the summer i almost quit marketing (but didn’t)

summer 2020 was rough for most of us, myself included. everything i thought i loved about my work fell apart, and for a while, i didn’t know who i was without it.

i was working at a marketing agency, mid-pandemic. like so many people in that season, i watched everything shift overnight. projects got canceled. clients froze budgets. strategy turned reactive. the creative spark that used to anchor me was gone.

what had once felt exciting and collaborative became unrecognizable.

my days blurred together. i was either panicked or numb. it felt like the world was unraveling and i was unraveling with it.

i’ve always loved marketing for the storytelling, the connection, the creativity. but in that moment, none of that felt present. and without those pieces, i started to wonder if i even belonged in this field anymore.

so i did what any deeply emotional, slightly dramatic enneagram 4 might do in a crisis: i spiraled into reinvention mode.

maybe i should become a therapist. or a doula. or launch my own consumer goods brand.

maybe politics. or social justice.

maybe this was the push i needed to find something real.

because the version of marketing i was doing felt disconnected from meaning. and that disconnection hurt.

i didn’t have a plan. just a knowing that something had to change.

around the same time, i went through a relationship breakup and moved back in with my parents. my sense of self—professionally, emotionally, creatively—was deeply shaken. my finances were scary. my confidence was shaky. but i had space. space to grieve. space to reflect. space to try.

i picked up a few freelance projects. nothing major. just enough to test the waters.

i still remember the first time i worked directly with a small business owner. they were running something scrappy and soulful. they wanted help articulating their message and getting it in front of the right people. there was no red tape. no corporate jargon. no six-layer approval process. just a human on the other end of the line, trying to build something that mattered.

and suddenly, it clicked.

this is what i love.

not just the act of marketing, but the closeness. the collaboration. the sense that what we’re doing actually makes a difference.

when you work with small businesses, you get to see the direct fruits of your labor. you get to show up honestly, move with intention, and build trust over time. you’re not removed from the outcome, you’re part of it.

i started building slowly. contract by contract. referral by referral.

some months were tight. some projects fell through. but something was blooming.

and over time, i realized: i didn’t fall out of love with marketing. i fell out of love with the version of marketing that wasn’t aligned with who i am.

freelancing gave me the permission to do things differently. i got to choose the kinds of projects i worked on. i got to shape my own processes. i got to tell the truth. i stopped chasing shiny tactics and started building strategies rooted in connection, clarity, and care.

five years later, i’m still here.

still self-employed.

still doing work that feels meaningful.

and maybe most importantly: still in love with what i do.

this year, i officially rebranded my business under my married name: delaney monahan.

it felt like the right time to step into a new chapter, both personally and professionally. i’ve spent the last few years pouring everything into my clients’ marketing. and while i’ll never stop doing that, it also felt important to pause and reflect: am i walking the talk? this rebrand was a chance to answer that question with a full-body yes.

i built a new site. i clarified my services. i took the time to tell my own story.

and now, more than ever, i feel grounded in this business and how it serves people.

i help small businesses show up with clarity and consistency without losing their soul in the process.

that means strategy, content, email marketing, ads, blog posts, and more. but more than that, it means creating marketing that feels like you.

and if you’re anything like me, you might already be thinking ahead to q4 and wondering: how the hell am i supposed to keep up with all of it? so here’s a little something to help.

5 things to do now to make q4 marketing less stressful

1. review what’s worked so far

   look at the data, but also trust your gut. what content sparked the most connection? what emails got replies, not just clicks? what offers felt good to share? make note of it all. let it guide your q4 plans.

2. map out your milestones

   pull up your calendar and mark down everything that matters: promotions, events, holidays, vacations, deadlines. getting a bird’s-eye view now will save you a lot of last-minute chaos later.

3. refresh your messaging

   is your brand still speaking clearly to the people you want to reach? are your offers aligned with what your audience needs right now? q4 is noisy. clarity cuts through the noise.

4. prep and batch content early

   september is your friend. use it to get ahead. write blog posts. schedule emails. build graphics. record videos. whatever your marketing channels are, front-load what you can so you’re not scrambling in november.

5. build in breath

   create space for rest and real life. block off time for deep work. step away from your screen when you need to. marketing isn’t just about hustle, it’s about sustainability.

whether you’re in a season of rebuilding or scaling or simply surviving, i want you to know this: it’s okay to do things your way.

you don’t need to be loud to be effective.

you don’t need a massive team to make an impact.

you just need to show up with intention, tell the truth, and keep going.

because sometimes, the moment you think you’re done is just the moment before everything starts to come together.

i’m glad i didn’t quit.

and i’m glad you’re still here too.