Shine Bright in Business
Jo Rawald • January 2, 2025
Build Your Brand and Your Success
When it comes to business, there’s no getting around it. You are the face, the heart, and the soul of what you do. No matter your industry or niche, one thing remains true. People don’t just buy products or services. They buy trust. They buy stories. They buy you.
This is why marketing yourself, branding yourself, promoting yourself, and investing in yourself are not optional if you want to thrive. These aren’t just buzzwords. They’re the foundation of growing a profitable business that feels as good as it looks.
Market Yourself
Let’s talk about marketing yourself. No, this doesn’t mean becoming someone you’re not and it doesn’t mean you’re constantly selling. It means, showing up authentically and consistently to share who you are, what you offer, and why it matters. The goal is connection, not perfection.
Start by asking yourself a simple question. Who needs what I offer?
Your audience is out there, but they won’t find you unless you make yourself visible. That might mean attending networking events, posting regularly on social media, or reaching out to local groups where your target audience gathers.
The key to marketing yourself is showing up with confidence. You’re not just any business owner. You’re a problem-solver, a dream-maker, and a professional who delivers value. When you approach your audience from this perspective, marketing feels less like a chore and more like an opportunity to make genuine connections.
Brand Yourself
Branding goes beyond having a logo or a catchy tagline. Your brand is the promise you make to your audience. It’s the way you make people feel when they think about your business.
The first step in branding yourself is to identify what sets you apart. What’s your unique magic? Is it your customer service, your personal story, or the results you deliver?
Whatever it is, lean into it. Your brand should be a reflection of your values and your vision.
Once you’ve nailed your message, make sure it shines through everything you do. From the colors on your website to the tone of your emails, every detail should feel cohesive and intentional. Branding is not about being perfect. It’s about being memorable.
The goal is for your audience to instantly recognize and trust you, whether they’re seeing your website, your business card, or your social media post.
Promote Yourself
Let’s be honest. Promoting yourself can feel awkward at first. Many of us have been taught to stay humble, to avoid the spotlight, and to let our work speak for itself. But in today’s business world, staying quiet is not an option.
Promoting yourself isn’t about bragging. It’s about sharing your expertise, your wins, and your why with the people who need to hear it most. Think of it as inviting others to see the value you bring. If you’re not willing to promote yourself, how can you expect anyone else to?
A great place to start is by sharing success stories or testimonials from happy clients. This isn’t just about showcasing your work. It’s about showing potential clients what’s possible when they choose you. Another idea is to create content that highlights your expertise. Whether it’s a blog post, a video, or an infographic, providing valuable information positions you as a trusted authority in your field.
Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for opportunities to collaborate, speak, or showcase your work. You’re not just promoting yourself. You’re giving others the chance to benefit from what you offer.
Invest in Yourself
Here’s the truth. You are your business’s greatest asset. If you’re not willing to invest in yourself, how can you expect others to invest in you?
Investing in yourself can take many forms. It might mean signing up for a course to sharpen your skills, hiring a coach to guide you, or simply taking time to rest and recharge. Remember, self-care is not selfish. It’s a strategy for sustainable success.
Currently, I’m working with a Business Coach who is teaching me how to market myself better as a Business Coach. I’m also working with a Public Speaking coach to improve my 60-Minute Elevator Pitch as well as my Story-Telling Techniques for when I speak on stage. These investments are not just about gaining new skills. They’re about honing my craft and stepping fully into my potential.
When you invest in yourself, you’re not just improving your skills or boosting your confidence. You’re sending a message to yourself and to the world that you believe in your worth. And that belief? It’s contagious. When you show up as your best self, others can’t help but notice.
The Power of These Four Pillars
When you
market yourself, brand yourself, promote yourself, and invest in yourself, something incredible happens. These four pillars work together to create a ripple effect. The more you invest in yourself, the more confident you feel marketing and promoting your business. The more you market and promote yourself, the stronger your brand becomes. And the stronger your brand, the more you attract clients and opportunities that align with your vision.
Think of it as building momentum. Each step builds on the last, creating a business that feels authentic, aligned, and unstoppable.
My Struggle
When I first started my business, I struggled with these concepts. Marketing myself felt braggadocious. Branding myself felt conceited. Promoting myself felt awkward. And investing in myself felt selfish.
But one day, I realized something. If I wanted to grow my business, I had to get out of my own way. I had to stop hiding and start showing up fully.
I started by clarifying my brand. I asked myself what I wanted people to feel when they thought about my business. I refined my message, updated my visuals, and made sure every touchpoint reflected who I was and what I stood for.
Next, I leaned into marketing and promoting myself. I started sharing my story, highlighting my expertise, and connecting with my audience in new ways. Yes, it felt uncomfortable at first. But the more I did it, the more natural it became.
Finally, I made the decision to invest in myself. I hired two coaches, joined BNI, attended workshops, and gave myself permission to rest when I needed it. Those investments paid off tenfold, not just in my business but in my confidence and clarity.
