In this episode of the MaYapinion® podcast, Maya Roffler sits down with Kate Juozaitis, founder of Lift As You Climb Coaching, to tackle one of the most complex and emotionally charged challenges entrepreneurs face: transitioning out of what's familiar and into what truly aligns with their purpose.

Kate shares her powerful and unconventional journey, from her background as a firefighter, EMT, and clinician to building a coaching business designed to support high-level leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs navigating burnout, identity loss, and major life transitions. With over 20 years of experience in mental health and human behavior, Kate brings a unique lens to coaching that blends clinical insight with real-world leadership challenges.

This episode is a true MaYapinion® conversation. Maya doesn't just listen; she gives her honest, strategic take on what it really takes to step away from a long-standing business, why "having one foot in and one foot out" keeps founders stuck, and how to create a clear, actionable exit plan without burning everything to the ground.

Together, they walk through the emotional and operational side of transition, including identity shifts, financial fears, leadership responsibility, and the reality of outgrowing something you once built your life around. Maya also lays out a tangible path forward for Kate, including revenue targets, timeline planning, team restructuring, and how to confidently move into her next chapter.

This episode is especially powerful for entrepreneurs, service-based business owners, and leaders who feel pulled toward something bigger but are struggling to let go of what they've already built.

What You'll Hear in This Episode

• Kate's journey from firefighter and clinician to purpose-driven coach

• How early life experiences shaped her identity as someone who "runs in when others run out"

• The reality of burnout among high-performing leaders and entrepreneurs

• Why so many successful people still feel lost, stuck, or disconnected from their purpose

• The emotional weight of holding onto a business that no longer aligns
  What it means to have "one foot in and one foot out" as an entrepreneur

• Maya's MaYapinion® on setting clear revenue goals to create a responsible exit plan

• How to determine the minimum income needed to confidently transition
  Why cutting overhead and restructuring your business is often the first step

• The importance of honest conversations with your team during transition

• How to shift from clinician-based work into scalable coaching

• Why identity, not strategy, is often the biggest blocker in growth

• How to build a timeline for leaving one business and fully stepping into another

• Why purpose-driven work requires clarity, courage, and decisive action

• The difference between burning it all down… and transitioning with intention

This episode is sponsored by Lift as You Climb Coaching

Connect with Kate Juozaitis:

Website: www.claytherapeuticservices.com

Coaching Website: www.liftasyouclimbcoaching.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liftasyouclimbcoaching/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftasyouclimbcoaching?igsh=MXR5MXI1M3B0ZWpjeQ%3D%3D

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-juozaitis-17935811

TikTok: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-juozaitis-17935811

Connect with MaYapinion®

Podcast Website: mayapinionpodcast.com

Website: https://mayapinion.com/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayaroffler
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayaroffler
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayapinionpodcast
Email: mayapinionpodcast@gmail.com

In episode 149 of the MaYapinion® podcast, Maya Roffler sits down with Laurelyn Ponders, founder of a PR and social media agency, to tackle one of the most common challenges service-based entrepreneurs face in the early stages of business: connecting with the right clients and turning conversations into paying contracts.

Laurelyn shares her journey from working in agencies and in-house brand communications to launching her own business, where she now helps brands amplify their voice through PR, content, and digital marketing. While she has strong experience and a clear skill set, she finds herself in a place many new founders hit—working with clients who pay the bills, but not yet fully aligned with the creative, dream clients she wants to serve.

This episode is a true MaYapinion® conversation. Maya doesn't just listen; she gives her honest, strategic take on why Laurelyn is getting interest but not closing, what's missing in her client acquisition process, and how founders often overcomplicate visibility instead of focusing on connection.

Together, they break down the difference between corporate-style outreach and relationship-driven sales, why personalization is the key to standing out in a saturated market, and how to shift from "trying to get clients" to intentionally building trust with the exact people you want to work with. Maya also shares a tactical approach to lead generation, networking, and outreach that allows Laurelyn to position herself as the obvious choice for her dream clients—without sounding automated, transactional, or forced.

