We were lucky to catch up with Elle Overholt recently and have shared our conversation below.

Elle, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.

One of my favorite stories from the early days of my business is about landing my first client, despite not having an official email, website, or any of the usual tools. At the time, I was a career strategist, but I had started by focusing on perfecting my resume editing skills, as I saw a clear need in the market. A mentor of mine challenged me to test my concept and put myself out there.

So, I found a list of Greek chapter presidents at a nearby university and began cold emailing them. In my message, I offered free workshops for their chapter—because let’s face it, the word “free” is like gold to college students! I pulled together some (now cringeworthy) PowerPoint slides and included a sign-up sheet for students to share their contact information.

The next day, I followed up with every student who had signed up, and that’s how I landed my first resume client—someone I charged $50 for a one-on-one resume review session. I’ll never forget how grateful I was to my mentor for encouraging me to take action and put myself out there, even before everything was perfect. That experience taught me the power of just starting, no matter the imperfections.

Elle, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Forth exists to help young talent realize their potential and to make genuine industry connections that travel the distance. Approaching the process from the perspective of the employer, our goal is to equip young aspiring professionals with the strategies, tools, and networks to go Forth into the workplace with confidence.

At Forth, we believe:

There are better ways to job search
Don’t get lost in the vortex of online job portals and mass resume drops. We’ll teach you how to fine-tune your job search and maximize your opportunities.

Humans hire humans
The most successful job candidates are those who’ve mastered the art of being themselves in a professional setting. We’ll help you recognize your strengths and apply them to your job search.

It’s who you know (and who knows you)
There’s a reason this old saying has stuck around: meaningful industry connections can make all the difference to a young jobseeker. Let Forth help you make them.

Forth cuts through the noise of the job search. We achieve this through workshops, actionable resources, and 1:1 coaching.

We’re coaches. We’re facilitators. And we’re connectors. Think of us like a one-way ticket to kickstart the career you’ll love.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The best business book I’ve read (and continue to revisit) is The No BS Small Business Book by Casey Graham. What I love about it is that it acknowledges that not all businesses are created equal. Every entrepreneur starts their journey for different reasons, and Casey helps you dig deep to identify your true why behind wanting to be a business owner. He then guides you in setting clear boundaries and creating structures—both in your business and your life—that keep you aligned with those core motivations.

What one founder wants from their business may look completely different from another’s, and understanding this early on is crucial. It shapes the way you make decisions, set goals, and build your company. If you’re just starting out or feeling lost in the weeds of your business, this book will ground you in what matters most. I can’t recommend it enough!

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

One of my favorite sales stories is actually about landing my largest and most consistent corporate client. It started with a former colleague and friend reaching out to inquire about my services. When we first spoke, she wasn’t sure exactly what her team needed, but she mentioned that she worked for a *dream* client and that once they had clarity on their needs, they would open the request to bids from various vendors.

After our call, I immediately shared the conversation with my husband, who suggested—quite emphatically—that I send something over *fast* to potentially bypass the bidding process and get ahead of the competition, even though I had very little information about what they were actually looking for.

I decided to take a chance and put together a proposal with a few different options. To my surprise, it worked! That initial call was in February 2021, and they’re still my best client to date. It’s a perfect example of taking a leap of faith and acting quickly, even when you don’t have all the answers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.goforthllc.com
• Instagram: @forth_career_strategy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elle-overholt

Image Credits

Olivia Gulino