/IDX features are useful, she explains, but connection should lead the first impression; neighborhood guides, community pages, and personal favorites make the experience human and boost local SEO.
We also get candid about perfectionism and imposter syndrome. Vanessa shares why sharing work-in-progress with clients beats polishing in isolation, and how action breeds confidence. Julie adds stories from real estate sales to show how consistency prevents feast-and-famine cycles, and why owning your platform matters more than chasing social algorithms. If you’re weighing a pivot, this conversation is a permission slip to start before you feel ready and to let small, imperfect moves compound into big outcomes.
If this story helped you rethink your next step, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s on the edge of a pivot, and leave a quick review to help more people find us.
Website: https://vanessabucceri.com/
Free Resources: https://vanessabucceri.com/resources
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessa.bucceri/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-bucceri-a4684038/
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Who Is Julie Fairhurst?
Speaker • Author • Business Strategist • Founder of Women Like Me
Julie Fairhurst is a force of nature disguised as a woman with a pen and a business brain built for impact. As the founder of the Women Like Me Book Program, she has opened the door for women around the world to share their truth, heal their past, and rise into their power. Since 2019, she has published more than 30 books and over 350 true-life stories — without charging a single writer a dime! Why? Because women’s stories deserve daylight, not gatekeeping.
With 34 years in sales, marketing, and successful business leadership, Julie knows how to turn storytelling into influence and influence into income.
Her mission is clear and unapologetic: break generational trauma one story at a time and help women elevate both emotionally and financially. She doesn’t just publish books, she builds brands, confidence, and possibility, giving women the tools to rewrite their futures, grow their businesses, and lift their families with them.