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A Wild & Crazy Journey into Entrepreneurship

July 28, 2022
freelancer to agency owner erica vander sande

I’m Erica: agency owner, girl mom, and ultimate hype girl for female business owners.

I’m starting this podcast to teach you the actuals of how to start a marketing agency.

Learn how to start your own successful marketing agency and strategically outsource immediately – yes, that means you don’t have to do everything on your own, even as you’re just starting out!

This episode is all about me (yikes!), but I think it’s important for me to tell my story despite the discomfort I feel in recording a full episode about myself! I love learning about other people, hearing their stories, and discovering how they tackled all they’ve accomplished. So today I’m documenting my own journey into entrepreneurship; it’s one riddled with trauma and grief but also with so much joy and growth. 

If you’re interested in hearing how one agency owner got started, tune in! 

What drove me into entrepreneurship was a time when both my work and personal life came crashing down, from caring for a sick parent to a complicated pregnancy and even getting laid off, it felt like my world was ending…so I had to create a new one. 

My first step? I made a list. I made a list of local businesses that I loved and saw potential in, got vulnerable, and asked if they would consider letting me do freelance marketing for them. 

I didn’t have business cards, a website, a portfolio, anything! I started simply with what I had and gave my ALL to the clients who would take me. The most amazing thing? It worked! 

Despite the blows that life continued to throw at me (and trust me, there were a LOT!), I slowly grew my client base and, eventually, a full agency. But truthfully, the only reason that this business survived and grew in the way that it did was because of the structure I set up in those first few months. The structure is what saved me when life was too much, and THAT is what I’m aiming to teach any freelancer who dreams of owning their own agency. You deserve to have both financial and time freedom, and friend? It is truly possible; it’s not just a pipedream. 

My goal is to get you to make the leap to agency owner. If you feel scared, trust me, I get it! When I got started, all I had was a spreadsheet, a resume, and a prayer; if I can do it, you can too. 

Listen to the Podcast Episode!

Links mentioned: 

1:1 Freelancer to Agency Owner Coaching

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We're growing! 🌱 Mina is hiring a Marketing Account Manager — someone who's great with clients, has a solid marketing background, is comfortable with AI tools, and is ready to own a book of business with real flexibility built in.

$35-40/hr contract role, work from anywhere with hours that fit your life.

Know someone perfect for this? Tag them below or send resumes to hello@theminacompany.com.
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We're growing! 🌱 Mina is hiring a Marketing Account Manager — someone who's great with clients, has a solid marketing background, is comfortable with AI tools, and is ready to own a book of business with real flexibility built in. $35-40/hr contract role, work from anywhere with hours that fit your life. Know someone perfect for this? Tag them below or send resumes to hello@theminacompany.com.
22 hours ago
View on Instagram |
1/5
School is back in full swing at our house, which means backpacks, lunchboxes, and the countdown to the first report cards of the year.

It got me thinking about my own. Turns out the comments from my teachers sound a lot like the reviews our clients leave today. ""Demonstrates leadership"" was apparently foreshadowing to owning a business. 

I was also voted most likely to be Donald Trump thanks to business club, which... aged differently than expected. But the entrepreneurial spirit? That part tracked.

The gold stars look a little different now, but the effort behind them hasn't changed a bit.

What did your report cards say about you? Tell us in the comments, we want to know if your teachers saw it coming too.
School is back in full swing at our house, which means backpacks, lunchboxes, and the countdown to the first report cards of the year.

It got me thinking about my own. Turns out the comments from my teachers sound a lot like the reviews our clients leave today. ""Demonstrates leadership"" was apparently foreshadowing to owning a business. 

I was also voted most likely to be Donald Trump thanks to business club, which... aged differently than expected. But the entrepreneurial spirit? That part tracked.

The gold stars look a little different now, but the effort behind them hasn't changed a bit.

What did your report cards say about you? Tell us in the comments, we want to know if your teachers saw it coming too.
School is back in full swing at our house, which means backpacks, lunchboxes, and the countdown to the first report cards of the year.

