Rachel Otto

Sometimes life just brings you to your knees. I’m not going to sugarcoat it, these last 15 days have been some of the hardest I’ve ever had to walk through. I’ve dealt with some very painful personal losses, and as if that wasn't enough, work challenges piled up right when I had the least amount of strength. I had to make a choice: keep pushing a broken engine or stop before I completely shattered. I chose silence. What I didn’t know was that, in that silence, my community was still beating for me. A few days ago, still feeling a bit heavy-hearted, I gathered the courage to open Skool. I thought I’d find complaints or emptiness... instead, I found over 300 messages from my members. 😭🙌 They weren’t just work notifications. They were real people, my own people, sending me love, patience, and support without me being able to give them anything in return at that moment. As a health professional, I spend my life explaining the importance of support groups, but these past few days I had to step down from the "expert" role and just be a person held up by her network. It’s incredible how a group can become your best medicine. For me, Skool today isn’t just a course platform. It’s my refuge. It’s the place that reminded me who I am when I felt lost in the middle of the storm. How has your community been embracing you through your own journeys? Have you ever felt that invisible backup that helps you get up when you feel like you can’t go on?

New comment 3d ago

Have you ever had to step away from Skool for a while?

Rachel Otto

4 likes • 6d

What you shared is something a lot of people feel… but not many say out loud. Yes — I’ve had to step away too. And one thing I’ve learned (both personally and through working with families and communities) is this: When a community is built right, it doesn’t depend on you being “on” all the time — it holds its own heartbeat. There’s actually a lot of truth behind what you experienced. In strong communities, especially ones built on shared lived experiences, something powerful happens: - People begin to feel seen, not just taught - They connect with each other, not just the leader - And support becomes peer-to-peer, not top-down - That’s when it shifts from a platform… to a support system What stood out to me most in your story is this: You didn’t lose your community when you stepped away…you proved its strength. And that’s rare. In many spaces, silence kills momentum. But in real communities, silence reveals depth. I also really respect what you said about stepping out of the “expert” role — because that’s where the real connection lives. People don’t just stay for information…they stay for human understanding. For me, especially walking alongside my grandsons and building around neurodiverse families, I’ve seen firsthand that: Sometimes the most powerful thing a community gives you isn’t answers… …it’s the feeling that you don’t have to carry it alone that day. What you built didn’t just support others —it came back and supported you when you needed it most. That’s not just a good community. That’s something truly meaningful 🤍

Rachel Otto

12d •

🍓 Chat

Do You Want More Members… Or Better Ones?

Someone asked me if I want my community to grow. The honest answer? Yes… but probably not in the way people think. When I talk about growth, I’m not just talking about numbers. I’m talking about: • better conversations • people feeling safe to ask questions • members helping each other • confidence growing inside the space • quiet members starting to speak up A community can have 5,000 members and still feel empty. Or it can have 50 members and feel powerful. I’m happy for my community to grow slowly — because I’m focused on the right people. The ones who want to learn, contribute, and build alongside each other. For me, real growth is: Not just more people… but more connection. Not just activity… but meaningful activity. Not just visibility… but impact. That kind of growth takes a little longer — but it lasts

New comment 9d ago