6 Transformations in 6 Months: What I’ve Learned Since Starting My Strategic Marketing Consultancy

The Leap, Six Months Later

Six months ago, I made the leap. I officially opened Maestra, LLC, my strategic marketing consultancy. After years of leading teams inside fast-paced, high-growth organizations, I was craving a new kind of life—one built around freedom, focus, and meaningful work. What I didn't fully expect was how much I'd change in the process. In just six months, the shift hasn't only been professional. It's been personal, physical, creative, and financial. Here are the six biggest transformations I’ve experienced since becoming a business owner.

1. My Time Is Finally My Own

In the digital marketing agency world, my calendar belonged to everyone else. The culture was simple: if you saw white space, you booked it. Calendar blocking was aspirational at best. It didn’t matter how much I tried to protect my time—leaders, peers, and even I would bulldoze right over it.

Now, time is mine. I use Google Calendar with intention and clarity. I share my availability through scheduling links, and I never double-book or schedule over something important to me. Not once in six months. I’ve taken mid-day walks with neighbors, eaten slow lunches, run errands, shown up at school events, picked my kids up from camp, and prioritized presence. It’s not just that I have more control over my time. I respect it more, too.

2. I’ve Never Been Healthier

When I was in the thick of leading teams, my health was the first thing to go. After long, emotionally draining days, the idea of exercising felt impossible. I wanted to move my body, but couldn’t summon the energy.

Now, I start my days with a 5am HIIT class at OrangeTheory in Guilford, CT five days a week. I wake up at 4:30am and actually look forward to it. It’s not just about physical strength (though that has come, too). It’s about building a foundation of energy, consistency, and clarity before I ever log onto my computer. My meetings are lighter, not because the work is easier, but because my days aren’t jammed with back-to-back chaos. I feel strong, steady, and clear in a way I never have before.

3. Working on the Work Is Still as Fun as I Hoped

In leadership, I used to dream about getting back to the work itself. Strategy. Creative thinking. Building real things. I missed the hands-on, client-facing part of marketing. I missed using my brain for brand-building instead of just team dynamics.

Now, I get to do exactly that. I partner closely with clients, build smart strategies, design messaging, and help organizations grow with purpose. It has been just as exhilarating as I hoped it would be. The work is deep, meaningful, and energizing.

4. Owning My Own Business Fits Me Like a Glove

Owning a business isn’t for everyone. But it turns out, it’s exactly what I was made for. I’ve always been a builder, a mover, someone who thrives on progress and momentum. I need variety, flexibility, and the ability to pivot.

Every day looks different. If I want to do deep work, I can. If I want to start my day designing something fun or pitching a story to the media, I make space for that, too. I get to decide where my energy goes. That level of autonomy is everything for someone wired like me.

5. I’m Finding Joy in the Small Things

Slowing down has brought a surprising benefit: noticing. I notice my kids more. I notice the ocean breeze on bike rides to the beach. I notice when the house feels calm, the laundry is done, or a new book is waiting for me.

I’m present, and it shows. I’ve kept not one, but two live plants alive (Sophia and Stella, thank you very much). My house is cleaner, my schedule more balanced. I say yes to book clubs and happy hours. I listen to audiobooks while folding laundry. The presence I feel in my personal life is one of the greatest gifts of this shift.

6. I’m No Longer Capped by a Salary

There is a thrill in making your own money—and in knowing your income is tied directly to the value you bring. In a salaried role, no matter how hard you work, you’re operating within limits set by someone else. Now, I get to build my own version of growth.

If I have a slow month, I know I can ramp up and push harder the next. That possibility is energizing. The work I do brings real results for clients, and that value translates directly to my business. Betting on myself feels natural. It feels like home.

Final Thoughts

Six months into running Maestra, I feel more grounded, energized, and fulfilled than I ever have in my career. This life isn’t easier, but it is mine. And that has made all the difference.

If you’re considering starting something of your own—or simply want to build a life that fits better—I hope this gives you a glimpse into what’s possible. And if you need a strategic partner who’s been in the trenches and now works alongside clients to build what’s next, I’d love to connect.

Talk soon,

Allison