As part of the Morning Lazziness series highlighting empowering women who are making a remarkable impact with their ideas, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kendra Powell.
Kendra Powell is a seasoned website strategist and conversion expert with over 10 years of experience who helps service-based businesses transform their online presence from digital brochures into client-generating systems. Through her signature 3-step methodology—message clarity, conversion-focused design, and integrated marketing funnels—she’s built a reputation as the “anti-brochure website strategist” who prioritizes results over pretty but ineffective websites.
In this candid conversation, Kendra shares her journey, insights, and the strategies that have helped her build a results-driven business—and empower other entrepreneurs to do the same.
What inspired you to become an entrepreneur, and what sparked the idea for your current business venture?
I’ve always been entrepreneurial—I was that kid with the lemonade stand, following in my grandpa and dad’s entrepreneurial footsteps. I started building websites out of necessity for my own businesses, and when friends asked for help, I kept finding myself fixing what their “web people” had done wrong. That’s when I realized I was sick of bad websites holding back amazing entrepreneurs.
There are so many brilliant business owners who could change people’s lives, but between DIY tools and designers who suck at messaging, their genius gets lost. I believe every entrepreneur has something special that only they can deliver. So here I am, 10 years later, helping service-based businesses clarify their message and build websites that actually convert.
What problem does your business solve, and how is it uniquely positioned in the market?
Most service-based businesses have websites that are essentially expensive business brochures—they look pretty but don’t bring in clients. I solve this by building a website as a system. My signature 3-step process starts with message clarity, then creates a conversion-focused website, then adds marketing funnels. While other designers typically give you what looks good, I give you what looks good AND works. I’m the anti-brochure website strategist who builds client-generating machines.
What were the biggest challenges you faced when starting your business, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was convincing people they needed more than “just a website.” Everyone believed “if you build it, they will come”—that a website would magically solve their client attraction problems. I had to learn to educate first, sell second. I started showing the real cost of inaction through concrete examples and ROI calculations. Once clients understood they were losing actual revenue every month, the conversation shifted from “Do I need all of this?” to “How fast can we start?”
How do you stay motivated during tough times or uncertain periods in your business journey?
Mental resilience. I work on my inner world just as much as I work on my business, and it’s completely shifted my mindset. I’ve adopted the mantra: “I can handle this.” When things get tough or uncertain, I may still feel fear, but I also feel excited—like it’s a riddle to be solved and I can’t wait to see how life’s plot twist will pan out. Life always seems to work out in your favor when you learn to flow with it and enjoy the ride.
What daily habits or routines contribute most to your productivity and success as a founder?
My morning sacred hour starts with three non-negotiables: no phone, fresh coffee, and natural sunlight. Before emails and demands start flooding in, I carve out time that’s entirely mine—whether it’s meditation, gentle stretching, or practicing gratitude. Once I’ve filled my own cup, I review my to-do list with one crucial question: what’s the ONE thing I absolutely must accomplish today, no matter what unfolds?
This ritual of self-care followed by laser-focused prioritization has become my secret weapon for maintaining clarity and momentum. As women entrepreneurs, we’re natural caregivers who put everyone else’s needs first, but you truly can’t pour from an empty cup. Starting my day by honoring myself first gives me the steady foundation I need to show up powerfully for my business and my goals. When you start your morning with intention instead of reaction, you set yourself up to lead from strength rather than depletion.
What’s been the most effective way for you to acquire new customers and grow your client base?
I focus obsessively on creating systems that work, so I practice what I preach. I’ve set up my own system that drives traffic, captures leads, and nurtures them—because once you have a solid net and funnel, focusing on different traffic strategies becomes incredibly powerful. For me, referrals and networking have been game-changers. It’s not just clients singing my praises—it’s the broader professional connections I’ve built who understand what I do and refer people my way. When you take a strong stance—like being the “anti-brochure website strategist”—and consistently deliver results while building real relationships, people remember you when someone needs exactly what you offer.
How do you measure success—personally and professionally—in your business?
Success to me is the freedom to do what I want when I want. As a friend once asked: Do you work to live, or do you live to work? I love my work, but I also love life. I pay attention to whether my life buckets are full—that’s how I know if I’ve gotten off track. When I can take a Tuesday afternoon off to spend with loved ones, or travel without being glued to my laptop, that tells me my business is truly working for me, not the other way around. Professional success means nothing if you don’t have the personal freedom to enjoy it.
What marketing or branding strategy has had the most impact on your business growth?
