We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jori O’Neale a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jori thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

I remember sitting inside a CarMax dealership on a warm evening, holding a folder that represented a decision I never thought I’d have to make.

I was about to sell our car.

Two months earlier, after leaving my job to pursue my business full-time, my husband asked me a simple but sobering question:
“What happens if you don’t make enough money?”

Without hesitation, I replied, “Then I’ll sell the car.”

At the time, I was bringing in about $1,800 to $2,000 a month. We were living off a loan I had taken from my 401k, and I was fully committed to making my business work. My mindset was clear: go all in and figure it out.

But by April, reality caught up with me.

The money had run out. Clients were phasing out. The numbers no longer made sense.

So there I was, signing the final paperwork to sell our 2017 Chevy Traverse so I could cover our mortgage and pay down some debt. And when I handed over the keys, I realized something:

This wasn’t a backup plan anymore.
This was real.

When I walked out of that dealership, the first thing I felt was shame.

I had to explain to my husband and my children that we were losing the car. I kept asking myself, How did I let it get this bad? I felt embarrassed, insecure, and honestly, a little foolish for believing I could make this work.

People around me offered what they thought was practical advice:
“Why don’t you just go back to work?”

For a moment, I considered it. Maybe they were right. Maybe I had pushed my family too far chasing something that wasn’t meant for me.

Later that night, I sat quietly, staring at the folder and the check, replaying everything in my head. And the thought that kept rising to the surface was simple:

Maybe I’m not good enough to make this work.

But that moment became a turning point.

I realized there was no plan B anymore. If this business was going to work, it would be because I decided to show up differently.

So I stopped hiding.

I started doing the things I had been avoiding—the things I had been coached to do but hadn’t fully committed to.

I showed up consistently online.
I reached out to people in my network.
I followed up with every lead I had ever collected.
I even went through my phone contacts alphabetically, reconnecting with people I hadn’t spoken to in years.

I raised my prices, even though it terrified me.
I shifted my focus toward clients who were truly aligned and able to invest.
And I made my first hire so I could focus on what I actually do best: strategy, speaking, and storytelling.

Within one month, I landed my first five-figure client.
Within eight months, I had crossed six figures.

But more important than the money was what I learned.

No one is coming to save you in business.

If you don’t take responsibility for your results, if you don’t show up consistently, nothing changes.

I also realized I had been trying to be everything instead of leaning into my actual gifts. I didn’t need to fix every weakness—I needed to double down on my strengths.

That moment forced me into a level of consistency I had never experienced before. And looking back, I can honestly say I needed it.

Because sometimes the breaking point is what pushes you into becoming the person you were meant to be.

The lie I believed in that season was that I wasn’t capable.

The truth I walk in now is this:

I do have what it takes.

And if there’s one thing I would say to anyone reading this who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or invisible in their business, it’s this:

Stop hiding.

Your story matters. Your voice matters. And there are people who are waiting for what only you can offer.

Choose courage.
Choose consistency.
Choose to show up—even when it’s uncomfortable.

Because the world is worse off when the gift inside you stays silent.

Jori, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I help leaders, founders, and visionaries turn their lived experiences, ideas, and expertise into authority.

At my core, I am an authority and voice activator. My work sits at the intersection of storytelling, business strategy, and identity. I work with people who have already done something meaningful in their lives or businesses but haven’t fully translated that into a clear message, a body of work, or a platform that positions them as the go-to in their space.

I didn’t start here.

Like many entrepreneurs, I began by trying to do everything—coaching, content creation, low-ticket offers—anything that felt like it could generate income. But what I realized over time is that my real gift was helping people articulate what they already carried, and then building the structure around it so it could actually impact others and generate revenue.

That realization led me into publishing.

Today, I run a publishing and authority-building company where we help clients extract their stories, frameworks, and intellectual property and turn them into books, brands, and business assets. But what we create is more than a book.

A book without authority is just a lead magnet.

What we build is positioning.

We help our clients become known, trusted, and sought after by aligning their message, their story, and their business model so everything works together. From there, we support them in leveraging that authority into higher-level clients, speaking opportunities, and scalable offers.

Most of the people I work with are high-performing individuals who have results but feel stuck when it comes to visibility or growth. They’ve hit a ceiling not because they aren’t capable, but because their message isn’t clearly positioned or their business isn’t structured to support their next level.

The problem I solve is not just “how do I get more clients?”

It’s:

How do I become the person people are already looking for?
How do I communicate what I do in a way that actually converts?
How do I build something that outlives me and continues to create impact?

What sets me apart is that I don’t just focus on strategy or storytelling in isolation.

I help people integrate both.

Anyone can write a book. Anyone can build a funnel. But very few people know how to turn their life, their voice, and their business into a cohesive authority platform that consistently attracts the right opportunities.

That’s where I come in.

I’m most proud of the transformation I see in my clients—not just in their revenue, but in how they show up. Watching someone go from second-guessing themselves to speaking with clarity and conviction, knowing exactly who they are and what they carry, is what matters most to me.

For anyone discovering my work for the first time, I want you to know this:

You don’t need to become someone else to be successful.

You need to become clear on who you already are.

Your story is not random. Your experiences are not wasted. And your voice is not optional.

When positioned correctly, they become the very thing that opens doors, creates impact, and builds a legacy.

And that’s the work I do every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jorioneale.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jorioneale/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095223833989
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jori-oneale/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JoriONeale
• Other: https://the1andonlypublishing.com

Image Credits
Sarah Hoag Photography