Looking back, I can see how these steps transformed not just my business but my life. They taught me that showing up fully isn’t just a choice. It’s a responsibility.
When you show up for yourself, you give others permission to do the same.
Why This Matters for You
As a small-business owner, you have dreams, goals, and a vision for what’s possible. But here’s the truth. Those dreams won’t become reality unless you’re willing to step into the spotlight. Marketing yourself, branding yourself, promoting yourself, and investing in yourself are not just business strategies. They’re acts of self-belief. They’re declarations that you and your business are worth it.
So, what’s holding you back? If fear or self-doubt is creeping in, remember this. You have everything it takes to succeed. The only thing standing between you and your goals is your willingness to take that first step.
If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, increase your profits, and truly live the American Dream of being a successful business owner – let’s connect. I offer a free 20-minute discovery Zoom where we can chat about your goals and create a customized plan to help you thrive.
Schedule your free discovery call today and let’s get started. You have what it takes to achieve incredible success, and I’m here to help you every step of the way.
You ever walk into Costco for one thing, and leave wondering what the heck just happened to your life? That was me last night. All I needed was paper towels. Just one 12-pack brick of industrial absorbency, thank you very much. But the moment I stepped through those magical warehouse doors, it all unraveled. First, I saw a velvet chaise lounge I definitely don’t need. Then - it was a six-tier spice rack. A kayak. A weighted blanket. A 5-lb tub of Gummy Bears I haven’t stopped thinking about. By the time I made it to checkout, I was $312 deep in, “Maybe I’ll use this someday ” purchases. And that’s when it hit me. This is exactly what shiny object syndrome looks like. Not just in Costco. In business. You start with a clear goal - launch a course, a new service or a new product, finish your website, close three new clients. But somewhere along the way, you get distracted by someone else’s launch, a new app, a Canva template you’ll definitely use one day. You buy a course. Download a funnel template. Rebrand your business at midnight. Before you know it, you’re carting around half-baked ideas and unopened tools you never actually needed, and your real revenue-generating work is buried under distractions. It’s a costly habit. Not just in money but, in time, clarity, confidence, and momentum. Here’s your wake-up call => If it doesn’t drive sales, systems, or sanity - put it back on the shelf. You don’t need more stuff. You need a strategy that works. One that moves your business forward with intention and impact. So if you’re tired of carting around the chaos, and ready to focus on what actually gets results - I got you. Check out the free resources on my site or book a quick call. No pressure. Just clarity, next steps, and a bold plan that keeps your eyes on the prize. Download your free Focus to Profit Blueprint so, the next time distraction shows up dressed as a business breakthrough, you’ll know the difference. With Grace & Grit, Jo Jo Rawald Growth Architect for Women Entrepreneurs | Lean Six Sigma Black Belt 📞 (305) 934-0006 | ✉️ jo@jorawald.com www.JoRawald.com | @xojorawald www.QueenKongBiz.com | @queenkongbiz
Have you ever had one of your childhood memories come crashing back at ya with full volume and suddenly you're 14 again... but this time, with 40 more years of hindsight and a whole lot more humility? Yeah. That happened to me last weekend.I had the honor of being a keynote speaker at one of the best women’s business events I’ve ever attended - the WFS Female Founders Forum 2025 , hosted by the phenomenal nonprofit Women for Success . The room was filled with powerful, purpose-driven women who weren’t there to play small. They came to scale, get certified, and secure the kind of legacy their Moms would brag about at church.
Imagine losing money every time you make a sale… and choosing to do it anyway. That’s exactly what Costco has done - for 40 years straight - with their $1.50 hot dog + soda combo. Yep. One dollar. Fifty cents. No inflation. No markup. No apology. And when someone on the leadership team had the nerve to suggest raising the price? Costco co-founder Jim Sinegal flat-out said, "If you raise the price of the hot dog, I will kill you." Savage? Maybe. Strategic? 1000%. Because he got something most business owners miss entirely… => Not everything you sell is about profit. Some things are about perception. That hot dog isn’t just a cheap meal. It’s a statement: “We’re not here to nickel-and-dime you. We’re here to treat you right.” And guess what? That tiny loss leader earns them billions in customer loyalty, trust, and recurring revenue. I call this the Hot Dog Method: 🌭 Sacrifice something small. 🌭 Earn something massive. 🌭 Make it memorable. Every business can have a $1.50 hot dog moment: 🌭 A bonus your clients didn’t see coming 🌭 A “damn, no one else does that” type of policy 🌭 A ridiculously over-delivered offer that makes them tell 3 friends The key? Don’t hide it. Flaunt it. Repeat it. Build a reputation around it. Make it so obvious your clients can point and say, “That’s why I work with her. No one else shows up like that.” So here’s your million-dollar reflection: What’s YOUR $1.50 hot dog? Find it. Double down on it. Then sit back and watch your referrals multiply like Costco memberships in January.
