From Layoff to $500K in Year One: Building a Marketing Agency the Right Way with Kelly Schuknect

If you're thinking about leaving your W-2 job but don't know where to start, this episode is your roadmap. Lindsay sits down with Kelly Schuckneckt, founder of Two Mile High Marketing, to unpack exactly how she went from corporate layoff to building a half-million dollar agency in just one year—and how you can do the same by packaging your skills the right way.

Kelly's story starts like so many others: she had a dream of starting her own business, but kept putting it off. For two years, she had a business name, a website, and a vision—but no action. Then came the meeting with HR. Her role was eliminated. And instead of panicking, she made a decision: it was time to bet on herself.

Here's what makes Kelly's story so powerful: she didn't have a huge following, a massive email list, or even a perfect business plan. What she DID have was clarity on her "Authority X Factor"—the unique combination of skills and experience that made her irreplaceable. She packaged what she'd done for her former boss (ghostwriting, speaking engagements, podcast bookings, thought leadership positioning) into a clear, high-ticket offer. Within a week, she had her first client. Within months, she had a team.

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. Why niching down by offering (not industry) is the key to standing out in a crowded market
2. How Kelly turned one case study into a scalable service business
3. The mindset shift from "I'm just worth $50/hour" to "I can sell $25K packages"
4. Why she chose to build an agency instead of staying a solopreneur—and how fast she scaled
5. The exact conversations and communities that landed her first clients (hint: it wasn't cold outreach)

If you've been laid off, furloughed, or just dreaming of ditching your W-2 for a work-from-home lifestyle, Kelly's story proves it's not only possible—it's the fastest path to freedom when you package your expertise the right way.

Connect with Kelly: twomilehighmarketing.com | Take the Thought Leadership Scorecard | LinkedIn: Kelly Schuckneckt

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