It got me thinking about my own. Turns out the comments from my teachers sound a lot like the reviews our clients leave today. ""Demonstrates leadership"" was apparently foreshadowing to owning a business. 

I was also voted most likely to be Donald Trump thanks to business club, which... aged differently than expected. But the entrepreneurial spirit? That part tracked.

The gold stars look a little different now, but the effort behind them hasn't changed a bit.

What did your report cards say about you? Tell us in the comments, we want to know if your teachers saw it coming too.
School is back in full swing at our house, which means backpacks, lunchboxes, and the countdown to the first report cards of the year.

It got me thinking about my own. Turns out the comments from my teachers sound a lot like the reviews our clients leave today. ""Demonstrates leadership"" was apparently foreshadowing to owning a business. 

I was also voted most likely to be Donald Trump thanks to business club, which... aged differently than expected. But the entrepreneurial spirit? That part tracked.

The gold stars look a little different now, but the effort behind them hasn't changed a bit.

What did your report cards say about you? Tell us in the comments, we want to know if your teachers saw it coming too.
School is back in full swing at our house, which means backpacks, lunchboxes, and the countdown to the first report cards of the year.

It got me thinking about my own. Turns out the comments from my teachers sound a lot like the reviews our clients leave today. ""Demonstrates leadership"" was apparently foreshadowing to owning a business. 

I was also voted most likely to be Donald Trump thanks to business club, which... aged differently than expected. But the entrepreneurial spirit? That part tracked.

The gold stars look a little different now, but the effort behind them hasn't changed a bit.

What did your report cards say about you? Tell us in the comments, we want to know if your teachers saw it coming too.
School is back in full swing at our house, which means backpacks, lunchboxes, and the countdown to the first report cards of the year.

It got me thinking about my own. Turns out the comments from my teachers sound a lot like the reviews our clients leave today. ""Demonstrates leadership"" was apparently foreshadowing to owning a business. 

I was also voted most likely to be Donald Trump thanks to business club, which... aged differently than expected. But the entrepreneurial spirit? That part tracked.

The gold stars look a little different now, but the effort behind them hasn't changed a bit.

What did your report cards say about you? Tell us in the comments, we want to know if your teachers saw it coming too.
School is back in full swing at our house, which means backpacks, lunchboxes, and the countdown to the first report cards of the year.

It got me thinking about my own. Turns out the comments from my teachers sound a lot like the reviews our clients leave today. ""Demonstrates leadership"" was apparently foreshadowing to owning a business. 

I was also voted most likely to be Donald Trump thanks to business club, which... aged differently than expected. But the entrepreneurial spirit? That part tracked.

The gold stars look a little different now, but the effort behind them hasn't changed a bit.

What did your report cards say about you? Tell us in the comments, we want to know if your teachers saw it coming too.
School is back in full swing at our house, which means backpacks, lunchboxes, and the countdown to the first report cards of the year.

It got me thinking about my own. Turns out the comments from my teachers sound a lot like the reviews our clients leave today. ""Demonstrates leadership"" was apparently foreshadowing to owning a business. 

I was also voted most likely to be Donald Trump thanks to business club, which... aged differently than expected. But the entrepreneurial spirit? That part tracked.

The gold stars look a little different now, but the effort behind them hasn't changed a bit.

What did your report cards say about you? Tell us in the comments, we want to know if your teachers saw it coming too.
School is back in full swing at our house, which means backpacks, lunchboxes, and the countdown to the first report cards of the year.

It got me thinking about my own. Turns out the comments from my teachers sound a lot like the reviews our clients leave today. ""Demonstrates leadership"" was apparently foreshadowing to owning a business. 

I was also voted most likely to be Donald Trump thanks to business club, which... aged differently than expected. But the entrepreneurial spirit? That part tracked.

The gold stars look a little different now, but the effort behind them hasn't changed a bit.

What did your report cards say about you? Tell us in the comments, we want to know if your teachers saw it coming too.
School is back in full swing at our house, which means backpacks, lunchboxes, and the countdown to the first report cards of the year.

