Today we’d like to introduce you to Mandy Schulis .
Hi Mandy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I love and hate this question because there are a million different answers.
I started because I had to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, so after getting my BS in Exercise Physiology from FSU in 2005, I decided to move back to Tampa and get a certification in Massage Therapy in 2006. Little did I know how beneficial this would be. My career in massage allowed me to travel the world, make connections with multiple sports teams and attend some truly amazing events.
Fast forward to the birth of my daughter Ella in 2011. I decided to get my MBA and take a step back from massage for a few years. I needed to care for my daughter through a suppressed immune system and multiple surgeries. As the medical bills piled up, my reputation allowed me to land a few concierge-style massage clients that didn’t care when I came to see them, only that I got them in at some point. As Ella’s health improved, I was able to take on more clients and rebuild my business better than ever, with the bonus of no longer having to travel. I completed my MBA, but anything other than massage took a back burner for a few years.
By December of 2017, I was forced to admit that I was married to an addict. He was progressively becoming more abusive, verbally and physically. Up until this point, my daughter’s health was my first priority. Now, knowing Ella wasn’t constantly witnessing fighting and conflict became most important.
Single motherhood is not for the faint of heart, but I had some amazing clients and flexibility that allowed me to rent a tiny apartment and get on my feet, alone with Ella.
I worked weird, long hours with very little help from my soon-to-be-ex, but we were free and we were happy. Her dad drained our joint account and, in a weird way, this allowed me to finalize the divorce without guilt, once I recovered from having a panic attack about how I would pay my car payment.
My business was thriving, but I was exhausted all of the time.
Ella and I made it work, but it certainly wasn’t the life I wanted to give her. In a rare rash moment, a girlfriend talked me into joining Bumble, where I lasted a whole 48 hours. However, those 48 hours were long enough to connect with my now-husband, who has since adopted my daughter and we also have added a 16-month-old son.
That’s not the part of the story I am trying to tell, however.
I would say the turning point happened for me when Covid-19 hit. I was unable to do massage and forced to sit and evaluate what I really wanted for the first time, possibly ever. Fast forward another year after trying to jump back into Massage, I was diagnosed with nerve damage and am currently recovering from this surgery as I write this.
How did I get here? A lot of looking for opportunities everywhere, a lot of blessings, and an even more refusal to give up.
The biggest piece of advice I can ever give a woman is to always invest in education and remain teachable, humble, and real. No one likes a robot and everyone has a story. Your willingness to tell your story might be what someone needs to hear.
I am officially done as a massage therapist, but that’s certainly not the end to the story. I figured it is time to put the MBA I received years ago to work for me. I am doing a digital marketing certification in the Fall and am in the middle of a soft launch for my agency, The Schulis Creative. I plan on teaching and coaching much of what I learn to other women, like me, who refuse to settle. I am truly excited to see where this goes!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I probably answered this previously, but my biggest obstacle was recognizing when a situation was no longer serving me, but professionally and in my first marriage. I tend to make the same mistakes 2 or 3 times to make sure they are a mistake. Other than that, trying to balance single motherhood, in my book, wasn’t so much an obstacle, as it was a fact of life. I even told my current husband Matt, “you want me? We are a package deal”. It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but what journey really is? t
As you know, we’re big fans of The Schulis Creative. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am currently soft-launching a digital marketing agency, that will be full steam ahead come fall. I am known for direct, no-nonsense solutions and the ability to break down big problems into small, bite-sized pieces, my brand is all about female empowerment and giving women-owned health and wellness brands a leg up to get in front of their ideal clients. What sets me apart is 15 years of self-employment, the majority of which was in an unusual niche market that not many women entered. My specialty is SEO and personal branding. I do offer DFY copywriting services currently, but will be outsourcing them come 2023. My passion is helping women find their voice to clarify their message as to why they are in business because people buy into YOU before they ever buy into your products.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
Building a Story Brand and The Slight Edge are two of my favorite books. I am currently enrolled in a course called “Pitch Like a Boss” to help streamline my business.
Pricing:
- Business and Life Coaching Services- $250 ( 1st Session $125 for readers of the Orlando Voyager)
- DFY Blogs- $300+
- DFY Web Content $300+/page
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theschuliscreative.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theschuliscreative/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSchulisCreative/
- Calendly (Book a Free 30-Minute Consultation): https://calendly.com/theschuliscreative/30min
Image Credits
Elizabeth Dugan Creative