I went to a networking event yesterday at Rosie’s Bar & Grill in Wilton Manors. Tropical-chic to the max. You know the kind of place - upscale casual, strong cocktails, mandatory valet. Now usually, I’m all about valet. But not yesterday. I wasn’t there to sip martinis or hang around all night. I could only stay for 20-minutes. That means - I was on a serious 20-minute mission: say hi, shake hands, peace out. Then, get back in my car to jump on a Zoom meeting! I certainly wasn’t about to drop $20 just to park my car for 20 minutes. No way! I pulled into the valet area, looked the guy dead in the eye, and said, “I’ll be in and out faster than your last relationship. Can I just park it right here?” And bless his heart - he said yes. Honestly, that should’ve been my win for the night. But then I met Sean Gac-Guerrier. Sean’s the Marketing Director at Excel Title, Inc. We started talking about dogs - and **cue the angels singing. We clicked instantly. Not two strangers meeting, more like two childhood friends who hadn’t seen each other in a decade! Sean showed me a photo of his dog, Dottie. I pulled out pics of my girl, Adelaide. Then he pulled out a photo of Dottie that stopped me in my tracks. Sean had a photo of what Dottie would look like as a human. Not a cartoon. Not a filter. I’m talking AI-generated, fully humanized, real-world, cardigan-wearing, intelligent-and-intimidating Dottie. I was mesmerized! It was as if Pixar and the FBI teamed up to design her. I looked at Adelaide’s pic… then looked back at Sean… and blurted out, “I need to humanize my dog!!” And I did. I went home, found the exact AI prompt, uploaded Adelaide’s photo, answered a few fun questions about her personality, and style - then… BOOM. Human Adelaide was born. Tall, lean, cozy-chic, with that unmistakable “don’t-mess-with-me-but-I’ll-still-hug-you” vibe. She looked like she ran Homeland Security and still had time for tacos and espresso martinis on a rooftop. Honestly? I stared at the image for like five minutes. Because it wasn’t just about making something cute. It was about seeing something familiar - something you know - come to life in a new way. Here’s the AI Prompt if you want to try it yourself:
Your business is not a side dish. It’s the main course—and it deserves to be treated like one. In this no-BS blog, I’m calling out “leftover” business strategies that leave women entrepreneurs stuck, stressed, and scaling in all the wrong ways. Discover how to build a business that’s bold, sustainable, and built to outlast trends using my BAMBOO Framework.
Too many women are stuck in the hustle—working nonstop, solving the same problems, and barely seeing the return.
You didn’t start your business to burn out. You started it to break free.
If you’re ready to ditch the stress and build a business that actually pays you back, this is your moment.
Join me LIVE in South Florida at Brains, Brilliance & Bold Moves—where I’ll show you how to scale smart, simplify your systems, and make way more money doing less.
🍷 Dinner, wine, and your profit breakthrough: www.jorawald.com/Brains-Brilliance-and-Bold-Moves
If your business feels like a tornado of to-do lists, dropped balls, and duct-taped systems… it’s not just exhausting—it’s expensive.
Chaos costs you time, clarity, and cold hard cash.
This blog is your wake-up call:
🛠️ Simplify your operations
💸 Stop bleeding profit
📈 Build a business that works for you
Read it. Apply it. Start making smart money moves →
👉 https://siteeditor.thryv.com/home/site/c8e9f361/blog/if-your-business-feels-like-a-hot-mess-its-costing-you-money#preview
You’re not charging too much. You’re not “bad at sales.”
You’re just leaving money on the table—and this blog breaks down exactly how to stop.
If you’re underpricing, over-delivering, or relying on guesswork to grow… you’re leaking profit.
Let’s fix that.
I’m giving you the tools to:
💰 Price like a pro
📊 Package for profit
🎯 Sell with strategy
Read it, bookmark it, share it with your business BFFs →
👉 www.jorawald.com/youre-leaving-money-on-the-table-lets-fix-that
The right clients are watching—but do they actually know what you do?
If your messaging is vague, cute, or confusing, you’re basically invisible.
This blog is your wake-up call to get crystal clear, magnetic, and straight-up undeniable.
You’ll learn how to:
🧲 Attract the right people (without chasing)
📢 Clarify your offer
👑 Show up as the go-to expert in your space
Because your next client isn’t on the fence—they’re just unsure if you are the answer. Fix that here →
👉 www.jorawald.com/the-right-clients-should-be-coming-to-you-theyre-watching-but-do-they-know-what-you-do
One Zoom call. That’s all it took to blow up how I coach—and rebuild it into something way more powerful.
If you’re overcomplicating your client process, trying to “do it all,” or feel like coaching is starting to drain you… this blog is your game-changer.
Inside, I break down:
🔥 The shift that simplified everything
🎯 How I get faster results (without burning out)
💡 What most coaches get totally wrong
If you’re a coach or service provider who’s doing the most and getting the least—read this NOW.
👉 www.jorawald.com/this-one-zoom-call-changed-how-i-coached-forever