How Danelle Schlegelmilch Reclaimed Her Style by Investing in Herself
- emsteinbrink
- 4 days ago
- 27 min read
Are you allowing yourself to fully shine as a business owner, or are you letting yourself get lost in the daily minutiae?
After feeling like she’d lost her sense of style during the pandemic, Danelle Schlegelmilch set out on a mission to get it back. She was evolving into her role as founder and fractional CCO of her PR company, Passport Public Relations. Yet she realized that while her mission was to help her clients shine, she wasn’t allowing the same thing for herself. She felt she needed not just a reduction in daily decision fatigue, but a boost in her confidence, professional presence, and client interactions.
In this episode of The Visibility Shift, you’ll hear how Danelle reclaimed and elevated her style with the creation of a personalized style strategy, aligning with her growing business and CEO role. She emphasizes the importance of investing in yourself, the impact of finding your authentic style, and how strategic styling can empower women leaders to show up boldly and confidently in their businesses.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
3:57 – How Danelle lost her style during COVID and reclaimed it as her business scaled
8:04 – How the styling process helped Danelle refine her existing style into a version suited for her CEO role
10:21 – What it felt like for Danelle to do something a little new (and scary) by investing in herself
12:16 –The difference Danelle felt in meeting clients before versus after refining her style
15:07 – How the styling process has shifted the way Danelle shows up, personally and professionally
19:13 – The big a-ha moment that was a game changer for Danelle during this process
22:53 – The difference in comfort level for Danelle now as someone who’s been on camera for many years
24:29 – Danelle’s encouragement for women entrepreneurs who feel a shift in their lives or business
27:20 – The stress saved and wasted time and money avoided with a personalized style strategy as your guide
32:41 – Closing thoughts on the intangible but powerful energetic shift that style can create within
Mentioned In How Danelle Schlegelmilch Reclaimed Her Style by Investing in Herself
Full Transcript
Ellie Steinbrink: Welcome to The Visibility Shift, the podcast where style becomes your most powerful strategy for being seen, standing out, and leading boldly. I'm Ellie Steinbrink, stylist and personal brand coach, and if you've ever thought, "My style just isn't working anymore," take this as your sign. You're ready for your next level. And instead of launching into a panicked shopping spree, what you really need is a strategy. A style strategy that reflects where you're headed, not who you used to be or who you think you need to be to fit in.
Because when your style aligns with your brand and your vision, everything shifts. You lead with more presence, you attract the right opportunities and clients, and you fully step into the woman you're becoming. Because showing up as yourself, that's the most strategic thing you can do. Now let's get visible.
Welcome to another episode of The Visibility Shift podcast. I'm so thrilled to introduce you to my wonderful client, Danelle Schlegelmilch, who is the founder and fractional CCO of Passport Public Relations. Her company is all about connecting lifestyle, food, and travel brands with their dream national media.
What you're going to hear in this episode is Danelle talking about what it takes and the impacts of investing in yourself and how that then shows up in your business. She even said in this interview that she was asking her clients to invest in themselves and in their business by working with her. And she realized that that was a sign for her to then take the next step to invest in herself through style.
You're going to hear from her how it felt to once feel like you had a style. And she even says, "I was nominated as one of the best dressed when I was in high school," and how through the course of life and marriage and jobs and kids, how some of that can fall away.
And what it was like for her through this process to reclaim her style, but in an even more elevated and polished way that suited her new CEO role. And finally, you're going to hear a little bit about just the unspoken stress and the decision fatigue that comes along with style that often we're not really even thinking about, but all of the things that go into shopping and picking out an outfit and finding the right fits and putting the right accessories together and trying to figure out if your outfit is going to be the right thing for wherever you're going. All of that is stressful.
I can't wait for you to listen in on what this journey has been like for Danelle. So let's get into it. Danelle, welcome to The Visibility Shift Podcast.
Let's go ahead and just start by having you introduce yourself briefly, so the listeners know a little bit about the amazing you.
Danelle Schlegelmilch: Awesome. Thanks for having me. So I'm Danelle Schlegelmilch. I'm the founder of Passport Public Relations.
We're a PR boutique here in Omaha, Nebraska, but we serve clients all over the country in the lifestyle, food, and travel spaces. And I just kind of explain it as we're matchmakers, really. We love to connect people with really good stories to the media who tell them.
So it's kind of my biggest story in life, helping people have their moment to shine. And I'm just really excited to be kind of living my dream right now, being able to do that full time.
