Why I Almost Hid My $1 Million Milestone (and What It Taught Me About Success)

When was the last time you paused to celebrate your growth or a major milestone in your consulting or coaching business?

If you’re like me, you might find it easier to share your mistakes than your successes. Recently, I was challenged to face this truth head-on and it all started with an award from Kajabi.

A few weeks ago, Kajabi, the platform that powers my website, recognized me for earning over one million dollars in revenue from my B2C business. I’m officially a “$1 Million Superhero.”

And yet, my first instinct wasn’t to celebrate. It was to hide.

Why Celebrating Success Can Feel Uncomfortable

When I received that award, my initial reaction was embarrassment. It took me longer to hit that milestone than it did with my original consulting business. Instead of pride, I felt shame... as if success had an expiration date or a comparison chart.

As I reflected during a vacation that coincided with my 15-year business anniversary, I realized something important: I wasn’t celebrating because it was easier to be humble about failure than confident about success.

Sharing mistakes feels safe. Sharing success can feel vulnerable because this milestone took me longer to achieve the second time around.

But if I want to teach others how to own the power of what they do, I need to model it myself.

The Courage It Took to Get Here

When people hear that I left Disney to start my own business, they often assume it was a leap of vision. The truth is, it was a leap of faith. My dad had passed away, and I wanted more time with my two young kids. I left the security of a 70-hour-a-week corporate job to pursue something unknown, not because I knew what was next, but because I didn’t want to regret not trying.

Later, after my divorce, I faced another crossroads. As a single mom without a financial safety net, I had to decide: return to corporate life or go all-in on my consulting business. I chose courage again.

My grandmother, an entrepreneur who became a millionaire in the 1940s, inspired me. I used her small inheritance not to survive, but to invest in my business. That decision became the foundation for everything I’ve built.

The Pivot That Changed Everything

Years later, when I transitioned from corporate consulting to mentoring and brand positioning for consultants and coaches, I underestimated how different it would be. It wasn’t a pivot... it was a rebuild.

To replace my consulting income, I needed more clients, a new business model, and a deeper understanding of digital marketing. I failed more than once. Courses flopped. Programs didn’t take off.

But eventually, I found my lane, helping consultants and coaches clarify their value and own their message. When I retired my consulting business (against my accountant’s advice), I took another leap of faith. And that’s when everything started aligning.

That’s the story behind my million-dollar milestone. Not just revenue... resilience.

What This Milestone Really Means

This $1 million recognition from Kajabi represents more than a financial goal. It represents grit, courage, and the choice to keep going even when the timeline doesn’t match expectations.

It also represents something bigger: doing work I love with clients I believe in. Today, I get to help consultants and coaches articulate their brilliance, attract aligned opportunities, and build brands rooted in integrity.

That’s worth celebrating.

Why We Downplay Our Wins

If you’ve ever hesitated to share a win because you didn’t want to seem boastful, you’re not alone. Many of us who work in consulting or coaching value humility and service. But that same humility can hold us back from owning the truth of our impact.

We worry about being judged or creating distance. But here’s what I’ve learned: sharing your success doesn’t separate you, it connects you through possibility.

When we share our wins authentically, we give others evidence of what’s possible.

Reframing Success as Generosity

Sharing success isn’t bragging. It’s generous.

When I tell my story, I’m not inflating it. I’m practicing what I teach... sober judgment. That means not overstating or understating what’s true.

Yes, I’ve achieved a financial milestone, but the meaning behind it matters more: the persistence, the courage, and the alignment it took to get here.

That’s what I want others to see, not the number, but the growth behind it.

Your Turn: Celebrate What’s Working

So here’s my challenge to you:

• Pause and recognize what’s working in your business.

• Share a milestone you’ve been afraid to acknowledge.

• Celebrate your courage, not just your outcomes.

• Witness the success of others and tell them you see it.

When we all celebrate ourselves and each other, we expand what’s possible for everyone.

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• Why ROI is Your Competitive Edge as a Consultant