Desk Thoughts: Turning a Soft Launch into a Strategic Launch
Welcome to Desk Thoughts
A behind-the-scenes series from our founder where shower thoughts and editor’s letters meet the desk. It’s a space to share the real story behind building Maison Peters, one reflection at a time. Inside you’ll find clarity, questions, pivots, and the quiet strategy that shapes what we do and why.
Why I Hit Pause Before I Ever Really Started
You only need one awkward elevator pitch to know you're not ready. That's what I learned at a small business speed networking event. I "launched" Maison Peters at the end of December 2024, mainly because I was anxious to officially start the business and share what I've been working on. Fast forward to the beginning of February when I realized I had gone publicly launched before I was fully ready.
Many people on this founder's journey have told me to 'start before you're ready' or 'You're just going to have to get out there and start talking with people.'
Many people on this founder's journey have told me to "start before you're ready" or "You're just going to have to get out there and start talking with people." So, I did. In February, I attended a networking event without developing my elevator pitch or considering my unique value proposition. I had a vague idea of my target audience, but that was about it. I met ~35 people who had their 30-second pitches down. They knew who they wanted to do business with, how to serve their clients, and what they wanted to take out of this speed networking event. I winged it. I had great conversations and made some good contacts, but I walked away feeling under-prepared and realizing I did not show up the way I wanted to in my business.
Most importantly, I realized that if I tell my potential clients how vital business foundations and strategy are, I should practice what I preach. Before this networking event, I had some of my business plan figured out. I knew the mission and vision of the business. I had a blurb about the two business lines describing what each does. I knew the business structure. And that's about as much as I had gotten done. Without the foundational clarity or systems to support what I want to offer, I knew my marketing and sales efforts would suffer.
That moment was a wake-up call; a moment of clarity. So, I stepped back to get grounded. Instead of continuing to market the business or trying to sell services I didn't have defined, I paused. I developed the foundational aspect of Maison Peters. I got clarity around understanding the market, my target audience, my offers, the client experience I want to provide, the distinction between the Marketing Consulting Services and the Media Studio, and the marketing mix. I did everything I would tell my clients to work on if any of those pieces were missing in their business.
Restart as often as you need to.
One of my favorite sayings is, "Restart as often as you need to." This pause wasn't exactly a restart. It was going from a soft launch into a strategic launch. I committed to building the business the right way, with structure, strategy, and clarity from the inside out, because I never want to show up to a potential client half-ready again.
Now, I'm back — and so is Maison Peters. We've clarified our services, defined our audiences, and built the foundations to serve our clients and patrons confidently and intentionally.
Here's to thoughtful growth, better systems, and helping purpose-driven brands lead with marketing clarity.
From my desk to yours,
Maison Peters Founder
Mollye
Feeling like you’re in your own soft launch season?
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