You know those seasons where business (or life) just feels harder than it should?

A few things haven't gone your way. You've lost some momentum. You're questioning decisions you normally feel confident about. And somehow, without really noticing when it happened, you just don't feel quite like yourself.

I've been through enough of these seasons to know that there are a handful of patterns I fall into every single time. They seem small in the moment, but together they can keep me stuck in a rut for way longer than I need to be.

In this episode, I'm sharing:

• The five patterns I watch for when business (or life) starts to feel hard
• The subtle ways we can accidentally make a difficult season feel even heavier
• What I do differently now when I notice myself slipping into one of these patterns
• How I start finding my way back to feeling clear, grounded, and like myself again
• The questions I ask myself before making big decisions from a difficult headspace

If you're in a season where you're overthinking everything, questioning what's next, or simply feeling a little off, this episode is for you.

You might not be able to change everything that's happening around you right now. But there are things you can change about how you move through it, and sometimes that makes a much bigger difference than you'd expect.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO.

🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 What to Do When Everything Feels Hard

01:30 The Habits That Make Hard Seasons Even Harder

02:25 #1: Take Care of Your Body First

04:15 Start Small When Your Routine Falls Apart

06:00 #2: Stop Isolating Yourself

08:20 #3: Make Space to Actually Feel What You’re Feeling

10:35 Why Your Problems Feel Smaller When You Regulate Yourself

11:10 #4: Get Outside of Your Own Head

13:10 Helping Someone Else Can Shift Your Perspective

13:55 #5: Stop Believing Every Thought You Have

15:35 Separate the Facts From the Story You’re Telling Yourself

16:50 Borrow Confidence From Your Past Self

17:45 Don’t Make Big Decisions From a Bad Headspace

18:35 Get Back to Yourself Before You Fix the Problem

Anyone can put together a deck full of marketing recommendations. Building a strategy that actually feels like it came from a really good CMO requires a completely different level of thinking.

Over the years, I've realized there are a handful of principles I come back to every single time I'm building strategy for a client. They've changed the way I make recommendations, how I work with founders, and honestly, how confident I feel making the calls I'm being paid to make.

This week's episode is actually pulled from a training I taught inside Fractional CMO School, and I'm walking you through what I call the Six Laws of CMO-Level Strategy.

In this episode, we're covering:

• The six laws I use when building high-level marketing strategy for clients
• How to start thinking like the person leading marketing instead of simply doing the marketing
• The common mistakes that can make an otherwise solid strategy feel more junior or execution-focused
• How to develop stronger strategic judgment when there isn't one obvious "right" answer
• How to make recommendations you can actually stand behind and communicate confidently to your clients

The more you develop this way of thinking, the easier it becomes to walk into a business, see what's actually going on, know where to focus, and make the calls your clients are looking to you to make.

And that's such a huge part of stepping into the CMO role with confidence. You trust your thinking more, your clients trust your recommendations more, and you start showing up as the person who can actually lead the marketing.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO.

🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 The 6 Laws of a CMO-Level Marketing Strategy

01:14 How to Think Like a Marketing Leader

01:55 Law #1: Think Like an Owner, Marketer Second

05:25 Law #2: Your Client Is an Unreliable Narrator

08:10 Law #3: Trust Your Strategic Instincts

10:40 Law #4: Be a Leader, Not an Order Taker

14:40 The Client Mistake That Taught Me to Speak Up

16:35 Law #5: Right-Size Your Strategy to Their Resources

18:50 Law #6: Know When to Zoom In & Zoom Out

20:20 Stop Overcomplicating Your Marketing Strategy

Ever found yourself questioning whether you're actually good at marketing?

Maybe you had a client launch go poorly, or they were unhappy with their marketing results. Either way…cue existential crisis.

It doesn't matter how much experience you have – most marketers go through periods where they lose confidence in themselves. It's easy to assume the problem is you, when it’s usually just a mismatch in expectations.

The more I've spoken to marketers over the years, the more I've realised this isn't just my experience. So many of us carry this around, but very few of us actually talk about it.

In this week's episode, I'm unpacking:

• Why self-doubt is SO normal, even if you're experienced
• The three growth phases every business experiences AND what happens in marketing at each phase
• The framework I use to regain my confidence when I'm starting to feel imposter syndrome creep in

If you've ever found yourself lying awake wondering whether you've still "got it," or questioning everything after a few disappointing weeks, I really hope this episode reminds you that you're probably doing better than you think.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO.

🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Do You Ever Feel Like You're Bad at Marketing?

01:20 Why Even Experienced Marketers Lose Confidence

03:00 The Real Problem Isn't Your Marketing

04:20 Phase 1: Build

06:45 Phase 2: Stabilize

09:20 Phase 3: Grow

11:10 Why Most Businesses Stay Stuck

12:20 Ask This Before You Change Your Strategy

13:20 Stop Measuring Success Against the Wrong Phase

14:00 You're Probably Doing Better Than You Think

If you've built a successful marketing business, you've probably realised that making more money often means taking on more clients, more projects or working more hours.

And at some point, you stop wanting that.

