Two years ago, I stopped offering media relations as a standalone service. That decision cost me about half my annual revenue, but it also gave me peace.
As publications thinned and expectations for premium placements rose, I became increasingly uncomfortable offering a service whose outcomes I could influence but never guarantee. Eventually, I had to decide what staying aligned with my beliefs was worth.
In this episode of Brand for Good, I share the story behind that decision and reflect on how my definition of success continues to change. Following “What Do You Stand For?”, this conversation explores what happens when our beliefs begin shaping our choices—and those choices have a cost.
I explore:
* Why communicating your values and making decisions based on them are different.
* What I gave up when I stopped offering standalone media relations, and what I gained.
* Why I have intentionally made my business smaller to create more room for writing and selective consulting.
* How knowing what you stand for can change the way you measure success.
This is where brand work becomes soul work: when we examine whether the business we are building supports the work we want to do and the life we want to live.
A question to sit with: What would you give up for what you believe?
In next week’s episode, I continue this conversation with John Moncrieff of Small Giants, exploring what it means to build a business around purpose, people, and a definition of success that extends beyond size.
Brand for Good Links
Learn more about my agency: prosperforpurpose.com
Go behind the scenes on branding: Brand & Belief: lorraineschuchart.substack.com
Interested in my personal essays? Find them here: lovelorraineschuchart.substack.com
Get full access to Lorraine Schuchart at lorraineschuchart.substack.com/subscribe
