Stop Doing What You 'Should' Do: How Rachel Muir Built a Membership Business Model Around What She Loves

"I was so grossed out. I would send an email and want to go hide under my bed." That's how Rachel Muir, founder of League of Extraordinary Fundraisers, describes her old high-pressure launch strategy.

Now? She's built a thriving membership business around the things she actually loves doing: monthly webinars and writing emails that people think are newsletters (spoiler: they're sales emails, just really good ones).

In this episode, Rachel pulls back the curtain on her complete business model transformation during COVID, when her speaking revenue disappeared overnight and she had to choose: adapt or fail. Her choice? Build around what energizes her, not what she "should" be doing.

Highlights:

• Stop forcing yourself into marketing channels that drain you. Rachel admits she barely posts on LinkedIn and doesn't have a VA—and her business is thriving anyway.
• The 80/20 split that works. Rachel spends 80% of her time marketing her membership and 20% delivering—and why that ratio makes sense.
• How to handle the "commitment issues" of subscription pricing. People assume they're locked in for a year. Rachel's messaging strategy addresses this head-on.
• Why scaling isn't always the goal. With twins heading to college, Rachel's choosing travel and flexibility over aggressive growth—and that's perfectly fine.

Listen to discover how letting go of the "shoulds" and building around your natural strengths can create a business that actually works for your life.

Ready to ditch some business "shoulds" of your own? Subscribe to Confessions for more real talk on building a thriving consulting business.

Connect with Rachel:

• Rachel’s website: https://www.rachelmuir.com/ 
• Membership website: https://www.leagueofextraordinaryfundraisers.com/ 

Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com

Connect with Cindy:

• Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
• Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
• LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman

Connect with Jess:

• Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/