What If Business Could Feel Like Everyone Getting Fed?

Last weekend, in the middle of a Vermont heat wave, I took my family strawberry picking. It was sticky, hot, and chaotic in the best way. Our two-year-old Lane got to eat as many sun-warmed strawberries as he could physically fit in his belly—and no one stopped him. No rationing. No cutting him off after the fifth one. Just big, red, sun-warmed berries straight from the vine, on repeat.

And the wildest part? It didn’t break the bank.

There was no credit card guilt or second-guessing on the way home. We left that strawberry field full—in every sense of the word.

That moment stuck with me, because it reminded me of a vision I hold every day in my work: a world where everyone gets fed. Not just with strawberries, but with what they need—support, healing, creativity, rest, income, care. A world where business isn’t about who wins and who loses. A world where we all get to win.

This vision isn’t hypothetical. It’s the foundation of how I approach both ethical business consulting—something I offer clients across industries who want strategy that aligns with their values—and the kind of marketing help Vermont small businesses often need.

But let’s back up a bit.

The Lie of "Only One Can Win"

Capitalism teaches us that business is a zero-sum game.

If you make money, someone else loses money.
If you get a good deal, someone else got taken advantage of.
If you grow, someone else must shrink.

This myth shows up everywhere—from corporate sales strategies to small business pricing. It’s the root of so much hesitation when we try to price our services, promote our work, or sell anything at all. It’s why many folks I work with feel queasy about “doing marketing.”

But here’s the thing: that story is false.

In my ethical business consulting practice, I see time and time again that it is absolutely possible to build a business where both sides of a transaction feel nourished. Where the exchange feels fair. Where your needs as the business owner are met and your clients leave better off than when they came.

In fact, it’s not just possible. It’s the only sustainable way forward.

A Different Kind of Business Relationship

Let me give you a real-world example:

Earlier this year, I bartered business coaching in exchange for a painting. Not a tiny 8x10 print—an enormous, radiant, joy-filled painting that will soon hang in my home. It felt like a gift and a fair trade at the same time.

On my end, I got something that adds meaning and beauty to my life. On their end, they received consulting that helped them shape, promote, and sell their creative work more sustainably.

That is a win-win.

This kind of value-based exchange is at the heart of both ethical business consulting and the values-based business coaching I offer here in Vermont. It’s about refusing to buy into the idea that business is extractive by nature. It’s about saying: no, actually, we can design something better.

Where It Gets Sticky: Money

Now, let’s not pretend that financial limitations don’t exist. Most of us don’t have an endless pool of cash to throw at services, tools, and support.

I remember one of the first times my partner and I sat down to do a serious budget. After writing down our fixed expenses—childcare, mortgage, groceries—he looked up and said, “What’s the point of this? There’s no money left over to actually change anything.”

That’s the reality for many of us.

We’re carving out businesses inside systems that were not built for us. We’re trying to earn enough, price fairly, and also not become the thing we left our day jobs to escape.

When I work with folks through ethical business consulting and small business coaching in Vermont, these conversations come up constantly.

So what do we do when we’re working with limited budgets and big values?

First, Know What You Actually Need

This is the part of ethical business consulting where I get a little repetitive—but for good reason.

If you don’t have a business budget, you’re flying blind.

And not in a fun, adventure kind of way. In a “maybe-I’ll-pay-myself-this-month?” kind of way.

You can’t make ethical, generous, creative decisions around pricing and marketing if you don’t know your numbers. That includes:

• What your expenses are (not just software and supplies—also your own time and needs)

• How much revenue you actually need to bring in each month

• What kind of pricing or sliding scale you can sustainably offer

This isn’t about becoming a finance bro. It’s about building a foundation.

If you want a step-by-step guide, I created this free Liberatory Finance workshop series that walks you through the basics of business budgeting from an anti-capitalist lens.

Then, Get Creative About How You Earn

Once you know your numbers, you can start to think creatively.

For me, that recently meant sitting down and realizing: I need about four new clients per month to meet my financial goals. Currently, I average about 2.5.

So I asked myself: How can I close that gap in a way that’s values-aligned, spacious, and strategic?

Here were my options:

• Send more newsletters focused on ethical business consulting

• Engage in more networking and partnerships

• Let my current clients know I’m accepting new folks

• Create new content to grow my audience

All good strategies. But I also wanted to explore something different.

Something more collective.

The Inspiration: Semi-Private Support

At the gym where I lift heavy things and try to keep my knees happy, they recently started offering semi-private personal training.

Same great coaching, smaller group, more affordable. Not revolutionary—but smart.

And it got me thinking… why don’t more people in ethical business consulting do this?

So I started dreaming up a new offer. A hybrid between 1:1 coaching and group programs. Something that would be more affordable than private coaching, but still personal, deep, and relationship-based.

Something that reflects the kind of collaborative spirit I see in so many Vermont business owners—folks who are actively seeking more ethical marketing strategies rooted in community and care.

Introducing: Semi-Private Business Coaching Pods

This new offering is for folks who:

• Want tailored, strategic support

• Thrive in relationship and community

• Need a more accessible way to engage in deep business coaching

• Are committed to building values-driven businesses that care for both their clients and themselves

Each pod includes:

• 2:1 or 3:1 coaching (you and 1–2 other business owners)

• 8 Zoom sessions over 4 months

• Lifetime access to my online curriculum

• Feedback on your marketing, offers, emails, and more

• One sliding scale pod available per month

• $4000 total cost, split evenly between members

• Payment plans available, always with no extra fees

It’s like a blend of office hours, consulting, and cohort—designed with care and flexibility.

And yes, it includes both ethical business consulting and the kinds of ethical marketing strategies that matter to values-aligned entrepreneurs. We cover strategy, alignment, financial planning, messaging, and customer relationships from top to bottom.

Ready to Build Something More Sustainable—Together?

If you’re curious about semi-private coaching, want to explore a more affordable way to get support, or are craving connection with others doing this differently:

→ Fill out the interest form here

I’ll be in touch about next steps, possible pairings, and how we can co-create a pod that works for you.

Let’s keep building the kind of economy where everyone gets fed.