In this week’s episode of the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast, I’m delighted to welcome back Leah Neaderthal, a sales coach for women consultants and the founder of Smart Gets Paid.

We talked about the shifting landscape of client acquisition in the US, particularly in light of the political and economic climate of 2025, focusing on the importance of resilience and maintaining a positive mindset. 

We shared personal anecdotes and strategies for overcoming external challenges, encouraging you to stay focused on your goals while fostering a supportive, growth-oriented environment.

 

In This Episode: 

[00:00:00] Leah shares her journey from corporate marketing to becoming a sales coach for women consultants.

[00:03:30] Discussion on narrowing down the niche and discovering a target audience. Leah explains her evolution in focusing on women consultants after initially targeting small businesses.

[00:07:12] Leah shares her experience with changing her hair color to grey during the pandemic and its significance, reflecting on the impact of hair color on self-perception and business identity.

[00:12:52] Evolving client acquisition strategies in 2025 and how political and economic changes influence client perceptions and business strategies.

[00:15:13] The importance of providing a supportive environment for clients amidst uncertainty.

[00:16:17] Leah encourages business leaders to maintain a positive outlook and drive forward despite challenges.

[00:17:28] Jessica shares her experience of facing a challenging year in 2020 but ultimately growing her business significantly.

[00:18:42] Discussion on how negative narratives can hinder business success and the importance of maintaining a positive mindset.

[00:20:05] Exploring how entrepreneurs can adapt and respond effectively during crises instead of succumbing to fear.

[00:22:04] The need for a relentless approach in achieving business goals, moving beyond mere trust in success.

[00:25:10] The importance of positioning services as essential solutions rather than optional benefits during uncertain times.

[00:29:08] Tactical advice for consultants to leverage their insights and adjust offerings to meet the immediate needs of clients.

[00:33:49] The power of resilience among entrepreneurs to navigate challenges and maintain control over their business outlook.

[00:35:23] Insights on how many consultants thrived during the pandemic despite initial fears and the need for proactive women consultants to succeed in changing markets.

Key Takeaways:

• "Be a Painkiller, Not a Vitamin" - Position your services as essential problem-solvers, not just nice-to-haves. Clients still invest in urgent, high-value outcomes, especially during uncertain times.
• Leah's watchword of this year is ‘relentless’ - not just trusting goals will happen, but actively and consistently pursuing them with drive and purpose.
• Fear-based narratives can hold you back. Instead of waiting or shrinking your goals, move forward with intention. Your mindset shapes your results.
• When you show up authentically, your business thrives. Clients respond to real, confident leadership.

Quotes: 

"I think it's a really amazing opportunity this year to play the mindset game of our lifetimes, because that's the opportunity, isn't it? That comes when the world is just a little bit unpredictable." - Jessica Fearnley

“On a number of levels, there is some fear, of course. There's some grief. There's some rage. And I think our responsibility and our opportunity as the leaders of the spaces that we hold is to let that come out and create a safe space for that. And yet, I love what your members are saying, which is ‘I want to also hold this space as a space where we don't have to wallow in it’, because I think that it can easily become a self-fulfilling prophecy.” - Leah Neaderthal

"We don't always need to make it like an all or nothing where the only options are survival as if nothing's happened or complete catastrophe. Often it's a matter of degrees. We can course correct. If we can't be agile as entrepreneurs and consultants, then honestly, who can? We have this ability to change things." - Jessica Fearnley

"A lot of women out there are talking about their work in what we might consider a vitamin, not a painkiller. Everybody knows they need to take their vitamins, but if you go to the store and you forget your vitamins, you'll just pick them up next time. Whereas if you have a real pain, you will go to the store and you will get pain relief, because you're solving a pain in that moment. That's how we need to be thinking about how we position our work, especially right now because clients will solve their pain, but they will not purchase a vitamin." - Leah Neaderthal

 

Useful Links

Leah: 

Leah’s website - SmartGetsPaid.com

Smart Gets Paid Podcast

Smart Gets Paid Podcast - Episode 114 - ‘Don’t let the economy kill your business – do this instead’

Connect with Leah on LinkedIn

Jessica:

Buy Jessica’s book, Too Much, on Amazon

Get in touch with Jessica to discuss your consulting business

Leave a rating and review for the Seven Figure Consultant Podcast

Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn

 

Guest Bio

Leah Neaderthal is a sales coach for women consultants, and she’s the founder of Smart Gets Paid.

A three-time business owner who started her career in corporate marketing, Leah didn’t learn to sell by being a commissioned salesperson. Instead, she taught herself everything she could about selling, overcame “selling shyness,” and created a sales approach that feels comfortable, builds strong client relationships, and gets results.

Now she shares the secrets she learned along the way, teaching women how to get the right consulting clients and get paid more for every consulting contract in her program, The Academy.

She’s also the host of The Smart Gets Paid podcast, where listeners go behind the scenes into her actual calls with clients where Leah is tackling their biggest sales challenges, and they can learn sales strategies they can use in their businesses. You can find The Smart Gets Paid podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

Before starting Smart Gets Paid, Leah built, grew, and sold three businesses. Learn more about Leah at smartgetspaid.com or connect with her on LinkedIn.