I Used to Think “Personal Development” Was Code for “I’m Falling Apart”

From Skeptic to Strategy: How Self-Development Became My Foundation

Let me start with a confession.

Eight years ago, if you caught me in the self-help section of a bookstore, I’d lie and say I was lost on the way to fiction. I didn’t get the obsession with journaling, affirmations, or “inner work.” I was busy hustling in the service industry, barely surviving rent, and building a business with no blueprint. I had zero corporate experience, no business degree—it was just me, a laptop, and a lot of guesswork.

I thought personal development was for people who had sad, boring lives and nothing else to do. 

Turns out, I just hadn’t met the right guide.

Danielle Meets Shelby (a.k.a. My Gateway Drug to Growth)

Meeting Shelby wasn’t some lightning bolt moment—it was slow, consistent magic. We didn’t dive into the deep end of personal development when we first met. She just… slowly opened a door.

We shook hands and chatted briefly at a networking event. She hired me to help edit the website for her new business. Then we just couldn’t stop running into each other. Eventually, we joined a group with two other women from the networking group we were involved in, and from there, we just gravitated toward each other. 

Shelby’s gentle guidance started with book recommendations. Then we co-hosted a podcast together (The Winey Entrepreneurs—yes, it was as fun as it sounds!) We created mastermind groups, booked co-working sessions, and casually built a habit of showing up for ourselves and each other.

The most incredible thing to me was that Shelby didn’t preach. She practiced.

She carved out space to do the work. And eventually, I followed her lead.

What Changed: From Solopreneur Survival Mode to Strategic Growth

I soon realized that we weren’t trying to “fix” ourselves with personal development. We were trying to understand ourselves so we could build businesses and lives  that made sense for us.

We tried it all: daily planners, self-led workshops, messy whiteboard sessions, weekend CEO retreats. Some of it stuck, others… not so much. 

But what worked best was doing it together.

We learned that personal development isn’t about rules—it’s about tools. And those tools helped us shape everything: how we made decisions, how we structured our businesses, how we built boundaries (and broke patterns). The big realization was this: 

There is no one-size-fits-all blueprint. You have to build your own. And then you have to own it and make it yours.

That insight became the backbone of Black Sheep Co.—a reminder that being different isn’t the problem—t’s the plan! And even more importantly, you don’t have to go on this journey alone. 

The Transformation: A Business (and a Life) Built with Intention

Fast-forward to today: I’m a full-blown self-development nerd and proud of it.

Books I used to scoff at are now dog-eared and highlighted. I build reflection time into my calendar like it’s a business meeting—because it is. I no longer see personal growth and professional growth as separate. They’re the same thing.

The shift wasn’t just internal. My business now runs on strategy—not scrambling. I’m more confident, more grounded, and way more equipped to lead. And the ripple effect? Clients, collaborators, even friends tell me I help them see themselves more clearly.

That’s the work, and that’s the point.

Why It Matters: You’re Not Broken—You Just Don’t Have the Tools Yet

When you’re lost in the noise of “do more,” “be more,” and “figure it out,” it’s easy to think you’re the problem. Usually, the real issue is trying to build a life with tools that don’t fit your hands.

That’s why Shelby and I created the Authentic You program—to share the process we used to find clarity, confidence, and a new kind of ambition.

This isn’t desperate self-help energy. It’s an educational, inspiring, reassuring way to reconnect with who you are and what you actually want. And now, we get to share it with others.

A Fresh Start Starts Here

If you’ve ever:

• Felt like personal development wasn’t “your thing”...

• Tried all the things and still felt stuck…

• Wondered how to build a business and life that feels like you…

Then you need to join us for our free webinar. This is where you can start the journey with guidance, support, and people who get that “one-size-fits-all” self-help books are the self-development path of the past

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