It got me thinking about my own. Turns out the comments from my teachers sound a lot like the reviews our clients leave today. ""Demonstrates leadership"" was apparently foreshadowing to owning a business. 

I was also voted most likely to be Donald Trump thanks to business club, which... aged differently than expected. But the entrepreneurial spirit? That part tracked.

The gold stars look a little different now, but the effort behind them hasn't changed a bit.

What did your report cards say about you? Tell us in the comments, we want to know if your teachers saw it coming too.
•
Follow
School is back in full swing at our house, which means backpacks, lunchboxes, and the countdown to the first report cards of the year. It got me thinking about my own. Turns out the comments from my teachers sound a lot like the reviews our clients leave today. ""Demonstrates leadership"" was apparently foreshadowing to owning a business. I was also voted most likely to be Donald Trump thanks to business club, which... aged differently than expected. But the entrepreneurial spirit? That part tracked. The gold stars look a little different now, but the effort behind them hasn't changed a bit. What did your report cards say about you? Tell us in the comments, we want to know if your teachers saw it coming too.
1 day ago
View on Instagram |
2/5
The Mina Network: Debbi Allison of Open Book Consulting.

Knowing not one, but two women in this space is a BLESSING! So if you dread opening QuickBooks, don't really understand your own financial reports, or have a bookkeeper but still feel totally in the dark about your numbers, Debbi is who I call.

She's built her business around more than just clean books. She teaches owners the story behind their numbers so they can run with clarity instead of being run over by them. Bookkeeping, QuickBooks training, financial coaching: whatever the entry point, Debbi's goal is always the same. She wants you to understand your finances well enough to make decisions from a place of strength, not stress.

What sets her apart is the education piece. She doesn't just hand you a report and disappear. She walks you through it, connects the numbers to the behaviors driving them, and helps you build the financial confidence to lead your business forward. She's an Advanced Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor based right here in Northern Colorado and she's been doing this since 2010.

If you want a financial partner who empowers you instead of just invoicing you, visit openbookpros.com
•
Follow
The Mina Network: Debbi Allison of Open Book Consulting. Knowing not one, but two women in this space is a BLESSING! So if you dread opening QuickBooks, don't really understand your own financial reports, or have a bookkeeper but still feel totally in the dark about your numbers, Debbi is who I call. She's built her business around more than just clean books. She teaches owners the story behind their numbers so they can run with clarity instead of being run over by them. Bookkeeping, QuickBooks training, financial coaching: whatever the entry point, Debbi's goal is always the same. She wants you to understand your finances well enough to make decisions from a place of strength, not stress. What sets her apart is the education piece. She doesn't just hand you a report and disappear. She walks you through it, connects the numbers to the behaviors driving them, and helps you build the financial confidence to lead your business forward. She's an Advanced Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor based right here in Northern Colorado and she's been doing this since 2010. If you want a financial partner who empowers you instead of just invoicing you, visit openbookpros.com
3 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/5
Somewhere along the way, "doing it all" became the goal. But if you're giving 5% to every tactic, you're not doing it all. You're spreading yourself thin.

Our Momentum package is built around the opposite idea. It's the focused strategy that quietly moves the needle while everyone else chases everything. SEO, Digital ads, regular strategy calls, a themed content calendar, and a team that gives 100% to every service.

The result? Momentum. And momentum creates the growth that lets you add what's next, whether that's a website, a rebrand, or stepping up to the next level of marketing.

Ready to stop spreading thin? DM us or visit theminacompany.com
Somewhere along the way, "doing it all" became the goal. But if you're giving 5% to every tactic, you're not doing it all. You're spreading yourself thin.

Our Momentum package is built around the opposite idea. It's the focused strategy that quietly moves the needle while everyone else chases everything. SEO, Digital ads, regular strategy calls, a themed content calendar, and a team that gives 100% to every service.

The result? Momentum. And momentum creates the growth that lets you add what's next, whether that's a website, a rebrand, or stepping up to the next level of marketing.

Ready to stop spreading thin? DM us or visit theminacompany.com
Somewhere along the way, "doing it all" became the goal. But if you're giving 5% to every tactic, you're not doing it all. You're spreading yourself thin.

