Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Natasha Walstra. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Natasha, appreciate you joining 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.

My first client came through the power of networking. I had recently joined an online community of female entrepreneurs, thanks to an introduction from someone I had just met while living part-time in Columbia, SC. The day I joined, there was a networking event with about 50 members, and I decided to attend.

During a breakout session with just three people, I connected with someone who, coincidentally, also lived in Columbia. She was interested in using LinkedIn for her company, so we met for dinner that evening to discuss it further. By the next day, she had signed on as my first client. I didn’t have a company name or a website—just my LinkedIn presence and the support of an incredible community.

Natasha, 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?

At NearPoint Strategies, we help leaders and sales teams unlock the power of personal branding on LinkedIn to open doors and crush sales. Whether it’s via securing new clients, attracting referral partners, landing speaking engagements, or closing deals with private equity, our focus is always on building real relationships.

The system I created was born out of necessity. I had just landed my first job as a Sales Development Representative. You know, where you have to cold call, ‘smile and dial’ 100/dials a day. It was absolutely soul-crushing and quite frankly, I was terrible at it. As an introvert who used to be really shy, it was probably the last job I should’ve taken. But being competitive, I knew I had to find a way to hit my numbers that didn’t leave me to tears every day. That’s when I turned to LinkedIn as a platform to connect, network, and build genuine relationships—selling felt natural, not forced.

Fast forward nearly 10 years, I’m helping my clients do the same—leveraging their authentic selves to create meaningful connections and drive results.

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

I hope this isn’t too personal, but six months after launching my business, I found out I was pregnant. At first, I was overwhelmed with fear and questions—’How are we going to make this work?’ It felt impossible, and I spiraled for a bit, honestly. But I quickly realized that future-tripping about what might happen months down the road wasn’t going to help me in the right now.

So, aside from having an incredibly supportive husband, I worked with a business advisor to create a plan that would give me the flexibility to step back when the baby arrived. Of course, like most things in life, the pregnancy didn’t go exactly as planned. However, because I worked hard and prepared financially in those earlier months, I was able to navigate the unexpected challenges with a sense of stability.

Leaving the comfort of a traditional job to start a business comes with its share of ups and downs. There were moments when I questioned my decision, but this experience taught me something invaluable: if I set a goal and put in the work, I could build a life with more freedom and less stress than if I were tied to a 9-to-5. It was a defining moment of resilience—proof that even in uncertain times, there’s a way forward if you stay focused and adaptable.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Here are 4 actions that built trust in my market:

1. Established credibility: I already had a strong network from my time in B2B sales, and people had seen me “doing the thing”—practicing exactly what I preach now. So, when I transitioned into coaching, it was clear I knew what I was talking about. That credibility made the transition smoother.

Consistency on LinkedIn: I started posting consistently on LinkedIn and building momentum months before I even launched my business. By the time I signed my first client, there was already trust in place—even without a website or a company name. Showing up consistently helped establish me as a reliable and knowledgeable voice in my space.

Give freely: I don’t hold back when it comes to sharing knowledge or providing feedback. Whether it’s insights, advice, or lessons I’ve learned, I’m happy to give it away. That generosity builds trust and shows people I genuinely want to help them succeed.

Build real relationships: For me, it’s not just about connections—it’s about cultivating meaningful relationships. By focusing on creating genuine connections, I’ve built a network of people who not only support me but actively advocate for me. That kind of trust and loyalty is priceless.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nearpointstrategies.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nearpoint.strategies/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ndwalstra/

Image Credits

Sansan Hao