DEATS with Deanna: Discussions around Food & Entrepreneurship

What would I do differently if I were starting my business all over again today?

When I first started my business, I made just $13K in my first year. Two and a half years later, I was making $261K, and it wasn't because I worked harder, became more organized, or spent more hours behind my computer. It was because I stopped focusing on the things that didn't actually move my business forward and started prioritizing the strategies that brought in clients and created sustainable growth.

Looking back, I spent so much time worrying about having the perfect logo, website, business plan, and program before I ever started selling. I was busy with administrative tasks, overdelivering to clients, and trying to help everyone without clear boundaries or a scalable business model. But the biggest shifts happened when I learned how to sell authentically, got clear on who I wanted to help, and stopped confusing being busy with making money.

In this personal solo episode, I'm sharing the five things I would never do again if I were starting my business in 2026 or 2027. Whether you're a dietitian, nutrition coach, therapist, fitness coach, or health professional looking to build your own business, these are the lessons I wish I had learned sooner so you can avoid the same mistakes and build a profitable business that actually supports your life.

In this episode, I cover:

• The five biggest mistakes I would avoid if I were starting my business today

• How I went from making $13K to $261K without working more hours

• Why you don't need a perfect website, logo, or business plan to start selling

• The difference between being busy and doing work that actually brings in clients

• Why creating content that drives sales matters more than constantly educating your audience

• How learning to sell authentically can transform your business growth

• Why getting clear on your ideal client and offer comes from taking action, not endless planning

• How I learned to identify the clients who were actually willing to invest in my programs

• The importance of boundaries, structure, and building a scalable coaching business

• Why building a business around your life is more important than building your life around your business

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What if you knew you wanted to start your own business, but had no idea how to turn your expertise into a profitable offer?

When Amanda Rossetti joined my Online Entrepreneur Academy, she was a newly licensed registered dietitian with a passion for helping female endurance athletes fuel their bodies and improve their performance. After spending nearly seven years in marketing and making a career change into nutrition, she knew she wanted to build a business that gave her more flexibility, fulfillment, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. But with little more than an Instagram account, some networking, and a vision for her future, she wasn't sure how to turn that passion into a sustainable business.

In this episode, Amanda shares how she went from starting her private practice from scratch to signing eight clients and generating nearly $10K in just four months. We talk about how she narrowed her niche to female runners, developed a clear 12-week nutrition coaching program, and learned how to communicate the value of her expertise with confidence. Amanda also shares how she made back her investment in Online Entrepreneur Academy, raised her prices as her business grew, and built a client pipeline through Instagram, referrals, and strategic partnerships.

We also talk about why building a successful business doesn't mean posting on social media every day, how sharing her personal experience with underfueling helped Amanda connect with her ideal clients, and why creating structured offers is more effective than relying on individual nutrition consultations. Amanda shares her plans to expand into group coaching, diversify her revenue streams, and eventually transition out of her full-time telehealth position to focus entirely on her own business.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why Amanda left a seven-year marketing career to become a registered dietitian and business owner

• How she built her private practice while working a full-time job

• Why narrowing her niche to female endurance athletes strengthened her messaging

• How Amanda signed eight clients and generated nearly $10K in four months

• What helped her make back her investment in Online Entrepreneur Academy

• Why creating a structured 12-week program changed the way she sold her services

• How Instagram, referrals, and local partnerships helped her attract clients

• Why sharing her personal journey with underfueling made her content more relatable

• How she learned to balance free educational content with promoting her paid services

• Why taking time away from social media didn't stop her business from growing

• How raising her prices and diversifying her offers are creating opportunities for growth

• Why Amanda is planning to expand into group coaching and transition into full-time entrepreneurship

Connect with Amanda:

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What if you stopped treating a professional conference like a packed schedule of sessions and started using it to intentionally grow your career, network, and business?

Whether you're heading to the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) for the first time or you've attended for years, it's easy to fill your schedule with educational sessions, walk the expo for free samples, and hope meaningful connections happen along the way. But with the right strategy, a conference like FNCE can become an opportunity to build relationships, connect with brands, create content, and open doors for your career or business.