Ellie Steinbrink: It's been so fun to watch you grow. Danelle and I have actually known each other for many, many years. We worked together in a prior company, and I've always kind of known you just had it in you.
But you said something just now about part of your work with your own clients is helping them shine. And I feel like that is a little bit of your story here with our work together, allowing yourself to show up and shine.
So where I wanted to start with you, Danelle, is can you take me back to that time period before we started working together? Because I know some of the things you shared with me is that you were feeling a shift in yourself and in your business. Can you bring us back to that time and what was happening?
Danelle Schlegelmilch: Funny, I was looking at the calendar. I'm like, it feels like we've been working together forever. So I was like, I don't remember when that was. So it's been over two years now. I looked it up.
So 2023 is when we started working together with my styling. And I remember through COVID, everyone in the world, I feel like I just got super comfortable. I'm not an athlete by any means, but I was wearing athleisure leggings and baggy t-shirts all the time.
And during COVID, I had a baby at home and a kindergartner. So style just flew out the door. And then during COVID, I had a day job for 18 months while I had my business, just to help pay the bills.
And it was more like a relaxed dress code. So I just wore really comfy clothes there too, every once in a while throw on a blazer. But I felt like I just lost touch on what my style really was.
And then when I came back to doing my business and I was talking to you in 2023, my business was really starting to scale. I had gone through an accelerator and increased my rates and knew, "Okay, this is my worth. This is what I'm going to be serving."
And then I was like, "Okay, I need to get myself more together," going to pitch meetings and showing up with clients. I remember just standing in my closet just like, "Oh my gosh, I don't know what I should be wearing. I don't like these clothes." But I was just so busy. I didn't know where to find the things I wanted. And I would just get overwhelmed with all the options. So then I was like, "Yes, Ellie, help me please."
Ellie Steinbrink: Yeah. I think a lot of people listening right now, the women listening, can really identify with what you're talking about, because there is that moment when you're running a business where you feel like things are shifting.
And sometimes it happens so fast and there's so many other things going on in your life that you know things need to happen. But it's just putting the time and the money and the energy really into it.
So can you tell me about what was maybe the flipping point for you where you're like, "I need to address this"? What was happening inside you, you think?
Danelle Schlegelmilch: I've always had a sense of style. I remember in high school, I even got my most unique sense of style senior year. And I was like, I wear these cool thrifty clothes and have punk rock mix of eclectic things.
But then the busier I got, I was putting my children first, my clients first. And then it was just everything, I didn't even enjoy shopping at that moment. I was like, "Oh my gosh, I just don't want to make any other decisions."
I feel like I had decision fatigue at the end of the day. So when I found out that you were doing the service, it was a gift. It was a huge investment. I don't think I've invested that much personally into anything for myself, maybe massages here or there, therapy. But this was a big investment.
But I was like, "You know what? I want to show up and shine the way that I know I can and the way I help my clients shine." So I was like, "You know what? And I'm investing in another woman's business." That was the other thing that made it easy for me.
I love supporting women in business. And so I was like, "You know what? I know other successful women that have used stylists. And I always thought, man, someday that'd be so cool." And I was like, "You know what? I'm not going to wait anymore. Let's just do it." So I was very excited.
Ellie Steinbrink: Yeah. You said so many good things there. One of the things I want to put a pin on is a lot of the women that will come to me will have often been described by others as being stylish.
And so I think there is this maybe expectation that when you go to a stylist that you go from having no style to all of a sudden being styled. But I actually don't find that that's the case. And it's very true with you.
I've always, because I've seen you and worked with you over the years, I've always thought of your style as being really cool. In fact, I think when we first started, you described it as sort of like this rock and roll, vintage-y vibe. It was so alluring, your style.
So tell me about what you think you were hoping for in the process. We definitely didn't want to lose that essence of who you were, but maybe it was coming about in a new way. I don't know. Tell me in your own words what you were feeling on the inside through that process.
Danelle Schlegelmilch: Yeah. I think that's kind of what was happening. I just wanted to have a more elevated look, showing up and wanting clients to sign a big 12-month retainer.
I wanted to feel confident walking in and not like, "Oh my gosh, I've worn this outfit the last five years and it's worn out, and I could do better, but didn't know what to do." So I remember feeling like, "You know what? It's that time where my business was just booming and I wanted to feel more confident and I knew I didn't have to do it all."
