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Happy Tuesday, Reader! 2025 and 2026 have been the best two years, financially, in Realign Consulting’s 18-year history. In many ways, I’ve created the life I always said I wanted, and I’m at the peak of my career. If we kept going the way we’ve been going, with a few tweaks, 2027 could likely double our revenue. So why am I about to tell you that we’re making a major pivot in 2027? The best time to make a change is usually when it takes some courage, not when we’re being forced into it.Last week, I shared that I no longer believe platform-based marketing is a sustainable, viable path forward for most small and micro businesses’ marketing budgets. That belief doesn’t just shape the advice I give you. It shapes how I run my own business, too. So, Team Realign is taking a step back from that work, and we will not be accepting new managed digital marketing clients in 2027. Instead, we’re doubling down on what’s working now and exploring what sustainable strategy looks like going forward. We don’t know exactly what all of that looks like yet. But after a lot of success this year, we do know there are two areas we’re super excited about, and we’re actively accepting projects for both. What We’re Building On #1: Websites That ConvertYour owned property on the web is, perhaps, more essential than it has ever been. (It made last week’s playbook for a reason.) We’ve grown our web team in major ways this year and had several massive successes. Stay tuned over the next few weeks, because we’ll be sharing more about this work soon. What We’re Building On #2: In-Person Strategy RetreatsThis year marks 15 years of offering Strategic Planning Retreats, and they continue to be some of our favorite work. Over the last two years, we’ve also seen growing success with more focused retreats around marketing plans, product development, and leadership growth. In 2027, we’ll be opening up new ways to work with Team Realign and me in person. More on that in the new year. Stepping Out Before We’re ReadyI’ll be honest with you: I’m a little nervous to step away from a place where I feel completely confident (and largely certain) about how to build our business and head in a new direction. But that’s what courage is, right? Moving out before we’re ready because we believe it’s what’s right. We still believe in tra-digital marketing and a tech-forward business strategy overall. What that means today is evolving fast, and I’m looking forward to going on the journey of building the future with you all. If a website that works harder for you or a focused retreat sounds like the right next step for your business, we’d love to hear about it.
With you in this, Renia C. P.S. - Next week, the whole team is stepping away for our Thanksgiving Break (and practicing what we preach about rest!). Watch for a short holiday note from us later this week. If you reach out about a project while we're out, we’ll get back to you the week of November 30. |
Helping founders and executive teams grow profit and people-focused impact with joy and ease at the center of the strategy. Renia (pronounced REE-nah) Carsillo is the founder of Realign Consulting. She believes her superpowers are pattern recognition and activating change. Since 2008, Renia and her team have helped more than 100 small and mid-sized companies build values-driven, people-first operating models, guided by two proprietary frameworks: Do Better Business™ and Values-Driven Marketing. Renia has worked side by side with impact-driven companies, multinational franchises, and B2B brands in some of the most traditional industries, from industrial manufacturing to government contracting. Her work sits at the intersection of people, systems, and habits. For a business to grow sustainably, these three must constantly realign, because alignment is an ongoing practice.
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