Q and A with Lesley from Goodyear, Arizona
“…it’s never too late. I didn’t start my business until I was in my 50’s.”
Q: What are you passionate about?
A: My passions include helping women in business with their marketing by implementing SEO strategies to improve online visibility, drive organic traffic, and increase sales. I love figuring things out and finding solutions to move forward in business. As an entrepreneur, you wear many hats and possess many skills. But not all skills come as naturally as others. When I first got started, I thought I was going to be a copywriter – because I love writing and communicating in any way shape, or form. As I was writing for clients and building my business, I discovered that in order to truly get seen and heard online, you also had to incorporate SEO – search engine optimization. I was being told I needed to improve my online visibility, but I needed to figure out how to do it. When I started learning about it, I was confused and overwhelmed because there are so many moving parts including keywords, on-page SEO, off-page SEO, and analytics, let alone having the ability to create and manage a website.
I did what I always do; I dove headfirst into all things SEO and learned, practiced, tried things, failed, tried again, experienced success, and learned some more all as a means of just moving forward. I soon realized that if I can do this as a woman in business, so can others. They just need the right resources and support to do so. Hence, SEO Inkwell Solutions was created for women pursuing their own dreams and passions. I’m now an SEO and Content Consultant who provides resources, online support, courses, consultation, and more in order for women to level up their marketing.
Personally, I’m passionate about making the most out of life, finding joy in small moments, and being grateful every day. I advocate for mental health and wellness constantly encouraging others to do what’s best for their physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, and financial health. I love coffee far too much, enjoy wine not as often as I’d like, spend mornings walking or hiking outdoors, and throw tennis balls to my two dogs daily. I have an incredible husband who supports all my endeavors, two amazing adult children pursuing their own passions, and a future son-in-law I adore with my whole heart.
Q: What were your younger years like?
A: I grew up in Minnesota on a lake before moving to Arizona in my junior year of high school. The move was the first time I ever experienced real, significant change. It was difficult leaving everything I knew and loved to a place that was so very different and quite foreign to me. What I learned is life is always changing, relationships come and go, and the only person I can ever really rely on is myself.
I taught at a public high school and community college for 26 years. Nothing brought me greater joy than helping young people improve…at reading, writing, research, analytic thinking, and life. The pandemic and changing social dynamics facing young people made it difficult to continue, however, and I opted to retire from my teaching career.
Although I was no longer teaching, I needed to keep working, knowing that if I didn’t do something that challenged me mentally, I risked losing myself and my sense of purpose. Not only that but as my father was recently diagnosed with dementia and frontotemporal degeneration, I knew I needed to keep my brain actively engaged in order to prevent early-onset dementia myself. Plus, I was too young to retire officially and was excited about doing something different.
Going from education to business was an eye-opening and challenging experience. New challenges, LOTS of learning, some reasonably significant soul searching, and finding support are now what occupy my day, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. My business allows me to meet amazing people, work with incredible women, and earn a living in a completely new way.
What I do to help others with their SEO isn’t something I’d consider glamorous. It’s nitty gritty. It’s technical at times. It’s continuous problem-solving. But it’s creative too. It’s what I love to do day in and day out because there is nothing better than being able to help someone move forward in their business, and SEO is one of THE BEST ways to move forward if you have a website and use it as your storefront online.
Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?
A: Perhaps the most important thing I’ve learned about being an entrepreneur is you MUST be true to yourself first. I spent an entire year working on myself, my mindset, my self-worth, etc. to overcome the imposter syndrome I was experiencing. I also had to learn how to give myself grace and no longer hang on to guilt. Guilt for doing what I want to do, pursuing my dreams, and living each day on my own terms.
Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: Feminism to me means you can live your life unapologetically. You live knowing your gifts, goals, and opportunities are endless and it’s up to you to pursue them knowing you are wholly capable of achieving every dream you have for yourself. It means no longer apologizing for wanting to do your own things and needing to be 100% authentically yourself. I think as women, we’ve been conditioned to believe our purpose is to nurture, serve, and submit to those we love. But the one who deserves that more than anyone is ourselves. Having passions, desires, goals, and dreams is not selfish. Rather, it’s necessary in order to live our best life.
MORE FROM LESLEY: If there is one thing I’d love women of all ages to know, it’s never too late. I didn’t start my business until I was in my 50’s. I loved being a teacher. I thought I was only ever going to be a teacher. But life happens. Things change. And the ability to adapt and overcome whatever obstacles life throws our way is a skill anyone can learn at any time.
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