Taking a strong position against the “pretty website” industry. By positioning myself as the anti-brochure expert who builds client-generating machines, I attracted business owners who were tired of wasting money on websites that just sat there looking good. Being willing to say “while everyone else builds websites, I build business systems” made me the obvious choice for results-focused entrepreneurs.
Can you share a mistake that taught you an important lesson in entrepreneurship?
When I was starting out, I took on a huge workload with one client, doing extra services I don’t typically offer that consumed most of my time. Then one day the company was sold, and the new owners brought in their own marketing team. 75% of my business disappeared overnight.
I learned two critical lessons: the importance of diversifying and never taking on work you don’t truly want to do. Now I ensure I’m diversified across clients and traffic strategies, and I always check in with myself—is this new project really aligned with me and my business? Both practices have given me more peace of mind and way more enjoyment in my work
What advice would you give to someone just starting out as a first-time entrepreneur?
Stop trying to figure everything out yourself. Your time is too valuable to waste on DIY attempts in areas outside your expertise. Invest in getting the fundamentals right from the beginning—especially your message and online presence. Most entrepreneurs treat their website like a one-time project when it should be their hardest-working business asset. Get the system right, and everything else becomes easier.
How do you balance innovation and risk while making business decisions?
I follow the “test small, scale smart” approach. Before I launched my signature 3-step process, I tested each piece with a handful of clients to see what actually moved the needle. I’m not afraid to try new strategies, but I always start with low-risk experiments. If a new approach works, I refine it and roll it out. If it doesn’t, I’ve only invested a small amount of time and energy. Innovation doesn’t have to mean betting the farm—it means being willing to evolve while protecting your foundation.
How do you build and maintain a strong team culture or work environment?
Delegate results, not tasks. Care about people. Become a dream facilitator. Pay them well. I’ve learned that when you focus on what needs to be accomplished rather than micromanaging how it gets done, people bring their best creativity and ownership to the work. I make it a point to understand what each team member wants to achieve in their career and life, then I look for ways to help them get there through our work together. When people feel genuinely cared for and fairly compensated, they’ll move mountains for you and your clients.
What are the top 5 things you believe every entrepreneur needs to overcome self-doubt and build confidence?
1. Track your wins, no matter how small. I keep a “wins folder” of client testimonials and results. When doubt crept in, I read about the business owner who finally felt proud to send people to her website.
2. Invest in your expertise relentlessly. I’ve spent thousands on courses and coaching because when you know you’re continuously improving, confidence follows naturally.
3. Surround yourself with people who get it. Join entrepreneurial communities where struggling is normal and celebrating wins is encouraged. Isolation breeds doubt.
4. Practice the “I can handle this” mantra. When my biggest client left unexpectedly, instead of panicking, I reminded myself I’d figured out harder things before. That mindset shift changed everything.
5. Focus on serving others, not proving yourself. The moment I stopped worrying about whether I was “good enough” and started focusing on how I could help my clients succeed, the doubt disappeared. Purpose beats perfection every time.
If you could lead or inspire a global movement to make an impact, what would it be and why?
I’d love to lead a movement that creates meaningful connections between people who need something and people who have exactly what they need. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked to someone struggling with a challenge, wishing I knew the perfect person to help them—or had something valuable sitting unused while knowing someone out there desperately needs it.
I once had a perfectly good desk I couldn’t find a home for, even though I knew somewhere there was someone who needed exactly that desk. It made me realize how disconnected we’ve become. We have all these platforms for buying and selling, but what about genuine connection and mutual aid?
Imagine a world where we could easily connect the coach who needs a website designer with the designer who specializes in coaches, or the family downsizing with the young couple just starting out. Not for profit, but for purpose. I believe most people genuinely want to help others—we just lack the systems to make those connections happen naturally. That’s the kind of movement I’d love to be part of: turning our human desire to help into actual impact.
What’s a quote, motto, or philosophy that you live by as a business leader?
“I can handle this.” It’s simple but powerful. Whether it’s a difficult client conversation, a technical challenge, or an unexpected business curveball, this mantra reminds me that I’ve overcome obstacles before and I can do it again. It shifts me from victim mode to power mode instantly. Plus, when your team sees you approach problems with confidence rather than panic, it creates a culture of resilience and resourcefulness.
How can our readers or listeners connect with you and follow your journey online?
The best place to connect with me is TheGrowthEffect.com where you can see examples of my work and grab my free website checklist. I’m also active on LinkedIn where I share behind-the-scenes insights about building client-generating systems for service-based businesses. If you’re ready to turn your website into your hardest-working business asset, I’d love to chat about how my 3-step process can help you get there.