Our Momentum package is built around the opposite idea. It's the focused strategy that quietly moves the needle while everyone else chases everything. SEO, Digital ads, regular strategy calls, a themed content calendar, and a team that gives 100% to every service.

The result? Momentum. And momentum creates the growth that lets you add what's next, whether that's a website, a rebrand, or stepping up to the next level of marketing.

Ready to stop spreading thin? DM us or visit theminacompany.com
Somewhere along the way, "doing it all" became the goal. But if you're giving 5% to every tactic, you're not doing it all. You're spreading yourself thin.

Our Momentum package is built around the opposite idea. It's the focused strategy that quietly moves the needle while everyone else chases everything. SEO, Digital ads, regular strategy calls, a themed content calendar, and a team that gives 100% to every service.

The result? Momentum. And momentum creates the growth that lets you add what's next, whether that's a website, a rebrand, or stepping up to the next level of marketing.

Ready to stop spreading thin? DM us or visit theminacompany.com
Somewhere along the way, "doing it all" became the goal. But if you're giving 5% to every tactic, you're not doing it all. You're spreading yourself thin.

Our Momentum package is built around the opposite idea. It's the focused strategy that quietly moves the needle while everyone else chases everything. SEO, Digital ads, regular strategy calls, a themed content calendar, and a team that gives 100% to every service.

The result? Momentum. And momentum creates the growth that lets you add what's next, whether that's a website, a rebrand, or stepping up to the next level of marketing.

Ready to stop spreading thin? DM us or visit theminacompany.com
Somewhere along the way, "doing it all" became the goal. But if you're giving 5% to every tactic, you're not doing it all. You're spreading yourself thin.

Our Momentum package is built around the opposite idea. It's the focused strategy that quietly moves the needle while everyone else chases everything. SEO, Digital ads, regular strategy calls, a themed content calendar, and a team that gives 100% to every service.

The result? Momentum. And momentum creates the growth that lets you add what's next, whether that's a website, a rebrand, or stepping up to the next level of marketing.

Ready to stop spreading thin? DM us or visit theminacompany.com
•
Follow
Somewhere along the way, "doing it all" became the goal. But if you're giving 5% to every tactic, you're not doing it all. You're spreading yourself thin. Our Momentum package is built around the opposite idea. It's the focused strategy that quietly moves the needle while everyone else chases everything. SEO, Digital ads, regular strategy calls, a themed content calendar, and a team that gives 100% to every service. The result? Momentum. And momentum creates the growth that lets you add what's next, whether that's a website, a rebrand, or stepping up to the next level of marketing. Ready to stop spreading thin? DM us or visit theminacompany.com
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
4/5
Intuitive strategy gets dismissed as the soft stuff, but it's usually the thing that separates marketing that works from marketing that just exists. 

It's pattern recognition built from years of watching what actually moves the needle. It's noticing that something feels off in a brand's messaging before the numbers confirm it. It's knowing which growth lever to pull first because we've seen a hundred businesses like yours, and no two got the same plan.

At Mina, we don't choose between gut and data. Intuition points us in a direction, and the numbers tell us if we're onto something. When both agree, that's when things start to move.

Feminine energy, observation, and killer analytics. That's the Mina method.

If this approach is something you'd appreciate in your marketing team, we'd love to meet you. DM us or visit theminacompany.com
•
Follow
Intuitive strategy gets dismissed as the soft stuff, but it's usually the thing that separates marketing that works from marketing that just exists. It's pattern recognition built from years of watching what actually moves the needle. It's noticing that something feels off in a brand's messaging before the numbers confirm it. It's knowing which growth lever to pull first because we've seen a hundred businesses like yours, and no two got the same plan. At Mina, we don't choose between gut and data. Intuition points us in a direction, and the numbers tell us if we're onto something. When both agree, that's when things start to move. Feminine energy, observation, and killer analytics. That's the Mina method. If this approach is something you'd appreciate in your marketing team, we'd love to meet you. DM us or visit theminacompany.com
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
5/5
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