Do You Need to Be a Workaholic to Succeed in Business? Honest Insights from Two Female Founders

Marketing, Mindset, Podcast

Do You Need to Be a Workaholic to Succeed in Business? Honest Insights from Two Female Founders Marketing Duo Podcast with host Jen Vazquez and Cinthia Pacheco

Do You Need to Be a Workaholic to Succeed in Business?

Is it really necessary to be a workaholic to run a successful business? In this candid and powerful conversation, Cynthia and Jen dive deep into the myths and truths surrounding workaholism, especially among female entrepreneurs. From their own corporate pasts to building thriving businesses, they share what it really takes to succeed—without sacrificing your health or happiness.

The Workaholic Myth

Many people think that in order to succeed, especially in entrepreneurship, they must work around the clock. The glorification of hustle culture, often portrayed in media and by successful figures, can make it seem like being constantly busy is the only way forward.

But Cynthia and Jen disagree. Success doesn’t mean exhaustion. They both left high-stress corporate jobs in search of more fulfilling, balanced lives. And while they admit to moments of hustle, they emphasize that consistent overworking leads to burnout, not sustainable success.

Passion Over Pressure

One key takeaway from their discussion is the importance of doing something you love. Passion keeps you going through tough times. However, even passion has limits—especially when it begins to overtake your life.

Loving your work doesn’t mean you should work all the time. Cynthia shared how loving a corporate job still led her to unhealthy hours after having a baby. Jen opened up about reaching a point of burnout that forced her to create better systems and boundaries.

Do You Need to Be a Workaholic to Succeed in Business? Honest Insights from Two Female Founders Marketing Duo Podcast with host Jen Vazquez and Cinthia Pacheco

Creating Space for Success

Rather than working more, both women advocate working smarter. They’ve built businesses that allow them time with family, days off, and moments to breathe. It starts with discipline—blocking off your calendar, protecting your downtime, and learning how and when you work best.

They emphasize the need to plan your lifestyle first, then build your business around it—not the other way around. Whether it’s scheduling reading days or limiting podcast recordings to certain hours, they’ve crafted routines that serve both their business and their well-being.

The Role of Boundaries and Systems

Systems and boundaries are the backbone of a sustainable business. Jen discusses how blocking her schedule and batching similar tasks together increased her efficiency dramatically. Cynthia shares her approach to movement and health—recognizing that unless something is scheduled and structured, it often gets pushed aside.

Both founders agree that having supportive people around you, like coaches, team members, or family, can help keep you accountable to rest and recovery.

Do You Need to Be a Workaholic to Succeed in Business? Honest Insights from Two Female Founders Marketing Duo Podcast with host Jen Vazquez and Cinthia Pacheco

Know Yourself and Work With It

Understanding your personality type—whether through human design, Enneagram, or other assessments—can help you tailor your work habits in a way that plays to your strengths. Cynthia and Jen explore how knowing themselves has improved their productivity and helped them avoid burnout.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to be a workaholic to succeed. In fact, the most sustainable businesses are often built by those who prioritize ease, balance, and joy. Dedicate time to what matters, create space for rest, and align your business with the lifestyle you truly want.

Are you a workaholic or a recovering one? What’s worked for you? Share your tips with Cynthia and Jen on Instagram—they’d love to hear from you!

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Pinterest Trends August 2025: What Service Providers Should Pin This Month

Marketing, Pinterest, Pinterest Trends

Pinterest Trends for August 2025: What to Pin Now for More Clicks, Leads & Sales

If you’re a service provider who wants more leads and less stress about what to post, this post is for you. Every month, Pinterest gives us clues about what people are actually searching for—and August is full of golden content opportunities. Whether you’re a coach, photographer, or wedding pro, these trends can help you get in front of your dream clients before they need you.

Let’s break down what’s hot on Pinterest this August and how to turn that into powerful content that keeps working for you—long after the post goes live.

Why Pinterest Trends Matter for Service Providers

Pinterest isn’t just for recipes and mood boards. It’s a search engine. People type in exactly what they want, and if your content shows up, you’ve got their full attention. That’s huge.

What makes Pinterest even better? Users plan early. While Instagram is still in summer mode, Pinterest users are searching for fall ideas and even Christmas prep in August. That’s your chance to show up early and stand out.

Trending Topics for August—and How to Use Them

Back to School Organization (Even if You’re Not in Education)

This trend is everywhere in August, and you don’t need to be a teacher to use it.

  • Coaches → Share time-blocking hacks or tips for managing chaos when school starts.
  • Wedding pros → Talk about staying organized during engagement season.
  • Photographers → Post about how to plan for fall minis or get those holiday family shoots done early.

This content is timely and super searchable right now.

