We recently connected with Debbie Oster and have shared our conversation below.

Debbie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How do you think about spending on things like coffee when times are tough?

It all comes down to priorities.

For some, coffee is just fuel—any cheap grocery store brand will do. For others, it’s an experience, a ritual that sets the tone for the day. I fall into the latter category. Even in the early days of my business, when revenue was tight, I never compromised on the high-quality coffee that brought me joy.

The same goes for my well-being. If I don’t exercise regularly, everything suffers—my focus, my energy, my decision-making. So no matter how lean times got, I always budgeted for a gym membership.

Business works the same way. You can cut back in tough times, but there are certain things you can’t afford to eliminate—chief among them, marketing. When revenue slows, many businesses pull back on marketing, but that’s when you need it most. Visibility, trust, and customer engagement don’t just happen; they require consistent effort. If you stop marketing during a downturn, you make it that much harder to recover when conditions improve.

Lean times force clarity. You don’t stop spending—you just spend smarter.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I got into marketing because it offers a rare intersection of creativity, strategy, and analysis—three disciplines I thrive in. But as I gained experience, I saw a common problem: too many businesses and agencies were stuck in a cycle of reactive, disconnected marketing efforts that lacked clear direction. Instead of driving growth, their marketing felt like a series of random acts. That’s what inspired me to build a business that cuts through the noise and helps companies implement strategic, results-driven marketing.

I work with creative agencies, fractional executives, consultants, and small businesses to develop marketing strategies that align with their business goals. My expertise includes marketing strategy, brand positioning, go-to-market planning, buyer persona development, and content strategy—always with a focus on eliminating wasteful efforts and maximizing ROI.

What sets me apart is my hands-on, collaborative approach. I don’t just hand over a strategy and walk away—I work alongside my clients to ensure execution that drives real impact. Whether it’s helping agencies land bigger clients or enabling small businesses to grow with limited resources, my focus is always on measurable outcomes.

I take pride in the results my clients achieve—watching businesses break through barriers, scale, and thrive is what drives me. I’m also proud of the decision to build my own business. It hasn’t always been easy, but it has been the most rewarding and transformative leap I’ve taken.

The biggest thing I want people to understand about my work? Marketing isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. But it has to be smart, strategic, and tailored to each business. My job is to help companies move past the guesswork and focus on what truly works.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The first year of launching my business was one of the hardest of my life. Within months, I wrecked my motorcycle, and then I lost both my sister and my mother unexpectedly. It felt like I was bracing for the next catastrophe, constantly on edge, waiting for the next blow to land.

The weight of grief and anxiety was relentless, and looking back, I can see that I didn’t handle everything perfectly. But in moments like that, perfection isn’t the goal—survival is. I had to learn to give myself grace, to acknowledge that sometimes just getting through the day is enough.

I don’t talk about this often unless someone asks, but I think it’s important, especially in the context of entrepreneurship. Because the truth is, life doesn’t pause when you start a business. You can plan for everything—except the unexpected. And when those life-altering moments come, you have to figure out how to keep going, how to push forward even when you feel like shutting down.

I didn’t take much time off—not because my clients wouldn’t have understood, but because I feared losing momentum, losing everything I had worked to build. And honestly, I needed something to pull me out of bed each day, something to focus on beyond the loss. If I had been in a traditional job, I probably would have taken bereavement leave. But as a business owner, there was no safety net. When you stop, the momentum stops—until you’ve built something strong enough to sustain itself. And in many business models, including mine, it’s always on you to keep things moving.

Resilience isn’t about being unshaken. It’s about moving forward despite the weight you carry. And that’s what I did.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best sources of new clients for my business have been networking—both online and offline—referrals, and LinkedIn. But more than just showing up, it’s been about having real conversations without any immediate expectations.

I’ve learned that meaningful relationships, collaborations, and partnerships often develop over time. Some conversations lead to business right away. Others take a year or two to turn into opportunities. And sometimes, I’ll connect with someone who is perfectly aligned with what I do, and the revenue follows almost instantly.

The common thread? Consistency. Staying visible, engaging in conversations, and building trust—without always looking for an immediate return—has been the most valuable long-term strategy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://entrepreneursedge.biz/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entrepreneurs.edge.biz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/entrepreneurs.edge.biz/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-oster/

Image Credits

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