And that's one thing I learned through business coaches in the past is it's okay. You can essentially buy your time back and focus on other things, let other experts do their thing and support their business.
So that was a light bulb moment for me. I don't have to do everything. So if Ellie's the expert and she can help me and make my life so much easier, I'm going to go ahead and do that.
So I feel like we just were able to pull pieces that were still my style, but just elevated. And then you helped me, I never had color analysis or knowing my body shape to know how to... I never wore high-rise pants before and now that's all I wear. And wide legs, things I was afraid of, and now that's the only thing that I have in my wardrobe.
So it was very eye-opening and I loved learning just tips from you. And now I can go shopping and feel less overwhelmed because I'm like, "Okay, I know specifically what colors I want and shapes." And it makes it a lot easier.
Ellie Steinbrink: Yeah, and I would say I have seen you be empowered through the process and I think that's one of the most fun things I'd get to experience with my clients and with you is seeing maybe some hesitation, I mean because even with the style you've always had this vintage-y rock and roll vibe and we now defined it as your three personal style words were vibrant, eclectic, and quirky, and I think sometimes, it just takes a little bit of refinement and clarification into what that really means and then how it can show up in this next-level version of yourself.
I wanted to ask you a little bit more about, you mentioned investing in yourself and how that can feel so scary. Tell me more about what that felt like for you to kind of take the leap into something that was a bit unknown, I guess, and a bit of a, "Hey, I'm just trusting that this process is going to work out."
Danelle Schlegelmilch: Yeah. I mean, I think everything when you have your own business feels a little bit scary. It's all like, "Okay, we'll see if our clients can continue to pay the retainers," and just kind of trusting the process. And that's been the biggest thing in my business is just like, "Okay, working with people I love that I know are good people and just kind of trusting the process." And I knew investing in myself was something I needed to do just to be able to kind of do what I'm telling my clients to do.
I'm asking my clients to show up and be on stages and enter for awards and put themselves out there and do the photo shoots and do the things. And then I hadn't personally done any of them. That was kind of one of the things, a fellow friend, [inaudible], of mine is like, "Girl, you've got to put yourself out there too, enter the awards and do the speaking engagements."
And now I feel like I felt more confident because that was always the word, "What am I going to wear?" And it's like, I think everyone struggles with that and impostor syndrome. Like, "Yeah, that's not something that I should be doing." But of course, you want your girl friends and your clients and everybody else to do it.
So I'm like, "No, you know what? Now's the time." It's like The Goonies, that's my favorite movie. It's our time down here. So I'm like, "You know what? Let's just do it." And at the end of the day, I'm like, "This is going to help my business. You know what? Let's just go for it." I'm glad that I did.
Ellie Steinbrink: Yeah. I'm so glad you did too. And I'm curious to know how it felt sort of before and after, when you were meeting with your clients. And I love that you said, "If I'm asking my clients to make these leaps, I better be willing to make these leaps too." So I think that's such a powerful thing for you to notice and then be able to then say, "I need to go do that."
But did you feel any kind of before and after where when you were meeting with clients before and kind of just trying to pull things together and feeling like, "Oh man, I've been wearing this for five years," as opposed to then feeling that a little bit more of an elevated version of a style that is also very authentic to you. Did you feel a difference when you were meeting with clients? Or I know you're on camera a lot.
Danelle Schlegelmilch: Yeah. It's just like a game changer, I feel like, because I knew what colors I liked, but I didn't really know what colors even look good. And like you said, being on camera, I was a spokesperson for some clients, and I would just gravitate towards one of their branded pieces of clothing that wasn't usually flattering, and I'd try and make it look good. But now I just felt like, "You know what? I know what I should be wearing." So I didn't have to stress out about that.
So I think it just gave me that much more confidence to show up and walk into boardrooms with clients and just be able to focus on doing my job and not worrying about, "What shoes am I going to wear?" I remember I'd bug my daughter, who's now 10 and a fashionista, "What shoes should I wear?" And then she'd get so frustrated, "Mom, you know which ones you want anyway. Why even ask me?" And then it’s like, "Okay, Ellie knows."
And you put together my looks and my board. So my family thinks you do. My husband also, he was always like, "I don’t know what to tell you. It looks good. Everything looks good."
Ellie Steinbrink: You would not believe, Danelle, how many people tell me women that have children will defer to their daughter's opinion. And I’ll hear comments like, "My daughter does not think that's good." And I’ll say, "Well, what do you think about it? Do you like it?"
