“Language was key for what I was able to get out of it. I’m grateful for that.”
Lezlee knows marketing.
For four years, she’s been helping nonprofits, solopreneurs, and authors who are tired of trying to DIY their marketing – or don’t even know where to start. She handles everything: brand strategy, website development, social media, email, newsletters, even proofreading.
But here’s the irony that makes Lezlee’s story so relatable: even someone who lives and breathes marketing for clients can let their own message run on autopilot.
In fact, this is more common than you might think.
For three years, she had the basics in place. The business was running. But she knew something wasn’t as sharp as it could be – and it was time to go deeper.
Coming Back – For Real This Time
This wasn’t Lezlee’s first time in the GeekPack + Verizon Cohort.
She’d been through an earlier version. But timing wasn’t right, and she’ll be the first to own it:
“It was kind of a half-invested effort.”
This time was different. She paid attention, showed up to every session, and completed every assignment. When her cohort leader, Glenna, tapped her to serve as a cohort ambassador, she took that seriously too.
“I made sure to have my social media engagement hat on and get my tail in gear.”
The program had also leveled up – more intermediate, more applicable to where she was in her business.
“I was able to dig a little deeper than the surface level I’d had.”
The Hardest Shifts
The cohort challenged Lezlee in ways she didn’t expect – not with technology, but with thinking.
Especially when it came to her OKRs.
“I do not understand or get the thinking behind OKRs. My brain just doesn’t think that way.”
Our answer: a custom GPT assistant designed to draw the right information out of each participant. For Lezlee, it was exactly the workaround she needed.
Then came the bridge – the connection between what she offers and how it actually transforms her clients.
“I’m not very good at thinking of bridges and transitions. That was hard for me – and Glenna was huge in helping me connect the dots.”
Both challenges were frustrating at the moment. Working through them is exactly what led to the breakthrough.
The Breakthrough: Language
Ask Lezlee what moved the needle most, and her answer is immediate:
“Language was key for what I was able to get out of it.”
Stronger, more emotional language – built to speak to her buying customer, not just her general audience.
Before the cohort, Lezlee described her clients as “nonprofits, solopreneurs, and authors.” After it, she could articulate something far more powerful:
“Taking this program got it to a deeper level as far as who is more your buyer. It’s more the frustrated DIY person – what are they feeling, where are they at – or those that don’t even know where to start.”
That shift – from “who I serve” to “what they’re experiencing” – changed how she shows up in every conversation. She updated her website and her LinkedIn profile. And the difference is already clear.
“The language is better, stronger.”
What stood out most is Glenna’s ability to understand each participant’s business – sometimes better than they can themselves.
She connected the dots between the Verizon Digital Ready courses and each person’s actual needs, turning what could have been an overwhelming resource library into a curated, purposeful path.
“Glenna is an awesome instructor. It was the second time I’d had her as a teacher – and I think she was even better this time. She’s great for guiding everything.”
One of the things Lezlee values most about the cohort experience is the sense of shared journey.
“It’s wonderful to have a group going through the same challenges at the same time. Even if the businesses aren’t necessarily directly related, you’re all going through the same processes.”
Different industries, same growing pains – that’s where connection happens. And for Lezlee, at least one of those connections has extended well beyond the program itself.
Looking Ahead
Lezlee isn’t chasing growth for growth’s sake. Her vision is intentional: keep learning and build a steady base of consistent clients.
“I don’t think we’re ever fully experts in anything at any one point. There’s always something to learn.”
With sharper language, a more targeted approach to outreach, and a clearer picture of exactly who her buying customer is – she’s building toward exactly that.
