FOCU$ED Founder Series: How I Built Five Revenue Streams Without Chasing Them
What if the next revenue stream in your business isn't something you have to invent—but something you're already being asked to do?
At FOCU$ED, we're bringing together women who aren't just growing businesses—they're building businesses that can outlast trends, create multiple streams of revenue, and evolve alongside them. One of the biggest themes you'll hear throughout the day is this: the businesses with the most staying power aren't always built from one brilliant idea. They're built by leaders who know how to recognize opportunity when it shows up. This story is proof of exactly that.
The Business I Was Meant to Build Wasn't the One I Planned
My father created a land development company as well as started automobile dealerships all across the state; thus, growing up, we were all involved working at the dealerships, and I convinced myself that I wanted to work in anything EXCEPT the automotive industry. Yet, while I pursued my passion for athletics operations as an undergrad at Wake Forest and, then, full-time at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, I kept getting calls to help the car dealerships. When I realized that I like sports too much to work in sports, I returned to working at the dealerships and was reminded regularly how good I am at connecting the dots across that industry, supporting our team members and handling marketing-related functions.
Still, throughout all of my dealership-related work, I was always being asked by team members to help them organize folders, papers, calendars, tasks and communications. When I read an article going into the holiday season of 2005 that was written by a professional organizer about how to have a stress-free holiday season, I started investigating this industry and realized that I could get paid to do what I’d already been helping folks at the dealership accomplish with getting organized to be more successful. I attended the Professional Organizers Training Institute in 2006 and started my own business on the side in 2007.
The Business Strategy That Found Me
As I balanced my work with the car dealerships alongside growing my own business, I realized that I had a higher calling than simply being part of the automotive team. I had real leadership potential, and, although everyone acknowledged that I’m very good at the automotive marketing stuff, I knew I could do more by going out on my own. I could make income AND impact simultaneously, which was super important to me.
I didn’t feel ready, but I knew that I needed to take the plunge. I was tired of being smaller than I was created to be, and I needed to take action to fulfill my higher calling. And the lessons for FOCU$ED attendees related to this jump include:
- Following your gut
- Knowing your worth
- Taking action before you feel ready because that moment of confidence may never come.
Sometimes, we misconstrue “confidence” and “worth”; each of us can know our worth before we feel confident about pursuing that which we are worth.
I started Organize for Success as general organizing but quickly realized that I don’t belong in attics, kitchens or garages; I can provide greater value for clients by focusing on business environments, work-life integration and the investment of time, energy and focus. As I was working one-on-one with multi-passionate individuals, each success led that individual to bring in to work with their teams, which opened a second revenue stream. Then, when a client asked if I did public speaking, he pulled me into speaking for an organization to which he belonged, which worked really well and started the third revenue stream of public speaking, particularly as a keynote speaker and doing workshops. As my speaking business grew, I got asked by another client to partner with him on creating an online training, which generated the fourth revenue stream of online courses. But clients’ needs didn’t stop there… As I was recommending more and more of my preferred tools to clients, I opened a fifth revenue stream of affiliate products. Most importantly, I am confident that the business is not done evolving or adding services.
All of this growth happened organically because I was paying attention to the needs of those I was serving, asking questions, listening intently to their answers and being open to evolving. With two of my core values being Continued Learning and Flexibility, I wholeheartedly embrace continually evolving, being responsive and pivoting.
Meanwhile, as it’s a family business for which I’m still a stockholder and stakeholder, I remain engaged with the automotive dealerships and land development company, including ongoing meetings, referrals, calls or texts from team members to help and always sharing connections or information to help.
FOCU$ED: Ideas Worth Building On
One of the big takeaways for FOCU$ED attendees is how nothing that is for you will pass you by. When our paths change, we can have a minute to grieve what might’ve been, but it is only by letting go of things not meant for us that we’ll have space for what really is meant for us, like how I needed to step out of the day-to-day at the dealerships in order to start, run and grow everything associated with Organize for Success. Often, what is meant for us will likely be even better than those plans which didn’t happen.
If you're building a business that's ready for its next chapter, this is exactly the kind of conversation happening at FOCU$ED. The women in the room aren't looking for another motivational talk—they're looking for practical strategies, real stories, and honest conversations about scaling, diversifying revenue, and making bigger business decisions with confidence. Sometimes the greatest opportunity isn't learning something completely new. It's finally recognizing the opportunity that's been in front of you all along.
Join us at FOCU$ED and get in the room with women who are building what's next.
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