So it is funny how we do. We want the validation. Was there any point in the process where, not necessarily that you needed validation, but that you stopped seeking it because you just felt so embodied? Or how did that show up for you?
Danelle Schlegelmilch: Yeah, I feel like I'm just more confident now in what I'm going to put together. And knowing like, okay, I've always not really cared so much. I'd wear stuff that wasn't necessarily in style if I liked it.
But being a professional business owner, you want to have a polished look but still have your own kind of identity. So I feel like, I don't know, it’s just giving me that little extra boost to be able to not worry and just be more confident.
Ellie Steinbrink: It goes back to that decision fatigue you were talking about. I think it's more of a, at least what I hear from you and what I hear from a lot of my clients, is it's this sneaky little stress that we don't think is such a big deal in our day.
But the amount of time we think about what to wear, what to buy, how to put it together, "Am I going to be on point when I show up? Am I going to look okay on camera?" All of those things add up, and it can be really stressful.
I want to talk a little bit about something you mentioned earlier, which was that you felt like this process shifted the way you show up in your business and it shifted your business. Can you tell me in what ways that happened?
Danelle Schlegelmilch: It's a hard thing to describe. It's just like a little in-the-background thing. I think that was just happening.
I don’t know if I necessarily noticed, it was just something that was kind of happening. But I do know when you work with professionals that are being a good retainer for your services, you want to show up and appear like you know what you're doing and professional and all the things.
So when you're working so hard on a strategy and your brain is working on all the details, I felt like just being able to go in my closet and know, "Okay, I'm going to wear the teal shirt with these pants and these shoes," it was kind of a game changer for me to just let that part of the daily stress go.
And then for when I travel with clients, you were so great to help me put together different looks. That was a fun part. I would just bring everything, and then when I’d get there, I’d be like, "Oh my gosh, how do I decide?" Because there were so many fun options, and I just wanted to wear all of them.
And then to have clients and even strangers say, "Oh man, I love your outfit." I have strangers still, randomly, this young little hipster from a sushi restaurant in Countryside Village just stopped and said, "I just love your whole look. The whole thing is just so fabulous." I’m like, "Well, thank you very much."
It just feels good to have that little boost of confidence. And then it's fun again to pick out fun and bright clothes and be like myself again and not worry. Looking back at even vacation photos, I had the same things I was always wearing, like a black t-shirt and black leggings.
And my husband has even commented, "Oh, well, that’s before your glow-up." I'm like, "Yeah, it really is." So when your husband notices, he’s like, "Man, you’re looking good." Like, thank you. Yeah. It feels good.
Ellie Steinbrink: Yeah. I love that. When I heard you say you had gotten your glow-up, that is honestly what it feels like to me. Because I will always say, and listeners, you know I will say this, that it’s not about the clothes. It’s about what the clothes do to you energetically.
Danelle Schlegelmilch: I think it’s totally true. You can be wearing your favorite outfit and feel like a million bucks, and then go home and just put on sweats or comfy clothes, and it just shifts your whole mood and attitude.
So I feel like just investing that little bit, it sparks that joy. Even if you didn’t realize that you had lost it, you're like, "Oh, well, okay, this is fun again."
Ellie Steinbrink: Yeah. I think it can be a slow downgrade over the years, right? When you mentioned being really on your style game at a time earlier in your life, and then with work and family and marriage and relationships and all the things, it really can just slowly sneak down to the bottom of the list.
And I’ll often say that what you wear is a small decision in your day. It really is. When you think about all the big decisions you're making for your family, for your personal life, for your business, it seems so insignificant. But I give you kudos for realizing that what you wear and the stylist is actually a bigger decision. It has a bigger impact than what most people maybe think off the cuff.
Danelle Schlegelmilch: Totally. And I know I've had clients that have called you and had you style them too. And we’ve showed up to events together and, Tessa’s this beautiful, tall, we're not the same style. Probably totally different body shapes and all the things.
But we matched, kind of coordinated, and had a similar vibe for this award she was getting. And then someone had noticed, a hairstylist, and he's like, "Oh my gosh, you guys look so fabulous."
And I’m like, "Oh, we have the same stylist." And he was like, "What kind of stylist? Like hair stylist?" "No, like a fashion stylist." So it was just like, "Okay, people who are very stylish themselves are noticing." I was like, okay. But it makes it feel definitely worth the investment, and I didn’t have to stress out as much.
