Rejection taught me how to build a category of one
I stopped competing on price, leaned into storytelling, and turned clarity and vulnerability into my biggest business advantage
August was the month I finally saw proof that this path works.
I earned $15K in revenue and signed a $35K retainer contract, the most significant milestone in my one-person business so far. This is my second long-term client.
It hit harder because of where I was 10 months ago, unemployed, forced out of my job, and staring at therapy invoices for my neurodiverse daughter, wondering how I would ever keep up.
Last month, I earned more than I ever did in a 9–5 in a single month, and now I have a couple of proposals still on the table, which means that by year’s end, I could cross six figures, something that once felt impossible.
I did not get here by lowering my prices or trying to serve everyone; I got here by accepting that rejection is the market telling you to stop being a commodity, because if people can compare you side-by-side with someone cheaper, you have already lost.
When you compete on price, you enter a race to the bottom. However, when you compete on value, you create a category of one, and that is what I built, not by trying to please everyone, but by choosing founders, creators, and solopreneurs who want storytelling to build trust and generate revenue.
That clarity made it easier to accept when someone said they were not ready or could not afford me, because I knew the right ones would arrive.
Every post I write is still for my younger self, the queer kid in Singapore who thought survival meant conformity, the burned-out journalist drowning in deadlines, and the parent of a neurodiverse child terrified of not being able to provide.
That is my grand slam offer, where I deliver clarity, trust, and transformation for the people who need it most, and that is why clients who align with me see the value in our approach, because authenticity creates a category of one, and vulnerability is your competitive edge.
Storytelling transforms you from a commodity into a premium, and leadership communication is the guarantee, because when you show up with presence, the results follow.
If you are in the messy middle, don’t drop your price and dilute your message; instead, enhance your value, refine your offer, and target the right audience.
What has rejection taught you about building your business? Feel free to comment!