Fall Wedding Planning

Wedding pros—this is your season. People are planning:

  • Cozy outdoor ceremonies
  • Fall color palettes
  • How to keep guests warm (hello, shawl basket tip!)

If you’re not in weddings, don’t scroll past this—tie in adjacent ideas:

  • Interior designers → Share seasonal decor looks.
  • Coaches → Talk about planning stress-free events.

Need Help Turning These Trends Into Clicks + Clients?

If you’re staring at a blank screen wondering how to turn these Pinterest trends into actual content (and traffic), I’ve got you. Inside Pinterest Strategy Club, we take the guesswork out of what to post and when. You’ll get monthly trend breakdowns, done-for-you pin templates, and the strategy behind creating content that brings in leads long after you hit publish. It’s smart, simple Pinterest marketing made for service providers like you.

Come join us!

Holiday Prep and Seasonal Marketing

August is your moment to prep for Q4 launches. Get ahead of the game:

  • Share behind-the-scenes client work.
  • Talk about lead magnet updates or launch tips.
  • Share your own holiday workflows.

You’re not just giving tips—you’re showing your expertise.

DIY and Home Refresh Ideas

This trend hits every August. Think:

  • Photographers → Teach how to prep your home for a brand shoot.
  • Service providers → Share ways to upgrade your home office or set the mood for focused work as the season shifts.

Pinterest LOVES this content—and it’s super evergreen.

How to Take Action with These Trends

Ready to use these trends to drive more traffic? Here’s your to-do list:

  1. Pick 1–2 trends that fit your business.
  2. Create a blog, video, or podcast episode around it this week.
  3. Design 3–5 pins for that content. Try different titles and looks.
  4. Schedule your pins with Tailwind or right in Pinterest.

Remember: Pinterest content grows over time. Like, years. One of my top-performing pins is 10 years old—and it still brings traffic every single week.

If you start now, your August pins will be ready to shine again next year.

Final Thoughts

Pinterest is the long game that pays off. It’s not a social feed—it’s a place where people go to search for help. If you want your content seen by people who are already looking for what you offer, this is how you do it.

Want help creating pins fast? That’s what we do inside Pinterest Strategy Club. We take these monthly trends and turn them into traffic and conversions—without overthinking or overworking.

So tell me—what trend are you using this month?

DON’T FORGET TO PIN IT!

284 | Effortless Testimonial Gathering for Service Providers: Boost Your Marketing with Kris Jones

Branding, Content Creation, Marketing, Podcast

284 | Effortless Testimonial Gathering for Service Providers: Boost Your Marketing with Kris Jones on Marketing Strategy Academy Podcast with host Jen Vazquez

Effortless Testimonial Gathering for Service Providers

How to Get Testimonials That Sell: A Simple System for Service Providers

Are you skipping testimonials because asking feels awkward? Or maybe the ones you do get sound more like vague compliments than reasons to hire you? You’re not alone—and today we’re fixing that. In this episode, I sat down with Kris Jones of Red Door Designs to talk about how to collect client stories that actually convert. Whether you’re a photographer, coach, or creative service provider, these tips will help you create a repeatable system to gather, refine, and use testimonials to attract more of the right clients—without sounding salesy or generic.

Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase through them—at no additional cost to you. I only rec

Why Most Testimonials Fall Flat (And What to Do Instead)

So many service providers rely on word-of-mouth or referrals—but those can be inconsistent. When you use storytelling and social proof the right way, your testimonials become your best marketing tools. Kris shared that the most powerful testimonials aren’t about you being “great”—they’re about your client’s transformation. Think: “I went from zero leads to booking 4 clients in two weeks” instead of “She’s amazing to work with.”

The key? Ask the right questions that guide your client to tell the story—from struggle to success.

The 3-Step Testimonial Gathering Formula

Kris recommends asking your client these three questions via email (or Zoom, if you’re recording video):

  1. What were you struggling with before we worked together?
  2. How did that struggle make you feel?
  3. What happened for you as a result of our work together—and how did that make you feel?

Bonus question: What would you say to a friend who was on the fence about working with me?

This simple framework invites emotion, detail, and proof—all the elements that make a testimonial feel real and relatable. Pro tip: Always ask permission to use it in your marketing, and pair testimonials with a photo whenever possible.

Where and How to Use Testimonials in Your Marketing

Once you’ve got them, don’t let those golden words sit in your inbox. Kris suggests:

  • Adding testimonials directly on your website at key decision points (right before a CTA)
  • Embedding video testimonials into your emails or sales sequences
  • Turning strong testimonials into social media graphics and captions
  • Repurposing them as mini case studies on your blog

A short, two-sentence testimonial with a clear before-and-after is often more powerful than a long-winded paragraph. Less is more—as long as it’s specific.