Ellie Steinbrink: Yeah. If you could say there was any sort of big aha for you in this process, is there one thing that really stands out?
Danelle Schlegelmilch: I think just learning how to dress for my body type. Because in my head, I was always like, "Well, I’m just curvy." But then you're like, "No, it’s like a rectangle," and you do the measurements and you know, "Okay, you need a little puffier sleeve and define your waist and elongate," and all the things.
And I was like, "Oh." That was a big game-changer for me. I don’t think I even realized I loved puffy sleeves. I’ve always loved them, but then it made sense, "Oh, maybe this is why."
And then just getting a little bit more adventurous with certain clothing and trying them and discovering I really liked them, it was kind of a big aha moment. I feel like, "Oh, okay, I can do this now."
And just the colors too, getting your colors done. You look in my closet now, especially when I travel, and it’s all like a little capsule. They're all my colors. I'm like, "I should just send a picture to Ellie," because you know you've had your colors done when it’s all these beautiful autumn colors. And at least you feel good.
And some of the pieces you picked, I don’t think I would have ever picked, but they’re the things I get complimented the most on. Like that camel-colored leather jacket, moto thing, everybody loves that thing. So it’s something I always bring out, and it’s a fun piece.
Ellie Steinbrink: Yeah. I think you're right. There are so many different parts of this process. It’s not only just getting back in touch with who you are and what your style is and shifting your mindset around, "Okay, this is how I want to show up. This is the version of myself I’m becoming." But you’re right, there are some skill-building pieces in there that give you so much confidence along the way.
And you’re not alone in saying, "I realized so many things about what garments, what silhouettes work on me and which ones don’t." It is kind of like a light bulb moment, right? Because I think a lot of women fall into this trap that their bodies need to change somehow, or something about them needs to be different in order to be stylish or to wear the styles that they want.
And I don’t really see it that way. Ultimately, that’s my goal, working with you and other clients, to let them know that we just have to put the different silhouettes on, and then the way we see ourselves in the mirror is completely different.
But I just got to say, it makes me so happy when you were talking about wearing all black in these old photos. Because your personality is so colorful. That just makes me so happy.
Danelle Schlegelmilch: I love that too. I feel like COVID did a doozy for everybody. We just got so comfortable and I forgot I loved color and all the fun patterns and funky things. So yeah, it was so good to bring this back.
Ellie Steinbrink: Yeah. I'm happy too. Because when I see you in photos, I feel like you really are your most vibrant self. There is an attractiveness energetically that I notice. And I'm wondering if other people around you notice that too. I mean, you were talking about the example of someone running into you and saying, "Oh my gosh," and really noticing.
How does that feel to you when other people notice you're showing up in a different way?
Danelle Schlegelmilch: It feels good. Yeah. I love when people compliment a certain item. I think the Midwestern in us, we’re like, "Oh yeah," and we have to tell everybody about each piece and where we got them and the story about everything.
I just love being able to have those fun little nuggets and share that. Like, "My stylist Ellie found this," and they’re like, "Wait, Ellie?" So I love to share the story of how you're helping women too. It's pretty cool.
Ellie Steinbrink: Yeah. And I appreciate that. That means a lot to me. I think it is interesting that you are someone who has been in the limelight all your life and always comfortable doing that. Is there a different comfort level now when you're in the limelight?
Danelle Schlegelmilch: Yeah. I feel like it's just a little bit more polished. Like I was telling you, I’d been on camera for many years at the Red Cross, and that was a unique one because you’re in the middle of disasters, talking on camera. So you're like riding the line of not wanting to look like you're so put together and everyone else is disheveled and hasn't showered in a week.
I remember showing up to my first disaster with ballerina flats and the disaster director telling me, "You can't wear those. You have to have closed-toed, steel-toed shoes to go out." I'm like, "Well, I thought I was just going to be here talking to the camera."
So it was just trying to dress appropriately, but then with the disaster vest on top. I look back at some of those clips and I’m like, "Oh my gosh, what was I doing?" Being on national media wearing real interesting outfits.
But now I feel like it's a totally different shift. I dress knowing they’re running mics, so I always know I have to have layers. And it’s not this awkward, "Oh my gosh, what am I going to do with this mic pack, and where do I put the cord?"
So I feel like it’s just giving that next level of confidence to show up and just be able to do the job without worrying about what I’m wearing.
