"I started thinking about having a kid as it related to my career long before I even started my business. And actually it was really the impetus to start my business."

What do you do when you're self-employed and need to take four months off for maternity leave? If you're Sara Royf, you get ridiculously strategic about it.

Most of us panic at the thought of stepping away from our consulting businesses for any extended period. What happens to our clients? Our income? Will anyone remember we exist when we come back? Sara faced all these fears when she got pregnant, and instead of spiraling, she created a plan that actually worked.

Well, mostly worked. Because this is Confessions, and we're gonna talk about the stuff that didn't go as expected, too.

Sara breaks down exactly how she pre-scheduled four months of content (yes, four months), managed client expectations, and kept her audience warm while she was away. She also gets real about the maternity leave waitlist that converted exactly zero clients and why she'd completely flip her communication strategy if she did it again.

But here's what makes this conversation especially valuable—Sara's not just sharing theory. As a LinkedIn coach who teaches consultants how to get clients through authentic relationship-building, she literally practices what she preaches. Her approach to LinkedIn DMs is the opposite of gross sales tactics, and it works so well that clients book discovery calls with her while simultaneously telling her they hate DMs.

Plus, she drops a confession that'll surprise anyone who follows her work: she's actually not that fond of LinkedIn. Plot twist, right?

Highlights:

• Stop trying to optimize for everything when planning extended leave. Sara chose creative outlet and audience warmth over maximum revenue, and that clarity shaped every other decision she made.
• The 30-person waitlist that converted zero people immediately taught her that timing in business is everything. Sometimes your best-laid plans flop, and that's totally okay if you've layered your strategies.
• Make more noise about coming back than going away. Sara wishes she'd spent less energy announcing her departure and more energy announcing her return—your audience cares about when you're available, not why you're not.
• LinkedIn DMs work when you treat them like in-person conversations. The "would you say this at a conference?" test transforms how people respond to your outreach and makes it feel authentic instead of sales-y.
• Even the experts doubt themselves. Sara had to constantly remind herself she'd achieved exactly what she optimized for, proving that mindset challenges hit all of us—and why having good business friends matters.

Don’t miss the end of the episode to find out how you can connect with Sara and get expert feedback on your LinkedIn profile—completely free.

Connect with Sara:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-royf/

Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com

Connect with Cindy:

• Cindy Wagman Coaching: cindywagman.com
• Fractional Fundraising Network: fractionalfundraising.co/
• LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/cindywagman

Connect with Jess:

• Out In the Boons: outintheboons.me
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jesscampbelloutntiheboons/