The problem is, most marketers only see one obvious next step: build an agency. But that's not the right path for everyone.

In this episode, I'm talking about the three different directions experienced marketers can take when they want to keep growing—and why I think the better question isn't, "How do I grow my business?" It's, "What kind of business do I actually want to build?"

Because the business you build next should fit the life you want, not just your revenue goals.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO.

🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

FRACTIONAL CMO START UP GUIDE: https://www.thecmooffice.com/fcmo-guide

BOOK A CALL → https://calendly.com/the-cmo-office/fcmos-clarity-call

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 How to Grow Without Working More

01:10 The Question That Changes Everything

02:35 Option 1: Become the Premium Solo Expert

04:50 Why I Didn't Choose the Solopreneur Path

06:10 Option 2: Build an Agency

08:00 Why an Agency Wasn't Right for Me

09:00 Option 3: Become a Fractional CMO

11:20 Why I Chose the Fractional CMO Model

13:00 Which Business Model Fits Your Life?

14:10 Build a Business You Don't Want to Escape

Thinking about becoming a Fractional CMO but worried you'll be on Slack all day, stuck in back-to-back meetings, and responsible for absolutely everything?

I hear these concerns from marketers all the time. And honestly? Almost every one of them comes from a misunderstanding of what the Fractional CMO role actually is.

In this week’s episode, I'm breaking down:

• The 5 biggest myths that stop great marketers from stepping into the Fractional CMO role
• Why so many Fractional CMOs end up creating a business that burns them out
• The difference between being a strategic leader and becoming another member of the marketing team
• What the role should actually look like inside a client's business
• And how to build a Fractional CMO business that's sustainable, profitable, and gives you the freedom you were looking for in the first place

If you've ever thought, "I'd love to become a Fractional CMO... but I don't want to be responsible for everything," this episode is for you.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO.

🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 The 5 Biggest Myths About Becoming a Fractional CMO

01:05 Myth #1: You'll Spend All Day in Slack

03:10 Myth #2: You're Responsible for Everything

05:45 Why CMOs Lead Instead of Execute

06:45 Myth #3: Every Client Emergency Is Your Emergency

09:00 Myth #4: You'll Spend All Day in Meetings

11:30 Set Boundaries Before Clients Set Them for You

12:30 Myth #5: Clients Expect You to Do Everything

14:15 Teach Clients How to Work With You

15:35 Build a Fractional CMO Business That Gives You Freedom

What if you could leave your full-time job, work fewer hours, and nearly double your income - all while doing work you actually love?

In this episode, I’m joined by Fractional CMO School alum Miranda Holland to talk about how she went from working 40+ hours a week, to doubling her income, working just 30 hours a week as a Fractional CMO.

Before Fractional CMO School, Miranda found herself reacting to whatever marketing requests her clients had, instead of steering the process and strategy. Fractional CMO School gave her the framework she needed to step into leadership and create the spacious business she’d always wanted.

In this episode we cover:

• The frameworks that helped her package, position, and price her expertise
• What gave her the confidence to leave her full-time job and go all-in on her business
• How she realized she was undercharging – and how her perspective on pricing changed
• The mindset and imposter syndrome work that came with becoming an entrepreneur and CMO
• What her business and life look like now that she has more control over her time, income, and capacity

If you’re curious about Fractional CMO School, and want to hear all about Miranda’s transformation from employee to Fractional CMO, you’ll love this episode.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO.

🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Meet Miranda: From Corporate Marketer to Fractional CMO 02:30 Taking the Leap & Leaving Her Full-Time Job

04:05 The Framework That Gave Her Confidence

06:08 From Order Taker to Marketing Leader

08:06 Building a Fractional CMO Offer

09:41 The Results: Double the Income, Fewer Hours

12:45 The Mindset Shift Behind Her Success

15:38 Overcoming “Am I Qualified?” Imposter Syndrome

17:02 Packaging & Pricing Your Expertise

19:13 Why a Fractional CMO Can Be an Early Strategic Hire

21:21 Stop Selling Tactics - Start Looking at the Big Picture

22:34 Miranda’s Advice for Aspiring Fractional CMOs

23:11 Why Fractional CMO School Was Worth It

I think a lot of us have been there, - sitting in a job that looks amazing from the outside, the kind where people go "wow, you work THERE?" - and slowly realizing it's just not filling your cup anymore.

That's exactly where my guest this week was. Sydney Hagel left a big-name corporate job to start The Cozy Agency, and just over a year in she's on track to 6x her income. But the part I loved most about our conversation is how real she gets about that first year - the mistakes, the imposter syndrome, and what it really took to get to where she is now.

In this episode of the CMO School podcast, we get into:

• How Sydney Hagel knew it was time to leave corporate - and what made her quit with no plan
• What her first year in business looked like (including the money mistakes she made)
• How she lands high-ticket clients (it’s SO much simpler than you might think)
• The one thing she cared about more than profit in year one - and why it ended up building her whole client roster
• How she went from "I'll never make good money again" to 6x-ing her income in a single year

If you're waiting to feel ready before you go after the big thing - the new niche, the bigger client, the leap out of your 9 to 5 - this is a conversation I want you to hear. Because you don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to bet on yourself before it feels safe.