Storytelling: Your Secret Weapon for Standing Out

Tired of blending in? Kris reminded us that your story is your biggest differentiator. You might be in a saturated market, but no one else has your journey. Position yourself as the guide—not the hero—and show your clients what’s possible for them.

When your story is clear, client-focused, and repeated across platforms (yes, repetition matters), your brand becomes memorable and magnetic.

Where to Find Kris:

Links Mentioned:

  • Descript: an AI-powered platform that combines transcription, audio editing, and video editing capabilities into a single, user-friendly tool
  • Storybrand book: New York Times bestselling author Donald Miller uses the seven universal elements of powerful stories to teach readers how to dramatically improve how they connect with customers and grow their businesses.

DON’T FORGET TO PIN IT!

284 | Effortless Testimonial Gathering for Service Providers: Boost Your Marketing with Kris Jones on Marketing Strategy Academy Podcast with host Jen Vazquez
284 | Effortless Testimonial Gathering for Service Providers: Boost Your Marketing with Kris Jones on Marketing Strategy Academy Podcast with host Jen Vazquez
284 | Effortless Testimonial Gathering for Service Providers: Boost Your Marketing with Kris Jones on Marketing Strategy Academy Podcast with host Jen Vazquez
284 | Effortless Testimonial Gathering for Service Providers: Boost Your Marketing with Kris Jones on Marketing Strategy Academy Podcast with host Jen Vazquez

Do You Really Need to Be an Influencer to Grow Your Business?

Marketing, Podcast

Do You Have to Be an Influencer to Succeed?

If you’ve ever wondered, “Do I need to be an influencer to grow my business?” — you’re not alone. We hear this question all the time from service providers and business owners just starting out. It’s a big one. And the short answer? Nope, you don’t. But let’s break it down.

Why Video Still Matters (Even If You’re Camera-Shy)

In today’s marketing world, video is key. That doesn’t mean you need to be dancing on Reels or going viral every week. But people want to see real humans doing real things. That could be you—or someone else showing your product or service. Even faceless videos with voiceovers can build connection and trust.

The truth is, video gives your audience context. A clip of your product in use or someone sharing how your service helped them? That goes way further than just a static image.

What If I Hate Being on Camera?

We get it. Not everyone wants to be the face of their brand. And that’s okay! You can still create content that connects. Here are a few ways:

  • Use a voiceover with B-roll footage (your hands, your desk, your product)
  • Ask a friend or happy client to create a video for you (hello, UGC!)
  • Do a camera-facing video using a teleprompter app like BigVu—it makes things way easier

Just like learning to drive to a new place, showing up online feels awkward at first. But it gets easier the more you do it. You don’t need to post every day—you just need to start.

Pick the Type of Marketing That Lights You Up

If Instagram makes you cringe, try podcasting. If writing’s your jam, lean into blogging. You get to choose. Your only job is to make sure people can find you, and feel connected when they do.

And don’t forget: you can reuse content. One blog post can become a week’s worth of Reels. One client video can be repurposed across your site, email, and Pinterest. Content is a tool—use it in a way that works for you.

You’re Not a Full-Time Creator—You’re a Business Owner

At the end of the day, you’re not trying to go viral—you’re trying to get leads and grow your business. Influencer-style marketing isn’t required. But creating helpful, relatable, or inspiring content? That’s non-negotiable.

If your goal is connection, sales, and growth… then yes, you need content. But no, you don’t need to be an influencer.

DON’T FORGET TO PIN IT!

28 Do You Really Need to Be an Influencer to Grow Your Business on Marketing Duo Podcast
two cell phones one with instagram and one with tiktok 28 Do You Really Need to Be an Influencer to Grow Your Business on Marketing Duo Podcast
28 Do You Really Need to Be an Influencer to Grow Your Business on Marketing Duo Podcast
two cell phones one with tiktok and one with instagram 28 Do You Really Need to Be an Influencer to Grow Your Business on Marketing Duo Podcast
women holding up two fingers in a peace sign holding a cell phone up to her eye 28 Do You Really Need to Be an Influencer to Grow Your Business on Marketing Duo Podcast

5 Ethical Marketing Tips Every Service Provider Should Know

Content Creation, Marketing, Pinterest

If you’re a female entrepreneur with too little time and too many marketing tasks, you’re not alone. We help female founders turn chaos into clarity. I’m Jen Vazquez, and today, I’ll guide you through a simple yet powerful strategy using Pinterest and content repurposing. These tools will help you grow your business without working around the clock. 

1. Overcoming Marketing Overwhelm

Marketing can feel like spinning many plates. You may feel stuck, not sure what to do next or where to spend your time. The key is simplicity. Stop juggling everything and start focusing on two things that move the needle: Pinterest and repurposing your work.

2. Why Pinterest Works for Your Business

Pinterest is more than just a mood board—it’s a powerful search engine. Ideas on Pinterest live a long time. Unlike some platforms that show your post for just a few hours, a single pin can bring evergreen traffic for months. If you’re short on time, that makes it a game changer.