In this solo episode, I'm sharing my unofficial FNCE playbook and exactly how I would approach the conference if I were attending as a dietitian or nutrition professional looking to get more out of the experience. From creating a networking hit list before you arrive to strategically navigating the expo, scheduling coffee dates, connecting with brands, and leaving room to actually enjoy San Antonio, I'm breaking down how to be intentional without scheduling every minute of your trip.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why you should decide what you actually want from FNCE before planning your schedule

• How leaving white space in your day can create better networking and business opportunities

• Why choosing a few must-attend sessions may be more valuable than filling your entire day with education

• How to create a strategic hit list of people, brands, and sessions before you arrive

• Why reaching out before the conference can lead to deeper, more meaningful connections

• How to approach the expo strategically and connect with brands you genuinely want to work with

• What to say to brands when you're interested in partnerships, content creation, speaking, or consulting opportunities

• Why scheduled coffee dates and intentional conversations can be more valuable than spontaneous networking

• How to use FNCE as an opportunity to create content, build relationships, and grow your professional network

• Why you don't have to do everything at FNCE to have an incredible experience, and how focusing on what matters most can help you get more from the conference

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What if you knew your program could help people, but you still struggled to confidently sell it?

When Alyssa joined my Online Entrepreneur Academy, she was already a licensed therapist, nervous system coach, and experienced business owner. She had invested in multiple business coaches, created a group program, and launched it before, but her business still felt painfully slow. Her first beta launch brought in around $1,500, and she knew she needed a clearer strategy if she wanted to turn the program into a sustainable part of her business.

In this episode, Alyssa shares how she went from struggling to talk about her offer to having more leads and interest in her program than ever before. We talk about narrowing her niche, getting clearer on her nervous system messaging, and learning how to talk about her program with the same excitement and confidence she naturally brought to other parts of her business. Those shifts helped her go from her initial $1,500 beta launch to a launch that generated nearly $8K before one client had to leave the program. We also talk about why selling no longer feels like selling to Alyssa, the power of going all in on one clear offer, and why building repeatable systems matters more than chasing one massive launch. Alyssa also shares how diversifying her income through coaching gives her something to lean on when her private therapy practice slows down and why she ultimately wants both sides of her business to grow.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why Alyssa wanted to diversify her income beyond her private therapy practice
• How she shifted from food and body image coaching into nervous system work
• Why getting specific about her niche made her messaging stronger
• How Alyssa went from a $1,500 beta launch to her most successful launch yet
• What finally helped her generate more leads and interest in her group program
• Why talking about her offer consistently made selling feel more natural
• How she learned to stop taking "no" or "not right now" personally
• Why community and group support are such important parts of Alyssa's program
• What previous coaching investments taught her about choosing the right support
• Why sustainable, repeatable launches matter more than overnight success
• How multiple revenue streams make slower seasons in business less stressful
• Why building systems is helping Alyssa create a more well-oiled business

Connect with Alyssa Booth:

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What if the business you built for more freedom started feeling like another full-time job?

When Renee left corporate America, she already had an incredibly successful career as a dietitian, author, professor, consultant, and media expert. But even after building a multiple six-figure consulting business, she found herself working 50+ hours a week, juggling custom projects, and realizing the flexibility she wanted still wasn't there.

In this episode, Renee shares how she began shifting from overworked consultant to scalable business owner. We talk about getting clear on her niche, creating more relatable content, and launching her first group program, the Women's Gut Health Method. After years of relying heavily on consulting and one-on-one work, Renee is now building an offer that allows her to serve more women without continually adding more hours to her schedule.

We also talk about the mindset shift from practitioner to CEO, why Renee had to become more comfortable selling and showing her personality online, and how stronger boundaries, delegation, and focusing on the right needle movers have changed the way she works. She's building a business that still uses her expertise but gives her more space for herself, her family, and the life she actually wants.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why Renee left corporate America and eventually outgrew her consulting model
• How a successful business can still become another version of the 9-to-5
• Why getting specific about her niche strengthened Renee's messaging
• The shift from polished expert content to more relatable, personal content
• How better messaging started generating organic program applications
• What Renee learned from launching her first group program
• Why starting with a minimum viable product made launching less overwhelming
• How she's moving away from one-on-one work toward scalable revenue
• The mindset shift from practitioner and consultant to CEO
• How boundaries, delegation, and time blocking have created more freedom
• Why focusing on one needle mover at a time has helped Renee grow
• How she's building a business that supports her career, family, and future goals

Connect with Dr. Renee Korczak:

Instagram: @dr.reneekrd Website: https://drreneekorczak.com/

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What if the business you're building could make more money, create a bigger impact, and give you more freedom with your family?