Ellie Steinbrink: Yeah. I think there’s a lot to that. Because I feel like it’s highly distracting when your outfit gets in the way or it feels like it’s not you. It will shift you energetically.
One of the last things I want to ask you is, if you were speaking to a woman who also is feeling the shift in herself and in her business and feeling like things are expanding, what advice would you have for her about taking this pause to think about how style could be a part of that puzzle for her with rising?
Danelle Schlegelmilch: Yeah. I’d just encourage her to trust her gut and go for it. I feel like life’s too short, it sounds cliche, to wear boring clothes or to show up the same way every day.
It's worth it to invest in yourself because a lot of us just invest so much into our families and our clients and put ourselves on the back burner. But when you're able to show up for yourself, I think it gives you that little boost of confidence. Everyone will struggle with impostor syndrome.
It’s something even industry pros say everybody has. So just trust the pros who can do the best in different fields to help you out. I love investing in other women in their businesses, and working with you was such a game-changer and a blessing for me, just to know, "Okay, that’s covered."
I don’t have to worry about, "What shoe do I wear with this outfit?" or "How do I pack for a conference or this or that for speaking on stage?" So I’d encourage anyone thinking about working with a stylist: just go for it. Save the money, do what it takes, get an extra side hustle to make the payment, because it’s worth it. And you’ll get your money back.
I totally believe you’ll get your money back in the way you bring yourself to clients, to ask for more, know your worth, and charge what you deserve to be getting paid.
Ellie Steinbrink: I think that is something really important. Thank you for sharing all of that. That means a lot to me. I do think there is a different feeling when your business is growing and you're asking a lot of your clients. And you're asking them to invest in you.
What I hear you saying is, "I want my clients to know that I’m investing in myself just the way I’m asking them to invest in me." It doesn't necessarily mean we have to be buying expensive clothes, but it is more just about how you're showing up and how you feel in your body.
I think you’ve done an amazing job of doing that. You really have embodied an authentic version for you. It’s so polished. It’s so fun for me to watch you in this journey.
Danelle Schlegelmilch: Thank you. And I love it. I always feel like I need to show you, I'm like the proud recipient of your services.
I’ll ask my husband, "Take a picture of this outfit. She’s not going to believe I just found this amazing outfit for such a good deal." I always think, "What would Ellie do?" when I’m trying to pick out new pieces. We’re like all the alumni of your school. We need to have some meetups or something.
Ellie Steinbrink: Yeah. I would love to know a little bit more about that, because I think people worry, "Will I be able to do this on my own?" after they work with me. Not that we can’t continue to work together, but how do you feel about the skills you’ve acquired?
What’s next? As you continue to shop, what is that experience like for you? Is it freer? Is it less cumbersome?
Danelle Schlegelmilch: Yeah. It feels a lot lighter. I go back to the boards you and me made a lot just to get inspiration and to feel like, "Okay, if this was something that she recommended, this is similar." It just makes it a lot more fun.
I remember, my dad works for a major retail store, and I had access to all these different things, but I’d just get so overwhelmed, I wouldn’t even go in there and shop. But with you helping me, I’m like, "Okay, I know these styles, these brands, these colors."
This time is more valuable to me than anything. Wasting time, I used to love to shop all day and wander around. And now, with little kids and a busy business, that just kind of stresses me out.
I want to know when I go into a store what I’m looking for or curate things online first. I'm a big fan of searching sites, figuring out what I want, and then just pulling the trigger, not wasting too much time.
Ellie Steinbrink: Yeah. I think you said it so well there. It is such a time-waster, and it's stressful.
A lot of women will go into a retail environment just like you and kind of freeze because there are so many options, so many distractions. And on top of that, we’ve got potentially salespeople or stylists in the store encouraging us to try this or do that.
Then there are sales going on, there are trends, it’s a lot. One of the things I’m really keyed in on is helping women create a style strategy that is their own.
It’s your own navigation system. Even when you're in chaotic environments, like in a store, online, or being influenced, or the ads start following you, at least you have a guidance system now to make better decisions. Or maybe not feel so much pressure to dump everything you've got and start chasing after something else. There’s stress in that.
Danelle Schlegelmilch: I love how you’d just be upfront, following you on all of your platforms too, you don't have to shop trends or sales. That’s why I just want classic pieces that you can rotate and layer and keep going with.
