#113: You Don’t Have to Scale to Be Successful with Liz Ruf

Ashlan and Victoria sit down with Elizabeth (Liz) Ruf, a strategic marketing advisor who works with higher ed, EdTech, and mission-driven organizations, to talk about taking the leap into entrepreneurship during the COVID chaos era (a truly unhinged time to start a business, 10/10). Liz shares how burnout pushed her to quit without a safety net, what it’s like to run a consulting business through funding cuts in the nonprofit world, and why community isn’t optional when you work for yourself.Listen if you’re navigating slow seasons, mission-driven marketing, nonprofit reality checks, or you just need the reminder to trust your gut and stop doing business like it’s 2019.Favorite Takeaways: Burnout is a real (and common) catalyst to exploring entrepreneurship. Liz left a demanding higher ed role during the pandemic and built her consulting business from there.Entrepreneurship = constant reinvention. You’re adapting to market shifts, client priorities, and funding realities basically every quarter.Nonprofits are in a marketing catch-22 right now. Budget cuts reduce marketing support exactly when storytelling and fundraising need to get stronger.Show up with solutions. The “1-3-1” method: 1 problem, 3 possible solutions, 1 recommendation.Not everyone wants to scale. And that’s valid. Liz calls out the subtle judgment in some startup spaces toward stable, sustainable businesses.Guest & Host Information:Guest, Elizabeth Ruf, Founder & CEO of Elizabeth Ruf Consulting, LLCCo-Host, Ashlan Glazier-Anderson, Owner of AshbeanPDX MarketingCo-Host, Victoria (Tory) Proppe, Owner of Imagine Marketing StrategiesConnect with Liz:Website: http://elizabethruf.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethruf/ Connect with us:On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TaketheLeap-Today On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taketheleap_today Find Ashlan:https://www.instagram.com/ashbeanpdxmktg https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlan-glazier-anderson Find Tory:https://www.instagram.com/imaginemarketingstrategies https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriaproppe The Course: The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur.Sign up here: https://www.taketheleap-today.com/the-course Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review! Want to keep in touch? Find us on:YoutubeInstagram