I run a couple of Skool communities… a paid one ($7/month or $59/year) called Midlife Nervous System Rewire and a free one pop up one I’m using right now to host a live Midlife Recalibration Week (March 23-27,30). I feel like I’m in that in-between stage where the content is good and people do engage (albeit often the same people!) but growth isn’t as fast as I’d like 🤷🏼‍♀️ but I’m in it for the long game… Here’s where I’m actually stuck… People join. And they stay. I have a challenge that gets people started, and engagement is decent. But it’s often the same type of people who really lean in… those who’ve already done deeper work with me (higher ticket) or who really value the work and have been with me a while. And then there’s the other side…people who seem to want a lot for free or very low cost, where even $7/month feels like a stretch. I feel the tension in that. Because I do want this work to be accessible. I want to offer low ticket so people get a sampling and have some support. But I also see that the people who invest more tend to engage more and transform more. My high ticket people literally rave and say it’s the best investment they’ve ever made, absolutely life changing etc. (And it’s not that some low ticket people are not very committed, I do realize there are many other factors that impact people’s level of involvement including capacity, nervous system response, neurodiversity, personal circumstances… so it’s not just the investment, but I’ve seen it enough that it’s hard to ignore!)! So I’m trying to find that middle ground, how to provide accessible support, while also ensuring people are invested enough in themselves? Would love to hear your thoughts!

There are lots of AI tools now like ChatGPT, Claude, and others. People seem to use them for different things. Some people use them to think through ideas, some for writing, and some for building things. I’m curious to hear. . . 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘈𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳?

For now, some are. And a few may continue offering free options. But, technology evolves quickly. Just like streaming services, pricing structures shift over time, and costs can increase without much notice. Here’s the simple framework I use when deciding what to keep or cancel: Rule #1: If a tool is generating income for me, I keep it. Rule #2: If it’s not fitting rule #1, producing income, I cancel it. It’s that straightforward. You don’t need every tool available to run a successful business. In fact, too many tools can create distraction instead of results. Focus on mastering a few that align with your business goals. Learn them well. Use them consistently. Let them work for you. Personally, the platforms I use daily for business are: - ChatGPT - Gamma - Grok - Canva Everything else? I’ve either removed it or only keep it if I’ve already paid for long-term access and use it occasionally. For example, I maintain ElevenLabs because it directly generates income through voice usage. At the end of the day, the goal is simple: Stop chasing every new tool and start maximizing the ones that actually pay you back. Hope this helps someone make smarter decisions. What are your “no matter the price” tools?!

What did it take in the beginning to stay encouraged and keep going? I see a lot of newer community owners here (myself included), and I’m curious— What actually helped you: - stay consistent when there were only a few members - keep showing up when engagement was low - continue building when it felt slow or uncertain And for those who’ve made that jump… What shifted for you as you moved from 50 → 1,000? Was it - strategy - consistency - energy - something else? Would love to hear what made the difference and what worked for you. Thanks. 🪷 Ann-Marie 🪷

When it comes to engagement and you have the purest intention to respond, engage, reply, but 😮‍💨 it can get exhausting depending on the day… What’s your goto strategy in a pinch?