You can work your tail off… and still lose money in your "dream job." That's the uncomfortable realization Michele Williams had after years of doing work she loved, only to discover she wasn't actually charging for the most valuable part of it: her thinking.

When I sat down with Michele, a two-time founder and the force behind Scarlet Thread Consulting and Matriek Solutions, we unpacked how that moment changed everything. She grew up in a blue-collar mill town where you figured things out instead of hiring experts. That scrappy mindset helped her build businesses, but it also led to underpricing, overworking, and way too many spreadsheets.

We talk about why "charge what you're worth" misses the point, how businesses will gladly take every ounce of your time if you let them, and why your strategy and financials have to line up if you want profit and a life. If you've ever said yes too quickly or felt busy but not profitable, this conversation will feel uncomfortably familiar, in a good way.

• How Michele's scrappy upbringing shaped her instinct to figure it out first and charge later

• The moment she realized she was losing money in her dream job and why it forced a major pricing shift

• Why "charge what you're worth" is bad advice (and what to focus on instead)

• The hidden mistake most consultants make when pricing work that comes easily to them

• How spreadsheets went from a helpful tool to a full-blown nightmare and sparked the creation of a SaaS platform

• Why data for data's sake is useless without a clear strategy and life goal behind it

• How to stop letting your business consume all your time, energy, and attention

• The importance of building a business that supports your life, not one you need to escape from

• Why profitability, planning, and joy actually do belong in the same conversation

ABOUT MICHELE WILLIAMS:

• Owner of Scarlet Thread Consulting and Metrique Solutions that empower creative professionals

• Learn more about her consulting https://www.scarletthreadconsulting.com

• Learn about her Money Dashboard https://www.metriquesolutions.com

• IG - @scarletthreadatl, @Metrique Solutions

• Facebook – Scarlet Thread Consulting, Metrique Solutions

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-williams-business-coach/

ABOUT JACK TOMPKINS & PINEAPPLE CONSULTING FIRM

Jack (aka "Pineapple Jack") is the host of Scrappy but Successful, a professional speaker, and the founder of Pineapple Consulting Firm. As one of the early Fractional Analysts, Jack brings his clients' data to life with storytelling visuals and impactful insights while adding a sense of humor that makes analytics actually fun.

You'll see that fun comes through in spades on Scrappy but Successful as he aims to bring out the guest's personality through laughter and stories, while giving listeners some pretty useful takeaways along the way.

Head to https://www.pineapplecf.com/ to turn your data into visual, understandable, decision-driving insights