How Marlene Oliveira Increased Revenue By Refining What Already Worked

When Marlene Oliveira, communications advisor, copywriter and owner of moflow.ca, joined the Staying Solo Squad, nothing in her business was “broken.”

She’d been running her business for 17 years. Her offers were established. Her clients were steady. Years earlier, she had already seen major success with a previous BS-Free Business group program she had been part of. 

But that was exactly the problem.

Marlene joined the Squad because she suspected there was more she could be doing with her business, and she didn’t want to plateau.

“I was wondering if I was stagnating,” she said. “I kept wondering…Is there room for new ideas, additional motivation, fine-tuning my approaches?”

From “Everything’s Fine” to Meaningful Growth

Marlene came into the Squad looking for a fresh perspective. But what she found was something more specific and more impactful.

“The pricing sprints specifically helped a lot,” she shared. “I initially thought pricing wasn’t an issue because I thought I had a handle on it .”

But the structured work inside the Squad told a different story.

“Doing the sprints helped me discover huge inconsistencies. Yes, I was pricing certain services really well, and others I was still pricing like I was stuck in 2012.”

That realization led to immediate changes.

“I do think some of the revenue increases I’ve experienced in early 2026 can  be attributed to the sprints, because last year, organizations were buying services at the prices I realized I needed  to raise.”

The results of this strategic work didn’t take long to show up. As of April 2026, year-to-date revenue was up 88% compared to the same period in 2025..

And what does she attribute much of this increased revenue to?

“Some of it is definitely due to me raising prices, diligent marketing and sales, and other Squad influences.”

Tightening Her Boundaries to Protect Time and Capacity

Before joining the Squad, Marlene already considered herself someone with strong boundaries. However, being in the community helped her take that further in ways that changed how her business operated day-to-day.

“I thought I was already good with boundaries. And then another Squad community member shared the idea of CEO Mondays.”

With this idea in mind, she implemented a simple but powerful shift in her schedule:

• Mondays = CEO work = strategic thinking and planning
• Tuesday–Thursday = client delivery
• Fridays = project management and communication

“Implementing that change was a new boundary that benefits me without negatively impacting my clients — in fact it benefits them indirectly, too.”

Now, Marlene is working the same number of hours, and she’s actually getting more work done. 

“Everything’s just concentrated. There’s less mental clutter, and I’m more efficient Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday since I have time to do my business work at the start and end of the week.”

Creating a More Proactive Client Experience

One of the most unexpected outcomes for Marlene’s business wasn’t just internal. It showed up in her client experience.

By implementing structured project management and proactive communication processes, Marlene transformed how clients interact with her.

“I almost never receive emails from my clients. They always know what’s happening, because I’m proactive.”

Instead of reacting to questions, she sends regular updates and manages communication intentionally. That shift created ripple effects, such as fewer interruptions, more focused work time, higher client satisfaction, and reduced emotional and mental load. 

“I’m just over here doing the work,” she said. “My clients already know everything they need to know.”

Strategic Support With Built-In Structure

For Marlene, another of the biggest differentiators in the Staying Solo Squad wasn’t just the content but also how it was delivered.

“The workshops and action guides are a big benefit, because I like structured thinking and someone else’s guidance for refining my approach.”

She also highlighted the value of real-time support and community:

“It’s a great place for ideas, camaraderie, practical support and asking questions and getting specific answers to specific issues.”

Even elements she was initially skeptical about, like regular co-working and Slack channels, became meaningful contributors to her productivity.

“I was skeptical at the start, but yeah, they work. It’s another nice boost.”

Prioritizing a Better Business Versus a Bigger One

What Marlene didn’t bank on when she joined the Squad was that the most important shift she’d make wouldn’t be tactical, but instead, philosophical. 

Marlene didn’t want to scale into something bigger. She wanted to improve her existing business, and that’s exactly the mindset she found inside the Squad.

“It’s hard to find a group that really actually helps you stay doing what you’re already doing, but just level it up.”

The Staying Solo Squad gave her:

• Strategy without unnecessary complexity.
• Revenue growth without adding more to her plate.
• Systems that support how she wants to work.

“You don’t have to struggle through running your business alone,” she said.  “And this group is catered to those of us wanting to continue staying solo. It’s such practical support.”

Building on Success Instead of Starting Over

Marlene didn’t overhaul her business. She refined it.

In doing so, she achieved:

• 88% year-to-date revenue growth (early 2026 vs. 2025).
• Pricing that more consistently reflects her experience, expertise and business goals.
• Stronger boundaries and weekly structure.
• Greater efficiency without working more hours.
• A smoother, more proactive client experience.

All by building on what was already working and making it work even better.

“I was already achieving really good results when I joined the Squad. Nothing was going wrong. But I thought—yes, I should go back and get some support, momentum, and ideas.”

That decision paid off more than she even expected.