When Megan joined my Online Entrepreneur Academy, she was working full-time as a dietitian for first responders while building a side business that had already started gaining traction. But there was no real structure behind it. She was creating offers, speaking, and making money, but she knew that if she wanted to turn her side hustle into something bigger, she needed support, strategy, and a vision for what the business could actually become.

In this episode, Megan shares how she went from making $35K in her side business to $55K, then $85K, $175K, and now being on track for a $300K year. We talk about the decision to leave a six-figure full-time job, why she waited until the timing and finances were right, and the shifts that helped her move from $6K months to $25K–$30K months.

Megan also opens up about being diagnosed with autism as an adult and how understanding her neurodivergence changed the way she approaches business. Instead of forcing herself into strategies that drain her, we've built around her strengths, created stronger boundaries, and found marketing and sales strategies that actually work for the way she operates.

We also break down how she diversified beyond traditional one-on-one coaching through speaking, workshops, digital training products, brand partnerships, and B2B contracts. Megan shares why having an incredibly specific niche helped her become a sought-after expert, how she turned speaking engagements into content that builds authority, and why she's now thinking beyond being a dietitian and stepping into the role of CEO.

In this episode, I cover:

• How Megan grew her side business from $35K to being on track for $300K a year
• Why she continued investing in coaching even after her business started making significant money
• How her adult autism diagnosis changed the way she works and runs her business
• Why you don't have to force yourself into marketing strategies that work against your strengths
• How Megan knew when it was finally time to leave her six-figure full-time job
• Why she built a financial cushion before making the leap into full-time entrepreneurship
• The content and sales shifts that helped take her from $6K months to $25K–$30K months
• How a highly specific niche helped Megan build authority and create opportunities
• Why speaking became one of the biggest revenue streams in her business
• How she diversified her income beyond one-on-one coaching
• Why building a product suite can create opportunities to move clients up and down your offers
• The difference between thinking like a practitioner and thinking like a CEO
• Why reinvesting in coaching, specialists, and support has been essential to her growth
• How Megan is building a business that could eventually become an agency and create jobs for other dietitians
• Why consistent "messy reps" matter more than waiting until you have everything figured out
• How entrepreneurship has given Megan more flexibility and time with her daughter
• What she's changing as she works toward a $500K year and, ultimately, a seven-figure business

Connect with Megan:

Instagram: @rescue.rd Website: https://www.rescuerd.com/

Listen to our previous episode: Landing Speaking Gigs and Breakdown of an $85k Year

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What if the niche you've been searching for is already revealing itself through your own story?

When Wendy joined my Online Entrepreneur Academy, she was a perimenopause dietitian with more than 20 years of experience, a mid-ticket offer, and a business that had started to feel stagnant. Then, while navigating her own cancer treatment, she began sharing her experience online and everything changed.

In this episode, Wendie shares how one vulnerable post opened the door to hundreds of conversations with women navigating cancer treatment and survivorship. Those conversations ultimately led her to pivot her business, create Nourished After Cancer, rethink her offers, and build a program around the deeper support women were actually asking for.

We also talk about what she learned from launching her new offer, improving her discovery call process, letting go of low-ticket business models, and finally finding a niche that feels deeply aligned with both her expertise and lived experience.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why Wendie's perimenopause business had started to feel stagnant
• How sharing her cancer journey changed her messaging and engagement
• Why listening to conversations in the DMs helped reveal her new niche
• The power of combining professional expertise with lived experience
• How Wendy worked through fears around charging for her support
• Why a "no" on a sales call may simply mean "not right now"
• What she learned from debriefing and improving each launch
• How small changes to her discovery call process improved conversions
• Why people buy when they feel deeply heard and understood
• The shift from low-ticket offers to a more aligned business model
• Why staying in the wrong niche or program can carry an opportunity cost
• How finding the right niche opened the door to partnerships, referrals, and new opportunities

Connect with Wendie: Website: https://wendie-taylor-nutrition.circle.so/myprograms Instagram: @nourished.after.cancer

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And if you enjoyed this episode, leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support means more than you know.

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What happens to your business when life demands your full attention?

Over the past few weeks, I faced one of the most frightening seasons of my life as my dad underwent open-heart surgery, multiple complications, and several additional procedures. During a time when I needed to be fully present as a daughter, I was also in the middle of a major launch.

And that launch still generated nearly a quarter of a million dollars.

Not because I pushed harder, spent every day on social media, or tried to manage every detail from a hospital room. It worked because the systems, team, messaging, and launch strategy had already been built.