This episode is especially powerful for service-based entrepreneurs, creatives, and early-stage agency owners who know they're good at what they do… but are struggling to consistently attract and convert aligned, high-quality clients.

What You'll Hear in This Episode

• Laurelyn's journey from agency and in-house marketing roles to launching her own PR and social media business

• The difference between "pay-the-bills clients" and true dream clients

• Why working with misaligned clients can stall growth and motivation

• The challenge of building authority and credibility as a newer business owner

• Why getting on calls doesn't mean you've "closed" the sale

• The gap between starting conversations and actually converting clients

• Why corporate-style outreach doesn't work for creative, relationship-driven industries

• The importance of personalization in standing out in a saturated digital space

• How to position your services around the client's problem—not your offer

• Why networking is still one of the most powerful tools for service-based businesses

• A step-by-step approach to building a targeted, personalized lead list

• How to use email outreach strategically without sounding automated or spammy

• The mindset shift required to confidently sell your services

• Why consistency in outreach and relationship-building creates long-term momentum

Connect with MaYapinion®

Podcast Website: mayapinionpodcast.com

Website: https://mayapinion.com/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayaroffler
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayaroffler
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayapinionpodcast
Email: mayapinionpodcast@gmail.com

In episode 148 of the MaYapinion® podcast, Maya Roffler sits down with Nicole Hoover, founder of Death Doula Nicole, to tackle one of the most overlooked (and often avoided) areas of life and business: how to build a meaningful, service-based business around end-of-life support while navigating visibility in a conversation most people aren't ready to have.

Nicole shares her deeply personal journey from a 20-year career in HR to becoming a death doula after losing both her aunt and her mother within a short period of time. Through caregiving, grief, and ultimately stepping away from corporate life, Nicole found herself called to work that aligns with her heart, supporting individuals and families through one of life's most sacred transitions.

This episode is a true MaYapinion® conversation. Maya doesn't just listen; she gives her honest, strategic take on why Nicole's work is so powerful, yet difficult to market in a society that avoids conversations around death, and what it actually takes to connect with the right people at the right time.

Together, they walk through how to build trust in sensitive spaces, the importance of community-based visibility, and how Nicole can shift from last-minute client inquiries to earlier, more impactful relationships with families. Maya also shares specific strategies for lead generation, local networking, and building virtual support communities that allow Nicole to expand her reach while staying aligned with her mission.

This episode is especially powerful for heart-centered entrepreneurs, service-based providers, and anyone building a business around deeply personal, emotional, or transformative life experiences. Building a business like this isn't about louder marketing. It's about deeper connection, trust, and showing up in the rooms where people need you most.

What You'll Hear in This Episode

• Nicole's transition from a 20-year HR career to becoming a death doula

• How losing both her aunt and mother led to her calling in end-of-life care

• What a death doula is and how it compares to a birth doula

• The emotional, logistical, and bedside support a death doula provides

• Why end-of-life care is often avoided in the U.S. and how that impacts families

• The challenge of being brought in too late and missing the opportunity for deeper support

• The power of legacy work and helping families preserve stories and memories

• Why community and early connection are essential for this type of service

• Maya's MaYapinion® on building trust in sensitive, emotional industries

• How to use Facebook groups and support communities to connect with the right audience

• Why local networking with medical professionals can create strong referral pipelines

• The opportunity to build virtual offerings and support groups for wider reach

• How to position services in a way that feels supportive, not intrusive

• Why visibility for heart-centered businesses requires connection, not promotion
  
  

This episode is sponsored by Death Doula Nicole

Connect with Nicole Hoover:

Website: www.deathdoulanicole.com

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deathdoulanicole

Connect with MaYapinion®

Podcast Website: mayapinionpodcast.com

Website: https://mayapinion.com/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mayaroffler
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayaroffler
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayapinionpodcast
Email: mayapinionpodcast@gmail.com