Episode 70: $60K in Debt: When the “Proven Strategy” Fails (And What Actually Works Instead)

What happens when you follow the “proven strategy”… and it completely fails?In this episode Jennifer sits down with Sarah Hubbard, founder of The Intentional Network for a powerful conversation about networking, resilience, and building a business rooted in real relationships.Sarah shares the moment she found herself $60,000 in debt after following her company’s one and only growth strategy, direct mail, only to realize it wasn’t working. That experience became a turning point, leading her to rethink everything about how business is built.This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs who are tired of transactional marketing and ready to grow through meaningful connection.Why “proven strategies” don’t always work — and how failure can lead to better alignmentWhy trust is eroding online and why connection matters more than ever (especially in the AI era)How introverts can actually become some of the most effective networkersThe difference between busy networking and intentional networkingSarah’s mission is simple: help entrepreneurs stop feeling like “just another salesperson” and start building relationships that actually lead to revenue, referrals, and long-term growth.Meet Our Guest:Sarah Hubbard is the founder of The Intentional Network and author of The Intentional Networker. She created the MAPP Framework to help business owners network with clarity, confidence, and purpose — without being pushy or salesy. LinkedIn Facebook: Resources Mentioned:The Intentional Networker — Sarah Hubbard AI Networking Prompts: https://sarahhubbard.myflodesk.com/aipromptsitnMeet Your Host: Jennifer Kok is a Profit & Growth Advisor and founder of Next Wave. Meet Your Host:Jennifer Kok, Profit and Growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs hire me to scale and grow their businesses profitably without burnout. I bring financial clarity, strategic focus and structure to the decision-making process. Because the truth is, business owners make decisions all day long, but the ones that really matter are often the hardest ones. Should I hire? Raise my prices? Invest in marketing? Let go of a draining client? Expand, or simplify?My clients, on average, see anywhere between $1k-$4k increase in net income each month without hustle, overwhelm, and burnout.Learn More about my Programs.Get your copy of Make Waves: How Women Entrepreneurs Stop Reacting. Start Profiting and Build a Business That Lasts. Connect with me:Website:Facebook:Instagram:LinkedIn:YouTube: