Have you ever felt that subtle (or not-so-subtle) nudge to make a shift in your business? In today’s episode, I’m joined by the incredible Margot Witteveen, a registered dietitian and CEO of Perfectly Portioned Wellness, who’s in the midst of an exciting new project in her business.

Margot and I unpack what it really looks like to transition from the day-to-day of one-on-one client work into visionary leadership and mentorship, and how to know when it’s the right time to make a big move.

We dive into the importance of trusting your intuition, the signals that indicate it’s time for change, and how to discern between a fleeting idea and a true business opportunity.

Margot shares her own journey toward launching a practitioner mentorship in the menopause space and the wisdom she’s gained from taking a slow, intentional approach to business evolution. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Is now the right time to pivot or expand?” this conversation is for you.

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✅ Why Pivoting Your Coaching Business Is Normal (And Necessary)

As a high-achieving coach, dietitian, or wellness expert, you’re no stranger to evolution.

You’ve likely pivoted in your personal growth, your health journey, or even your ideal client niche.

But when it comes to pivoting or expanding your business, the stakes can feel higher… especially when things are working “well enough.”

So how do you know when that nudge to shift is a signal worth following?

And how do you make changes without burning down what you’ve already built?

Let’s start with this:

If you’ve ever wanted to “burn it all down,” I get it. Every entrepreneur hits that wall at some point.

What I’ve learned over the years—and what Margot shared so beautifully—is that not every desire for change means a total reset is needed.

Sometimes, that friction is showing you where your next opportunity is.

You’re not crazy, flaky, or being unrealistic. You’re evolving.

And the truth is, the most successful online coaches and wellness business owners I know have pivoted (often more than once).

The key is knowing the difference between:

• A shiny-object distraction, and

• A strategic next step aligned with your mission and capacity

So let’s walk through how to know the difference.

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Step 1: Listen to the Pings (But Don’t Act on Every One)

If you’re anything like Margot, you’ve probably had those moments where the universe (or your DMs) keeps nudging you in a certain direction.

For Margot, it started with practitioners reaching out to her practice—asking for training, mentorship, or help working with their own perimenopausal and menopausal clients. These weren’t one-off requests. They were repeated pings over months and years.

“I started getting DMs asking, ‘Do you train practitioners?’ And it was like, I don’t have anything formal yet. But people were literally asking for it.” — Margot

Now, this is where a lot of people get stuck:
You start getting interest from people… so you immediately want to create something.

But just because someone asks for something doesn’t mean you have to deliver it—yet.

Instead of immediately building an entire course, group, or certification, Margot chose to move slowly. She beta-tested. She listened. She evaluated her own capacity. And only then did she begin to intentionally build out a new mentorship program.

That kind of strategic restraint? That’s CEO-level thinking.

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 Step 2: Know the Difference Between Distraction and Direction

If you’re a creative, entrepreneurial type, this one is key.

It’s easy to feel pulled in a million directions, especially when you’re multi-passionate or multi-skilled.

You might even be really good at something that isn’t what you want to keep doing long-term. That was my own story when I pivoted from nutrition coaching to business mentorship.

The turning point came when I realized I couldn’t do both well.

I couldn’t support clients in deep functional nutrition work and coach other practitioners on business strategy and market both offers effectively and still be present for my family.

So if you’re trying to decide whether to pivot, expand, or stay the course, here are a few helpful questions to ask yourself:

• Is this expansion aligned with my long-term vision, or am I reacting emotionally to short-term friction?

• Does this opportunity energize me or drain me just thinking about it?

• Is this the right season of life and business for me to pursue this?

• Am I choosing this from alignment, not obligation?

You’ll know it’s the right move when your gut says yes, even if your brain is still catching up.

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Step 3: Own Your Expertise (and Let That Guide Your Offer)

One of the most powerful things Margot shared was how confident she is in what she teaches.

Her deep, lived experience working with midlife women for over 10 years gives her clarity on exactly what needs to be taught—and what doesn’t.

And as she’s begun building out her menopause mentorship for practitioners, that clarity has helped her set boundaries around:

• Who it’s for (and who it’s not)

• What gets included

• What questions she entertains (versus filters out)

• How she structures the experience

“I’m very confident in the training I offer. I know what works. And I’m okay with saying no to things that don’t align—even if someone asks for it.” — Margot

As a coach or clinician, your experience matters.

Your body of work matters.

Your wisdom is your IP.

That’s what allows you to create something scalable, teachable, and transformational, and attract the right people who want what you offer, no convincing needed.

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Step 4: Don’t Build Until You’ve Sold (Seriously!)

If you’ve been around me for a while, you’ve heard this one before.

But it’s worth repeating:

Do not build the whole thing until you’ve sold it.

This doesn’t mean you’re being “salesy.” It means you’re being strategic.

Margot’s approach? She started with a few practitioner clients in a soft beta. No sales page. No complicated funnel.

Just real conversations, clear boundaries, and responsiveness to what those clients actually needed.

That’s the beauty of launching from a place of experience and wisdom.

You already know your audience. You’ve seen what works. You can create from insight, not just inspiration.

This also helps protect your energy, especially if you’re a mom, managing a team, or serving multiple roles in your business.

You don’t have time to build something that never sells.

So test first.

Refine second.

Then build.

That’s how we scale sustainably.

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Step 5: Not Every “Interested” Person Is a Buyer (And That’s Okay)

If you’re launching a new offer, this one can feel like a gut punch. But it’s essential to understand.

Not everyone who slides into your DMs asking for more information is ready or WORTHY of being a client.

Yes, we want to be generous. Yes, we want to serve well.

But that doesn’t mean jumping at every “tell me more!” message.

“People would reach out and say they were interested, but then disappear when it was time to commit. That helped me realize I needed to qualify people differently.” — Margot

I’ve seen this over and over again, especially as the online space gets noisier. A lot of people are browsing. Few are ready to buy.

And that’s okay. Your job isn’t to convince. It’s to attract and lead.

Some of the most aligned clients I’ve had, especially in my Nourished Business Accelerator, are the ones who apply, pay, and dive in… often without ever DMing me.

So don’t get discouraged if your most “engaged” followers aren’t the ones joining your offers.

That’s not a reflection of your value. That’s a reflection of their readiness.

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Step 6: Build a Business That Doesn’t Rely on You Doing Everything

This one’s for those of you who are still wearing all the hats.

When Margot decided to step fully into her CEO role and stop taking one-on-one clients, it wasn’t because she didn’t love the work.

It’s because she saw what her business could become… and she realized she couldn’t get there if she kept doing everything herself.

“If I stayed in the one-on-one grind, I’d be the bottleneck of our growth.” — Margot

Building a team, hiring support, and developing systems might not be flashy, but it’s essential if you want to expand sustainably.

That way, when an aligned opportunity arises (such as launching a new mentorship or expanding into a new niche), you’re not overwhelmed or reactive. You’ve created space for the next level.

And for many of us, that space is required not just for the strategy, but for the creativity and the capacity it takes to lead at the next level.

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Final Thoughts: The Right Time to Pivot Your Coaching Business Isn’t Always Clear… But You Know It When You Feel It

If you’re waiting for some perfect sign to pivot or expand your business, I’ll be honest with you: It probably won’t come.

Instead, what often happens is a gradual buildup of signs:

• DMs asking you the same question over and over

• An itch that your current business model doesn’t quite fit anymore

• A vision that excites you more than what you’re currently doing

• Or maybe just a gut knowing that something new is coming

The truth is, the “when” to pivot your coaching business won’t always come with clarity. But it will come with a choice. And that choice is yours to make.

Here’s what I know for sure:

• You don’t have to do it all right away
• You don’t need to chase every opportunity
• But when the time is right and your gut says yes… trust yourself to follow through

That’s how we build sustainable, scalable, and fulfilling businesses that actually support the life we want to live.

You’re the CEO. It’s safe to act like it.

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Ready to Pivot or Expand Your Coaching Business with Support?

If you’re feeling the nudge to shift your niche, launch a new offer, or expand into something more scalable without overhauling your entire business, I’d love to help you do it with clarity and confidence.

DM me on Instagram @lauraschoenfeldrd and tell me more about your current pivot

Or apply for The Nourished Business Accelerator, my signature group program for online wellness entrepreneurs

Your next level doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

You just need the right support, the right strategy, and the courage to trust yourself.

Share this with someone who needs it!