In this personal solo episode, I'm sharing what allowed me to work roughly one hour a day while my business continued operating, my clients remained supported, and my launch reached its goal.

In this episode, I cover:

• How I managed a multiple six-figure launch during a family crisis

• The automations and workflows that kept my business moving

• Why building a warm lead pipeline matters before launch week

• How live trainings supported sales without relying solely on social media

• Why I reuse proven launch content instead of reinventing everything

• The importance of clear roles, delegation, and standard operating procedures

• Why low views do not automatically mean low conversions

• How strong positioning and messaging make marketing more repeatable

• The difference between owning a business and building a business that supports your life

• The question every entrepreneur should ask: What would happen if I had to step away tomorrow?

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And if you enjoyed this episode, leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support means more than you know.

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Building a strong personal brand does not come from sharing more credentials, creating more content, or following another formula. Often, the most powerful way to stand out online is by learning how to tell the stories that reveal who you are, what you believe, and why your work matters.

In this episode, Deanna sits down with Elizabeth Brett, a former NBC reporter turned storytelling coach, to discuss how health professionals and women business owners can use storytelling to build authority, deepen connection, and create content that feels more human in an AI-driven world. Elizabeth shares how to identify your North Star story, how to know what is safe and aligned to share, and why micro-stories may be more powerful than the traditional origin story.

Tune in to hear:

• Why storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to build authority online
• How health professionals can identify the story that anchors their offer
• How to know whether you are sharing vulnerably or oversharing
• The importance of using your own internal compass when deciding what parts of your story to share
• Why your story should connect to the transformation your offer creates
• How to navigate stories that involve family members or other people
• Why many business owners are not telling enough stories or taking enough creative risks
• The difference between proving your authority and showing your authority through lived experience
• How to start seeing everyday moments as content and storytelling opportunities
• How to use AI as a tool to uncover stories without losing your authentic voice
• Why the traditional long-form origin story is becoming less effective
• The power of micro-stories and small human moments in building trust
• How dietitians and health professionals can talk about weight loss, confidence, or personal struggles with integrity
• How to strip away who you think you need to be and show up with more presence
• How to build a brand that feels honest, human, and deeply connected to the people you want to serve

Connect with Elizabeth:

Website: https://www.elizabethsbrett.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethsbrett

Learn more about Story Alchemy and Elizabeth's storytelling resources: https://www.elizabethsbrett.com

Connect with Deanna:

Building a successful nutrition business does not always require more followers, more one-on-one clients, or more hours worked. Sometimes the biggest breakthrough comes from getting clear on who you want to serve, creating offers that align with your passion, and learning how to market and sell with confidence.

In this episode, Deanna sits down with registered dietitian Liz to discuss her journey from a busy insurance-based private practice to launching a successful group program for runners. Liz shares how she navigated a niche pivot, overcame fears around selling, created her first signature group offer, and built a business model that gives her more freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment as both a business owner and a mom.

Tune in to hear:

• Why Liz decided to shift her focus from disordered eating counseling to performance nutrition for runners

• How she knew it was time to invest in business coaching after getting stuck just short of her first $10K month

• The mindset shifts required to stop filling every available hour with one-on-one clients

• Why creating space in your schedule can actually increase revenue over time

• The importance of niche clarity and how identifying a specific sub-niche transformed her marketing

• How speaking directly to experienced runners helped her attract the right clients

• The difference between posting content consistently versus posting with a clear strategy

• Common fears practitioners face when considering a niche pivot

• Why you do not need a large social media following to generate significant revenue

• How Liz launched her first group program with only around 200 followers on her running-focused account

• The structure of her signature program, The Run Fuel Method

• How she sold four spots in her first group launch and generated more than $5,000 in revenue

• The power of discovery calls and learning how to confidently sell your services

• How nurturing conversations in DMs led to additional private-pay clients

• Why private-pay packages created more freedom and sustainability than insurance-only services

• The pros and cons of working with insurance platforms like Fay

• The role accountability played in helping her prioritize marketing and business growth activities

• How reducing one-on-one sessions helped eliminate burnout and restore excitement for her work

• The impact entrepreneurship can have on family life, flexibility, and being present with young children

• The biggest lessons she learned about investing in herself and taking action before feeling fully ready

Connect with Liz:

https://www.harvestnutritionllc.com/

https://www.instagram.com/harvestingnutritionllc/

https://www.instagram.com/runningdietitianliz/

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