3. Repurpose Like a Pro

Do you have a podcast, blog, or social post? Don’t let it sit there. Turn one piece of content into many:

  • Pin graphics from your blog post
  • Short video clips from your podcast
  • Quote posts from your content. This multiplies your reach without doubling your effort.

Want help with Pinterest Marketing?

Pinterest Strategy Club (PSC) is your go-to membership for turning Pinterest into a lead-generating machine—without the overwhelm. Whether you’re just getting started or want to finally be consistent, PSC gives you monthly strategies, Pin templates, and content prompts tailored to service providers like you. If you want to grow your email list, drive more traffic, and get seen by dreamy clients—this is for you.

CHECK IT OUT

4. Build a Simple System

Here’s a 3‑step plan you can start today:

  1. Plan one main piece: e.g., a podcast episode.
  2. Create 3–5 pins: use Canva templates to save time.
  3. Repurpose that same content for Instagram, blog, or email.

You’ll soon have multiple platforms working for you with minimal extra work.

5. Tips to Stay Consistent

  • Batch your work: Set aside one hour weekly to plan and create.
  • Use templates: For Pinterest, blog graphics, and social media.
  • Track results: Check Pinterest analytics monthly. Double down on what works.

Conclusion

You don’t need to do it all. Focus on Pinterest + repurposing and build a simple, easy-to-manage system. Consistency + strategy = growth. Let me help you simplify your marketing—so you can grow your business without burnout.

 I was totally inspired by The Savvy CMO’s about ethical marketing.

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Grow Without Ads Using Pinterest by Jen Vazquez Media
Market Your Business With Heart with Jen Vazquez Media
Ethical Marketing Tips That Work by Jen Vazquez Media
Connect With Clients Who Get You by Jen Vazquez Media
Be Real, Build Trust, Book Clients by Jen Vazquez Media

YouTube vs. Podcasting: The Real Truth About Which One Grows Your Business Faster

Marketing, Podcast

YouTube vs. Podcasting The Real Truth About Which One Grows Your Business Faster on Marketing Duo Podcast Episode 24 with Jen Vazquez and Cinthia Pacheco

YouTube vs. Podcasting

As a business owner trying to boost your visibility, the question often comes up: should you launch a YouTube channel or start a podcast?

What if the answer is… both?

In this episode of the Marketing Duo Podcast, Cynthia and Jen break down their real-world experience using both platforms—and why choosing just one might be limiting your reach and revenue.

Why You Don’t Need to Choose Between YouTube and Podcasting

If you’re already creating content, repurposing your audio or video can give you massive exposure with minimal extra effort.

  • Record once. Publish everywhere.
  • Audio becomes a podcast.
  • Video becomes a YouTube upload.

Some people prefer to watch. Others love to listen. Either way, you’re reaching more people with the same content.

Start Simple—You Don’t Need Fancy Gear

You don’t need a high-end mic or studio. Cynthia and Jen both started with Zoom and laptops. You can:

  • Record solo or interview-style
  • Use static images or light animation for YouTube if you’re not ready for on-camera content
  • Use the same podcast episode as your YouTube video by extracting audio or uploading the video directly

Free Pinterest Visibility Masterclass: Market Smarter, Not Harder

Struggling to get seen on Pinterest? Join my free Pinterest Visibility Masterclass and learn how to turn one piece of content into dozens of lead-generating pins that keep working around the clock. I’ll walk you through the top three mindset shifts—why Pinterest isn’t like social media, my simple one-hour-a-week workflow, and the repurposing strategy that fuels evergreen visibility. Ready to ditch the content treadmill and finally attract dream clients? Reserve your spot now!

REGISTER NOW!

Where Clients Are Finding You Matters

Both platforms can lead to leads—but YouTube has the advantage of searchability and SEO. Cynthia and Jen have both had clients find them through YouTube, even though their podcast was the original content. Publishing on both platforms means you’re meeting people wherever they are.

Consistency Over Perfection

  • Don’t wait for the perfect mic or branding.
  • Don’t get stuck on your name or podcast art.
  • Your content doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to be published.

You can always rebrand later. You can always improve your cover art or change the name. Growth only happens when you start.

What to Do If You Feel Stuck:

  • Use guest interviews to keep yourself accountable and show up consistently.
  • Use ChatGPT or other tools to brainstorm names or write descriptions.
  • Use a template or Canva design for podcast covers or video thumbnails.

Podcast or YouTube? The Final Verdict

The best strategy isn’t podcast vs. YouTube. It’s podcast and YouTube. Use both. Use them in a way that fits your time and energy right now. Start with what you can do today, and scale up later.

DON’T FORGET TO PIN IT!