I love being thoughtful about what I'm buying and not wasting a lot either. I feel like you’ve given me the tools to know I’m not going to buy fast fashion junk that’s just going to fall apart.
Buying a really nice pair of jeans is like an investment, but it’s so worth it. If it's not a trend or something that’s going to go out of style, it just feels like, "Okay, I don’t feel too bad about buying a nice piece because it’s going to be with me for a while."
Ellie Steinbrink: And there we are back to the investment piece, right? That’s something that is hard to navigate sometimes, not only investing in yourself, but investing in the nice pieces that you know will take you further or that are a signature part of your style that you’ll wear over and over and over.
That is such a gift when you can get to that spot of realizing we don’t need as many pieces as we think. We can learn how to mix and match them in different ways so that our closets are less overwhelming.
Danelle Schlegelmilch: Yeah. And even though I keep buying more sweatshirts and things, I’m like, "Why do you keep buying these?" They’re cozy. I don’t wear them that much.
The cost per use, I always think about that too. If you're wearing it more, it’s an investment that pays itself off. I just need to continue to remember all those tools you taught me.
Ellie Steinbrink: They’re good. They’re lifelong tools.
Danelle Schlegelmilch: Yes, they are.
Ellie Steinbrink: Okay, Danelle. So in closing, is there anything else that you would want to share with a listener who’s maybe debating this? Any final words that you want to say about this process?
Danelle Schlegelmilch: I’d like to thank you. It was such a fun, kind of eye-opening process. I loved learning new tools for my toolkit.
I’ve just enjoyed getting to see your business grow and shine too. It’s so fun. Now, whenever I meet women who are stressed out and trying to do it all, I’m like, "Just stop. You don’t have to do it all. Think of ways to make your life easier."
Working with you has been one of those gifts for me, to be able to open my little app, I still have it bookmarked on my phone, so I can know, "What am I packing?" when we travel or go out with clients.
It’s given me that little push I needed to put extra effort into getting back to my style. I think it’s more than paid for itself with any business we brought in. It’s just fun to show up at a different level and encourage our clients to do that too. I’m so appreciative of you and all the help you've given.
Ellie Steinbrink: Right back at you, girl. Watching you grow in this process, you personally and in your business, has been a true gift for me as well. That’s why I do what I do, because I’m here to help propel women to get to their next level too. It’s been an honor. Thank you so much for joining us today.
I hope you guys really loved that interview with Danelle. I want to take a moment to reflect on something she said in the interview, about her mission in her business is to help her clients shine. At some point, before we started working together, she realized, "Maybe I’m not allowing myself to fully shine as a business owner."
And it really is true, isn’t it? If you’re a business owner or entrepreneur, I know how it feels to get lost in the minutiae of the daily tasks, marketing, sales, serving your clients, creating the best services and products you can.
Sometimes we can lose ourselves in that process. We forget that how we show up and the energy we bring to our clients is just as important as all the other things on our to-do list.
What I want you to be thinking about today is: Are you investing in yourself the way you’re asking your clients to invest in you? Are you feeling yourself shifting and needing to step up to a new level?
What part can style play in changing that energy for you? Just imagine what the possibilities could be.
I love that Danelle said it’s almost an intangible result, but a very assured one, that before and after working on her style, coming into herself, and allowing herself to shine, there was an undeniable difference in how she was showing up and the confidence she has when meeting with those big clients, the shift happened.
I would love for this same shift to happen for you. If you feel like you’re expanding, if you’re ready to take on those next bigger opportunities, if you can feel your business going to the next level, I’d love for you to join me in this work.
There’s an opportunity for you to do so. I have a group experience coming up here very soon in September, and it is called The Visibility Edit. The things you heard Danelle talking about, understanding your body type, understanding your colors, but also getting really clear on what your style is and how that style looks for you in the next version of yourself, how that can shift you and your business.
If this sounds like something you’re ready, more than ready for, I’d invite you to apply. The doors are closing soon. I’d love for you to be in there and experience this same shift. With that, I’ll see you in the next episode.
Thanks for joining me on The Visibility Shift. If something in today's episode made you pause, rethink, or gave you permission to stop playing small, it would mean so much to me if you'd leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/visibilityshift.
If you're ready to stop second-guessing and start showing up as the leader you are from the inside out, The Visibility Edit is where that shift begins. Head to elliesteinbrink.com to learn more and join the next round. Because the next version of you, she's not waiting for permission. She's waiting for you. Let's make it visible.
Comments