Learn more about Sydney:

Instagram

LinkedIn

GetCozy

Learn more about Callan Faulkner, AI expert

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO.

🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Meet Sydney Kaye & What We're Covering

01:50 From Corporate Marketing to Entrepreneurship

05:10 Why We Both Left Corporate

08:15 Knowing It Was Time to Quit

11:50 The Fear (and Freedom) of Starting Your Own Business

15:00 Landing the First High-Ticket Client

18:25 Imposter Syndrome Never Really Goes Away

21:00 How High-Ticket Clients Lead to More High-Ticket Clients

25:25 Why You Can't Skip the Building Phase

27:00 The Mindset That Keeps You Going

29:10 Your "Why" Matters More Than Money

30:50 Where to Connect with Sydney

I've watched smart, capable marketers and Fractional CMOs burn out, lose money, and start to wonder if the whole Fractional path was a mistake — all because they said yes to the wrong client. And I've done it myself, more times than I'd like to admit.

Because the thing is, you cannot out-strategize a bad-fit client. It doesn't matter how good your boundaries, your packages, or your process are — if the person on the other side of the contract is the problem, you can't fix it.

In this episode, I break down:

• The 6 red flags I screen for before I'll work with ANY client (steal my checklist!)
• How to spot a bad-fit client on the discovery call — before you're locked into a contract with them
• The questions I ask that get my leads to reveal who they REALLY are (so I don’t have to find out the hard way)
• Why a bad-fit client can make you question whether you're even cut out for this role (spoiler: it's not you)
• How saying no to the wrong clients is what lets you get real results for the right ones

The clients you turn down matter just as much as the ones you take on. Once you can see the red flags coming, your work gets way easier — and a lot more fun.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO.

🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 The Wrong Client Will Cost You More

00:45 Why You Can't Out-Strategize a Bad Client

01:30 Red Flag #1: They Blame Every Marketer

02:45 Red Flag #2: No Team to Execute

03:45 Red Flag #3: Shiny Object Syndrome

04:45 Red Flag #4: You're Expected to Save the Business

06:00 Red Flags #5 & #6: Unrealistic Expectations

07:45 How to Protect Your Time and Energy

08:45 Choose Clients Who Set You Up to Win

"Will the Fractional model actually work in MY niche?" — I get this question all the time. And it's the one that keeps people stuck: not starting, saying no to clients who'd be a great fit, or waiting to feel ready before they let themselves go for it.

But here's what I want you to hear — the niche is NOT what makes the Fractional model work. What you're selling has nothing to do with the industry. It's YOU. It's your leadership. And that is valuable (and transferable) to any niche.

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

• The 4 things that ACTUALLY tell you if a business is a fit for the Fractional model — and not one of them is the niche (steal the checklist!)
• The real reason marketers get stuck on the niche question and what you're REALLY saying when you ask "will this work in my niche?"
• What actually makes you feel ready for this role
• How I landed one of the biggest names in the online space as my very FIRST client in a niche I'd never worked in

By the end of this episode, the niche question won't feel so important, because you'll know exactly what to look for instead.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO.

🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Will the Fractional Model Work in Your Niche?

00:45 The Question You Should Be Asking Instead

01:30 The 4 Signs a Business Is Ready

02:30 Why Revenue and Budget Matter

03:45 Leadership Matters More Than Industry

05:00 Why Marketers Get Stuck on Niches

06:15 Your Skills Transfer Further Than You Think

07:00 Stop Waiting for the Perfect Niche

Contracts are probably one of the least exciting things we could possibly talk about, BUT I get so many questions from marketers making the leap into Fractional CMO work and feeling completely overwhelmed by the contract side of things. OR not thinking about it at all… until something happens and they've got serious regrets.

If your immediate thought is "cool cool cool, can I just copy yours?" 😂 — you absolutely can. I share exactly where you can grab all of my behind-the-scenes business systems in the episode!

In this episode, I break down:

• How I structure my contracts after 5+ years of testing long-term, short-term, and month-to-month (steal the setup!)
• Why I DON'T lock clients into long-term contracts — and what I do instead
• The scope language that keeps you from ever being "in default" of your own contract
• The tool I use to get a new contract out to a client in under 2 minutes
• The sneaky little feature that gives me a heads up when a client might be about to give their notice

And at under 10 minutes, it's probably the quickest (and least painful) way you'll ever learn about contracts.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to step into the Fractional CMO role but want support as you do it, Fractional CMO School is a 6-month coaching program + community to help you confidently land high-ticket clients and build a 6-figure (and beyond) business as a Fractional CMO.

🎓 Learn More → http://www.fractional-cmo-school.com/

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Why I Don't Use Long-Term Contracts

01:15 The Contract Structure That Works Best

02:30 Protect Yourself From Scope Creep

03:45 The Contract Tool I Use for Every Client

04:45 My Favorite PandaDoc Feature

05:30 Final Thoughts on Better Client Contracts